６月１６日（月曜日）２０２５
　大きなマリンバを前に長身の布谷史人さんが両手に２本のマレットを自在に操りながら演奏するのを満杯の観客はその目と耳を一点に集中して聴き入りました。水面に一滴の水滴が落ちるようなピアニシモの微かな音、まるで無数のコマネズミたちが忙しく駆け回るように軽やかで素早い音の連続、お腹に深く響くような強い、けれどもどこか温かみのある音、どれひとつ聞き漏らすまいと観客は無言でその音色を聴きました。
　
　二年ぶりの布谷史人さんのマリンバはやはり凄かったです。耳にしたことのある曲も初めて聞く曲も、布谷さんが演奏するとそのどれもが一つの話を聴いているようで引き込まれていきます。小さな息遣いや、長くダイナミックに語り終わった後そっとつく一息、その後静かに元の自分に戻っていくような、そんな布谷さんのストーリー性や美意識を演奏を聴いていて感じました。「手を上げて質問するなんて僕にはできないんです」と自身を語っていた布谷さん。そんな布谷さんだからこそ、マリンバのマレットに託して自己を表現しているのでしょう。繊細な内面を持つ布谷史人さんです。「困難を乗り切るにはどうしたらいいですか」との質問に「練習です」と言い切っていらっしゃいました。「ゆっくり繰り返し練習しているうちに、いつかできるようになります」これは何にでも当てはまりますね。

８曲の演奏を譜面台を置かないで演奏する布谷さんの超人的な姿はいつも通り。アンコールにリクエストしておいた琵琶湖周航の歌は滋賀県民だけでなく誰もの心に響き、胸に込み上げるものがありました。私の体力が持ち、布谷さんのスケジュールが合えば、来年も多賀あさひやで布谷さんのマリンバ演奏が聴けるでしょう。

The full audience concentrated while they listened to marimba music by Fumito Nunoya. He held two mallets in each hand and played the big marimba in front of him amazingly. There were subtle sounds like a drop falling on the surface of water, then light, rapidly moving sounds as if countless numbers of waltzing mice were scurrying around, as well as deep heavy sounds which I could feel in my stomach but still they had a warmth to them. People tried to catch all of these sounds.

Nunoya's marimba concert, which took place two years since the last one in Asahiya was awesome as I expected. It contained both some familiar music and some new to us and we were drawn into the world which Nunoya created. Sometimes I felt it was a subtle breath, sometimes it was a relieved breath after a long dynamic speech and went back to the original state. I could imagine a story and feel his artistry in his music. He described himself as a person who is not able to raise his hand even if he had a question. That's why he expresses himself with marimba with some mallets. I guess he is a gentle and sensitive person. At the Q & A time, one of the audience asked him what is the way to overcome the difficulties. Mr. Nunoya answered clearly that it is practice. He said that he practiced slowly over and over, then he could reach the point where he could manage it. I think it applies to anything.

Mr. Nunoya played eight marimba music without putting a music stand in front of him and that was his usual style although it was an extraordinary ability. He played Lake Biwa Rowing Song as the encore piece which I requested. It was so expressive and emotional and I almost cried. If I will still have power and if it fits Nunoya's schedule, you will listen to his marimba at Taga Asahiya next year again.

６月１４日（土曜日）２０２５

　マリンバ演奏会の前日です。明日のお天気が心配ですが、大勢のお客様に混乱がないよう対応をしっかりしたいと思います。
　そんな昼下がり、大きな箱が宅配で８つ届きました。布谷史人さんがお使いになるマリンバです。いつものことながらその大きさと重さに驚きます。明朝は布谷さんと遠く高知県で音楽教室を開きマリンバも教えていらっしゃるE.Yさんと、ボストンで布谷さんのマリンバの弟子だった岐阜のN.Fさんのお二人が組み立ての手伝いを申し出てくださり、これらの大きな箱が開けられて一台のマリンバになります。楽器屋からのレンタルのようで、こうして梱包されて送られてきますが、普段ドイツでは自宅から演奏会場まで布谷さんが自分で車に積み込み、会場で組み立て、終われば解体して車に積んで帰るという生活です。フルートのような軽い楽器と違い、マリンバ奏者は演奏だけでなく、楽器の持ち運びにも強靭な体力を要することがよくわかります。
　２年ぶりの多賀あさひやでの演奏会。ソロの曲ばかり考えに考えてくださったプログラムです。合間には布谷さん自身のトークが入ったり、観客からの質問を受けるなど、普段の音楽ホールとは違う雰囲気のコンサートです。楽しみでなりません。

