Elizabeth Better Watch Her Back.... ご注意あれ、エリザベス！（仮定法現在の練習も兼ねてます）

英語の後に日本語が続きます。

'If you had a gun and two bullets and saw a king cobra and Elizabeth right in front of you, who or which would you shoot first?'

Bamboo-Leaf Oak (Quercus Myrsinifolia) シラカシ（白樫）

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The bamboo-leaf oak (Quercus myrsinifolia) is native to eastern Asia and can be found across Japan. The tree produces flowers from April to May, followed by its fruits: acorns. What I find most enjoyable is observing their growth. They are tiny and pale green at first, getting chubbier while turning matcha green, and then brown toward autumn. These baby acorns still have styles, which are part of the pistils.

2026/10/16

All Roads Lead to Traffic Safety: Why the Hook Turn Matters in Japan 二段階右折は大切

英語の後に日本語が続きます。

The traffic rules in Japan can be quite complicated for cyclists, especially the hook turn for those coming from countries without the rule. To understand key rules for cyclists in Japan and why the hook turn matters, I went to a local police box (Koban). Two officers on duty gave me the following information:

Garden Mum (Chrysanthemum x Morifolium) キク（菊）

英語の後に日本語が続きます。

Here are some red and yellow garden mums (Chrysanthemum × morifolium) with a green plant bug (Apolygus lucorum) on one of them (see the second photo).

Chrysanthemums are special in Japan. The Imperial Seal of Japan is called the Chrysanthemum Seal and is used by the Emperor and the Imperial Family. But for me, the flowers are special in a different way—they always remind me of The Inugami Clan, a murder mystery book by Seishi Yokomizo (1902–1981). Yokomizo is one of Japan's most famous crime authors and the creator of the private detective character Kosuke Kindaichi.

Double-Flowered Camellia Sasanqua 八重咲の白山茶花

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The Camellia sasanqua is native to Japan and can be found across the country. It blooms from October to December, unlike the Camellia japonica, which flowers from February to April. Its colors vary from white to pink and red, and its petals range from single to double forms. The blooms in this post are double-flowered, white with pink edges, and can easily be spotted across Tokyo. Before opening, they look just like wagashi (traditional Japanese sweets).

2026/10/15

Angled Sunbeam (Curetis Acuta) ウラギンシジミ（裏銀小灰蝶）

英語の後に日本語が続きます。

Some butterflies look completely different when their wings are open versus closed. One example is the angled sunbeam (Curetis acuta), a butterfly found in eastern Asia, including Japan. Because the male has an orange center on the upperside of its wings while the female has a pale blue center, it is easy to tell them apart when their wings are open.

The butterfly's Japanese name is 'ura-gin-shijimi,' which translates to 'gossamer-winged butterfly with a silver underside.'

   

2026/8/16

Common Bluebottle (Graphium Sarpedon) アオスジアゲハ（青条揚羽）

英語の後に日本語が続きます。

Their blue always cheers me up. The common bluebottle (Graphium sarpedon) is native to East and Southeast Asia, as well as Australia, and can be found across Japan generally from May to October. Because they are so restless, if you find one, never chase it; instead, sit still and wait for it to land in front of you.

2024/7/2

Canadian Goldenrod (Solidago Canadensis) セイタカアワダチソウ（背高泡立草）

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Native to North America, the Canadian goldenrod (Solidago canadensis) arrived in Japan around 1880 and can now be found across the country. Its bright yellow flowers stand out in autumn as the landscape begins to lose its color in October. Some Japanese people say that the plant is the cause of autumn hay fever, but they're mistaken. The true culprit is the common ragweed (Ambrosia artemisiifolia). In winter, the Canadian goldenrod prepares for winter by producing fluffy pappi (scroll down).

2026/10/11

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

Winter Cherry (Cerasus x Parvifolia/Cerasus Subhirtella) フユザクラ（冬桜）

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Fragile and lovely, the winter cherry (Cerasus x parvifolia 'Fuyu-zakura') is a crossbreed of Cerasus incisa and Cerasus speciosa. This tree differs from most other cherry trees in its blooming schedule. It blossoms twice a year—once in the winter (from October to December) and again in the spring—which is why it is called the 'winter cherry' in Japan.

It is also known as 'koba zakura,' which translates to 'small leaf cherry' due to its relatively small leaves. While these winter cherry blossoms are less vibrant, they last longer than other cherry blossoms, which generally fall within two weeks.

Some people see a winter cherry tree and say it's silly for blooming out of season. But whenever I hear that, I always think to myself, 'No, you're the silly one!😝 

2021/11/25

Pale Grass Blue (Pseudozizeeria Maha) 大和小灰蝶（ヤマトシジミ）

英語の後に日本語が続きます。

A male pale grass blue butterfly (Pseudozizeeria maha) looks completely different depending on whether its wings are open (1st photo) or closed (2nd photo). With its wings closed, you might overlook it as a plain, small grey-and-white butterfly with black spots. When it opens them, however, you are greeted by the striking pale blue upperside that gives the species its name. (See the 5th photo to view both sides at once.) Because butterflies bask in the sun to warm their bodies, you are more likely to catch a glimpse of that vibrant blue during cooler sunny days.

The pale grass blue resembles the plains cupid (Luthrodes pandava) very much, except the latter has orange spots on its wings. I once mistook a plains cupid for a pale grass blue.

2025/11/2