達磨(だるま) daruma

　この達磨達は、眉毛と髭が長いのが特徴で、このような達磨は珍しいです。この長い眉毛と髭が何を象徴しているのか、私は知りません。ちょっと薄気味悪いですね。

　The round shape of this traditional Japanese doll is known as Daruma. Even if you push it down, it will stand up quickly because the bottom is heavy. It is said that Daruma dolls symbolize the spirit of never giving up no matter how many times they fail, which is called "falling down seven times, getting up eight times." These Daruma dolls are uncommon because they have long eyebrows and beards. I don't know what those long eyebrows and beard symbolize. In my opinion, they are a bit creepy.

完熟ゴーヤ ripe bitter gourd

　完熟したゴーヤの果実は黄色くなります。果実の中を見ると、種が赤いゼリー状の被膜で覆われています。そして、ヘタは依然として緑色のままです。この黄と赤と緑の色の取り合わせはとても魅力的だと思います。
　赤いゼリー状の部分だけ見ると、気味が悪いと感じる人もいますが、食べると甘くて美味しいです。有毒だという説もありますが、一度に大量に食べなければ問題なさそうです。

　大事なことを書き忘れるところでした。食べられるのは赤いゼリー状の被膜です。種そのものを食べてはいけません！

　A fully ripe bitter gourd turns yellow. If you look inside the fruit, the seeds are covered with a red jelly-like layer. And the stem is still green. I think this combination of yellow, red and green is very attractive.
　Some people feel creepy when they see only the red jelly-like layer, but it is sweet and delicious when you eat it. There is a theory that it is poisonous, but there seems to be no problem as long as you don't eat a large amount at once.

　I almost forgot to write something important. What you can eat is a red jelly-like layer. Don't eat the seeds themselves! 

臭木(クサギ) harlequin glorybower

 　木の名前が示すように、クサギの葉や茎は臭いことで知られています。その一方で、花の香りは心地よいとも言われています。花は常時咲いている訳ではないので、葉や茎の匂いが、この木を代表するようになったのでしょう。
　同様に、人も日頃の行いが大事ですね。

　As the name of the tree suggests, the leaves and stems of the Harlequin Glorybower are known to have a odd smell. Otherwise, the flowers are said to have a pleasant fragrance. This tree's name "クサギ" means "Stinky Tree" in Japan, which is unfortunate, I think.
　The smell of the leaves and stems has probably become a symbol of this tree because the flowers don't bloom all the time.
　 People's everyday actions are equally important.

ネグンドカエデ acer negundo

　このネグンドカエデは、葉に斑が入るフラミンゴ種だと思います。観葉植物のように魅力的な葉を付けています。暑さに強くないので、温暖化の影響で熱帯化したこの地で、今後も美しい葉を付けるか心配です。

　I think this Negundo maple is a flamingo variety that has variegated leaves. It has attractive leaves like a houseplant. It's not tolerant to heat, so I'm concerned if it will have beautiful leaves in the future in this area that has become like tropical due to global warming.

左利き用のカメラ left-handed camera

　私は右利きなのですが、右手の指がこんな状態なので、カメラの操作がうまくできません。左手だけで操作できるカメラがあればいいなと思っています。
　昔、そういったカメラが実際にありました。フィルムカメラの時代に、京セラ株式会社が「サムライ」シリーズとして、右利き用と左利き用の両方のカメラを販売していたのです。どちらも片手で撮影できる、ユニークなカメラでした。
　ただ残念ながら、左利き用のカメラはそのシリーズ以外には、今までにもこれからも登場しないと思います。 

 

 　I'm right-handed, but due to some issues with my right-hand fingers, I can't operate a camera very well at the moment. I wish there were a camera that could be operated entirely with the left hand.
　Actually, such a camera did exist in the past. Back in the film camera era, Kyocera Corporation released the “Samurai” series, which included models for both right-handed and left-handed users. They were unique cameras that allowed for one-handed shooting.
　Unfortunately, aside from that series, I don't think any other left-handed cameras have ever been made—neither before nor since.

 

 

 

 

緋合歓(ヒネム) fairy duster

　花のように見えるものは赤い雄蕊の集合体です。ネムノキの近縁なので、花と葉はネムノキに似ています。花だけ見ると、ブラシの木にも少し似ています。

　What looks like a flower is actually a cluster of red stamens. Its species is closely related to the silk tree, therefore the flowers and leaves resemble those of the silk tree. Just looking at the flowers, it looks a little bit like a flower of bottlebrush.

 

 

タラノキの涙 tears of Japanese angelica tree

　タラノキの剪定の後、あめ状に固まる樹液がどんどん出てきます。琥珀のように輝き、宝石のようです。

　After pruning a  Japanese angelica tree, sap that gradually hardens into a candy-like substance will come out in large quantities flowing from the cut surface. It shines like amber and looks like a jewel.