It's the day before the marimba concert. I am worrying about the weather tomorrow, but anyhow we will try our best to make all participants feel comfortable at the site.

This afternoon, I received eight big boxes from the delivery service person. They are pieces of marimba which Nunoya will use for his performance tomorrow. I had been receiving these boxes every time we had his performance at my place, but still the size and the weight of each box were a big surprise to me. Mr. Nunoya is based in Germany and uses rental marimba when he has concerts in Japan. Therefore these are sent from musical instrument company in Chiba, Japan. Two people who know Nunoya very well offered to help for assembling marimba with him. One is Ms.Y who is teaching marimba in Kouch and the other one is Mr. F who received marimba lessons from Nunoya when they were in Boston. They will unpack these boxes and assemble them to one marimba for the concert tomorrow morning. Usually Mr. Nunoya carries these pieces in his car and assembles them by himself, and brings them back to his home in Germany. Since it is not a light instrument such as flute, marimba player needs to be strong to carry the music instrument besides playing the music.

It will be two years since the last marimba concert in Taga Asahiya. The program is all solo music for the marimba which Mr. Nunoya selected from his repertoire. It will be a little bit different from his usual concert at the big music hall. In his concert at my place, he will talk little bit about the music which he plays at this concert and explain about the instrument of marimba. He will also take questions from the audience in between the music. I am looking forward to having the concert tomorrow.

６月１３日（金曜日）２０２５
　布谷史人・マリンバコンサートが二日後に迫りました。
１３時は満席。１７時は若干お席があります。
マリンバ経験者もマリンバは初めてという方も、布谷さんの歌うようなマリンバの音色に心動かされるでしょう。
開場はリハーサルが終わり次第、３０〜４０分前になります。
地元の方、遠くからお越しの方、ご来場をお待ちしております。


Marimba Concert by Fumito Nunoya will be held in two days. The concert at 1p.m. is full but the second concert at 5p.m. has a little space.
Both people who play marimba and people who don't even know marimba, will be moved by Nunoya's sound of marimba which is played like heartfelt singing.
The door will be opened 30 to 40 minutes before the concert starts.
We look forward to seeing you, both to those outside of Shiga and local people.

６月２日（月曜日）２０２５
　曇り空の肌寒い天気が続いた後、今朝は久しぶりに太陽の光を受ける朝を迎えました。

　洗濯物を外に干して、駅前のもんぜん市を覗きに行くと、めずらしい花が売られていました。床の間に飾る絶好の枝なので早速購入して、家へ帰って壺に挿して座敷に置いて、はて名前は？.....
先ほど教えてもらったはずが、もう忘れています。仕方なく、もう一度戻って、今度はしっかり紙に書いて帰ってきました。「黒ロウバイ」だそうですが、ネットでは「クロバナロウバイ（蝋梅）」とありました。大きな深い緑の葉の間にえんじ色の花やつぼみが見え隠れしています。香りはそれほど強くありませんが、床の間を清々しく飾ってくれるクロバナロウバイの到来を喜んでいます。

After the cloudy and chilly days, we had a beautiful sunny morning.

After hanging out the laundry outside, I went to the morning market at the Community Center in the station and I found an interesting flower. I bought the branches and brought them back home to decorate the guest room. I put them in a vase and placed it in the alcove. Then I tried to recall the name of the flower which a woman at the market had told me a few minutes ago but I already forgot it. Since I wanted to know the name, I went back to the market again to ask about it. I didn't want to forget it again, so I wrote it on the paper this time.

