Slug, Caterpillar, Beetle, and Snail & Anpanman and Einstein 小さな生き物たちとアインシュタイン

英語の後に日本語が続きます。

It's not rainy season yet in Tokyo, but I often see slugs and snails these days and today two slugs in Half Lord of the Fishes pose (1st and 2nd photos)!!

The other photos are of caterpillars, beetles, and snails at Mukojima Hyakkaen Garden. Looking at these small things reminded me of a very famous Japanese song titled "Tenohira wo taiyo ni (Holding up your hand to the sunlight)" because the song is about every living thing, i.e., mammals, amphibians, reptiles, and insects.

The lyrics were written by Takashi Yanase, best known as the creator of the anime series "Anpanman." I didn't see why "Anpanman" was so popular among children and the song "Holding up...." was still sung by many people, but knowing his background as a veteran of WW2 and his experience in overcoming a series of diseases, I see why he could create such great manga and lyrics.

Those with experience of war including Yanase and my grandfathers and grandmothers, are mostly dead while those with no such experience trying to amend Japanese constitution to be able to use military force for purposes other than self-defense, but Japanese need to do something before amending the constitution, i.e., improving IT and English literacy. Albert Einstein said, "A clever person solves a problem while a wise person avoids it." I couldn't agree more.

2025/5/28

2025/5/28

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。

Hang in there, buddy! The snail was like in the second and third photos yesterday and in the first photo this morning. The flower it was holding onto is a toad lily (Tricyrtis formosana). The plant is said to flower from August to September but I've come to believe toad lilies flower throughout the year because I saw them today (i.e., in May) but in December last year and in September the year before. 

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

2025/5/16

2025/5/15 From above

2025/5/15 From side

Snails カタツムリ

英語の後に日本語が続きます。

It was my first time seeing snails this year. Snails can be seen in many places in Japan during the rainy season (i.e., mid-June to mid-July) but this year I saw none at that time but found many this morning. Both are about 1cm long, so tiny and so cute!  

Snail　カタツムリ

Snail & Canada Goldenrod カタツムリと背高泡立草（セイタカアワダチソウ）

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

You may dislike snails, but I couldn't throw away pictures of such a tiny snail surrounded by beautiful yellow Canada goldenrod flowers, which are also disliked by many Japanese people because of its invasiveness and the false allegation that it causes allergy due to its resemblance to annual ragweed, which is a cause of allergy.

But snails are not that bad. For example, edible ones are served as Escargot à la Bourguignonne, and in Japan, non-edible snails are the theme of a song for children. Likewise, the stems of Canada goldenrod are used to make blinds and tea in Japan. 

Oh, you still can't like snails or Canada goldenrod? That's okay. I dislike someone forcing me to like something I can't like!😁

Surrounded by Canada goldenrod 背高泡立草に囲まれて