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【新幹線・札幌延伸の最終区間、工事の説明表示】




 昨日は札幌駅のすぐ西隣りのJR桑園駅駅舎の中の「暖房風景」について書きましたが、寄る年波か、先に世を去られた倉本聰さんに寄せたような詠嘆的な書き方になってしまった(苦笑)。
 実際は、その桑園駅からさらに札幌駅側に散歩を進め「新幹線延伸工事」の様子を興味深くウォッチ。この工事は札幌市民としては非常に興味深い工事。北海道新幹線(新函館北斗〜札幌間、約212km)の延伸工事は、2012年に着工され、開業時期は当初予定の2030年度末から大幅に遅れ、概ね2038年度末になる見込み。
 今後の進展がどうなのかによると思いますが、いまから12年後には姿を現すかも知れない。
 自分の生存期間を考えると「微妙」だとは思いますが、子や孫はこれが現実になった世界を生きることになる。そういう意味では、血のつながりで考えての未来の具体的なカタチのように思える。
 こういう公共的な交通手段のビッグプロジェクトなので、いま現在をウォッチしたいと思った次第。
 現場の工事被覆壁面には説明図が表示されていた。3枚目の写真には、新幹線が地下運行〜半地下〜地上〜高架運行という、桑園駅から札幌駅までの区間の運行箇所の変容ぶりが描かれている。以下、写真からは読み取れないと思うので、説明記述内容を別記。
 〜当工事の区間は以下の4パターンの構造となります。
・①開削トンネル部:地上から掘削して駆体を構築する構造物で完成後は地下埋設物となります。
・②掘割式RCボックス:四角い箱状の精造物を構築し、完成形は半地下構造となります。
・③盛土区間部:四角い箱状の構造物を構築し、完成後は地上構造となります。
・④高架橋ブロック区間部:隣接するJR工事線と同様の構造物となります。〜
 こういうコミュニケーション手段は、説明イラストも描かれていて、わかりやすい。なんですが、実際は動画構成なので、細かい文字部分は読解する時間的ゆとりがない(泣)。
 ということでiPhoneで撮影して、文字部分を「解析取り出し」して文章化した次第。
 2026年段階で、工事現場開設と「会話」する現状報告ということになります。こういう会話、完成するだろう2038年段階ではどういうコミュニケーションが可能になっているかなぁと妄想も湧いていた次第(笑)。

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English version⬇

[Information Sign for Construction on the Final Section of the Shinkansen Extension to Sapporo]
Significantly behind schedule; opening now projected for 2038. Is the Shinkansen line to Sapporo, Hokkaido, one of Japan’s “long-cherished dreams”? Will I live to see it come true? …

 Yesterday, I wrote about the “scene of heating” inside the JR Kuwabara Station building, located right next to Sapporo Station. Perhaps due to my advancing age, my writing ended up sounding rather wistful, as if I were paying tribute to the late Satoshi Kuramoto (wry smile).
 In reality, I continued my walk from Kuwano Station toward Sapporo Station and watched the progress of the “Shinkansen extension project” with great interest. As a resident of Sapporo, this project is of immense interest to me. Construction on the Hokkaido Shinkansen extension (between Shin-Hakodate-Hokuto and Sapporo, approximately 212 km) began in 2012, but the opening date has been significantly delayed from the originally planned end of fiscal year 2030 and is now expected to be around the end of fiscal year 2038.
 It depends on how things progress from here, but it might make its appearance 12 years from now.
 Considering my own lifespan, I think it’s “a bit iffy,” but my children and grandchildren will live in a world where this has become a reality. In that sense, it feels like a concrete shape of the future, viewed through the lens of blood ties.
 Since this is such a major public transportation project, I wanted to take a look at the current progress.
 Explanatory diagrams were displayed on the construction site’s protective walls. The third photo illustrates the changes in the route from Kuwazono Station to Sapporo Station, where the Shinkansen transitions from underground operation to semi-underground, then to ground level, and finally to elevated operation. Since I don’t think this information is clear from the photos alone, I’ve included the explanatory text below.
 ~ The section covered by this construction project will consist of the following four structural types:
・① Open-cut tunnel section: A structure excavated from the ground surface to form the tunnel body, which will become an underground structure upon completion.
・② Excavated RC Box: A precision-built rectangular box-shaped structure that will become a semi-underground structure upon completion.
・③ Embankment Section: A rectangular box-shaped structure that will become an above-ground structure upon completion.
・④ Viaduct Block Section: This structure will be identical to that of the adjacent JR construction line. ~
 This type of communication material includes explanatory illustrations and is easy to understand. However, since it’s actually a video, there isn’t enough time to read the fine print (sob).
So, I filmed it with my iPhone, “extracted” the text, and transcribed it into written form.
This serves as a status report “conversation” with the construction site as of 2026. Seeing this kind of conversation made me wonder what kind of communication will be possible by 2038, when the project is scheduled for completion (laughs).

● Announcement
My book, “Writers and Living Spaces,” has been published as an e-book by Gentosha.
Available on Amazon. 
 

