Satsuki Azalea (Rhododendron Indicum) サツキ

英語の後に日本語が続きます。

Satsuki azalea (Rhododendron indicum) is native to Japan and can be found across the country. The plant produces white, pink, and red flowers from April to June in Japan. As azalea usually flowers in dense masses, they attract not only attention but also tourists and fee in some parks! 

2026/4/15

Japan categorizes azalea broadly into three types as follows:

Pink Azaleas (Rhododendron Dilatatum) ミツバツツジ（三葉躑躅）

英語の後に日本語が続きます。

The bright pink on the opposite side of the street caught my eye. They're pink azaleas (Rhododendron dilatatum). Japan distinguishes two "azaleas," i.e., "Rhododendron," which is called "tsutsuji," and "Rhododendron indicum," which is "satsuki" and one of the species of the "Rhododendron subsect. Tsutsusi" subsection. So, these pink azaleas are tsutsuji, but other azaleas, I still can't tell which are which...

 

Pink azaleas　ミツバツツジ

Parliamentary Museum Has Azalea and Cherry 憲政記念館のツツジと桜

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

I saw people coming out of a building across the street near the National Diet Building. I also saw trees with white flowers and green leaves inside the premises. Naturally I got closer to it, finding that that is the Parliamentary Museum.    

Miniature Japanese national diet building 国会議事堂ミニチュア

Azaleas After the Rain 雨上がりのツツジ

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

Several days ago, I got up at 5 a.m. and left home for a walk. It was a beautiful morning, and while walking, I saw these azaleas covered in raindrops.

White azalea 白いツツジ

Kurume azalea (Japanese azalea) 久留米躑躅（ツツジ）
Kurume azalea was developed in southern Japan

I was so glad to see them as I needed something to soothe my anger. Prime Minister Abe and his close aids have done nothing but things unrelated to the current crisis. They have started to discuss  raising the starting age for receiving pensions and restoring royal status to former imperial family members. What a hell are they doing?

I also felt anger with people like someone (who I believe is in his 30s) tweeting that he'd never voted, but would in the next election to topple the Abe administration. I wish I could trust him, but how can I believe someone like him who has condoned Abe's or his aids' corruption and nepotism and, by doing so, effectively supported the status quo?

I am scared. I could be dead not in a month or but in three months. And when I am about to be overwhelmed by such anger, sorrow or fear, I look at photos of flowers and plants, like them, just blooming and dying but always being there...  

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安倍政権が、年金受給年齢引き上げ審議、旧宮家の復帰検討を始めました。今やることですかね。そして、今まで投票所に行ったことのない人が今になって安倍反対を叫んでいます。あなたたちのせいでこんなことになっているんですよ。最近、怒りでいっぱいです。

１カ月後、いや３カ月後、生きてるのかな｡｡｡なんて思いに襲われることも｡｡｡ そんな時、花の写真を見るようにしています。

ただそこに咲く花。この雨上がりのツツジも私を救ってくれました。

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