Toad Lily (Tricyrtis Formosana) タイワンホトトギス（台湾杜鵑草）

英語の後に日本語が続きます。

They are toad lilies (Tricyrtis formosana). While this plant is typically said to flower from August to September, I’ve come to believe that toad lilies actually bloom year-round. I have seen them in May, as well as in December and September.

The plant is named after spots on a toad's skin and its preference for shady, moist places like toads. In Japan, however, the toad lily is called 'hototogisu,' which translates into 'lesser cuckoo.' This name also comes from the plant's spots, which look like the chest plumage of the bird to Japanese people. Perception varies.

2026/10/4

Sphaerophoria ミナミヒメヒラタアブ（南姫扁虻）

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Philadelphia fleabane (Erigeron philadelphicus) is native to North America, introduced to Japan around 1920, and can now be found across the country. In fact, the plant is so prevalent as a weed that it is called "binbo gusa" (poor weed) or "binbo giku" (poor chrysanthemum) in some areas of Japan. Sitting on one Philadelphia fleabane is a tiny hoverfly (Sphaerophoria indiana). It is so small, yet very beautiful.

2026/10/4

A Bee with Pollen Baskets🐝 花粉荷を運ぶハチ🐝

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They are honey bees with pollen baskets. Pollen baskets are part of the tibia on the hind legs of some female bees. They pack pollen into these baskets to carry it back to their nest or hive. The bee in the last photo was covered in pollen and vibrating its body on a leaf. 

2023/7/5

Common Straight Swift (Parnara Guttata) イチモンジセセリ（一文字挵）

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The common straight swift (Parnara guttata) is found across Japan, where it is a much-loved insect. While moths usually open their wings when resting and most butterflies keep theirs closed, the common straight swift sometimes rests with its wings open to absorb warmth from the sun. This behavior allowed me to see that its back is green (scroll down). You can also scroll down to see an ant carrying a dead common straight swift.

The butterfly's Japanese name is "ichimonji seseri," which translates to "straight-line skipper" due to the white spots aligned on its wings. In contrast, the small branded swift (Pelopidas mathias), which features white spots arranged in a circle, is called "chabane seseri" in Japanese, translating to "brown-wing skipper."

Personally, I really love common straight swifts because of their cute, squirrel-like eyes.

2026/10/4

2026/8/25

Beef Jerky at Midnight 真夜中のビーフジャーキー

英語の後に日本語が続きます。

 

On a weekday afternoon, I was in the office talking with a colleague of mine. He loves steak—in particular, grilled beef steak. As always, he was passionately telling me about his favorite steak restaurants. It was nearly 1 p.m. I had many things to do that afternoon, but he kept talking. I glanced at my phone, pretending to check the time, and when I looked up, I was surprised to see a slice of raw beef on his right palm. He said with a broad grin, "This is the best beef I've ever had. You should try this!"

 

An Elephant Never Forgets 英語の諺「象は忘れない」

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An elephant never forgets. Neither do I...

White-Banded Hunter Hawkmoth (Theretra Oldenlandiae) セスジスズメ（背筋雀）

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Impatiens hawkmoths, also known as white-banded hunter hawkmoths (Theretra oldenlandiae), can be found across Japan. Their caterpillars are a beautiful black, creating a stark contrast with their orange spots initially, before turning brownish prior to burrowing into the ground to pupate. They can also sometimes be pale green, as their body color varies depending on temperature and age. While the caterpillars have a chubby appearance, the adults look cool, resembling fighter jets. Adults can be found from May to October in Japan.  

2026/8/5

2026/10/3

Lost in Translation: A Case of A Pale View of Hills ロスト・イン・トランスレーション「遠い山並みの光」の場合

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I read A Pale View of Hills by Kazuo Ishiguro about ten years ago. The book was my second Ishiguro novel after Never Let Me Go. I enjoyed reading it, in particular the surprising tone change at the end of the story. The change is subtle, but I found it amazing that only a few words could completely change the perspective of the story. The passage was as follows:

Thanks Mosquito! 父と蚊

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Keiko was not married and still lived with her parents. Her father had retired and had finally started to do some household chores for the first time in his life. The incident happened when they heard a mosquito buzzing in their ears while folding clothes side by side without any conversation.

Single-Flowered White Sasanqua Camellia with Pink Edges 一重でピンクの縁取りの白山茶花

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The Camellia sasanqua is native to, and can be found across, Japan. It produces flowers from October to December (as opposed to the Camellia japonica, which flowers from February to April). The colors vary from white to pink and red and so do the petal forms, ranging from single to double. The blooms in this post are single-flowered and white with pink edges and you can easily spot these blooms in many places across Tokyo. Single-flowered Camellia sasanquas may be less flashy but are as beautiful as the double-flowered ones. 

2026/9/27

White Magnolia (Yulan Magnolia) ハクモクレン（白木蓮）

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Yulan magnolia (Magnolia denudata) is native to central and eastern China but now can be found across Japan and in many places in Tokyo. The tree flowers from February to April, the earliest among magnolias growing in Japan. The flower's pure white creates a brilliant contrast against the blue sky.  

2026/3/2

2024/3/12