【北海道のJR「桑園」駅ぬくもりの暖房シーン】


 先日富良野で、プリンスホテル敷地の倉本聰さんのゆかりの建物群を逍遥して倉本さんへの鎮魂の寄せ書きに署名もしていた。氏は、NHK大河ドラマの演出家として活躍中のところ、現場スタッフによってかれの書いた脚本とはまったく違う筋立てに勝手に変更されることに抗議したところ、NHK上層部の逆鱗に触れて、東京から追われて札幌に「逃れてきて」いた。
 その当時、わたしは大学卒業後東京で勤務していた広告代理店から転勤で北海道に帰って来た頃で、たしか、フジテレビ系列の地方局の関係者向け「講演会」があって倉本さんの「逃げてきた」実相を克明に聞いていた。
 わたしは、父との今生のわかれの可能性が非常に高まっていた時期だったので、遠距離でわかれが叶わないのは一生の痛恨事だと思っていたので、長兄がその前に「たぶんオヤジはそろそろヤバい」とわざわざ東京のわたしに告げに来てくれたことをきっかけに、会社に依願して転勤願いを提出した。そもそも入社時点で同族経営会社の社長から「いずれ札幌に転勤してもらう」という内意を告げられていたので申し出たのだが、無事に受理された経緯。
 その東京から札幌への帰還便では途中で大きく機体が揺れて、東京暮らしでのさまざまな経緯・心残りが「オマエ、ホントに帰るのかよ。」と揺さぶってくれているようだった。・・・
 そういった自分事と、倉本聰さんの人生に一種のハーモニーを感じていた。
 それから倉本さんは戦後ニッポンの文化世界で「北の国から」という不朽の名作を遺していくことになる。わたしの創刊した雑誌でも氏へのインタビュー企画を2本掲載した。
 写真は、昨日撮影したJR「桑園」駅の冬景色。札幌から西へ1駅移動する駅だけれど、近代的な駅舎の一隅にこういう石油ストーブが設置されている。倉本さんは、こういう北海道のふつうのたたずまいでの経験積層からドラマの基底部分を作ってくれたように思っている。
 外気の冷却に対して多くの北国人が持つ、みんなで暖まる空間のいごこち。それも一歩外に出れば、過酷な寒さに打ちのめされるけれど、得られるいっときのやすらぎ感。
 なかなか忙しくたくさんの「描きたいこと」があるけれど、倉本さんへの鎮魂の書き付けに託した思いが、ジワジワとしずかに沁みてきています。

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English version⬇

[A Heartwarming Scene of Heating at JR “Kuwano” Station in Hokkaido]
It is said that *From the North* embodies the longing for the warmth of people gathering together—a sentiment that resonates with those living in cold climates. …

 The other day in Furano, I strolled through the complex of buildings on the Prince Hotel grounds associated with Satoshi Kuramoto and even signed a memorial message in his honor. At the time, he was active as a director for NHK’s Taiga dramas, but when he protested against on-set staff arbitrarily changing the plot to something completely different from the script he had written, he angered NHK’s upper management and was driven out of Tokyo, “fleeing” to Sapporo.
 At that time, I had just returned to Hokkaido after being transferred from the advertising agency where I’d been working in Tokyo following my college graduation. I recall attending a “lecture” for staff at a local Fuji TV affiliate, where I heard a detailed account of the true circumstances behind Mr. Kuramoto’s “flight.”
 It was a time when the likelihood of parting with my father in this lifetime had become very high, and I believed that being unable to say goodbye due to the long distance would be a lifelong regret. So, when my eldest brother went out of his way to come to Tokyo and tell me, “Dad’s probably on his last legs,” I took that as a sign and submitted a request to my company for a transfer. I had actually made this request because, when I first joined the company—a family-run business—the president had informally told me, “We’ll have you transferred to Sapporo eventually.” My request was accepted without issue.
On that flight back from Tokyo to Sapporo, the plane shook violently at one point, and all the various experiences and unresolved feelings from my time in Tokyo seemed to be shaking me, as if asking, “Are you really going back?” …
I felt a kind of harmony between my own personal experiences and the life of Satoshi Kuramoto.
From then on, Mr. Kuramoto went on to leave behind the timeless masterpiece *From the North* in the cultural world of postwar Japan. The magazine I founded also published two interview features with him.
 The photo shows a winter scene at JR Kuwazono Station, taken yesterday. It’s just one stop west of Sapporo, but tucked away in a corner of the modern station building is a kerosene heater like this one. I believe Mr. Kuramoto built the foundation of his dramas from the layers of experiences he accumulated in these ordinary Hokkaido settings.
 The comfort of a shared, warm space—a feeling many northerners share as a respite from the biting cold. Even though stepping outside means being overwhelmed by the harsh cold, it offers a momentary sense of peace.
I’ve been quite busy and have many things I want to write about, but the feelings I entrusted to this tribute to Mr. Kuramoto are slowly and quietly sinking in.

● Announcement
My book, “Writers and Living Spaces,” has been published as an e-book by Gentosha.
Available on Amazon.

【散歩コースの分散・多様化で幼少時記憶地へ】



 散歩での1日10,000歩、雨天との見合いでときどき実践できないことが、月に1回くらいはありますがほぼ順調に歩き続けております。そういうなかで「足の向くまま、気の向くまま」が基本とは言え、一定の「コース」は出来上がってくる。自宅からの東西南北方向へ、その日の気分次第ですが、いったん選択して歩き始めるとほぼルートが定まってくるのが自然なのでしょう。
 それはそれで毎日の変化があるので無上の楽しみではあるのですが、ときどき「新規開拓」に強く惹かれる気分にもなってくる。仕事生活時代、わたしの無上に「血湧き肉躍る」気分はそれこそこのあらたな可能性への挑戦心だったのだと(笑)思い知らされる。
 ということで先日今のわが家、札幌市西区山の手から直線距離では4.5kmくらいある幼少期に過ごしていた地域、北大植物園の西側に面した「ふるさと」まで足を伸ばしておりました。
 まぁちょっとしたついででクルマでほぼ中間地点まで行って用事を済ませたあと、ことわって駐車させてもらって、往復で4-5kmを散歩してみた次第。
 まことに人生模様のミニ「時空間旅行」でした(笑)。
 徐々に目的地に近づくほどに記憶中枢が刺激を受けて、ああ、そういえばあそこはどうなっているのかなぁ、と血湧き肉躍る気分に。幼少時から高校入学時くらいまでの時期なので、70年前から60年前くらいまでの時期に当たる。写真は当時住んでいた家の前面のいまの状況。市内有数の交通量の「石山通」に面していてその向かい側に北大植物園が眺望できるスポット。
その当時の時間を共有してくれた友人たちの痕跡もいまは極少になっている。その住宅箇所に行っても多くは高層マンションに建て変わってしまっていますね。大都市としての札幌は中央区のみが人口膨張期を迎えてきているそうで、その変貌ぶりがある種、興味深い。空間としては友人たちとの交友が、ほんのちょっとした場所にその痕跡を伝えてくれている。そういうちょっとした「街の記憶・構図」などから、新鮮な興奮が湧いてくる。そういうものだということが意識されるのですね。
 散歩道としては人生懐古・掘り起こし篇とでも言えるか。そういう脳味噌刺激機会として有効活用できそうだとよろこびジワジワ、であります・・・。

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拙書「作家と住空間」幻冬舎から電子書籍で発刊
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English version⬇