It is "Kurobana-Rohbai (strawberry bush). We can see some dark red flowers between beautiful fresh green leaves. The aroma is not strong. I appreciate this beautiful rare plant in my house.

５月３０日（金曜日）２０２５
　能楽イベントが終わり、その後の事務処理と次のマリンバ公演の準備で頭の中を整理しながら朝を迎えています。
　今朝は軽くトーストしたフランスパンの上にちょうどいい柔らかさになったアボガドを、乗せて軽く塩を振りオリーブ油をかけたものを食べました。簡単だけど美味しく、お皿に溢れたオリーブ油は、パンを更に切ってつけて食べます。アボガドとパンが主役ですが、塩とオリーブ油が脇役としてしっかり存在感を出しています。

　カフェのほうは、入社した会社の研修を終えた若者が東京へ帰る前に立ち寄ってくれました。彼は研修が始まった頃に２度ほど顔を見せてくれたので顔を覚えていました。研修期間中に仲間といった万博のことやこれからの抱負などコーヒーを飲みながらカウンター越しに話す彼の顔は、研修を終えた安堵感と社会の一員になる不安や期待も見られ、フレッシュな青年そのもの。私も云十年前に千葉の田舎で会社の研修を仲間と受けました。数週間前に久しぶりに同期会があって、すっかり忘れていましたが、相手は印象に残っていると当時のことを話し、私は人ごとのように大笑いしました。青年の荷物の中には万博で買った大きなミャクミャクくんが入っていました。多賀での研修が後々のT君に良い思い出として残りますように。

The Noh event at Taga Asahiya has finished successfully and I have been keeping myself busy with the paper work of the previous event and at the same time I started the preparation for the next Marimba Concert which is coming on June 15th.These two actions are preoccupying my mind and making me a little bit confused.

I ate a lightly toasted slice of baguette with avocado sprinkled with a little salt and olive oil poured on top. It is easy to make but very good. The baguette and avocado are the main ingredients but the taste of a light scattering of salt and olive oil stay in the mouth nicely.

In the cafe, a young man came after the training period of his company. I remembered him because he came to the cafe two times when the training had started. He talked to me about the World Expo he went to which has been held for several months in Osaka. He took out the character mascot "Myaku myaku" from his bag. He also talked about his aspirations toward his future but at the same time he showed his anxiety which he should face. I could see his feeling in his face that he was relieved to finish the training. Listening to his experience, I recall my training which I experienced a long time ago when I started at the airline company. A few weeks ago, I went to the company reunion. There, one of the members talked about me on the first day of training. It was a funny memory. I hope his experience of training in Taga will stay as a good memory.

５月２６日（月曜日）２０２５
　心配された雨も昼前には上がり、東京からシテ方二人、大阪方面から囃子方四人の皆さんを迎えて、多賀あさひやでの能楽イベントが無事開催できました。当日参加の方もいらっしゃり、会場は大勢の観客でいっぱいになりました。

　今回は「高砂（たかさご）」がテーマで、最初に鵜澤久先生、光先生による分かりやすい解説と実践がありました。また今年初めてお囃子に太鼓が加わったため、能における太鼓の意味や魅力なども話していただきました。鵜澤両先生、囃子方の先生方のユーモアを混じえたお話と観客を巻き込んでの体験実習で、会場は能の一般的なイメージとは違って和気藹々とした雰囲気に包まれました。２部で披露していただいた「高砂」の躍動感あふれる力強い舞囃子に観客は息を呑み圧倒され、最後の質疑応答では、お客様からの例えば何故能が約７００年に渡って生き延びてきたか、能における「間（ま）」とは何か、所属もそれぞれ違う能楽師たちが何故少しの打ち合わせだけでリハーサルもなく併せられるのか、など興味深い質問にも応えていただき、能についての知識や興味も深まりました。

　肌寒いお天気でお客様の体調に支障がなかったか心配ですが、能楽師の皆様、観客の皆様、そして会場の設営から休憩時間、後片付けまで力を貸してくださったスタッフの皆様のお陰で、今年も大盛り上がりで能の会を終了できました。皆様、本当にありがとうございました。

Fortunately the rain which had been falling until the morning stopped at noon, and we could hold the Noh event with two Shite actors who were from Tokyo and four Hayashi-kata (musicians) from Osaka area. We had a full audience adding several participants who joined at site.

