８月４日（火曜日）２０２６
　ボストン郊外で友人に会うため、２日間レンタカーをしました。
　前日にオンラインで予約を入れて、バスで近くまで行ってレンタカー屋へ着いたのが１２時前。小さめの車を予約しておいたのが、今回もやっぱり予定より大きい車。しかもクライスラーのJeep Dooge Ram。４輪駆動。もちろん今まで乗ったことはありません。車体は鮮やかな青で駐車場で見つけやすいのはいいのですが運転席が結構高くパネルの操作もわかりにくく不安に思いながらも、エンジンが掛けられ、エアコンの操作がわかれば、まあいいかと思ってゆるゆるとスタート。次第に慣れてハイウェイも使って何とか４０分後には目的地のモールの駐車場へ車を止めることができました。
　コーヒーショップで飲み物とケーキで３時間あまり昔の友達３人とおしゃべりの後、もと来た道を家へ。無事帰れたことに安堵しました。

I rent a car for two days to meet my friends who are living in the suburbs of Boston.

First I made a reservation online one day before, and went by bus to a nearby rental shop and arrived at around 12 noon. Although I reserved a compact car, they rented me a larger car than I expected. It was a Chrysler Jeep Dodge Ram 4WD. I hadn't driven it before. It was a beautiful blue color and I thought I could find it easily at the parking lot, but I felt uneasy because the driver's seat was quite high and the high tech panel was confusing for me. As long as I understood how to start the engine and operate the air conditioner, it would be good enough, so I slowly set off the car. Then I gradually got used to driving and even entering the highway, I could reach the mall's parking lot where there was a goal point and parked the car.

I got together with my two old friends and enjoyed talking for about three hours with coffee and cake. Then I headed home along the same way I came. I was relieved when I returned home safely.

 

７月３０日（木曜日）２０２６　
　日本が戦後のまだ貧しい時代に田舎で生まれて兄妹が５人いたこともあり、我が家には誰かの誕生日を祝うというおしゃれで華やかな習慣はなく、唯一母が「今日はあんたの誕生日やね」とそっと混ぜ寿司を作ってくれたことを覚えているぐらい。ですから、兄たちや親の誕生日を知ることも、お祝いをすることも我が家にはまったくありませんでした。

　それが、時代もすっかり変わり、家庭を持ち子供が生まれる頃には家族はもちろん友人の誕生日を互いに祝うのは当たり前になりました。

ボストンで久しぶりに家族の誕生会をしました。といっても、大したことはしません。私がまぜ寿司と揚げ物を作り、昨日の残りのビーフシチュー、主人がケーキとアイスクリームをネットで注文して、娘が仕事帰りに買ってきたボストン名物のクラムチャウダーが食卓に並ぶだけ。それでも、面白かったのはケーキとアイスクリームの組み合わせ。日本ではあまりないと思います。つまりアメリカでは定番のデザートだったことです。

Having been born in the countryside during the postwar era when Japan was still poor, and one of five siblings, there was no tradition of celebrating birthdays in my family. I only remember that my mother made mixed sushi rice saying "it's your birthday, isn't it.". Therefore we never knew the date of the birthdays of my family members, nor did we celebrate them.

However, times have changed completely and by the time I had a family and child of my own, it became more natural to celebrate the birthdays of family members and friends.

We had a family birthday party in Boston for the first time in a long while, but it wasn't anything special. I made mixed sushi rice and deep fried-food, my husband ordered cake and ice cream online, and my daughter bought clam chowder on her way home from work which is well known as Boston style. We just put them on the table. Even so, the combination of cake and ice cream was interesting, because you don't see it very often in Japan. It is a very popular combination in the US.

７月２８日（火曜日）２０２６
　家から車で１０分ほどのところにショッピングモールがあり、買いたいものがあったのでバスで出かけました。欲しいものがあったり、なくて無駄足になったところもありましたが、最後にTrader Joe'sというスーパーで食材を買ったら一気に持ち物が増えてバッグパックと手さげ袋がズシリと重くなりました。歩いて５分ぐらいのバス停に向かっていると、バスが前方を行くのが見え、走ればなんとか間に合う感じでしたが、荷物が重いのと今はまだ走ることができない私の足を考え、無理はやめようと取り敢えずは次のバスを待つことにしました。

　バス停にはベンチがなく、立ちっぱなしで待つのは厳しいので近くに買い物袋を置いて、私は木陰の芝生にヨイショッと腰を下ろしました。バックパックに入った買ったばかりのお菓子の袋を開けて、通り過ぎる人や車を見るともなくぼんやりしていると、２０分ぐらい過ぎた頃、声がしたので、何？とそちらを見ると、車が止まって窓を開けて誰かがこっちに話しています。周りに人がいなかったので、その人は私に話していたのです。はっきりとは聞き取れなかったけれど、車に乗せてあげると運転席の女性は話していました。勿論、手振りも加えて「大丈夫です。ありがとうございます！」と言ってお断りしましたが、わざわざ声をかけるなんて、今時優しい人がいるものだとその方の親切に感謝しました。

　バスを待つ人なんて他にもいるだろうに、よっぽど私のバス待ち姿が目立っていたのでしょうか。カラリとした気候でそれほど苦痛ではなかったけれど、結局４０分待ってバスはやってきました。

There is a shopping mall which takes 10 minutes from my house by car and I went there by bus to buy something I need. I visited several stores and I could get what I wanted but at another store I couldn't get anything. I went to Trader Joe's in the end and bought many groceries. Then, my backpack and shopping bag got very heavy. When I was walking toward the bus stop to return home, I saw the bus ahead of me heading to the bus stop, I could have caught it if I dashed, but I gave up running because my bag was too heavy and I still have problems with my legs. I decided to wait for the next bus.