[Exploring Childhood Memories Through Diverse and Varied Walking Routes]
Walking for health. Exploring new routes not only stimulates the brain but also helps fight dementia (lol). From discovering new paths to rediscovering my life…

 I aim for 10,000 steps a day on my walks. While there are times—about once a month—when I can’t manage it due to rain, I’ve been keeping up with my walks fairly consistently. Even though my basic approach is to “go wherever my feet take me and follow my whims,” a certain “route” naturally emerges. Depending on my mood that day, I might head in any direction—north, south, east, or west—from home, but once I make a choice and start walking, the route tends to settle into a natural pattern.
 While the daily variations are a source of immense joy in and of themselves, I sometimes find myself strongly drawn to “exploring new territory.” It makes me realize (laughs) that back in my working days, what truly made my blood boil and my heart race was precisely this spirit of taking on new challenges.
 So, the other day, I set out from my current home in Yamanote, Nishi Ward, Sapporo—a straight-line distance of about 4.5 km—to my “hometown,” the area where I spent my childhood, located west of the Hokkaido University Botanical Garden.
Well, it was just a little detour: I drove almost halfway there to run an errand, then asked if I could park there, and ended up taking a 4–5 km round-trip walk.
 It was truly a mini “time-space journey” through the patterns of my life (lol).
The closer I got to my destination, the more my memory center was stimulated, and I found myself getting excited, thinking, “Oh, come to think of it, I wonder what that place looks like now?” This covers the period from my childhood until around the time I entered high school—roughly 70 to 60 years ago. The photo shows the current view in front of the house where I lived back then. It faces “Ishiyama-dori,” one of the city’s busiest streets, and offers a view of the Hokkaido University Botanical Garden across the way.
Traces of the friends who shared those times with me are now extremely scarce. Even if I go to those neighborhoods, most of them have been replaced by high-rise apartment buildings. Apparently, Chuo Ward is the only part of Sapporo—as a major city—currently experiencing population growth, and that transformation is, in a way, fascinating. In terms of space, my friendships with those friends leave traces in just a few small places. A fresh sense of excitement wells up from these little “memories and scenes of the city.” It makes me realize that this is simply how things are.
As for this walk, I suppose you could call it a “Reflections on the Past and Rediscovering Memories” edition. I’m feeling a slow, steady joy at the thought of being able to make good use of this as an opportunity to stimulate my brain…

● Announcement
My book, *Writers and Living Spaces*, has been published as an e-book by Gentosha.
Available on Amazon.
 

【サイバー攻撃で緊張高まる国際情勢】


 さて、執筆本格化でわたしはMacに向かってきていますが、いろいろなHPにはサイバー攻撃での変動が感じられてきている。GoogleのAIとの「壁打ち対話」の一部、こういうやり取りもしていました。

 〜問い「攻撃の対象は、日本が最大の標的なのか?」
 <AIの回答>日本は世界最大の標的ではありませんが、世界トップクラスに狙われている主要標的の一つです。米マイクロソフトなどの最新の分析やデータから国別のターゲット構造が明らかになっています。
 1. 世界「最大」の標的はアメリカ
 中国の国家系ハッカー集団やサイバー犯罪者が狙う最大のターゲットは、現在も変わらずアメリカ合衆国です。• 圧倒的な攻撃ボリューム:軍事、宇宙、先端技術、金融などあらゆる分野において、中国系ハッカーが仕掛けるサイバー活動(情報窃取やインフラへの侵入)の最大割合は米国に向けられています。
 2. 日本は世界で「3番目」に狙われている国
 マイクロソフトが観測する国別割合において、日本は世界全体の約20%を占め、世界で3番目に標的になっている国です。これは巻き添えではなく日本国や企業が明確な目的を持って狙われていることを意味します。
 3. なぜ日本がここまで狙われるのか?
 安全保障やサイバーインフラの専門調査によると、日本が上位の標的になる理由は主に3つ。
• 経済・先端技術の窃取:半導体、自動車、先端素材、バイオ、宇宙防衛といった「ハイテク情報」が狙い。
• 地政学的な監視(安全保障):日米同盟の動向や台湾有事などを念頭に防衛省、外務省、政府機関、インフラ(電力や通信)動向を監視し有事に備えてシステム内に「足場」を築く狙いがあるとの指摘。
• サプライチェーンの「抜け穴」:日本の大企業はセキュリティが強固でも取引先である中堅・中小企業、海外拠点の防御が甘いケースが多く、そこを踏み台にして侵入しやすい国とみなされている。
 アメリカが最大標的ですが、アジア地域において日本、韓国、オーストラリア、台湾などが最前線のターゲットとしてサイバー攻撃に晒され続けています。<AIの回答は以上>
 2026年10月26日〜29日に北京で「5中全会」日程が公表されている。主な議題は「全面的な厳しい党内統治」であり、規律徹底、組織の引き締めがテーマとなっているとされる。
 当面、緊迫する情勢に要注意ですね。

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拙書「作家と住空間」幻冬舎から電子書籍で発刊
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English version⬇

[International Tensions Escalate Amid Cyberattacks]
As I really get into my writing, all the information I’ve gathered beforehand starts to overwhelm me, and my head feels like it’s about to explode. I seriously hope the international situation calms down. …

