Claustrophobia and Claustrophilia - Camellia Sasanqua 閉所恐怖と閉所愛好 - 山茶花

Japanese follows English.　英語の後に日本語が続きます。

A colleague of mine has claustrophobia. He avoids crowded elevators and trains, which is pretty difficult in Tokyo, but this ant seems to be trapped voluntarily in the center of this pink camellia sasanqua....

Ochna Serrulata (Mickey Mouse Plant) ミッキーマウスツリー

Japanese follows English.　英語の後に日本語が続きます。

This is Ochna serrulata or Mickey Mouse plant in a greenhouse at Koishikawa Botanical Garden. So cute isn't it!!

Ochna serrulata オクナ・セルラタ

Sterculia Brevissima ステルキュリア・ブレビッシマ

Japanese follows English.　英語の後に日本語が続きます。

This is Sterculia brevissima at Koishikawa Botanical Garden in Tokyo. 

Sterculia brevissima ステルキュリア・ブレビッシマ

Color! Color! Color! - Koishikawa Botanical Garden 小石川植物園 - 色、色、色！

Japanese follows English.　英語の後に日本語が続きます。

I went to Koishikawa Botanical Garden in Tokyo and found these color contrasts!

Amethyst deceiver ウラムラサキ

"Batman" Leaves 「バットマン」紅葉

Japanese follows English.　英語の後に日本語が続きます。

What do you see when you look at the photos below? I see butterflies, moths, kites and red Batman😁

What do you see? 何に見えますか？

Goji Berry Vinegar クコの実酢

Japanese follows English.　英語の後に日本語が続きます。

Goji berries are believed to protect against eye diseases and can help vision. Why haven't I tried them sooner?!!

 

Goji berries クコの実

Stewed Dates in Red Wine 棗の赤ワイン煮

Japanese follows English.　英語の後に日本語が続きます。

One of my favorite ideas is that "medicine and food have the same origin." This is a Chinese concept that a good balanced diet keeps you healthy. Food may not "fix" your body as medicine does, but it definitely boosts your immune system and your skin and hair. So, I stewed dates in red wine and honey. 

Stewed dates in red wine and honey 棗の赤ワインはちみつ煮

Irefuda (The Ballot) 入れ札

英語の後に日本語が続きます。

If you still remember a book from your childhood, it helps show who you are. For me, one such book is Irefuda (The Ballot) by Kan Kikuchi (1888–1948)—a Japanese author who founded a publishing company as well as the Akutagawa Prize and the Naoki Prize, Japan's two most prestigious literary awards."

Irefuda, which literally means "a vote or ballot," is a fictional story about Kurosuke, a member of a band of outlaws led by Chuji Kunisada, a professional gambler and folk hero. Chuji was wanted for murder and on the run with his followers, including Kurosuke. Believing that fleeing as a large group would attract too much attention from the authorities, Chuji decided to dissolve the group. He wanted to take only three members with him and part ways with the rest, but he couldn't decide who to choose. Instead, he asked his followers to select the three by secret ballot.

Kurosuke was a senior member, but he had recently lost the trust of the others. Hoping that a few people would vote for him so he could be chosen, Kurosuke cast a vote for himself. However, he received only a single vote—his own. Kurosuke was deeply disappointed and ashamed of what he had done.

After Kurosuke left the group, however, something unexpected happened. Yasuke, a younger member, followed him. Yasuke said he didn't understand why Kurosuke hadn't been chosen, adding that he himself had voted for Kurosuke.

Kurosuke instinctively grabbed the hilt of his katana, but froze. He realized that to call Yasuke out on his lie, he would have to admit that he had voted for himself. Doing so would only make him feel even more embarrassed.

Japanese elementary schools usually recommend certain books. I read all such books and forgot most of them, but I remember a few, one of which is Irefuda and I know why. I desperately wanted to be popular and chosen as the class president. I changed schools many times, going to four elementary schools and three junior high. I was so lonely that I was jealous of popular classmates. And I hated such myself... 

Japanese elementary schools usually recommend certain books. I read all of them but forgot most, though I remember a few—one of which is Irefuda—and I know why. Back then, I desperately wanted to be popular and chosen as class president. Because my family moved a lot, I attended four different elementary schools and three junior high schools. 

I was so lonely that I felt jealous of my popular classmates, and I hated myself for it. I completely understood how Kurosuke felt. That is why I still sometimes remember this story, along with the lonely version of myself from those days

  

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菊池寛の「入れ札」ご存じですか。子供の頃読んで非常に印象深く、今も時々思い出す話の一つです。お読みになったことのない人のためにざっとあらすじを述べますと｡｡｡

九郎助（主人公）は国定忠治の手下です。忠治は代官を殺して１１人の手下と逃げています。でも、全員で逃げると目立つので、忠治は、その内３人だけを連れ、残りの手下とは別れることを決めます。ところが忠治自身はその３人を決められず「入れ札（投票）」で決めようとするところから話は面白くなります。

選ばれる自信のない九郎助は自分に投票します。でも結局他の三人が選ばれ、九郎助は一人で逃げることになります。その時です。若手の弥助が九郎助を追ってきて言うのです。「兄さん（九郎助）が選ばれなかったことには納得できない、自分は兄さんに入れた」と。