There was no bench at the bus stop and I didn't want to stay standing while waiting for the bus, so I put my shopping bag beside the tree and sat on the grass in the shade. Then I opened the snack pack in the backpack which I had just bought and I was just looking at people or cars passing by me. In about 20 minutes, someone stopped the car and opened the window and said something toward me. Since nobody was around me, I noticed that she was talking to me. I couldn't hear clearly but she was offering the ride for me. Of course I declined her offer and thanked her with the gesture. After she left, I really appreciated her kindness.

I wonder why she stopped her car for me. Did I stand out while I was waiting for the bus? The weather was fine and I didn't feel unpleasant waiting for the bus, but after 40 minutes, the bus finally came.

     

７月２７日（月曜日）２０２６
　ボストンに来て、激しい夕立が一度ありましたが、あとは晴天続きです。気温は摂氏２３度から２５度ぐらい。暑い日もありますが
湿度が６０％ぐらいで低いため、室内にいる時は寒がりの私は長袖をもう一枚着て過ごしています。

　さて、気になっていた家の周りの生垣を数日かけて綺麗にしました。生垣の植物の名前は分かりませんが棘があり侵入者を防ぐには良いかも知れませんが、刈り込みをする時は注意が必要です。この生垣に近年Black Swallow Wortというツル科の多年草の雑草がはびこるようになり、ツルが生垣の枝にまとわりつき、元気な枝を締め付けて相手を枯らしてしまうので、新聞などでも捨てる時は別にして広がらないように注意喚起を行っています。この雑草のやっかいなところは絡まりながら緑の実をつけ、それが弾けて風にのると別のところで根をつけて本来の植物を次々にダメにしてしまうので、本当にいやらしく北米では深刻な侵略的外来種となっているようです。実が弾ける前に取り除いてしまわなければという脅迫観念にかられながら、毎朝2時間ほど少しずつきれいにしていきました。

　軍手を二重につけ、鎌やハサミを使ってトゲが刺さらないよう気をつけながら雑草の根を起こし、絡まったツルを外していきます。若い元気な枝からグルグル巻きのツルを外してやるとこちらも命を救った気持ちでほっとします。根気強く手作業でやるしかありませんが、生垣の足元がすっきりすると達成感も湧きます。後は、表面の飛び出た新芽をトリマーでガーッとやって終わりです。

We have had a heavy evening shower since I came to Boston, but it has been fine these days and the temperature is around 75°F, humidity is 60% to 70%. I even need a long sleeve cardigan inside the house. It's pretty comfortable compared to Japan which is very hot and humid during the summer.

Well, I had been working on the hedge for the past few days which is surrounding my house. I don't know the name of the hedge but it has thorns and we need to be careful not to get pricked by them when we trim the hedge. In addition, we have another troublesome problem about hedging in these years. A special weed named Black Swallow Wort has been propagating under the hedge. It's a perennial vine and the vines twine around the plant and make the hedge die. Experts advised us to separate this Black Swallow Wort when we throw it away. It has many 2~2.5 inch green fruits and when it opens brown seeds fly on the wind and take root elsewhere. Therefore it is called invading foreign species. Being consumed with an obsession which I need to hurry to eliminate the annoying weed, I was working to remove it for about two hours everyday.

Wearing double-work gloves for protection from the thorns, I tried to cut the weeds and pull off the roots with scissors and sickle. When I could remove the vein from the hedge, I felt good because I saved the life of the young hedge. I had to do this work all by hand patiently but after I cleaned up the hedge, I felt accomplished. Lastly I ran a trimmer over the new shoots sticking out from the surface, and all my work was done.

７月１９日（土曜日）２０２６
　ミュージカル「The Great Gatsuby」を観ました。実はこれと同じタイトルの別のミュージカルを２年ほどまえにハーバード大学内の劇場で観ましたが、今回はブロードウェイ版。比べてみるのも面白いと思い娘が切符を取ってくれました。

　グレート・ギャツビーはスコット・フィッツジェラルドが1925年に発表した小説で、アメリカ人なら知らない人はいないぐらい知られた小説のようです。昔、同名の映画が制作されて主人がこれを見ています。娘の高校の必読書で、授業で勉強したので内容についても詳しく覚えていました。ただ、「高校の授業で取り上げられる」というところがミソだと思いました。
娘曰く、グレートギャツビーは名文が多いとのこと。また何がどうなったかというのが直接、文で書かれることが少なく、会話の中でそれを推測って知ったり、語り手である隣人の「僕」の発話からその心情や性格を理解したりと、クラスで色々ディスカッションをして学んだとのこと。これを聞いて、英語母語者でない外人の私が、簡単にこの本の良さを理解するのは程遠いと思いました。

　私は日本語訳（村上春樹訳）の本を読み始めたのですが、会話文が多く、内容もそれほどドラマ性はなく、読解半ば近くで今回の観劇となりました。しかし実際のストーリーは劇的で、しかもミュージカルなので観客の熱気は相当なものでした。そして、本にある「名文」とやらもしっかり歌やセリフの中に入っていたそうですから、外人の私には太刀打ちできません。