 Now that I’m in full swing with my writing, I’ve been spending a lot of time at my Mac, and I’ve started to notice fluctuations on various regular websites due to cyberattacks. Here’s part of a “back-and-forth dialogue” I had with Google’s AI—this is the kind of exchange we were having.
 ~Question: “Is Japan the biggest target of these attacks?”
  Japan is not the world’s biggest target, but it is one of the top-tier major targets being targeted globally. The structure of targets by country has been revealed through the latest analyses and data from companies such as Microsoft in the U.S.
 1. The world’s “largest” target is the United States
 The United States remains the primary target of Chinese state-sponsored hacker groups and cybercriminals. • Overwhelming volume of attacks: Across all sectors—including military, space, advanced technology, and finance—the largest proportion of cyber activities (such as information theft and infrastructure breaches) carried out by Chinese hackers is directed at the United States.
 2. Japan Is the “Third” Most Targeted Country in the World
 According to Microsoft’s country-by-country data, Japan accounts for approximately 20% of global attacks, making it the third most targeted country in the world. This indicates that Japan and its companies are being targeted with a clear purpose, rather than merely being caught in the crossfire.
 3. Why Is Japan Targeted to This Extent?
 According to specialized research on national security and cyber infrastructure, there are three main reasons why Japan ranks among the top targets:
• Theft of economic and cutting-edge technology: “High-tech information” in sectors such as semiconductors, automobiles, advanced materials, biotechnology, and aerospace and defense is the target.
• Geopolitical surveillance (national security): It has been pointed out that attackers monitor the Ministry of Defense, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, government agencies, and infrastructure (such as power and telecommunications)—with an eye on developments in the U.S.-Japan alliance and potential contingencies involving Taiwan—with the aim of establishing a “foothold” within systems in preparation for emergencies.
• Supply chain “loopholes”: Even though major Japanese corporations have robust security, their business partners—mid-sized and small enterprises—as well as their overseas operations often have weak defenses. Japan is viewed as a country where it is easy to gain entry by using these vulnerabilities as a stepping stone.
While the United States is the primary target, countries in the Asian region—including Japan, South Korea, Australia, and Taiwan—continue to be exposed to cyberattacks as frontline targets.
 The schedule for the “5th Plenary Session” has been announced for October 26–29, 2026, in Beijing. The main agenda item is “comprehensive and strict intra-party governance,” and the themes are said to be the enforcement of discipline and organizational consolidation.
 We’ll need to pay close attention to the tense situation for the time being.

● Announcement
My book, “Writers and Living Spaces,” has been published as an e-book by Gentosha.
Available on Amazon.

【タイヤ交換は茨戸、待ち時間に三日月湖を逍遥】


 カミさんの命令で一昨日の降雪ドンピシャでの冬タイヤへの交換。
 これまで会社経営時代に多数のクルマのタイヤを集中保管してもらっていたのが、こちらの札幌郊外、石狩川河口近くの「茨戸」にある会社。いまはわが家の1台分だけなのですが、引き続き預かってもらっていて、クルマを持参して小1時間ほど作業してもらう。
 で、楽しみなのが周辺散歩なのです(笑)。ゴルフもキッパリ止めたのは散歩というゼロコストの楽しい運動習慣を獲得しているから。散歩自体はもう30年以上習慣化していますが、ゴルフは仕事の付き合いで継続していたが、それはおおむね消滅して超ヘタからようやく「卒業」。清々しさいっぱい(笑)。
 一方で散歩は、どんどんあらたな光景が目の前に広がってくれるという「無上の快楽」。
 ちょうどこの茨戸では大河石狩川河口・日本海に隣接して三日月湖の水辺が広がってくれている。こういう「天上世界もかくや」と思えるような風景、雲の流れと地上世界のあわい風景が数寄。
 そういうことで、タイヤ交換の手続きも早々に、外に飛び出した。
 高齢期になってこういう「天国に一番近い」ビジュアルに弱くなってくる(笑)。いま現在は執筆活動に脳味噌が集中して熱くなってもいるので、そういうクールダウン効果はやはりビジュアル的な癒しがいちばん効果的なのでしょうね。
 同年代の「限りなく透明に近いブルー」を著された村上龍さんは23日に亡くなられましたが、文章の端々に映像的な感受力が冴え渡っていた。そういう直感力にはもちろん遠く足下にも近づけませんが、ビジュアルにわたしは深く癒されるタイプだと思っています。
 天国とは違ってのカラスたちの「早くいなくなれ」という喧噪にもめげず、耳をふさぎながらしばし、うっとりとみとれて、一昨日の寒冷から一転しての晴れ間を楽しんでおりました。
 おかげで「あれもどう、これもどうですか」というお店側の提案についサインしてしまっていましたが(泣)、帰ってからカミさんからも「ま、いいんじゃない」との許可(ホッ)。地獄には突き落とされずに済みました。ありがとう、三日月湖。

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[Tire Change in Ibato, Strolling Around Mikazuki Lake While Waiting]
A chance to stroll along the water’s edge twice a year. A nature-viewing route that has become a habit around the start and end of winter. I’m completely captivated by the stunning scenery created where the river meets the sea. …

 On my wife’s orders, I switched to winter tires right in time for the snowfall the day before yesterday.
 Back when I was running my own company, I used to have a large number of car tires stored at a company in “Ibarato,” near the mouth of the Ishikari River on the outskirts of Sapporo. Now it’s just one set for our family car, but they’re still storing it for us, so I took the car there and had them do the work—it took about an hour.
 And what I really look forward to is taking a walk around the area (lol). The reason I’ve completely given up golf is that I’ve adopted walking—a fun, zero-cost exercise habit. Walking itself has been a habit of mine for over 30 years, but I’d kept playing golf for business networking purposes. Now that those opportunities have mostly dried up, I’ve finally “graduated” from being a terrible player. It’s incredibly refreshing (lol).
 On the other hand, walking offers the “supreme pleasure” of constantly discovering new scenery unfolding right before my eyes.
 Right here in Ibarato, the shores of Mikazuki Lake stretch out adjacent to the mouth of the great Ishikari River and the Sea of Japan. I find great delight in these kinds of landscapes—the kind that make you think, “Is this what heaven looks like?”—where the flow of the clouds meets the scenery of the earthly world.
So, after quickly wrapping up the tire-change paperwork, I dashed outside.
As I’ve gotten older, I’ve become more and more susceptible to these “closest-to-heaven” views (lol). Right now, my brain is fully focused on my writing and running hot, so when it comes to cooling down, visual healing is probably the most effective remedy.
 Ryu Murakami, a fellow author of my generation who wrote *A Blue Almost Transparent*, passed away on the 23rd, but his writing was brimming with vivid, cinematic sensitivity in every line. Of course, I’m nowhere near his level of intuition, but I consider myself the type who finds deep healing in visuals.
 Undeterred by the crows’ clamor—which, unlike in heaven, seemed to be saying, “Go away already!”—I covered my ears for a moment and gazed in rapture, enjoying the sunny spell that had suddenly replaced the cold of the day before yesterday.
 As a result, I ended up signing off on the shop’s suggestions—“How about this? How about that?” (sigh)—but when I got home, my wife gave me her blessing, saying, “Well, I guess it’s okay” (phew). I managed to avoid being cast into hell.

● Announcement
My book, *Writers and Living Spaces*, has been published as an e-book by Gentosha.
Available on Amazon.
 