九郎助は煮えくり返る思いです。でも弥助を責めるには自分のやったことを言わなければならない｡｡｡という話です。

「入れ札」は推薦図書の一つでした。推薦図書は全部読み、数冊を除き、後は忘れてしまったのですが、その覚えている数冊の内の一冊が「入れ札」です。理由は分かってます。転校ばかりで寂しかった私はクラスの人気者に嫉妬していたのです。そしてそんな自分が大嫌いでした。

今でも九郎助に共感した自分をはっきり覚えています。そして今も折に触れ、九郎助と、その頃いつも一人ぼっちだった自分を思い出します。

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Japanese Anemone 秋明菊（シュウメイギク）

Japanese follows English.　英語の後に日本語が続きます。

This is Anemone hupehensis or Japanese anemone. The whiteness of this flower caught my eye. 

Anemone hupehensis 秋明菊

Red, Yellow, and Pink Autumn Leaves 紅葉 - 赤、黄、ピンク

Japanese follows English.　英語の後に日本語が続きます。

It's autumn. Leaves have been turning red, yellow, and even pink.

Red fall leaves 真っ赤だな♪

Bladder or Rice Dumpling? - Silene Vulgaris (Bladder Campion) 白玉草（シラタマソウ）

Japanese follows English.　英語の後に日本語が続きます。

This is silene vulgaris, bladder campion or maidenstears. I've fallen in love at first glance with this little white five-petaled flower (each petal is divided into two) with a greenish balloon😊

It took more than two weeks to find out what this flower is, and that was very unusual for me because I usually let it go if I cannot identify a flower in a week, but I couldn't do that for this flower. And finally, two weeks after I had first seen this, I found the name!!

Silene vulgaris シラタマソウ

Crepuscular Rays (God Rays) in Solitude 薄明光線

Japanese follows English.　英語の後に日本語が続きます。

It was a chilly morning, and it had been a while since I'd last seen such beautiful God rays. 

About 6 a.m. 朝６時くらい

Ageratum Houstonianum (Flossflower) オオカッコウアザミ

Japanese follows English.　英語の後に日本語が続きます。

This is ageratum houstonianum, flossflower or bluemink. 

Ageratum Houstonianum and bee アゲラタムと蜂

Mateo Falcone マテオ・ファルコーネ

英語の後に日本語が続きます。

The books that stay in your memory reveal who you are. Mateo Falcone is one such book for me.

Mateo Falcone is a short story by Prosper Mérimée about Mateo Falcone, a respected landowner in Corsica. Mateo kills his 10-year-old son, Fortunato, because the boy acts as a 'traitor.' While Mateo was away, Fortunato first hides a fugitive seeking help in exchange for a silver coin, but later betrays his whereabouts to a soldier for a silver watch. (See this Wikipedia page for details.)

Gaillardia Pulchella (Indian Blanket) is Kamikaze Flower 天人菊（ガイラルディア）は「特攻花」

Japanese follows English.　英語の後に日本語が続きます。

It took more than a month to find out what this flower is. This is Gaillardia pulchella, Indian blanket or sundance.

Gaillardia pulchella 天人菊

Chrysanthemums Are Cursed😱? 菊の呪い😱

Japanese follows English.　英語の後に日本語が続きます。

Chrysanthemums are special in Japan. The Imperial Seal of Japan is called the Chrysanthemum Seal and used by the Emperor of Japan and members of the Imperial Family. But for me, chrysanthemums are special in a different way, i.e., they always remind me of "The Inugami Clan" by Seishi Yokomizo (1902-1981), one of the most famous crime authors in Japan who created the private detective character Kosuke Kindaichi. 

 

Chrysanthemum 菊

Leopard Plant 石蕗（ツワブキ）

Japanese follows English.　英語の後に日本語が続きます。

These are Farfugium japonicum or leopard plants at Hibiya Park and in my neighborhood. Most flowers die in autumn, so finding these bright yellow flowers made me happy.

  

Farfugium japonicum 石蕗

Netsuke 'Daruma and Tengu' 「だるまちゃんとてんぐちゃん」

英語の後に日本語が続きます。

These are small Daruma and Tengu netsuke sculptures at the Tokyo National Museum. The Daruma netsuke was carved from ivory by Hoshu Yamagata, and the Tengu netsuke was also carved from ivory by Omu Yoshida. (For a definition of netsuke, see this post.)

Do It Now! - My Regret About Onigiri Action😭.... 終わってました😭 - おにぎりアクション

Japanese follows English.　英語の後に日本語が続きます。

An Instagram friend of mine often posted photos of onigiris or rice balls on Instagram to support Onigiri Action 2020. Onigiri Action 2020 is a campaign run by Table for Two in which one post of onigiri photo(s) provides five school meals. I agreed with their intent, but had done nothing until November 1 when I finally made my special onigiri, i.e., brown rice balls with sardine, ginger and mushroom, and took the pictures of them below...  

Brown rice onigiri of sardine, ginger, and mushroom 
鰯とショウガの玄米おにぎり

Netsuke - Halloween 根付 - ハロウィン

英語の後に日本語が続きます。

This is Halloween, a netsuke by Toun Shishido on display at the Tokyo National Museum.