　恐らく、皆の半分も入っていなかったと思いますが、見終わっての感想はそれでもいくつかありました。
先ず、前回観た同名のミュージカルと人物の捉え方が結構違っていることが私にもわかったこと。ブロードウェイ版だけあって大掛かりな舞台転換に目を見張りました。背景の水辺やプールなど水の表現に感心したこと。俳優たちの歌やダンスは素晴らしいのですが、遠くで観る観客にも届くように使うピンマイクのバランスがあまり心地よくなかったこと。今回、舞台下上手で手話通訳が３人いて、舞台上の人物の語りや歌の手話を見るのが、意味は分からなくても楽しかった。等々他にも色々。

　ボストンの歴史あるオペラハウスで２０００人？近い観客とオーケストラと俳優たち、そしてそのスタッフたちの熱気を感じ、劇場を後にしました。程よい解説と私の歩行に気を遣ってくれた娘にも感謝です。

I watched the musical "The Great Gatsby" yesterday. I saw a different production with a different interpretation at a theater in Harvard two years ago, but this time it was the Broadway version. My daughter bought the tickets, thinking we would be interested.

The Great Gatsby was written by F. Scott Fitzgerald in 1925, and it is a very familiar novel to Americans. My husband saw the Hollywood movie with the same title when he was young. My daughter mentioned that it was required reading in her high school, and she remembered the book well because they had discussed it in class. I thought this was probably the main reason why it is so popular among American people. However, as a non-native speaker, it is quite difficult for me to fully understand this book.

Because I wanted to understand the story better, I started reading the Japanese translation (by Haruki Murakami) in Japan. However, it was still not easy to grasp because there are many lines of dialogue and it didn't seem like a dramatic story on the surface. My daughter explained that the author didn't write things directly, so you need to read between the lines to realize what is actually going on. I realized just how hard it is for a foreigner like me to get into the story.

Even so, I enjoyed the show very much. I would like to mention several things which I was impressed by. First, I noticed that the way some characters were portrayed differed from the production I saw previously. Every scene change was grand and amazing. They incorporated water elements, like the seashore and a pool, which looked beautiful and incredibly real. There were three sign language interpreters below the right side of the stage. Even though I couldn't understand sign language, I was really moved seeing them work. The only thing that made me a bit uncomfortable was the actors' lapel microphones. They were a little too loud for me.

The musical took place at the historic Opera House, which has a capacity of about 2,000 people. I could feel the energy and excitement shared by the actors, the orchestra, the audience, and the staff. Finally, I would like to express my gratitude to my daughter. She gave me wonderful explanations about the stage and was so thoughtful regarding my legs, which are still a bit painful to walk on.

     

７月１４日（火曜日）２０２６
　夕方、娘が仕事から帰ってくるなり「太陽が真っ赤よ！」と教えてくれました。
「どれどれ....」と野次馬で入れかわりに外に出てみると、西の空に確かに真っ赤な太陽。でも日本で見る夕焼けとは何か違います。まわりの空はぼんやりと濁った色をしています。どうして太陽だけが赤いのか家族間で話題となり、娘が「火事で赤いんじゃないの」と言いましたが、私には納得できません。娘がAIに聞いてみたところ、カナダのオンタリオ付近で起きた山火事から発生した大量の煙がボストン地区に流れ込んで、それが大気を汚染してあのような空となったとのこと。明日の大気質は更に悪くなるとも。

　今朝は午前中は庭の垣根の雑草を取って、水分補給に家に入ってからは、パソコンをいじったり、昼寝をしたりしてぐだぐだ過ごしました。外は確かに暑いですがそれほど汗をかくこともなく家の中はむしろ私には半袖では寒いぐらいです。

It was the evening and when my daughter came home from her work, first she said " the sun was really red!". As I was curious about it, I went out to see what it looked like. I have seen the sunset many times before, but the sun was different from other one. The sunsets which I saw were both the sun and the sky was red, but this time only the sun was red but the sky was cloudy. We have discussed why only the sun was red among my family. My daughter said wildfire might have been the cause, but I was still wondering the reason. She asked about it to AI, then it said that the wildfire smoke around Ontario in Canada came to the Boston area and it polluted the atmosphere and made the sun that color and get worse the next day.

This morning, I was removing the weeds around the hedge of the yard, although I couldn't finish the work, I got back to the house to get some water and in the afternoon, then I was on the computer or relaxing by taking a nap for several hours. It's hot outside but I don't sweat much because it's dry. I would feel rather cold inside the house if I were wearing a half-sleeved T-shirt.

７月１３日（月曜日）２０２６

　５ヶ月ぶりにボストンへ。前回は手術後間がなかったのでアメリカから帰った娘が同行してくれ、杖と娘を頼りに渡米しましたが今回は一人旅。早めに空港に着いてJALのさくらラウンジを初めて利用しました。中へ入るとカウンター向こうに人が並んでちょっとびっくり。上階は食事、下階は喫茶と軽食。夕方だったためかどちらも多くの人が利用していました。JALカードのランクによって無料で休憩と飲食ができるこの特典制度の利用は初めてです。興味津々で先ずはスパークリングワインとビーフカレーを少し、それに冷たいスープをとって席につきました。どれも美味しく、続いて中に餡がはいった抹茶菓子とカフェオレも楽しみました。