【北海道に冬の到来、札幌の山並みに降雪】


 きのうは、朝から雨模様で散歩に出るタイミングを逸してしまって、しょがないのでガソリンを補給しにクルマで出掛けたら、かなりの温度低下ぶり。
 で、わが家への帰り道、札幌市内南側の山並み、札幌岳方向を見ていたら上の方が白い。
 標高的にはもっと高い西側の「手稲」の山並みはそうでもない。空模様の関係だったのでしょうが、久しぶりの白い山並み風景に、北海道人として淡々と受け入れる心理が湧いてきていた。「淡々と受け入れる」って、ヘンな気分ですが悲喜こもごも、どっちかって言うと「悲しい」方が大きいのだけれど、諸行無常の諦念があって、どうせ来るのだから前向きに受け止めようという心理も働く。
 やはり白くなっていく山並みは抗いがたく美的ではある。
 ということで、日中クルマを走らせていたら時折、ガラス面がパチパチとした物理音に見舞われていた。冬の本格的降雪の「前触れ」かと。夏シーズンの終了。やむなく昨日は歩数が、ずっと続いていた10,000歩には遠く及ばないレベルに急低下。
 しかし本日は一転して最高気温15度予想で快晴の天気予報。
 ちょうどタイヤ交換の予約申込みをしていたのが本日11:30というドンピシャのタイミング(笑)。カミさんのお手柄ですが、これで冬への備えの第1歩が開始です。
 さて一方、WEB・社会の基盤であるPHPに2026年10月21日夜、プログラミング言語として重大な脆弱性(通称「PHP2Shell」、識別子:CVE-2026-109618およびCVE-2026-109619)が世界的に公表され、日本政府からも早急な対応が必要との警告アナウンスがありました。
 このところ〜中国政府系ハッカー集団、AI「ARTEX」で攻撃 マイクロソフトが確認〜日本経済新聞というニュースも流れてきて「動乱の気配」があるようです。
 執筆活動がメインになってきている高齢者ですが、信頼する知人のWEBサイトは「一時公開停止」などの対応をしてきている。わたしの関与していることがらでも影響が避けられないので、しっかりと情報を収集し対応して行かなければならないと思っています。
 急速に「秩序は壊れはじめて」いることの序章かも。先般来のフランスの暴動など、その兆候は現れてきている。庶民としてはできることで備える一択。

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English version⬇
 
[Winter Arrives in Hokkaido; Snow Falls on Sapporo’s Mountain Ranges]
The arrival of Old Man Winter is finally becoming apparent. Meanwhile, an urgent alert has been issued regarding the foundation of global web information. Let’s do what we can as ordinary citizens…

 It looked like rain yesterday morning, so I missed my chance to go for a walk. Since I had no other choice, I took the car out to fill up on gas, only to find that the temperature had dropped significantly.
So, on my way home, I looked toward the mountain range on the southern side of Sapporo—in the direction of Mt. Sapporo—and noticed the upper parts were white.
 The mountain range to the west—in “Teine”—which is actually higher in elevation, didn’t look quite the same. It was probably due to the weather conditions, but seeing the white mountain landscape for the first time in a while stirred up a sense of calm acceptance within me as a Hokkaido native. “Calm acceptance”—it’s a strange feeling. It’s a mix of joy and sorrow, and if I had to choose, the “sadness” is greater, but there’s also a sense of resignation to the impermanence of all things, and the thought that since it’s bound to happen anyway, I might as well take it in stride.
 After all, the mountain range turning white is undeniably beautiful.
So, as I was driving during the day, I was occasionally met with a crackling sound coming from the windshield. I wondered if it was a “harbinger” of the full-scale winter snowfall. The end of the summer season. I had no choice but to accept that my step count yesterday plummeted to a level far below the 10,000 steps I’d been consistently hitting.
 However, today’s forecast is a complete turnaround: sunny skies with a high of 15 degrees.
 It just so happens that the tire change appointment I’d booked is at 11:30 today—perfect timing (lol). Thanks to my wife’s efforts, this marks the first step in preparing for winter.
 Meanwhile, on the evening of October 21, 2026, a critical vulnerability (commonly known as “PHP2Shell,” identifiers: CVE-2026-109618 and CVE-2026-109619) in PHP—the foundation of the web and society—was publicly disclosed worldwide, and the Japanese government issued a warning urging immediate action.
 Recently, news has emerged—such as the report in the *Nihon Keizai Shimbun* titled “Attacks by Chinese Government-Affiliated Hacker Group Using AI ‘ARTEX’ Confirmed by Microsoft”—suggesting there are “signs of turmoil.”
Although I am an elderly person whose main focus has shifted to writing, the websites of trusted acquaintances have taken measures such as “temporarily suspending publication.” Since the impact is unavoidable even in matters I am involved in, I believe I must thoroughly gather information and take appropriate action.
 This may be the prelude to “order rapidly beginning to break down.” Signs of this have already been appearing, such as the recent riots in France. As ordinary citizens, our only option is to prepare as best we can.

● Announcement
My book, “Writers and Living Spaces,” has been published as an e-book by Gentosha.
Available on Amazon.

【ご近所の河原に不法投棄。お騒がせな自転車】



 札幌西区の琴似発寒川はわが家から500mほどで自然を感じさせてくれる憩いの場所。
 先般来、サケの遡上が見られ、また河原脇の草むら地形の場所ではどうやら「産卵」行動も見られていて、掛かっている橋の上からその様子を観察し、内心では応援しておりました。
 そしてここ数日は、どうもサケの姿を確認できなくなっています。10月の下旬の声を聞いてすでに今年のサケの遡上・産卵活動は終息を迎えたのか。たいへんさみしい思いが募っております。
 そんななか、最近写真のように河原に自転車はうち捨てられていました。一瞬、だれかが川に身投げしたのか、と驚かされていましたが、ちょっと考えればこんな浅瀬ではそれはあり得ない。・・・じゃぁ、ちょうど橋のすぐ下だったので、橋から放り投げたのだろうか? と謎々に目眩させられていた。
 しかし放り投げたのであればもっと部品などが破壊されて、散乱するだろう。状況を見ると河原の中に運んでいって、横向きに放置した、という様子。ということであれば、一体、そのような人間行動の可能性とは?一つ考えられるとすれば、盗んでここまで乗ってきたが、そのまま乗って帰れば近隣から不審がられるので、証拠物そのものを放置した、というような事案かなぁ・・・。
 まぁ自分にはあんまり関係がないことなのですが、周辺住民としてこういう不法投棄は困る。地域の平安を乱す行為だと思った次第です。

