初日の出 the sunrise on New Year's Day

　地平線から顔を出したときに太陽を直視できますが、ものの10分も経つと眩しくて見ることができなくなります。大気の厚さの影響とその理由を聞いていますが、わずかの角度の違いで大幅に変わるのはやはり不思議です。

　Directly seeing the sun when it rises above the horizon is possible, but it becomes too bright to see within approximately 10 minutes. I've heard that the thickness of the atmosphere is the reason, but it's still strange how a significant shift can occur with a slight change in angle.

2025年1月1日午前7時7分撮影
captured at 7:07 a.m. on January 1, 2025

猿滑(サルスベリ) crape-myrtle

　猿も滑り落ちると形容されるほど、幹の表面はツルツルです。材は硬いそうで、線路の枕木などに利用されると聞きました。木はそれほど大きくはならず、幹も枝もクネクネと曲がりますが、これで枕木が作れるのか気になります。

　Due to its smooth surface, the tree is named as 'Monkey Sliding' in Japan. I was told that the wood is tough and is employed as railroad ties or other things. The tree doesn't grow very large, and the trunk and branches are very twisted and wavy. I'm curious if it could be used as railroad ties.

俯瞰 bird's-eye view

　写真は、穏やかな流れの川下り風景です。舟の乗客は、ゆったりと景色などを楽しんでいるようです。歓声をあげて私に手を振ってくれます。一方、私は揺れる吊橋の上で、肝を冷やしながら千鳥足でバランスを取っていました。

　A gentle river boat tour is depicted in this photo. The boat passengers appear to be in a relaxed and enjoyable mood as they enjoy the scenery. I was receiving cheers and waves from them. At the same time, I was walking awkwardly, trying to maintain my balance on the swaying suspension bridge, feeling frightened.

紅葉(こうよう) autumn leaves

　ここは日当たりの良いお墓です。そこには2本のモミジの木があり、1本の葉は鮮やかな紅色になります。

　落葉する前に色が変わった葉を、色に関係なく紅葉と呼びます。
　厳密な定義では、黄色に変わるのを黄葉（こうよう、おうよう）、赤色に変わるのを紅葉（こうよう）、褐色に変わるのを褐葉（かつよう）と呼びます。 その定義においては、赤く紅葉（こうよう）したと言うのは冗長であり、黄色く紅葉（こうよう）したと言うのはちぐはぐな表現です。
　さらに混乱するのは、"こうよう"も"モミジ"も、漢字では"紅葉"と同じ表記になります。さらに、さらに、植物学的にはモミジもカエデも、カエデに分類され、モミジの正式名称は楓(カエデ)なのです。

　The sun is shining on this graveyard. There are two Japanese maples (momiji in Japanese) in this location, and one of them has leaves that turn  brilliant crimson.
　"Momiji" is one of the most beloved trees in Japan, due to its vibrant autumn foliage.

　Leaves that change color before falling are called "crimson leaves" in Japan, regardless of their color.
　Strictly speaking, leaves that turn yellow are called "yellow leaves" (kouyou or ouyou in Japanese), not "crimson leaves," leaves that turn red/crimson are called "crimson leaves" (kouyou in Japanese), and leaves that turn brown are called "brown leaves" (katsuyou in Japanese), not "crimson leaves," By that definition, saying the leaves have turned red/crimson as "crimson leaves" is redundant, and saying the leaves have turned yellow as "crimson leaves" is an incoherent expression.
　To make things even more confusing, both "crimson leaves" and "Japanese maples" are written in the same kanji as "紅葉." Furthermore, botanically, both Japanese maples (momiji in Japanese) and maples (kaede in Japanese) are classified as maples (kaede), and the official name for Japanese maples (momiji in Japanese) is kaede.

もみじ狩り leaf peeping

　背が高いもみじの木々が、空を覆うように茂った、小さな公園が我が家の近くにあります。来る人も少なく、もみじ狩りを静かに気軽に楽しむことができます。

　A small park is located near my home, and the tall Japanese maples are so thick that they cover the sky. Leaf peeping can be done in peace and quiet because there aren't many people here.

ビロードモウズイカ flannel-plant

　石垣の硬さと、ビロードモウズイカの柔らかさとの対比に着目しました。この植物は沢山の名前を持っています。その一つに、アメリカ中西部で呼ばれる、Cowboy Toilet Paper (カウボーイのトイレットペーパー)というユニークな名前があります。
　この植物には、皮膚疾患に対する薬効効果もあるので、肌に触れてもかぶれることはないようです。

　My focus was on the difference between the hardness of the stone wall and the softness of the flannel plant. Many names have been given to this plant. In the American Midwest, the name for it is Cowboy Toilet Paper, which is a unique name. 　It has medicinal effects against skin diseases, so it doesn't cause a rash when in contact with the skin.

金蓮花(キンレンカ) nasturtium

　キンレンカは、5月から11月にかけて長い期間咲きます。アンデス山脈などの熱帯高地原産なので、高温多湿とさらに寒さにも弱い植物です。葉、花、果実、種子は食用になるそうです。

　Nasturtiums bloom for a long period from May through November. This plant, which is native to tropical highlands such as the Andes, is week to both high temperatures, humidity, and cold. All of the leaves, flowers, fruits, and seeds are edible.