本州各地からは桜の開花、満開の話題が増えてきていますね。WBCの日本代表の戦いもあって、ことしの春の躍動感が高まっている。まことに喜ばしい。がんばれニッポン、がんばれヌートバー！
　遅ればせながら札幌でも融雪が一気に進んできて、ちょっと前までメイン道路でも１車線ノロノロだったのが快適３車線に復元してきています。
　そんなことから冬の間のひたすら「除雪」限定運動から本格的に早朝の散歩が復活してきております。力仕事と地道な忍耐力レースの縛りから抜け出して、開放的なリズムに乗ってきています。ほぼ日常的なコース選択で、北海道神宮参拝から周辺の円山公園、円山登山道入口の慈母を思わせる観音さんへの参拝などが日課のコースになってきています。
　道中ではさまざまなスポットを巡っていくのですが、なかでも円山公園のメム（アイヌ語での水辺・沼）に棲息するカモやオシドリたちの様子も楽しみであります。冬の間はメムも結氷していて、かれらの姿は確認できませんでした。どうやら無事に越冬できたようで、まだ寒さに耐えているような様子ですが、元気そう。
　２枚目の写真は冬の終わり2/28のわが家近辺の公園の様子ですが、いかにも「光の春」っぽい。陽光が増してきて雪原にそれが反射してまばゆいのですが、ことしはこの期間がごく短くあっという間に通り過ぎた。ちょっとさみしい部分もあった。梅やサクラの開花もすばらしいのですが、この雪国の乱反射する陽光は、体奥にまで染み込んでくる感覚がある。雪の本当の美しさというようにも言える。


　こちらはわが家周辺、発寒川公園の様子。3/13ころの様子と2/28の様子の対比であります。上流での融雪があきらかに水量となって現れている。
　自然のリズム感はこれでもかと重奏してきています。仕事面でも１年半以上取り組んできた案件が、本日おおむね着地点に到達できた。さてこれからさらに頑張るぞと。WBCでも、頑張れニッポン！

English version⬇

Spring in the North with a straight line of snow melting at once
This year, the period of “spring of light” was very short, and the snow melted all at once. It is a little disappointing to see the spring of light. The early morning walk in the woods is also starting the symphony of the woodpeckers. …

From all over Honshu, we are hearing more and more about the blooming and full-blooming of the cherry blossoms, and with the Japanese national team in the WBC, the spring of this year is becoming more vibrant. I am truly delighted. Go Nippon, go Nutbah!
　Although it is a little late, the melting of snow has been progressing at a rapid pace in Sapporo, and what used to be one slow lane on the main road just a short while ago has been restored to a comfortable three lanes.
　This has led to a resurgence in my early morning walks, which had been limited to “clearing snow” during the winter months. We are getting out of the shackles of hard work and steady patience racing and getting into a more open rhythm. Almost daily course selections have become routine, from a visit to the Hokkaido Shrine to the nearby Maruyama Park and a visit to the Kannon (Goddess of Mercy)-reminiscent of Jibo at the entrance to the Maruyama Trail.
　On the way, we visit various spots, but we especially enjoy watching the ducks and mandarin ducks living in the memu (waterfront or swamp in the Ainu language) of Maruyama Park. During the winter, the memu is frozen over, so we could not see them. They seem to have wintered over safely, and although they still seem to be enduring the cold, they look healthy.
　The second photo shows the park near our house at the end of winter on February 28, and it looks like “spring of light. It was like a “spring of light.” The sunlight was increasing and the reflections on the snowfield were dazzling, but this time this period was very short and passed in a blink of an eye. It was a bit lonely in some parts. The blooming of plum and cherry blossoms is wonderful, but the diffuse reflection of sunlight in this snowy country gives me a sensation that penetrates deep into my body. It can be said that this is the true beauty of snow.

This is a comparison between the scene around 3/13 and 2/28. The melting of snow upstream is clearly visible as the volume of water.
　The sense of rhythm of nature has been playing again and again. In terms of work, the project that I have been working on for more than a year and a half has almost reached its conclusion today. Now, let’s work even harder…even in the WBC, go Nippon!

Posted on 3月 17th, 2023 by 三木 奎吾
Filed under: 未分類