３月弥生。既報のようにわが家前にも除排雪軍団が集中投入され、大きく季節感が前進。
　この除排雪で乾燥路面まで表れてきています。昨日はそういうことで早朝散歩１時間ちょっと歩いていましたが、足下も軽くて歩数も8,000歩超ほど。散歩コースは春を確かめにわが家の周辺「発寒川緑地」に足を向けた光景が上の写真。
　温暖地域からすると「え、これのどこが春っぽいの？」ということでしょうが（笑）、札幌人にはこの河水のゆたかな様子がまずウレシイ。まさに「水ぬるむ」で、上流地域で雪融けが進んでこのように流量が増してきてくれる。厳寒時期ではあり得ない豊かさなのです。
　そして山並みの雪景色自体は厳冬期と変わらないのですが、空の「輝き方」〜太陽光が地面に降り注ぎその「反射」が雲に反映される微妙な光彩が「おっ」と思わせられる。さらに雲のコントラストにも季節感がある。
　人生トータル67年間（学生時代からの東京暮らし7-8年を除外して）で、北海道の自然がいろいろに心に投影された記憶から、北海道独特の季節感が浮かび上がってくるのです。ウキウキ。
　散歩途中、川に掛かっている橋から写真撮影していたら、数人のご同輩から目視され、その視線に「ようやく春っぽくなってきましたね」という暖かい共感が感じ取れる（笑）。以心伝心。
　・・・という散歩道ののどかさからの帰路、わが家に近づくほどに今度は大量の消防車群のけたたましいサイレン音。それがわが家方向に向かって行く。なので近づくほどに野次馬的心理から「オイオイ、ひょっとして・・・火の用心は十分だったはずだけど」と心理が変化した。

　気が急く。ようやくわが家まで150mほどになってご覧の様子。とりあえずわが家からは一定距離で火煙も立っていない。たどりついた時、すでに消防車は帰り支度中。タイミングを見て質問したら「人口密集地なので10数台消防車出動でしたが、幸い火災の怖れは無く撤収作業中」とのお答え。ほっとひと安心。
　警察の現場検証も出動〜撤収という様子。近隣の方との情報交換ではマンションの方向から「異臭」がしていたとのこと。
　わたしはこの後１日所用で外出でしたが大事にならず、よかった。
　消防・警察のみなさんのご努力には深く感謝。くれぐれも、火の用心ですね。

●お知らせ
拙書「作家と住空間」幻冬舎から電子書籍で発刊
お求めはAmazonで。
https://amzn.asia/d/eUiv9yO

English version⬇

【Warm Water in Hatsukari Riverbank with Mountain Stream View】
Hokkaido locals possess a new appreciation for the changing winter snowscapes—a fresh sense of nature’s beauty. You probably wouldn’t get it. Suddenly, a barrage of fire truck sirens erupts! …

　March, Yayoi. As previously reported, snow removal crews have been heavily deployed in front of my house too, significantly advancing the seasonal feel.
This snow clearing has even exposed dry pavement. Yesterday, because of that, I took an early morning walk for a little over an hour. My feet felt light, and I clocked over 8,000 steps. My walking route took me to the nearby “Hassamagawa Riverside Park” to check for signs of spring—the scene in the photo above.
To those from warmer regions, you might think, “Huh? What’s spring-like about this?” (laughs), but for us Sapporo folks, seeing this abundant river flow is simply delightful. It truly is “the water warming up”—snowmelt upstream is progressing, increasing the flow like this. It’s a richness unimaginable during the harshest cold.
While the snowy mountain scenery itself hasn’t changed from midwinter, the sky’s “glow”—the subtle radiance created when sunlight hits the ground and its ‘reflection’ is captured by the clouds—makes you go “Oh!” The contrast in the clouds also carries a distinct seasonal feel.
　Over my 67 years of life (excluding 7-8 years living in Tokyo since my student days), memories of Hokkaido’s nature imprinted in my heart bring forth this unique seasonal feeling specific to Hokkaido. I feel light-hearted.
While taking photos from a bridge over the river during my walk, I was spotted by several fellow seniors. Their gaze conveyed a warm sense of shared understanding: “Spring is finally starting to feel like spring, isn’t it?” (laughs). A silent understanding.
　…On the way back from that peaceful stroll, as I neared home, I heard the deafening sirens of a large fleet of fire trucks. They were heading in my direction. So, the closer I got, the more my onlooker mentality kicked in: “Hey, hey, could it be… I thought we were careful with fire safety, though.”

　My heart raced. Finally, about 150 meters from home, I saw the scene. At least from my house, there was no smoke or fire visible at a certain distance. By the time I reached home, the fire trucks were already packing up. I timed my question and was told, “Since it’s a densely populated area, over ten fire trucks were dispatched, but fortunately, there was no risk of fire, so we’re wrapping up.” I breathed a sigh of relief.
Police were also on the scene for investigation—arriving and then leaving. Exchanging information with neighbors, they mentioned a “strange smell” coming from the direction of the apartment building.
I had to go out for errands the next day, but it’s good nothing serious happened.
Deep gratitude to all the firefighters and police officers for their efforts. Fire safety is paramount, isn’t it?

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

Translated with DeepL.com (free version)

Posted on 3月 2nd, 2026 by 三木 奎吾
Filed under: 未分類