サトウキビ

３月３１日(土)快晴

本日のケアンズの最高気温は２８度。寒がりの僕には少し肌寒い感じ。ビーチを裸で散歩するには汗ばまないので快適ですが、プールの水はかなり冷たく感じました。秋もいよいよ本番。サトウキビも４ｍを越えました。こちらのサトウキビは二期作です。

種子島のサトウキビ

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Sugar cane
Sat. March : fine

The highest temperature in Cairns was 28℃ today. It was a little chilly to me who is extremely sensitive to cold weather. When I walked on the beach it was pleasure without any sweating but the water was pretty cold when I swam in the swimming pool. Now fall has come. Sugar canes became more than 4m of their heights. Sugar canes here raise two crops a year.

sugar cane in Tanegashima island

東京・密度タウン

３月３０日(金)快晴

今朝ケアンズに戻りました。東京では六本木の防衛庁跡地が再開発されて本日オープン。昨日日本を発つ前に見物に行って来ました。地下に地下鉄駅があり、地上には無骨なビルと狭い公園があるだけ。かなりの税金を投入して企業を儲けさせ、役人にも相当の見返りはあるのでしょうね。

六本木ヒルズ

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Tokyo Mid Town
Fri. March 30 : fine

I returned to Cairns this morning. In Tokyo the site of the old Defense Agency has redeveloped and it is opening today. Yesterday I went to see it before I left Japan. There are a subway station under ground, and rugged building and small park on the ground. Government staff must have spent a lot of tax on this scheme and gave profit enterprise. Also they‘ll get some reward of it.

Roppongi Hills

千鳥が淵

３月２９日(木)快晴

リハビリを兼ねて皇居内堀を２時間かけて半周の散歩。千鳥が淵も桜は満開。と言っても木が古くて弱っているので、同期の桜は半身麻痺。美しき日本再生のため改憲するそうですね？豪州のように日本もいよいよ共和制導入ですか？えっ、お呼びじゃない？植木等氏が他界。

桜田門

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Chidorigahuchi
Thu. March 29 : fine

I walked half a round the inner moat of the Imperial Palace for 2 hours as a rehabilitation. Cherry trees were also in full bloom at Chidorigahuchi but they are so old that Japanese traditional corresponding cherry is half paralyzed . I heard that Japan is trying to amend its constitution. As Australia Japan will introduce republic system? What? It’s none of your business? Mr. Hitoshi Ueki passed away.

Sakuradamon gate

上野の桜

３月２８日（水）快晴

東京に移動。気温は２２度で桜が満開と聞き、下町めぐり。八分咲きの上野公園の排ガスと埃の中で、百年一日の場所取り合戦。恥ずかしいのですぐ移動。外国人観光客の多い浅草寺も八分咲き。今夜泊まる日暮里の繊維街の街路樹は満開でした。

正しい場所取りの方法

Cherry blossom in Ueno
Wed. March 28 : fine

I flew to Tokyo. I walked around the old part of Tokyo because I heard that the temperature was 22℃ and cherry was full in bloom. The battle for getting space was still on in Ueno Park where almost all the cherry blossoms were in bloom in air pollution and dust. Cherry blossoms in Sensouzi temple where so many foreign tourists gathered were also 80% of their full bloom. The cherry trees lining the streets in textile town of Nippori where I’ll stay tonight were in full bloom.

perfect manner of the battle for getting space

ギョウジャニンニクとアキレス腱

３月２７日（火）雨

昨夜十和田の３人娘と郷土料理を食べました。会場はLEEさんの経営する「呑ん兵衛」。僕の右脚は大分良くなりましたが、長距離の歩行は困難。それに線香の煙で喉をやられて風邪気味。風邪にはギョウジャニンニクが効くそうです。LEEさん特製の牛のアキレス腱の煮込みもかなり効果が期待できそうです。

三人娘

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Mountain garlic and Achilles tendon
Tue. March 27 : fine

I had some local food with Towada Three Daughters last night. We met at the place called Nonbei, Ms. Lee’s place. Although my right leg is much better now, I cannot walk long distance. I’ve got a slight cold as my throat had damage by the smoke from incense sticks. I hear mountain garlic is good for cold but Ms. Lee’s special stew made from cow’s Achilles tendon should work better to me.