 そんな不審なことがあっての翌日、また河原を散歩してきてみたら、黄色いテープでグルグル巻きにされた自転車本体が公園の別の場所に置かれていた。テープの刻印は警察のもののように読み取れた。
 奇妙な放置物で気持ち悪いので警察に通報された方がいたようですね。
 周辺地域は治安も保たれている住宅地域。こういう不審事はほぼ見たことがなかった。特段「物騒」というようなことではありませんが、やはり注意はしていた方が良いなぁと思わされました。また、この河原は書いたようにサケの産卵場所で、しかもつい最近までその姿を見かけたいのちの聖域的な場所。
 人間のトンチンカンな行為は、謹んでもらいたいと思った次第です。

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[Illegal Dumping on a Local Riverbank: A Troublesome Bicycle]
A suspicious, illegally dumped bicycle has appeared on a peaceful riverbank where salmon swim upstream to spawn. This senseless act is a nuisance to nature. …

 The Kotoni-Hassamu River in Sapporo’s Nishi Ward is a peaceful retreat just about 500 meters from my home, where I can connect with nature.
 For some time now, I’ve been watching the salmon run upstream, and it seems they’ve also been spawning in the grassy areas along the riverbank. I’ve been observing them from the bridge spanning the river, silently cheering them on in my heart.
 However, for the past few days, I haven’t been able to spot any salmon. With late October already upon us, has this year’s salmon run and spawning season already come to an end? I’m feeling increasingly sad about it.
 Amidst all this, I recently found a bicycle abandoned on the riverbank, as shown in the photo. For a moment, I was startled, wondering if someone had thrown themselves into the river, but upon reflection, that would be impossible in such shallow water. …Well then, since it was right beneath the bridge, had someone thrown it off the bridge? I was dizzy with mystery.
However, if it had been thrown, the parts would likely be more damaged and scattered about. Judging by the situation, it looked as though the bike had been carried onto the riverbank and left lying on its side. If that’s the case, what on earth could have prompted such behavior? One possibility that comes to mind is that someone stole the bike and rode it here, but realized that riding it back would arouse suspicion among neighbors, so they simply abandoned the evidence itself…
Well, it doesn’t really concern me personally, but as a local resident, this kind of illegal dumping is a problem. I felt it was an act that disrupts the peace of the community.

 The day after that suspicious incident, I went for another walk along the riverbank and found the bicycle—which had been wrapped tightly in yellow tape—parked in a different part of the park. The markings on the tape appeared to be from the police.
It seems someone reported it to the police because the strange, abandoned object made them feel uneasy.
 The surrounding area is a residential neighborhood where public safety is generally well-maintained. I’d hardly ever seen anything suspicious like this before. While it wasn’t exactly “dangerous,” it did make me realize that it’s better to be cautious. Also, as I mentioned, this riverbank is a salmon spawning ground—a sanctuary for life where I’d been seeing them until very recently.
 I found myself thinking that people really need to refrain from such thoughtless behavior.

● Announcement
My book, “Writers and Living Spaces,” has been published as an e-book by Gentosha.
Available on Amazon.

【福山市今津の故地、萩藩主参勤交代の「道中絵図」】


 昨日は江戸中期ころ1790年ころから明治初期までのわたしの家系の故地、広島県福山市今津での「交流史」の断片を古文書記録で確認したのですが、やはりこういった家系史は、一般的な日本史の英雄豪傑譚ではない庶民の生き様の実相が、深めるほどにジワジワくるよろこびがあって楽しい。きのうも近所に住む次兄といろいろ調査活動の進展を相談していて、どんどん深まる先人の「人生足跡」で情報交換であります。しかしこういう一族の活動の嚆矢は、1790年頃の当主である先祖が残してくれた「先祖探査」の記録巻物が起点。重厚な現地調査で、一統の流れを巻物文学としてまとめてくれたことに、深く導かれている。遠い父性を感じる。
 わたしはこういう探索を進めるのに各地域で発行されてきている「地域史」などを基本にしてを同時にAIを活用してきていますが、そういった手法を数年以上行ってきて、AIの側でも変化の反応が見られてきて、日本の各地域の地域史がさかんにアメリカから買い求められてきているそうです。全国の「古書店」などに定期的に注文が入ってきているとのこと。
 最新の文化領域としてのAIがこういう「需要」を取り込みつつあるのでしょうか。興味深い。こういうAIの進化に対して、主体性としての人間力が試されてきているのかも知れません。いつまでも戦国・幕末の英雄ものばかりでは所詮、限界があるでしょう。
 本日の図はわが家系の故地・今津のもの。縁のある寺院・蓮華寺の冊子からの絵図。
 江戸期にはわが家系は山陽道の宿駅であったこの今津の地が本拠地。この今津宿の参勤交代大名たちが宿泊する「本陣・脇本陣」の経営実態に深く関与した商家だった。この絵図はその後、明治維新の主体になっていく萩藩主の参勤交代の様子を記録させた絵図。
 上下2つの矢印がありますが、上は蓮華寺で、下はその住職が管理していた神社「剣大明神」。
 わたしたち戦後生まれ人間にしてみると神仏は分離した存在という認識ですが、それは明治維新の動乱の結果として植え付けられた認識であって、むしろ日本の文化伝統としては神仏習合意識の方がながい歴史的とらえ方。地域の、さらに血脈の「歴史」を掘り起こすことで、庶民感覚が復元を見せてくる一断面かと。

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[The “Travel Map” of the Sankin-Kotai Journey by the Lord of the Hagi Domain, from His Former Residence in Imazu, Fukuyama City]
When you trace the course of Japanese history from the perspective of ordinary people’s daily lives, interesting insights emerge. The true nature of the syncretism of Shinto and Buddhism…

