I love hydrangeas.
I recall the hydrangea in our garden originally came from the garden of my mother’s longtime good friend who is already gone.
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確か、この庭の紫陽花は、母の昔の親友（故人）のお庭からやってきたものでした・・・。
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This entry is about “friends” continued from the one on my mother’s friend and the one about my other friend.
As it is extremely difficult for me to go out leaving my mother alone these days, one of my old friends from high school days came to our home with lots of tasty treats. This premium saké in a lovely bottle was the star item among them.
I always taste special saké in a glass my first student gave me when Yushokai had practice sessions regularly.
Smooth taste/
This newly brewed saké has/
What brand, I wonder/
Translation and calligraphy by Tomoko
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母の世話のために私は外出がしにくいので、母の見舞いを兼ねて、高校時代からの旧い友人がご馳走いろいろを持って、私の誕生日を祝いに来てくれました。なかでも、この素敵な容器に入ったお酒は本当に美味しかったです。
特別のお酒はいつも、湧書会のお稽古していたときに一番初めに生徒になってくれた方からいただいた杯でいただきます。
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The entry on June 24 was about my mother’s friend, and this one is about mine.
Today is the birthday of that friend of mine who I got acquainted by pure chance. She is sincerely struggling in many phases of life. I always think I should take her as a model, however, I am afraid only thinking is all I have been doing.
The photo shows my little work of calligraphy I am planning to send her as a birthday gift. I really don’t know how someone should feel and think when something like this was sent to as a birthday present, though.
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６月２４日に母の友人について書きましたが、今回は私の友人についてです。
ひょんなことからお知り合いになれたその方の、今日はお誕生日です。人生のいろいろの場面で頑張っておられます。見習わなければ・・・と思うのですが、どうも思っているだけです。写真は、お祝いに、と私が勝手に思って、お送りしようと思っている私の作品です。これを送られた人はどう思うのかな・・・？ と心配ですが、私のお祝いの気持ちです。
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Today marks midsummer day. However, as it is right in the middle of the rainy season in Japan, we don’t sense much “light” around us.
On the gardenias/
Stark white rain is/
Falling/
Translation and calligraphy by Tomoko
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今日は夏至なんですけど、日本では当然のように梅雨時ですから、あまり「光」を感じません。
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A very old acquaintance in my neighborhood, actually, who is like my elder sister all my life gave us some roses from their garden. My mother enjoyed seeing them floating in the water.
The photo shows my work of a passage from lyrics of an old pop song with a motif of wild roses
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まるで姉のようなご近所の古くからの知り合いの方がお庭から薔薇を剪ってくださいました。水に浮かべると綺麗なので母が喜んでいました。
野バラを詠った昔のヒット曲を書きました。
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When I was younger, I have never thought I would cook “rice with green peas”. It is not that I want to write same kind of comment when I post about washoku menu on our table, though.
Happiness is/
Noticing how happy one be/
Oh, the rice cooked with green peas/
Translation and calligraphy by Tomoko
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まさか自分が豆ご飯を炊くとは思いませんでした。
「純」和食というメニューのことを書くたびに同じことを繰り返していますが。
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One of my old friends holds an exhibition of Japanese style paintings annually around this time of year with her friend. I admire their ardency.
So, this haiku doesn’t apply to them.
Only hobbies remain/
In the rest of life/
Spring comes now/
Translation and calligraphy by Tomoko
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画のお仲間と一緒に日本画のグループ展を毎年この時期に開かれている旧い友人がいます。偉いなあと思います。
という訳で、この俳句はこの方たちには適用されません。
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If you try to see things with your mental eyes and not with your physical eyes, you get to see the essence of things (, so I heard).
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肉体の目でなくて、心の眼で見ると、総べての本質が見える（らしい）。
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I often hear Fushimi Inari-taisha Shrine enjoys immeasurable popularity among tourists from abroad. One of my old friends stopped by with some rice crackers related to this shrine. This simple, pleasant taste will never make you bored. I don’t mean to promote the confection, though.
Oh, spring moon!/
It makes me crave for/
Paper-thin rice crackers/
Translation and calligraphy by Tomoko
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外国からの観光客に大人気との伏見稲荷大社。この神社にちなんだお煎餅を友人が持ってきてくれました。飽きのこないお味です。別に宣伝してあげようと思う訳ではありませんが。
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My mother in a wheel chair and I enjoyed cherry blossoms here and there more often than usual. The flowers along this outlet looked gorgeous with the young leaves of maples. Both colors, pink and grass green, contrast favorably.
Young maple leaves/
So lithely put on/
Breeze/
Translation and calligraphy by Tomoko
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車椅子の母と一緒に、あちらこちらの桜をいつもの年よりもたくさん見ました。この疎水べりの桜は、もみじの若葉とともにあって、とても綺麗でした。ピンクも若草色もどちらも映えます。
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