The theme of the event of this year was Takasago (one of the classic noh plays by Zeami) and noh master Hisa Uzawa and Hikaru Uzawa gave explanations and demonstrations about the theme. For several years, the musical instruments were flute (Noh pipe), small hand drum (kotsuzumi) and big drum (ohkawa), but this year, side drum (taiko) joined them. Therefore, they also explained the specific role of taiko and its appeal in the noh performance. Both Uzawa's and musicians' talk were sometimes funny and easy to understand to the audience. At the end of the first part, participants received lessons of noh chanting and several ways of interjected changing of small hand drum from noh players. In the second part, we appreciated the part of Takasago with full members. It was so energetic and overwhelming. Audience had a chance to ask questions to the noh players. There were many interesting questions, for example, why noh existed for almost seven hundred years in Japan, what "ma (pose)" means in noh play, why noh players are able to perform in perfect timing without rehearsing beforehand even though each one came from a different school and different place. The noh players answered those questions. We learned a lot of things about noh and drew more attention to it.

It was a little bit cold and I wished it didn't affect the audience's health. I thank all the noh players who gave such a great performance, I also thank all participants who gathered for this event. Lastly, I will express my gratitude to the staff who helped setting up the event place, working at the break time and returning the furniture to the original state. I couldn't have had such a successful event without those people's efforts.

５月１５日（木曜日）２０２５
　午前９時半の予約のために市立病院まで愛のりタクシーを予約しようかどうしようか迷った末、帰りの買い出しを考えて自転車で出かけました。片道５０分ぐらい。年齢を考えるとちょっと遠いかなと思いながらも無事到着。病院の中は相変わらず高齢者でいっぱいでしたが患者数の割には待ち時間も苦にならずスムーズに診療を終えて、帰り道は４箇所で買い物をしてお昼過ぎに我が家に帰りつきました。

　午後は役場と銀行で用事を済ませて今日の予定をこなせたことに一安心。役場の帰りに多賀大社へ寄って、今が満開のナンジャモンジャの花を眺めました。横に広がる新緑のもみじと線香花火の白色版とでも言えそうなナンジャモンジャの花が枝のそこかしこでパァーッと弾けて美しかったです。

　このナンジャモンジャの木はまもなく御歳９０におなりになる多賀大社の名誉宮司のN様が多賀に赴任なさった時に頂かれた小さな苗が大きくなったものだそうで、先日ご本人から伺いました。

I wondered how I should go to the hospital where I had an appointment at 9:30 a.m.by taxi or by bicycle. After all, I chose bicycling because I could drop by several grocery stores on the way back home. Almost an hour of riding to get to the hospital from my house was a little bit far for me concerning my age, but I could arrive at the hospital safely. Many elderly patients were in the hospital as I expected, but the waiting time did not bother me and I finished meeting with the doctor. I went back home early in the afternoon, visiting several stores.

I also visited the town hall and bank in the afternoon which made me satisfied to finish my schedule for the day. On the way back home from the town hall, I visited Taga Taisha to see the Snow-flower-Fringe tree. The white flowers were in full bloom. Fresh green maple leaves which spread horizontally were well matched with the white flowers and they were so beautiful.

Recently I heard the story about this Snow-flower-Fringe tree from Mr.N who is almost 90 years old and he is Emeritus priest of Taga Taisha now. It was planted when he came to the shrine as a chief priest.