 Yesterday, I verified fragments of the “history of interactions” in Imazu, Fukuyama City, Hiroshima Prefecture—the ancestral home of my family from around 1790 (the mid-Edo period) through the early Meiji era—using historical documents. As always, this kind of family history—which reveals the true lives of ordinary people rather than the tales of heroes and great figures found in general Japanese history—brings a quiet, gradual joy that grows the deeper I delve into it. Yesterday, I was also discussing the progress of our research activities with my second older brother, who lives nearby, and we exchanged information on the “footprints of life” left by our ancestors, which are becoming increasingly clear. However, the starting point for these family research efforts is a scroll containing records of “ancestral research” left behind by our ancestor, the head of the family around 1790. I feel deeply guided by the fact that he compiled the lineage’s history into scroll literature through meticulous field research. I sense a distant paternal presence.
 In pursuing this kind of research, I’ve been using “local histories” published in various regions as a foundation while simultaneously utilizing AI. Having employed this approach for several years now, I’ve begun to see signs of change on the AI side as well; apparently, local histories from various regions of Japan are being actively purchased from the United States. I’ve heard that orders are coming in regularly to “used bookstores” nationwide.
Is AI, as the latest cultural frontier, beginning to capture this kind of “demand”? It’s fascinating. Perhaps the human capacity for autonomy is being put to the test in the face of such AI evolution. After all, there are limits to focusing solely on stories of heroes from the Warring States and Bakumatsu periods forever.
Today’s illustration is of Imazu, the ancestral home of my family. It is a map taken from a booklet published by Renge-ji Temple, with which my family has ties.
During the Edo period, my family’s base was here in Imazu, which served as a post station on the Sanyo Road. Our family was a merchant house deeply involved in the day-to-day management of the “Honjin” and “Waki-honjin”—the lodgings where daimyo on their sankin-kōtai journeys stayed in Imazu-juku. This map was commissioned to record the sankin-kōtai journey of the lord of the Hagi Domain, who would later become a key figure in the Meiji Restoration.
 There are two arrows, one pointing up and one down. The upper arrow points to Renge-ji Temple, and the lower one points to the “Ken Daimyōjin” shrine, which was managed by the temple’s head priest.
 For those of us born after the war, the perception is that Shinto and Buddhism are separate entities; however, this perception was instilled as a result of the upheavals of the Meiji Restoration. In fact, within Japanese cultural tradition, the concept of Shinto-Buddhist syncretism represents a longer-standing historical perspective. By unearthing the “history” of the region—and even of one’s own bloodline—we may be able to glimpse a facet of the common people’s sensibilities being restored.

● Announcement
My book, *Writers and Living Spaces*, has been published as an e-book by Gentosha.
Available on Amazon.
 
 

【江戸末期「他家の」四国巡礼記録帳があらわる】


 さて、いろいろな作業進行があるなかで、次兄と進めている当家の伝承資料の「解析」作業も同時進行。
 昨日はわたしには経験がなかった「四国八十八箇所」のふたつの巡礼「奉納帳」の分析を次兄と話し合っておりました。写真はその中で古い方の「天保十五年」の日付のついた古文書であります。
 わたしは四国巡礼は断片的に数カ寺しか経験がない信心不足な真言宗徒。全箇所を20日かけて巡ったという次兄に、詳細にその「旅路」から推察できる状況分析も教えていただいていた次第。
 表紙には「保五郎改名 恭平」という人物名が記載されているけれど、次兄のわが家系調査でもその人名に照合できる一族の人名は見当たらなかった。であるけれど、当家の当主が江戸後期に長く住み、明治の戸籍制度創設にあたっても、そこを本籍地と大切にしてきた地名・沼隈郡今津邑が記されている。
 少なくとも、1790年代から1905年頃までの115年間は確実に本拠としていた「故地」。
 さらに寺の印ページの順で旅路の「順路」も参照できる。「日付」情報まであるので、旅程の情報全容も知ることができる。古文書解析的にこの内容を分析するには、次兄の豊かな探究経験が不可欠と思われたので、わたしはその分析結果に導かれておりました。・・・
 その結果、見えてきた当時の状況景色が徐々にわかってきたワケです。
 まず、最大のナゾだった「保五郎改名 恭平」人名は「今津邑」の最有力家で古代王朝時代にまでさかのぼる「国造」伝承まで持つ地域の名家「河本家」にその人名が見いだせるというのです。
 この家は代々参勤交代の大名クラスが宿泊する今津宿の「本陣」を務めてきた名家。明治以降には地域首長も務められた家系。わが家系はこの本陣家と「脇本陣」である真言宗寺院・蓮華寺の大名接待・接遇の一切の御用を承る、信用された商家だった。
 江戸期の九州の大名・松浦静山公が書き残した「甲子夜話」の一節に、かれが今津宿本陣で過ごした夜、この河本氏一統とわが家系一統が、接待のために本陣家の一室で「御用」を果たすため待機していた様子が活写されたりしている。
 この河本氏の一統は「備陽史研究会」という備後の地域史研究会でなんども講演されている。次兄は家系調査にあたって、この家系と接触もあったということ。
 その家系の人物の「四国巡礼記録」がどうしてわが家系に伝承されてきているのか?
 天保十五年(1844年)は今から182年前という古文書になります。さて?   <この稿、つづく>

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English version⬇

[A Pilgrimage Journal from Shikoku Belonging to “Another Family” from the Late Edo Period Has Come to Light]
A wide range of topics are currently being explored. “New discoveries” continue to emerge from 400 years’ worth of historical records and documents. Based on an analysis of historical documents held by our main family line…