　前回は遠いと感じた搭乗口までの距離がそれほどでもなかったのは、それだけ自分に力がついてきたのでしょう。搭乗を待っていると窓から地上を行き交う整備士の姿が見えました。ヘルメットをかぶった女性整備士の方も数人見られ頼もしく思いました。

　機内では顔立ちが日本人でない客室乗務員が結構いて、最初の話しかけも英語だったので驚きましたが、乗客との対応や洗面所の清掃など昔ながらのJALの丁寧なサービスに感心しました。

　しばらくボストンで家族と暮らします。留守にするため、カフェに来てくださったり、お弁当やマリンバ公演の申込みで電話を下さるお客様にご迷惑をおかけしますが、どうかしばらくお待ちくださるようお願い申し上げます。

I left for Boston for the first time in 5 months. Last time, since it was a few days after my surgery, I was with my daughter who came from the US to assist me. I could come to Boston with a cane and my daughter's assistance, but this time I had to manage everything by myself. I arrived at Narita Airport a few hours before the departure time of my flight, so I decided to use the JAL Sakura Lounge for the first time. It's a benefit system for the members of JAL credit card at the airport where you can rest and eat freely. First, I was overwhelmed at the entrance of the lounge, because many staff were standing over the counter, then they let me in after checking my boarding pass. Since it was early in the evening, both the dining area (upper level) and snack & drink area were mostly full of people. I took a glass of sparkling wine, a small amount of beef curry and cold soup. They were all very good! I also took two small matcha sweets and a cafe latte for dessert. I enjoyed everything.

Last time, I felt the distance to the gate was so far and it was very hard for me to walk, but this time I didn't feel that way and I appreciated that I gained much physical strength now. While I was waiting for boarding at the gate, I saw many mechanics who were checking the plane or walking on the ground from the window and I saw a few women with helmets which made me feel great.

After boarding, I saw a couple of cabin crew members who were not Japanese. Although I was a bit surprised when they first talked to me in English, the way of taking care of the passengers and keeping the restroom clean and neat were so nice as I expected.

I will be spending a couple of weeks with my family in Boston. I feel sorry for the people who visit my cafe while I am out or call to make a reservation for lunch or buy tickets for the marimba concert. I thank for their patience and sincerely ask those people to wait until I return to Japan.

７月７日（火曜日）２０２６

　７月に入り、これから本格的な夏の始まりです。
さて、今回は夏を超えて秋のイベントのお知らせです。

私ども多賀あさひやでは今年もドイツから一時帰国の布谷史人さんを迎えてマリンバコンサートをいたします。
昨年、TV番組「グッと！地球便」で紹介されてから、布谷さんのマリンバを聴きたいという方が増えて多賀コンサートにも
数人お申し込みがありました。嬉しいかぎりです。

　布谷さんのマリンバを古民家で聴くという他にはない企画です。世界のマリンバ業界を牽引する布谷史人さんの丁寧に語られる音楽の世界を素晴らしいテクニックとともにどうぞご堪能ください。チケットのお申し込みはFB、taga.asahiya@gmail.comまたは0749-48-0186まで。

It's July and the real summer has begun.
Now, I would like to announce the event at my place which will be held this autumn.

We will invite a marimbist, Mr. Nunoya, who will return to Japan temporarily from Germany and have a marimba concert at Taga Asahiya this year too. Last January, Mr Nunoya was introduced on the TV program "Global Messenger" and I received a request for the tickets of his concert at my place from a viewer of that TV program.

It's a very valuable concert that presents the audience the opportunity to listen closer to his playing at the Japanese traditional house because usually Mr. Nunoya has his concert at the music hall in Japan. I hope you will enjoy Mr. Nunoya's marimba. He is a top marimba artist in the world and people praise the music which he creates as well as his wonderful skill. I am proud of having his concert at my place.

Please contact to get the ticket to taga.asahiya@gmail.com or 0749-48-0186.

６月２９（月曜日）２０２６

　朝から陽が差して洗濯日和。仕事も一段落ついて買い物に出る前に一息ついていると、ピンポーンと玄関でチャイムの音。出てみると、彦根のNさんがお連れのMさんとご一緒でした。手には赤い実のついた枝をお持ちで「はい、ヤマモモ」と手渡してくださいました。お二人はカフェが定休日であることをご存知なかったようでしたが、せっかくだからとカフェを開けて中に入っていただきました。

　ヤマモモは初めて見る枝で、小さな赤い実がたくさんついて何とも可愛らしく嬉しくなります。Nさんに勧められて赤い実を口に入れてみると甘酸っぱい味が口の中いっぱいに広がりました。早速、壺に入れて床の間に飾りました。地味な書の掛け軸の床の間にヤマモモの朱色が心を弾ませてくれます。

　ネットで調べると、ヤマモモはヤマモモ科の常緑高木で、赤い実に比べて花は茶色で目立つ色ではないようです。カウンターにお座りになったNさんとMさんのお二人はもっぱらヤマモモで作る果実酒の話で盛り上がっていました。

It was a beautiful day and when I was taking break after finishing my daily work, someone pressed the doorbell. It was Mr. N and Mrs.M from Hikone. Mr. N brought branches which I had never seen before. He told me it was "Yamamomo (Japanese Bayberry). Although they didn't know that it was a regular closing day of my cafe, I opened the entrance and let them in and served coffee for them.