Three Daughters

運転免許の更新

３月２６日（月）快晴

八戸警察署で運転免許証の更新手続き。数年間見ないうちに八戸の街もかなりの変貌を遂げていました。空洞化が確実に進行しています。新幹線が地方都市にもたらすものは顧客の流出だけのようです。

東北新幹線

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Renewal of driving license
Mon. March 26 : fine

I went to Hachinohe Police Station to renew my driving license. In the last several years Hachinohe city has pretty changed. Sprawl syndrome has been spread obviously. What Shinkansen changes about local cities seems to be only the outflow of customers.

Tohoku Shinkansen

二戸市・ますだ歯科クリニック

３月２５日（日）快晴

兄の次男は独身。祖父母の出身地・二戸で１月から歯科クリニックを開院しています。二戸の脳腫瘍の従兄弟と、９９歳の叔父が兄と前後して他界。墓参りとクリニック見学のついでに歯石を除去してもらいました。

岩手県二戸市

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Masuda dental clinic in Ninohe city
Sun. March 25 : fine

My deceased older brother’s second son is single. He has his dental clinic in Ninohe city, his grand parents’ home town from last January. My cousin who struggled with brain cancer and 99 year-old uncle who also lived in Ninohe city passed away around the same time my brother did. After visiting their graves I visited new dental clinic and had my scale removed from my teeth.

Ninohe city Iwate prefecture

むつ市・ますだ歯科医院

３月２４日（土）快晴

兄の長男夫妻はともに歯科医。まだ子供はいません。兄の内科クリニックを解体し、跡地に歯科医院を建設して、４月２日オープンの予定です。敷地が広いので駐車スペースも十分取れ、院内の間取りにも余裕が感じられます。

解体前の桝田医院

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Masuda dental clinic in Mutsu city
Sat. March 24 : fine

My deceased older brother’s first son and his wife are both dentists. They pulled down my father’s old medical clinic building and built a new dental clinic. It is opening on April 2. The lot is so large that there is a lot of space for car port and also the clinic itself is spacious.

Masuda medical clinic before being pulled down

克雪ドーム

３月２３日（金）快晴

悲壮感漂うネーミングの巨大ドームは屋内総合運動施設。野球やサッカーなどができる多目的グランドの他にプール、ジム、エアロビック・フロアーなどがあります。９：００amオープンなので３００円払って２０００m泳いでから、１１：００amの葬式に参列。

函館の外人墓地

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Snow conquering dome
Fri. March 23 : fine

Huge dome that has pathetic name is the indoor sport complex. There are facilities as the multi-purpose ground, the swimming pool, the gym, the aerobic floor and some others. It opens at 9:00am. I paid 300 yen at the entrance and swam 2000m. After that I attended the funeral at 11:00am.

foreigner's grave yard in Hakodate

通夜・兄の家族

３月２２日（木）快晴

兄夫婦は２男２女の子供がいます。長男、次男、長女は歯科医。次女はインド人の地学者と結婚しています。医業の後継者はいません。長女と、次女には２人ずつ子供がいます。次男だけが独身で、３４歳。

義兄も肺癌でした

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Wake; my brother’s family
Thu. March 22 : fine

My elder brother’s couple has 2 sons and 2 daughters. 2 sons and older daughter are dentists. Younger daughter married to an Indian geologist. There’s no successor as a doctor. 2 daughters have 2 children each. Younger son is single and 34 years old.

my brother in law also passed away by lung cancer

兄の遺影

3月21日（水）快晴

ケアンズから成田に向かう飛行機の中で、38年振りに大学の同級生・池崎君と遭遇。僕は自治会長で彼は体育会の副会長でたびたび衝突していたので犬猿の仲と思われていますが、実は仲良し。死んだ兄と僕は性格も考え方も正反対でいつも喧嘩をしていましたが、仲は良かった。僕とユミも同じ。喧嘩をしないことが、仲が良いことではありません。今日は火葬、明日は通夜、明後日は葬式です。

従兄弟の葬式

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Photo of deceased brother
Wed. March 21 : fine