 Now, while various projects are underway, I’m also working alongside my second-eldest brother on “analyzing” our family’s historical records.
Yesterday, my second-eldest brother and I discussed the analysis of two “offering registers” from the “88 Temples of Shikoku” pilgrimage—a subject I had no prior experience with. The photo shows the older of the two historical documents, dated “Tenpō 15.”
 I am a Shingon Buddhist with insufficient faith, having only visited a few temples here and there on the Shikoku pilgrimage. My second-eldest brother, who reportedly completed the entire pilgrimage in 20 days, has been teaching me how to analyze the circumstances based on detailed inferences drawn from his “journey.”
 Although the name “Hogorō, renamed Kyōhei” is written on the cover, my second older brother’s research into our family lineage revealed no relatives whose names matched that entry. However, the document lists the place name “Imazu Village, Numakuma District”—a place where the head of our family lived for a long time during the late Edo period and which he continued to cherish as his registered domicile even after the establishment of the Meiji family registration system.
 It is undoubtedly our “ancestral home,” where we were firmly based for 115 years, from at least the 1790s until around 1905.
 Furthermore, by following the order of the pages bearing the temple’s seal, one can trace the “route” of the journey. Since it even includes “dates,” it is possible to grasp the full details of the itinerary. To analyze this content from the perspective of historical document analysis, my second older brother’s wealth of research experience seemed indispensable, so I relied on the results of his analysis. …
 As a result, the circumstances and landscape of that era gradually came into focus.
 First, regarding the name “Hogoro, renamed Kyōhei”—which had been the greatest mystery—it turns out that this name can be found in the “Kawamoto family,” a prominent local family in “Imazu Village” that traces its lineage back to the ancient dynastic era and possesses a tradition of “Kuninari” (provincial governors).
 This was a distinguished family that had served as the “honjin” (main inn) at Imazu-juku for generations, accommodating daimyo on their sankin-kōtai journeys. From the Meiji period onward, members of this lineage also served as local magistrates. My own family was a trusted merchant house that handled all matters related to the hospitality and reception of daimyo for both this honjin family and the “waki-honjin”—the Shingon Buddhist temple Renge-ji.
 A passage in *Kōshi Yawa* (Night Talks of the Kōshi Year), written by Lord Matsuura Seizan—a feudal lord of Kyushu during the Edo period—vividly depicts the scene of the night he spent at the Imazu-juku Honjin, where members of the Kawamoto clan and my own family were standing by in a room of the Honjin to fulfill their “duties” in hosting the lord.
 This Kawamoto family has been the subject of numerous lectures at the “Biyōshi Research Society,” a regional history research group in Bingo. My second-eldest brother reportedly had contact with this family while conducting genealogical research.
 How did the “Record of a Pilgrimage to Shikoku” written by a member of that family come to be passed down in our family lineage?
 The document dates back to Tenpō 15 (1844), making it 182 years old. Well then?   

● Announcement
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Available on Amazon.

 

【時節到来で案件多数。こころ落ち着け生け花参観】


 写真は、先般はじめて知った友人女子が活けているという札幌地下鉄琴似駅のいけばな。
 ときどき地下鉄駅を通りすがるとき、「あ、また頑張っているかなぁ」と気になっている。ちょこちょこと変わっているので、しっかり継続しているのでしょう、エラい。芸術ではない、というのが彼女の意見なのですが、わたし的には絵画鑑賞的に楽しませてもらっています。
 で、今週からは個人企業としてのやらねばならない処理案件があるので、それへの対応が必要。
 また継続してきている家系史探究も、さまざまな協力先からの情報提供があり、その時代相別にいろいろな情報の新発掘があって、それぞれで深掘りが必要になってきています。また、あらたに構想が盛り上がってきたような企画内容もあって、高齢の脳味噌はやや萌え萌え状況。
 さらにキャリアから継続してきている公的な「役割」もことしも延長してきております。謹んで対処したいと考えますが、そうした役割のためには必要不可欠な準備もこなす必要がある。
 まぁしっかり整理整頓しながら、時間の迫っている案件から、個別に徐々に片付けていきたいと思っております。
 しかしビジネス的な領域ではIT関係について、最近の個人情報関連の「攻撃」への対応が迫られてきている現状がある。ソフトウェア的なことなので、そうした企業との技術的な内容についての対話になる。問題点の特定や、それへの対応では専門知見的な内容が当然メインの話合いになる。そうした内容を踏まえての経営的判断。
 そういった内容を検討するには、写真のような「明鏡止水」的な心理が必要なのかなぁ、と。
 はじめて「いけばな」という文化領域について教えられた結果、要するにいろいろな個別の個性をどのように関係づけながら、それぞれの特性を生かす、みたいな心象ではないのかと素人理解(笑)。
 なんですが、そういう素人理解で自分の身の回りにあれこれを考えて見ると、やはりこういう「整理整頓術」がわかりやすいのかなぁと思えております。あ、言うまでもなく素人としての生かし方。

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English version⬇

[With the season upon us, there are many projects to tackle. Let’s calm our minds and observe ikebana.]
I’ve come to believe—perhaps a bit arbitrarily—that the fundamental principle of ikebana is to strive for a mind as clear and still as a mirror or still water. Perhaps this is the mindset needed in old age to cope with life’s many challenges. …

 The photo shows the ikebana arrangement at Kotoni Station on the Sapporo Subway, created by a female friend I recently met.
 Whenever I pass by the subway station, I find myself wondering, “I wonder if she’s still working hard on it.” Since the arrangement changes little by little, she must be keeping it up consistently—that’s impressive. She says it’s not art, but personally, I enjoy looking at it as if I were appreciating a painting.
 Starting this week, I have some administrative tasks I need to handle as a sole proprietor, so I’ll have to focus on those.
 As for my ongoing family history research, I’ve been receiving information from various collaborators, and new discoveries are emerging for each historical period, so I need to dig deeper into each one. Plus, I have some project ideas that are really starting to take shape, so my aging brain is getting a bit excited.
 Furthermore, the official “role” I’ve been carrying over from my career has been extended again this year. I intend to handle these matters with the utmost care, but I also need to complete the preparations that are essential for fulfilling these roles.
Well, I plan to keep everything well organized and tackle each task individually, starting with the ones that are most time-sensitive.
However, in the business realm, particularly regarding IT, we’re currently under pressure to respond to recent “attacks” related to personal information. Since this involves software, it requires technical discussions with relevant companies. Naturally, the main focus of these discussions will be on specialized expertise—identifying issues and devising countermeasures. Management decisions will then be made based on that information.
 I wonder if examining such matters requires a mindset like the “clear mirror, still water” depicted in the photo.
 After being introduced to the cultural practice of “ikebana” for the first time, my layman’s understanding (laughs) is that it’s essentially about how to relate various individual characteristics while bringing out the best in each one.
 However, when I apply this amateur understanding to the various things around me, I find myself thinking that this kind of “organization technique” is actually quite easy to grasp. Oh, and needless to say, this is just how I, as a layperson, put it into practice.

● Announcement
My book, “Writers and Living Spaces,” has been published as an e-book by Gentosha.
Available on Amazon.