There were two branches and each one had many red berries. They looked so cute. Mr. N said I should eat one, so I did. It was sweet and sour. I put the branches into a vase and placed it in the alcove of the guest room. The red berries are a beautiful accent to the modest calligraphy behind.

According to the net information, the flowers of the Yamamomo are brownish and don't stand out. Two people, Mr. N and Mrs.M were talking at the counter seats about how to make fruit wine from these berries.
It also seems to taste good.

６月９日（火曜日）２０２６
　雨にはならなかったものの、肌寒い不安定な今日のお天気でした。

　豊郷町のN様から、珍しいトケイソウと可愛らしい紫陽花をいただきました。トケイソウというのは３つに分かれた雄シベが時計の針に似ているところから名前がついたようですが、英語ではpassion flower (キリストの受難(passion)の花）というそうです。雄しべはキリストを貼りつけにした釘、糸のように広がる副花冠は茨の冠、１０数枚の花びらは弟子たち、ツルは鞭にたとえられているとのこと。花言葉は信仰（聖なる愛）。花は一日花で朝開花して日暮れとともにしぼんでしまうようです。

　細長い花瓶に挿して、高い台に乗せたら、ツルが垂れ下がり素敵に飾ることができました。茶道や華道の先生でもいらっしゃるN様は、お庭に咲くこうした花々を時々お持ちくださり、何も知らない私に色々教えてくださいます。

Although it wan't rainy day, it wa a bit cold and unstable day.

I received branches of passionflower and hydrangea from Ms. N who is living in Toyosato town. Passionflower's Japanese name is "Tokei-so (clock flower) and it is because three stamens look like clock hands,but it is flower of the Passion of Christ in English, and three stamens are likened to nails of the Cross, corona which looks like a crown of thorns, petals are apostle and vine is like a wip. The flower language is "faith". It is one day flower which opens in the morning and closes at sunset.

Since it has a long vine, I put it in a long vase on an elevated stand, then it looked very nice. Ms. N who is a master of both ikebana (flower arrangement) and Tea. She often kindly brings these flowers from her garden and I am so happy to learn about them.

６月６日（土曜日）２０２６
　朝のもんぜん市で土付らっきょうが出ていたので購入しました。カフェの合間に甘酢漬けの作業開始。

先ず、らっきょうの土を水で綺麗に落として、両端を切り取り、更に何回も水洗い。塩を揉み込んでしばらく放置。その間に保存容器を煮沸消毒し、分量の砂糖を水で溶かして冷ます。鷹の爪を輪切りにし、分量の酢も用意。この間、台所中らっきょうの匂いでいっぱいだったので、カフェのお客様の反応が心配で聞くと、全然気にならないとのことで一安心。塩揉みしたらっきょうを水洗いしてから熱湯の中へ数秒入れ、冷ました後に保存容器に入れ、鷹の爪と甘酢も入れて完成。

　らっきょうの甘酢漬けは定番のカレーライスのお供になる他に、私はコールスローを作る時にピクルスの代わりにらっきょうを刻んで入れます。らっきょうは腸内環境の改善や血液をサラサラにする効果があると言われています。子供の時は好んで食べませんでしたが、歳とともにこうした保存食を自分で作って食べられるのは嬉しく思います。

I found an unwashed Japanese pickled scallions at the local morning market, so I bought them for making homemade sweet and sour pickles.

 
Washing pickled scallions first, I cut both ends of each of them and washed them again and again. Rubbed them with salt and left for a while. I also disinfected the container in boiling water. Dissolved sugar with water and cooled it down. After washing pickled scallions again, put them into hot water for a second. Then put all of them into the container with hot pepper and vinegar. I need to wait a month at least to eat.

I like sweet and sour pickled scallions. People say they improve gut health and make blood thinner. I didn't like to eat them when I was a child but I like them now and I am glad to make homemade ones by myself.

６月５日（金曜日）２０２６
　私の曽祖父は澤田久蔵(1854-1899)といい、明治5年(1872)に学制が発布されて明治７年に多賀小学校ができてから、校長を約１１年間務めていました。当時は多賀のほかに、敏満寺や久徳にも小学校があり、その後統合されて今の多賀小学校になりました。（「多賀小学校百年のあゆみ」より）敏満寺小学校の初代校長は久蔵の兄の澤田醇一でした。醇一、久蔵共に彦根の寺子屋で学んだのちに師範学校を経て教職についたようです。家には久蔵氏が使っていたと思われる書物や書いた物が残っており、明治の人々の教養レベルの高さに驚きます。

　さて、私が多賀の実家に帰って色々整理している中に古い書ばかりの掛け軸があり、見ると最後に「一茶O︎OO︎」と書いてありました。えっ？と思ってネットで調べてみると、小林一茶作と言われる勧農詞であることが分かりました。農業の大切さや勤勉さを説く内容で、当時、道徳心を養う教材としても用いられたとのこと。久蔵氏はこれを学校のどこかに掛けて子供達に教えたと思われます。当時は小林一茶作と信じられていましたが、後に原作者は宮下正岑（まさみね）であることが判明しました。

　いずれにしても珍しいものなので、眠らせておくのは惜しいと思いましたが、掛け軸の下はボロボロで、書の部分もシミがついて、とても掛けられる状態ではありませんでした。修理にはお金もかかるし、結局そのままにしておいたのですが、昨年、野洲で京表具の仕事をしている辻芳弘さんが横田順さんの墨画展に来られたので、掛け軸を見せて、思い切って修理をお願いしました。そして先日それを仕上げて持ってきてくださいました。シミも綺麗に取れて見事な掛け軸として復活しました。

