Fun of Good Old Japanese - 江戸・明治に学ぶ　楽しむ生き方

Author: Yamada Kametaro, Yamada Harue (speakers), Shimura Shunji (editor) 、山田亀太郎・山田ハルエ述、志村俊司編 Findings of fun things in lives 、人の楽しみの発見度： Excellent ★ ★★   Koakazawa in Akiyama-go at present、今の秋山郷（小赤沢） The two books depict unwealthy  life in the remote mountains —and the very essence of living there during the mid-20 th century, based on interviews with the elderly couple . The motivation to persevere through the life of the hardship is the inherited strong spirit to survive together with family ; the means of living and the happiness found in such a poor life are also depicted. We can know, "Without cars or smartphones, and with only meager entertainments, it is possible to possess a purpose for living and a sense of happiness . On top of that, it is also possible to look back on our life ultimately with the feeling that it was a good one." These are two books well worth picking up.   ２冊の本には、 大正から昭和前半の山の暮らし、山での「生きざま」 が、 老夫婦へのインタビュー をもとに書かれている。 苦労を重ねる生活の中で 生...

A year spent without major issue (September to December, 1807) 、この年もつつがなく （文化４年９～ 12 月） 千葉県流山市にいた名主の日記から、その頃の楽しみを拾い出した連載記事です（日本語は後半に）   Rice fields just before harvest、稲刈り直前の田んぼ（松本市）   September It was a season of rice harvest and the local festivals as usual. 9 th , the festival in Hyōemon’s village, who kept this diary, was hold. Seven relatives arrived the day before and stayed , and two more came on the day itself. His son Fusajirō and others also set off to attend festivals in Ōmuro and Kashiwa, staying overnight for the occasion.   However, Hyōemon was so busy . He was occupied day after day with meetings regarding the sukegō duties (compulsory transportation work) demanded by the Sōka post-town , as well as dealing with a dispute of relatives in Shibasaki. Reading about it, I cannot help but feel sympathy for him; he was going out to consult others or receiving visitors who came to seek his counsel.     October 19 th , the ric...

Various affairs during the busy farming season (May to August, 1807)、 農繁期のさまざまな出来事（文化４年５～８月） 千葉県流山市にいた名主の日記から、その頃の楽しみを拾い出した連載記事です（日本語は後半に）   Mr. Watanuki’s residence at present、元野馬奉行 綿貫家屋敷 May 9 th , Hyōemon—the author of this diary—paid a visit to Mr. Watanuki Natsuemon. Mr. Watanuki was a prominent figure who managed Koganemaki, a horse pasture belonging to the Shogunate (Bakufu) . It is said that his surname "Watanuki" (literally "cotton-less") was derived from the tradition that his ancestor wore garments without cotton padding during a cold season. But they had not been poor of course. The purpose of Hyōemon's visit was to request him a delay in the payment for cedar trees that had been felled by Sōemon (likely a kumigashira , village official). Hyōemon managed to have the payment deadline extended to the 20 th . However, Sōemon was unable to pay, so a further extension was needed. Despite the unpleasant request for Mr. Watanuki, his respon...