桜の記憶2020－新型コロナ禍の中で/Memories of Cherry blossom 2020-In the turmoil of Covid-19

桜を毎年楽しみに眺めるようになったのは、ある程度年齢を重ねてからだ。10-20代の時は毎日が勉強と仕事で忙殺されて、春になっても満開の桜の枝を見上げる余裕が無かったように覚えている。

I have made it a rule to wait for Cherry blossom every spring time after I get old. In my days of twenties, I was tied up with study and new jobs and I couldn’t afford to look up blooming of cherry flowers.

(English text continues to latter half of the page)

西行法師は1,100年代に、

願わくは花の下にて春死なん、その如月の望月の頃

と詠んだ。「如月の望月」とは（旧暦）2月の満月、現在の暦では3月末から4月上旬にあたる。まさに現代のお花見の季節真っ盛りの頃。日本人は実に800年以上も昔から現代と同じ季節感を共有していたことに今更ながらに驚く。我が家でもここ10年くらいは桜の季節には方々に出かけ、時には仲間を集めてお花見もしている。

ところが今年は年初から新型コロナ禍が世界中を襲い、開花の頃には東京を中心に外出自粛のムードが最高潮となり、予定していたお花見会の予定はすべてキャンセル。とんでもない桜の季節になってしまったけど、せめて仕事や買い物のついでに眺めた桜の画像をできるだけここに貼り付けておきたい。

上野公園

三連休の直後にすぐ近くで仕事の打ち合わせがあったので、そのまま足を延ばして上野公園に。満開まで後数日と言うところだけど、平日昼にも関わらずけっこうな人出。

例年であればそこら中でシートを広げた“場所取り”が行われるところだが、今年は宴席禁止でどこもロープが張ってある状態。ただゴミ箱は例年通り大量に設置してあった。

宴席禁止とは言いながらも、階段になっているところでは大勢の人が座り込んで桜を眺めている。ロープを張ったところではホームレスと思しき二人のおじさんが酒を飲んでいる。彼らも例年この季節は場所取り代行や、空き缶拾いで稼ぎ時だろうに、とんだ災難だろう。

井の頭恩賜公園

こちらは吉祥寺でビジネスランチを終えた後にぶらりと散歩。ちょうど満開を迎えた時期。こちらも平日昼でもかなりの人出。少し自粛疲れで人々が頻繁に外出を始めた頃。

ここも宴席禁止ではあるけど、家族連れがそこかしこでシートを広げてお弁当を食べている。このくらいは十分に容認でしょう。

なんとカワセミを2匹発見！少しピンボケですが。

桜と雪

3/29（日）は前日から気温が20度以上の急降下。満開の桜に雪が降るという都心では51年ぶりの事態に。自分にとっても、もちろん初めてのこと。車で買い物に出た時に、東海道線の大森駅付近で撮ってみた動画。

I have made it a rule to wait for Cherry blossom every spring time after I get old. In my days of twenties, I was tied up with study and new jobs and I couldn’t afford to look up blooming of cherry flowers.

Saigyo Houshi (famous poet Monk) made following short poem in 12th Century;

I wish I could die under Cherry blossom in the springtime, around the time of full moon on February

Full moon on February in Lunar calendar is between end-March to early April. That is very time of enjoying cherry blossom in modern time. It is my fresh surprise to know Japanese have shared same sense of seasonality for more than 800 years. I also enjoy walking under Cherry blossom and often have parties under them with my friends every year.

However this year is quite weird. The turmoil of Covid-19 attacks whole world and self- isolation mood has come to the climax at the same time of full blooming. I cancelled plans of all parties. Quite terrible year, but I still enjoyed them partially on ways of job meetings or shopping. I hereby paste my memories of Cherry blossom 2020.

Ueno Park

I took a walk after business meeting near Ueno. A few more days will be full bloom. In spite of weekday afternoon, quite many people were there.

If it were ordinary years, people would have reserved places for night parties. This year parties under cherry blossoms are prohibited and those places were off limit. But huge trash boxes were everywhere like usual years.

Although parties are prohibited, many people were sitting down steps enjoying flowers. 2 homeless men were drinking Sake within the rope. Usual cherry blossom seasons are money making time for them through spot grabbing or aluminum can picking. Covid-19 is bad catastrophe for them as well.

Inokashira Park

After the lunch with my former colleague at Kichijoji, I took a walk in Inokashira Park. It was real full bloom and quite many people were there. Tokyo residents were weary of self-restriction of going out.

This park prohibits parties outside, too. But many families are enjoying lunch bento here and there. It should be within allowance range.

I found 2 Kingfishers there!

Snowdrop on Cherry blossom

29. March, Sunday, was very cold, more than 20℃ drop from previous day. We could see snowdrops on full blooming Cherry blossoms even in central Tokyo, the first time in these 51 years. The movie below is the shot from the car along Tokaido line near Omori station.