　ネットでは文字起こしはされていますが、現代語訳がないので、私には詳しい内容はわかりません。けれども、美しい文字の流れはいつまでも見ていたい程素晴らしいです。しばらく、我が家の床の間に掛けてありますので、興味のある方は是非見にいらしてください。

My great grandfather is Kyuuzoh Sawada (1854-1899) and he served as principal for 11 years in Taga Primary School since the Meiji government promulgated the school system in 1872. At first, there were three schools in neighboring areas and later they were integrated as Taga Primary School. Junichi Sawada was the first principal in Binmanji Primary School which was one of three and he was the elder brother of Kyuuzoh S., and they both had an education at Terakoya (temple school) and teacher's school after that. Kyuuzoh left several books and papers in my house. I could understand how he was a highly educated person by those books and writings. People in the Meiji era were putting so much effort into learning History, Chinese poetry, Math, etc. They were really amazing.

Well, when I returned my native home ten years ago and cleaned up things which were in the house, I found an old hanging scroll. I saw the name "Issa ....." which is very famous as a Japanese poet in the Edo period. Looking up on the internet, it is "Encouragement of Agriculture" by Kobayashi Issa. It seemed that educators used it as an educational material for developing a sense of morality at that time. People believed that it was Issa's work but actually it was proved later that a different person, Miyashita Masamine, worked for it.

In any case, I thought it was a very interesting and valuable scroll, but I just put it away for years because it was old and ruined the lower part. Last year, Mr. Tsuji, who is a mounting specialist, came to me so I decided to ask him to fix it. He finished the work and brought it to me a couple of days ago. The cloth frame was renewed and many spots disappeared. It appeared totally beautifully.

It was written in beautiful classical cursive Japanese, but unfortunately I can read only a few words.
Even though I understand partially, I am still happy to watch such a beautiful scroll.

５月２８日（木曜日）２０２６
　運転免許証更新のために高齢者講習を受けに彦根自動車学校へ行きました。実は免許証を持ってはいるものの、この１０年間日本で車を運転したことがありません。ボストンでは運転していますが、今年は手術後であったことと大雪のために車に乗ることはありませんでした。それで、ほぼ１年間、私はアメリカでも運転からは遠ざかっていました。

　アメリカでは年齢に関係なく事務的な手続きだけで更新は済みますが、日本では７０歳以上は高齢者講座、７５歳を超えると認知症テストを受けなければなりません。私はどちらも何とか無事に終わりましたが、今回は更に視力検査と運転実技にパスしなければなりません。日本で運転したことのない私にとってはハラハラもの。ブレーキとアクセルは右？左？エンジンスタートはブレーキを踏み込んでからだったっけ？など不安になり、急いで出かける前にネットでチェック。

　幸い、試験管が優しい方で、車の中で現在の運転頻度を聞かれた時に日本で運転していないと伝えると、珍しがって世間話をするなどリラックスした雰囲気で色々な指示を出してくださったのですが、最初は右折の方向指示は上手に出せたのですが、その後２度も間違って左のレバーを操作してワイパーが動き出し慌てました。（アメリカでは左側に方向指示レバーがついています。）右側走行に慣れているので右折の時に注意したのは勿論です。終わって試験管の方から「クセのないいい運転」と褒められたのは気分よかったですが、疲れがどっと出ました。

It is the time to renew my driver's license and I need to take a special lecture for drivers who are over 75 years old, so I went to Hikone Driving School. Actually I got a Japanese driver's license ten years ago, but I haven't driven a car in Japan since then because I don't have a space to park a car and I don't need it very much in my daily life. Although I usually drive a car in Boston, when I was there this February, I didn't drive because it was just after the surgery and I was afraid of going out in the snow.

The renewal system is different between the US and Japan. It is much simpler in the US, but we have to take a lecture for the people when we are over 70, and we need to take a Cognitive Function Test on top of that. I passed both of them, but I was very nervous about the practical driving test. I needed to remind myself of the position of the accelerator pedal and brake pedal and other things before the test.

Fortunately my examiner was generous and he asked me how often I am driving. I said that I hadn't driven at all in Japan although I drive in the US. Then, he was curious about me and talked in a relaxed atmosphere and continued to give several instructions. I was relieved of my anxiety but I used the left lever instead of the right lever which was a direction indicator when I turned right or left. In the US, they are opposite. I was panicked to see the wiper suddenly move at the corner of the road while I intended to put the direction signal. I was very careful to run on the left side which should be in Japan. My examiner said that my driving was very good when the test was over and I was glad but at the same time I was very exhausted.

