赤い靴をはいた女の子

「赤い靴を履いていた女の子」とは、１９２２年作詞家の野口雨情が作詞し本居長世がが作曲した日本の童謡です。

その銅像はあまりにも有名で、横浜の山下公園で海を眺めて座っています。

この歌のモデルの美紀ちゃんという薄幸な少女の存在はあまりしられていません。実は彼女は９歳で日本で病死しています。でも人々はこの少女がアメリカ人宣教師の養子として幸せに暮らしているものと思っていました。

今年の７月から津田梅子は五千円の新札になりましたが、明治時代に活躍していた津田梅子（１８６４年生）のころは、美紀ちゃんはまだ赤ちゃんか幼いころだったと考えられるそうです。

The song "The Girl Wearing Red Shoes" is a Japanese nursery rhyme written by lyricist Ujo Noguchi in 1922 and composed by Nagayo Motoori. The statue of the girl from this song is famous and can be seen sitting in Yokohama's Yamashita Park, gazing out at the sea.

However, the existence of a tragic young girl named Miki-chan, who is said to be the model for this song, is not widely known. In reality, she passed away from illness in Japan at the age of nine. Yet, people believed that this girl was living happily as the adopted daughter of an American missionary.

This July, Umeko Tsuda appeared on the new 5,000 yen bill, but during the Meiji era when Umeko Tsuda (born in 1864) was active, Miki-chan would have been a baby or very young.

お盆

厳しい暑さは一向に変わりないけど、もうお盆の時期です。

種々の供え物を霊　神仏　無縁仏に供えて冥福を祈ります。

クラブのテーブルの上にも亡くなった馬たちに思いを込めて会員さんからのお花が供えられていました。

シャル君の体調はいいようですが、土曜日は少し運動のあと息が上がりかけていました。

股を冷やしてあげるとすぐ落ち着きました。

人馬とも水分の補給を怠りなく、そして暑さで体に無理がこないように気を付けなければなりません。

 

The intense heat shows no sign of abating, but it's already the Obon season.

We offer various offerings to the spirits, gods, Buddhas, and those without relatives, praying for their peace.

On the club's table, flowers from members were placed in memory of the horses that have passed away.

Sharu's condition seems to be good, but on Saturday, after some exercise, he started to get a bit breathless.

Cooling down his flanks immediately calmed him down.

We must ensure that both horse and rider stay hydrated and take care not to overexert themselves in this heat.

赤トンボ

一週間前くらいシャル君が馬場で先生と運動をしているとき、赤とんぼが二　三匹飛んでいました。

もう季節は移り替わっているのだと感じました。

思えば二十数年前はあかとんぼが沢山群れてとんでいました。いつの間にか数が減り今は少ししかみることが出来ず寂しく感じます。

異常気象か農薬によるものか理由はわかりません。

同じことは繰り返して続いていくのではなくつねにゆっくり変化しているのでしょう。

About a week ago, while Sharu-kun was exercising with the teacher at the field, a couple of red dragonflies were flying around. It made me realize that the season is changing.

Thinking back, twenty-some years ago, there were many red dragonflies flying in swarms. But before I knew it, their numbers had decreased, and now I can only see a few, which makes me feel lonely.

I don't know whether it's due to abnormal weather or pesticides.

Perhaps the same things don't continue to happen over and over but rather are always slowly changing.

 

 

無事でよかった！

土曜日繋ぎ場に三頭の馬がたっていました。レイ君　ボエちゃん　シャル君と並んでいてシャルは水洗い中、レイ君は馬装準備中、ボエムはレッスンから帰ってきたばかりで頭絡をはずして休憩していました。

そこへMさんがボエムの労を労おうと撫でようとして、足がもつれ、つないである鎖に乗っかる形で倒れ掛かりました。

いきなり倒れたMさんにボエムはあわてふためき大暴れ、反動でMさんは外に向かって跳ね飛ばされました。レイ君も驚いてバタバタ。

シャルは何が起こったのか察知していませんでした。

大けがにならず打ち身だけですんでほんとうによかったです。

暑いさなかの乗馬の直後は自分が思ったより疲れているものです。ケガがなくてよかったですね！

On Saturday, there were three horses standing at the tying place: Ray, Boe, and Sharu. Sharu was being washed, Ray was getting ready for tacking up, and Boem had just returned from a lesson and was resting with his bridle removed.

M-san approached to pat Boem to commend him for his hard work, but her foot got tangled, and she stumbled, falling onto the chain that was used for tying the horses.

Boem was startled and panicked at the sudden fall of M-san, causing him to thrash around violently. As a result, M-san was flung outward. Ray was also startled and began to fuss.

Sharu did not grasp what had happened.

It was really fortunate that M-san did not suffer any serious injuries, only bruises.

After riding in the intense heat, one is more tired than they realize. Let’s make sure to ride safely and avoid making judgment errors.

 

体調はまずまず

 

 

早朝は蝉の声もきかれそれでも涼しく感じますが、8時ころには気温が上がり始めます。

お昼ごろは３５度くらいにあがります。

そうそうに運動と丸洗いを済ませて、シャル君は馬房で休憩です。

扇風機が二つになり食事もかえて、最近はご機嫌な顔をしています。

"In the early morning, you can hear the cicadas, and it still feels cool, but by around 8 o'clock, the temperature starts to rise.

Around noon, it goes up to about 35 degrees.

Sharu finishes his exercise and a full wash early, and then takes a break in the stable.

With two fans and a change in diet, he has been looking quite happy recently."