On the airplane from Cairns to Narita I met one of my ex-classmates from university, Dr. Ikezaki after 38 years. As I was the chairman of the student association and he was the vice-president of the sports association and we used to conflict frequently, people thought we disliked each other. In fact we were good friends. My deceased brother and I had opposite characters and principles and we always had arguments, but actually we were good brothers. The same between us, Yumi and I. Having no fights doesn’t mean good friendships. The cremation will be held today, wake tomorrow and funeral the day after tomorrow.

my couisn's funeral

行ったり来たり

3月20日(火)快晴

昨日闘病中の兄が息を引き取ったとの連絡がありました。右脚はまだ不自由で階段の上り下りには苦労しますが、そんなことは言っていられません。旅行カバン、革靴、靴下、ワイシャツ、防寒衣を購入。運よく航空券も手に入りました。何より大切なことは茶髪を黒く染め直すこと。１０日間過ごしたケアンズを慌ただしく飛び立ちます。

春分の青森は寒そうだ

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Moving about between Japan and Australia
Tues. March 20 : fine

I received the notice that my brother who had been struggling with illness passed away yesterday. Although my right leg is still lame and it’s hard to go up and down the stairs, I have to go to Japan. I bought a suitcase, shoes, socks, a white shirt and an overcoat. Fortunately I could get the air ticket. The most important thing is to change my red dyed hair to black. I’m hurriedly leaving Cairns where I stayed for 10days.

it's likely to be chilly on the Vernal Equinox Day in Japan

ウミヘビ

3月19日(月)快晴

海が荒れると砂金浜には弱った海洋動物が打ち上げられます。大小の魚、タコ、イカ、ウミガメ、クラゲ、ウニ、ヒトデ、カニ、エビなど。僕が育った下北では籠を下げた住民が早朝の浜を競って歩いていたものですが、ＯＺはイセエビくらいしか拾いません。時々ウミヘビも見かけます。猛毒がありますが口が小さいので咬まれる心配はあまりありません。

ビーチの拾い物

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Sea snake
Mon. March 19 : fine

When sea gets rough several weakened marine animals are washed up on Golden Sand Beach. They are from small to big fish, octopuses, squids, turtles, jelly fish, urchins, starfish, crabs, and prawns. In my hometown, Shimokita where I grew up people used to compete walking alongshore with their baskets early in the morning. On the other hand OZs pick up only lobsters. Sometimes you can see sea snakes. It has deadly poison, however you don’t need to worry because its jaw is too small to bite you.

pickup on the beach

マングローブの種

3月18日(日)雨後快晴

雨の砂金浜には椰子の実や木の実やマンゴーやパパイヤも流れてきます。マングローブの種も沢山混じっています。一口にマングローブと言っても種類が多く、種子も様々。槍のような細長い種は槍先を砂や泥に突き刺して発芽します。ソラマメのような種は海水に洗われて根を出します。

マングローブ

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Seeds of mangrove
Sun. March 18 : fine after rain

Coco nuts, mangos, and papayas drift to rainy Golden Sand Beach. A lot of mangrove seeds are mixed with them. Mangrove is not only a species but has many kinds, so as its different seeds. The spear shaped seeds sting their tips into the sand or mud to grow out. The broad bean shaped seeds sprout by being washed with salt water.

mangrove

雨の砂金浜

3月17日(土)雨後快晴

ＱＬＤ北部の熱帯雨林の年間降雨量は4000ｍｍ。雨のビーチには熱帯雨林から流れ込んだ大小の流木が沢山打ち上げられています。僕の住むヨーキーズ・ノブのビーチは自然状態の海浜なので流木を人為的に片付けません。強い紫外線と波に分解された流木は海岸林と下草や海洋生物の滋養分になります。吸殻やプラスチックなどの生活ゴミは皆無です。

虹の砂金浜

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Golden Sand Beach in the rain
Sat. March 17 : fine after rain

The yearly amount of rainfall in the tropical rain forest in north QLD is 4000mm. There are a lot of drift woods that come from tropical rain forest on the rainy beach. We don’t put away the drift wood in our Yorkeys Knob because our beach is the natural beach. The wood is resolved by strong ultraviolet and waves, and they become to good fertilizer for coastline forest and under grass. There are no plastic rubbish or cigarette butts.

Golden Sand Beach in rain