５月２１日（木曜日）２０２６
　気になっていて果たしていなかった実家の墓地掃除とお参りを今日こそはと昨日の門前市で花を買って、夜のうちに父が裏に植えておいてくれた下草を合わせて何組かの御供え花を作っておきました。今朝はモタモタしていたら日は既に昇って結構な日差しになっていました。

　子供の頃は裏道を上がって赤坂山の墓地に行っていましたが、もうずいぶん前から皆さん別の道を車で上がるので、裏道は殆ど行く人がなくなりました。荒れた道は私も怖いので自動車道を自転車で上がっています。しばらくお墓に行けなかったのは私の股関節の痛みがあったからで、手術後ずいぶん回復してはいるものの不安でした。それでも自宅の裏庭の伸び放題の雑草を見ながらもう待てない、早く掃除に行かなければと本日決行した次第です。

　電動アシストのギアを１にして何とか上まで上り切りました。雑草は思ったほどではなく有り難かったですが、それでも持っていった「しまむら」の大きいビニール袋がいっぱいになるまで草取りをしました。供養の花と燈と線香で墓参ができほっとしています。周りは墓じまいをしているところが多く、我が実家もそんな話が出ています。寂しいことですが、私もいつまでお世話できるか自信がないので受け入れるしかないと思っています。

There was a thing which I had been wanting and hadn't done yet, that was going and cleaning my parents and ancestor's grave. But I could do it a few days ago. I bought flowers for an offering at the local market the previous day and prepared a divided bunch of flowers.
When I left home, the sun had already risen high up.

There are two ways to go up to the graveyard where it stays on top of a lower mountain called "Akasaka-yama". One is the way near my house and we used to use it with my family and many others when I was a child but many people do not use it nowadays because it is narrow and became run-down and they go up to the grave on another, wider, well-maintained way by their car. I also don't like to walk the narrow one alone now. However, I hadn't gone up to the grave for a long time because I had a problem with my hip joint and didn't have the confidence to go up the slope even after the surgery. Since I was very worried about the condition of the grave where weeds must be growing, I decided to go there and clean.

I could go up the hill by my battery-assisted bicycle and I was relieved because it was not that terrible with weeds. Cleaning the grave of my family for a couple of hours, I offered flowers and prayed. Many people are closing their family graves these days because younger generations are living in different places and they tend not to visit their graves anymore. It is also our family's problem.

５月１１日（月曜日）２０２６
　洗濯と掃除とどちらが好きかと聞かれたら私は間違いなく「洗濯」を選びます。今や殆どの家がドラム式や縦型洗濯機を使っていますが、
私はあえて昔ながらの二槽式洗濯機を気に入って使っています。つまり洗濯と脱水が別々の洗濯機です。家を改装する時に設計士の方にお願いして洗濯機を台所に設置してもらいました。朝、台所でカフェのケーキを焼き、注文のお弁当やいなり寿司作りながら、私の後ろでは洗濯機が回っています。

　今日は定休日なのでケーキ作りもお弁当もないかわりにシーツや布団カバーなども洗濯。洗濯機はフル回転で仕事をしました。天気の悪い日は家の中に干している洗濯物を、今日のような晴れの日には物干し竿に掛けます。洗濯バサミで止めてから、シャツもズボンも靴下もシーツも枕カバーもしっかり並んでいるか点検して眺めると爽快感でいっぱいです。洗濯好きは母ゆずりかもしれません。シーツは糊付けをし、シャツやズボンはシワにならないようパンパンと手で叩いてから干すなど昔は手間をかけていました。時代とともに洗濯も楽になりましたが、よく乾いた洗濯物をいっぱい抱えて取り込むのは今も変わらず嬉しいものです。

お昼すぎに久徳のうぐいすこども園に行って読み聞かせの見学をさせていただきました。建て替えられて４年目とのこと。りっぱな園内にびっくりしました。また、周りの環境の素晴らしいこと！ため息が出るような美しい里の景色です。

If I was asked which one I like better between washing of cleaning, I would definitely choose washing. Nowadays most of the houses are using front loader washers or top loader washers which are both automatic washers, but I have a two-tub washing machine which I like to use. It is a washing machine which has a separate wash and spin. When I renovated my house, I asked the architect to place the washing machine in the kitchen which is not usual in Japan but I wanted it.

It's Monday and the regular closing day. I didn't need to bake Mochiko-cake, so I washed more than usual such as sheets and comforter covers. Since it was a beautiful day, I hung the clothes on the laundry pole outside. After clipping clothes with clothespin, I felt so good to look at all the clothes, sheets and others. I remember my mother liked washing, too. She starched the sheets well and dried them very neatly. Laundry became more convenient with the times, but it is so pleasant to hold the dry laundry which absorbed much sunlight in my arms.

In the afternoon, I went to the local preschool to observe story-telling. It's the fourth year since the building was rebuilt. The facilities were amazing and I was also amazed by the surrounding scenery. It was breathtaking and beautiful countryside scenery.

５月５日（火曜日）２０２６
　端午の節句、こどもの日！昨日とは打って変わって朝から明るい晴れやかな一日でした。カフェはお子さんの姿はありませんでしたが、東京や三重、愛知、京都、大阪など県外の方がたくさんお見えになり、もち粉ケーキもいなり寿司も用意したものは全部なくなり、白玉あんみつや白玉ぜんざいなどの注文もたくさんいただき大忙がしでした。

　数日前に夕方近所の男の子、Hちゃん（４歳）が保育園で作った鯉のぼりを見せにやってきました。お兄ちゃんのS君（６歳）も一緒です。それを見た私は思わず「やねよ〜り」と歌い始めると、Hちゃん、S君もすぐに大きな声で「たーかーいこいのーぼ〜りー」と一緒に歌い出しました。ところが、「おおきーな」まで歌って、次が私自身、あれ？まごい？ひごい？どっち？と分からなくなり、Hちゃん、S君も途端に声が小さくなり「..??... 」それからまた大きく「ちいさい....??...こどもーた〜ちー、おもしーろーそ〜におよいーでーるー」と三人とも歌詞が曖昧なところはごまかして後は大きな声で何回も歌いました。おもしろくて楽しくて、男の子たちの素直で無邪気な声に大いに元気づけられました。因みに後で、大きな真鯉（父）、小さい緋鯉（男の子）と調べたので、次はしっかり歌えると思います。

