４月も半ばを過ぎて来週末からはゴールデンウィークということで、北海道にもようやくサクラ開花の便りが各地から聞こえてきています。っていうか、わが家のお向かいの図書館の庭でみごとに開花しておりました。
ということで春爛漫気分に誘われ雨模様でしたが昨日はちょっと遠出して、お馴染みの余市の魚屋さんに行って季節の魚状況を参観。余市を含めた積丹半島東岸の海の幸のいま現在がそのまま一目瞭然。まだメインは「カレイ」のようで、ちょっと大きめのヤツを仕入れさせていただき、刺身用におろしていました。
ドライブ道中でもときどき桜の木が開花している様子が散見された。そんなことでひょっとすると連休前にもサクラが満開になるかと思っていたら、一転して本日早朝には氷雨とともに雪が混じっています。気温が昨日から一気に下降して本日は前日比９°低く最高気温５°とのこと。まことに三寒四温in北海道。
しかし、季節の花芽吹きは確実で写真は一昨日の発寒川河川で見かけた野の花たち。一部「フキノトウ」の群舞ぶり。花の名って特徴的な花は覚えるけれど、その土地の季節感の基層で教えてくれる野の花たちの名前はなかなか思い出せない。そこまで関心を持たないのだけれど、無性になつかしさを覚える。
今週以降、仕事上では大車輪でいろいろな進行。新事業の住宅画像データベース関連ではAI技術を活用させていただいているのですが、ChatGPT関連の話題が世界的に急速に盛り上がってきて、弊社の連の立場で主導されている川村秀憲先生はいろいろな場で情報発信されてきている。先般などイベント講演の案内がメールで来ていて、参加しようとすぐにメール返信したらもすぐに「満席」という告知。たぶん日本中から相当の注目が集中しているのだろうと推測されます。
５月にはAI関連の展示会が東京ビッグサイトで開催されるということで連携先が出展されると言うこと。多少は関連していることなのでわたしも参観してこようと考えています。先日のIT関連イベントでは当社のツールが紹介されて好反応が得られたという情報もいただいている。
そんなあれこれ、まだときどき雪が戻って来たりはしますが（笑）、春たけなわに向けて、しっかりと地道に歩んでいきたいと考えています。さて・・・。
English version⬇
The early budding of flowers, then a complete turnaround to freezing rain and snow.
In the business world, a variety of activities are underway on a big wheel. AI technology, such as ChatGPT, is the focus of much attention. It's been three cold and four warm days, but the season is definitely moving. ...
It is now mid-April and Golden Week will begin next week, so we are finally hearing the news of cherry blossoms blooming from many places in Hokkaido. In fact, the sakura (cherry blossoms) were in full bloom in the garden of the library across the street from our house. So, in the spirit of spring, I took a little trip yesterday, even though it was raining, to a familiar fish shop in Yoichi, Nioka Shoten, to see the seasonal fish situation. The current status of seafood from the east coast of the Shakotan Peninsula, including Yoichi, was on display. The main catch still seems to be flounder, and we were able to purchase a slightly larger one, which was being grated for sashimi.
On the road trip, we sometimes saw cherry trees in bloom. I thought that perhaps the cherry trees would be in full bloom before the consecutive holidays, but the situation took a turn for the worse early today morning, with snow mixed in along with freezing rain. The temperature has dropped dramatically since yesterday, with a high of 5° today, 9° lower than the previous day. Three cold and four warm days in Hokkaido.
The photo shows wild flowers seen on the Hassamu River the day before yesterday. The photo shows a group of wild flowers I saw on the Hassamu River the day before yesterday. I can remember the names of characteristic flowers, but it is difficult for me to remember the names of wild flowers that tell me the base of the local sense of the season. Or rather, I don't have that much interest in them, but I feel an irresistible nostalgia for them.
From this week onward, I have a lot of things going on at work. We have been utilizing AI technology in our new project related to residential image databases, and ChatGPT-related topics are rapidly gaining momentum worldwide, and it seems that the "harmonic system" of AI research at Hokkaido University, with whom we are collaborating, is attracting more and more attention. Dr. Hidenori Kawamura, who is leading AI technology in Japan in terms of scientific research, has been sending out information in various forums. Recently, I received an invitation to an event he was going to give a lecture at, and when I immediately responded to the e-mail to attend, I was told that the event was already "fully booked. I replied to the e-mail and found that the event was already "fully booked." I guessed that it must have attracted a lot of attention.
I was told that an AI-related exhibition will be held at Tokyo Big Sight in May, and that our partner companies will be exhibiting at the event. Since it is somewhat related to AI, I am planning to visit the exhibition as well. I have also heard that our tools were introduced at an IT-related event the other day and received a good response.
Although the snow still comes back from time to time (laugh), we are determined to make steady progress toward the end of spring. Well...
