実業ビジネスの第一線からは一歩身を引いて、家系史をベースに江戸期から現代までの庶民の「生き様」を活写したいと「四百年間のいのちの履歴書」を志してから、本州への旅はビジネスから「取材」へと色合いが変わってきた。自分なりの自由気まま航路。
　冬の間は、札幌の複数企業入居の自宅兼用住宅での記録的豪雪対応「雪かき労役」に没頭していました。さらに孫育てをも従順に果たし続けた功績（？）が認められ、カミさんからついに久しぶりの「渡航許可」。本日15日東京での知己との集会会合、そしてその後の広島岡山県の故地調査探訪への旅路であります。それにしてもことしの雪かき作業はなかなか、でした（ふー）。
　しかし、出発予定の13日札幌は「嵐」のコンサートで空路が完全に封鎖状態。人気グループのフィーバーぶりはすさまじいようですね。こちらはとばっちりでの航空チケット高騰＆満席という大きな壁に突き当たりましたが、そこは「しぶとさの血脈」。かつての東北出張に使い倒した深夜フェリー便の「旅客だけ」チケットを確保。しかしここへの移動がさまざまな日程と重なって困難でした。深夜便なので移動手段が限られる。
　結局13日深夜にマイカーで札幌を発ちフェリー乗り場駐車場に置いて、14日午後に千歳で息子夫婦と合流行動予定のカミさんに自家用車の帰還を託しての乗船。駐車料金わずか500円と「最高コスパ」で手に入れて、14日深夜01:30発、大洗行きの船旅。
　東北太平洋沿岸をフェリーのゆったり速度で南下すると窓外にはかつての出張記憶が走馬灯のように再生される。これも高齢期の「時空間行路」かなぁ。
　写真は太平洋側から捉えた日本三景「松島」。芭蕉さんが見たら「反対側からは風情が足りないね」と苦笑いされそうですが、この「裏側からの視点」もわたしにはふさわしいかも・・・。
　船内では入浴・サウナや食事を楽しみつつオープンスペース窓辺を「移動景色の書斎」としてほぼ独占利用。安定の通信環境で相棒のAI秘書との対話も順調、情報の整理整頓にハマっていた時間は、なによりありがたい。
　高齢の「寅さん」気分フーテン旅ですが、この「一見不自由な自由開放感」こそ目線をぐっと下げさせてくれるのだと実感。
　さて18時間の船旅でようやく首都圏上陸。
　まだ毎日10,000歩歩ける健康さなので「情報の太平洋」から大物を釣り上げたい（笑）。

●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⬇

[A Leisurely Cruise in the Pacific’s “Floating Study” to Escape “Arashi”]
Though this journey by an elderly vagabond named Tora-san was completely derailed by the “Arashi” concert—which is hugely popular with women—he’s making the most of it with tenacious determination. …

　Since stepping back from the front lines of the business world and setting out to create “Four Hundred Years of Life’s Resumes”—a vivid portrayal of the “lives” of ordinary people from the Edo period to the present, based on my family history—my trips to Honshu have shifted in focus from business to “research.” It’s my own free-spirited journey.
　Throughout the winter, I was fully absorbed in the “snow shoveling labor” required to cope with record-breaking snowfall at my home in Sapporo, which also serves as a shared office space for several companies. Furthermore, my “achievements” (?) in dutifully raising my grandchildren were recognized, and my wife finally granted me “travel permission” for the first time in a long while. Today, the 15th, I’m heading to a gathering with acquaintances in Tokyo, followed by a journey to explore my ancestral lands in Hiroshima and Okayama Prefectures. That said, this year’s snow shoveling was quite the ordeal (phew).
However, on the 13th, the day I was scheduled to depart, flights from Sapporo were completely shut down due to an ARASHI concert. The fever surrounding this popular group seems to be absolutely intense. I ended up facing the major hurdles of skyrocketing airfare and fully booked flights, but that’s where my “tenacity runs in the family” comes in. I managed to secure a “passengers only” ticket for the late-night ferry route I used to rely on for business trips to Tohoku. However, getting there proved difficult due to various scheduling conflicts. Since it’s a late-night ferry, transportation options are limited.
　In the end, I left Sapporo in my car late on the 13th, parked it at the ferry terminal, and boarded the ferry, entrusting my wife—who was scheduled to meet up with my son and his wife in Chitose on the afternoon of the 14th—with the task of retrieving the car. I secured a spot for a mere 500 yen in parking fees—truly “the best value”—and set off on a voyage bound for Oarai, departing at 1:30 a.m. on the 14th.
　As the ferry slowly made its way south along the Pacific coast of Tohoku, memories of past business trips flashed before my eyes like a slideshow. I suppose this is a form of “spatio-temporal journey” in my later years.
The photo shows “Matsushima,” one of Japan’s Three Great Views, as seen from the Pacific side. If Basho were to see this, he might give a wry smile and say, “It lacks charm from this side,” but perhaps this “view from the back” suits me just fine…
　On board, while enjoying the baths, sauna, and meals, I practically had the open-air window area all to myself, using it as a “study with a moving view.” Thanks to the stable internet connection, my conversations with my AI assistant went smoothly, and I was deeply grateful for the time I spent organizing and sorting through information.
It’s a carefree journey in the spirit of an elderly “Tora-san,” but I truly feel that this “sense of freedom amidst apparent constraints” is what allows me to lower my gaze and see things from a different perspective.
　Well, after an 18-hour voyage, I’ve finally landed in the Tokyo metropolitan area.
Since I’m still healthy enough to walk 10,000 steps every day, I’m eager to reel in a big catch from the “Pacific Ocean of Information” (lol).

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

Posted on 3月 15th, 2026 by 三木 奎吾
Filed under: 未分類