　カフェに飾った鯉のぼりは、朗読サークルでご一緒のAさんが、毎週ボランティアで行っている高齢者施設で利用者の方に教えた鯉のぼりで、Aさんが作ったお手本と材料の色紙を持ってきてくださいました。S君たちと一緒に作ろうと思っていましたが、しばらく来なかったので1/4だけ私が作りました。

It was Tango no Sekku (originally it was a Boy's day and became to Children's day). It turned out to be a beautiful day in contrast to yesterday. We didn't have children customers in the cafe but we had many people from places such as Tokyo, Mie, Aichi, Kyoto and Osaka. Mochiko cakes and Inari-zushi which I prepared for the customers in the morning were all gone and I also received many orders of other sweets from customers. I almost got in a panic to serve them but I could get through anyhow.

The other day, young H, who is four years old, and my neighbor came to me to show paper carp streamers which he made at his nursery school. His brother S, who is six years old, also came with him. When I saw his paper carps, I sang a children's song of carp streamers. Then two boys started singing with me. However, there were parts in the song which I was not confident about so I had to make my voice small. Interestingly two boys also made their voices down because of the same reason. But except for that part, we all sang very loud and pleasantly. We had a very fun time. By the way, I checked the lyrics on the internet, so I can sing all parts with confidence.

The paper carp streamers decorated in the cafe are from Ms.A who is in the same Read Aroud group with me and she goes to elderly facility in the town and teaches origami to the elderly people as a volunteer. Ms.A brought origami carps which was the same one she taught to elderly people, and she also brought several colorful origami papers for me to make with the children of my neighbor. Since kids hadn't come these days, I made one of them.

５月４日（月曜日）２０２６
　お天気がコロコロ変わる珍しい一日でした。昨夜は雨風が強かったのに、朝になったら陽が差してお天気。喜んでいたら、昼すぎから雲行きが怪しくなって雨が降る気配。外を見ると雨が線のように降っていて、カフェにいらしたお客様も慌てて車へ傘を取りにいかれたり、しばらくすると、ビショビショの傘を畳んでカフェに入って来られるお客様。やがて、その雨も止んで曇った空の下では冷たい風が吹いていました。
　大型連休中でもあり、定休日を返上してカフェを開けており、県内外から多賀大社へ参拝の方もたくさんお見えになるようで、お帰りにカフェに立ち寄ってゆっくりしていかれる方も結構いらっしゃり、ありがたいことと思いながら今日も頑張って乗り切りました。このところ予約は「いざなみランチ」がほとんどですが、ひとまわり大きいお膳にお皿を並べる「あさひや御前」の注文をいただきご用意しました。愛知県からのカップル。食事を楽しんでくださり、「ゆっくりできました」と喜んでくださったのが何よりの励みとなりました。

Today, It was a rare day which changes the weather many times in the day. We had heavy wind and rain last night, but it cleared up in the morning and had a beautiful sunlight. However, it turned cloudy in the afternoon and looked like it started to rain. When I looked outside through the window, the rain was falling quietly like thread. One of the couples rushed out to take their umbrella from their car. After a while, a customer who was drenched with rain came into the cafe. The rain stopped soon, and later a cold wind was blowing under the cloudy sky.

Since it is a long holiday from the end of April to May sixth in Japan, I decided to open my cafe during this term without taking any closing days. There are many visitors to Taga Taisha from inside and outside Shiga prefecture during this season. Some of them stop by my cafe and relax. By the way, when I have requests for lunch, most of them are Izanami-lunch (Bento style), but I was requested Asahiya-gozen this time and prepared for that. It is served with several classical dishes on the larger tray. The customers were a couple from Aichi. They enjoyed the meal and had a relaxing time in the Japanese room.

５月２日（土曜日）２０２６
　左股関節の手術後３ヶ月検診で玉川病院に行ってきました。受付を済ませてすぐに地下のリハビリセンターで可動域や筋肉の検査をして、次はCTとレントゲン撮影、そして最後に主治医の先生と会って経過状況を話していただきました。順調に回復しているとのこと。先ずはほっとしました。整形外科のロビーは相変わらず患者の方でごった返していました。久しぶりに会うリハビリ担当のSさんは変わらず優しく丁寧に色々測定してくださり、担当医のF先生に「お忙しそうですね」と言ったら「そうなんです」と少々お疲れ気味の返事が返ってきました。本当に皆さんにお世話になりました。
　五月を前に床の間に武者人形を飾りました。

I went to the Tamagawa Hospital for 3-month post-op checkup of my left hip-joint surgery. After checking in at the front desk, I headed to the rehabilitation center in basement to have the range of motion of muscles examined, and I was taken in for a CT scan and an X-ray. Then I received an explanation about the progress after surgery from the doctor. He said I am making good progress which makes me relieved. The lobby area of the orthopedic surgery was crowded as always. I met Ms.S who did my rehabilitation for the first time in three months, she was very kind as before, and I met Dr. F who did my surgery. He looked a little bit tired, so I said to him " you seem busy.". ”That's right." he replied. I am grateful for these people.

Coming back home, I decorated the alcove of the guest room with two warrior dolls for the Tango no Sekku (Boys' Festival) in May.