【北海道庶民の味覚「ホッケの開き」ふたたび（笑）】

　どうも「ホッケの開き」の縁が続いております（笑）。わたしは北海道民として、札幌市民としてごく普通にスーパーなどで「あ、ホッケの開きだ。いいな、そのうち食べよ」と無意識に買いものカゴに入れていたのです。ホッケには「シマ（縞）ホッケ」といわゆる「ホッケ」２種類あってということはあんまり強く意識していなかった。で、シマホッケはアタマを落としているんだ、としかその形態でしか違いを意識はしていなかった。
　きのうのブログ反響ではいつもコメントをいただける道内の住宅研究者の方からまで、「ホッケの開き、盛り上がっていますね（笑）」としてコメントをいただいた。どうも世間をお騒がせしているようで、住宅ネタがメインのブログとしては、本筋外の話題で恐縮しております。
　シマホッケはだいたい「ロシア産」と書いてあるので、とくにロシアによるウクライナ侵攻があって以降は拒否的だった。一方でいわゆる「ホッケ」は上の写真のようにアタマが正直に付いていて、シマホッケに比べたら、やや身の厚みが薄いかなとは思っていても、こっちを愛好していた。
　きのうもふと立ち寄ったスーパーでどうしても目が行って、また写真を取っていた（笑）。きのうのスーパーではホッケ１尾295円の値付け。その下にきのうのブログで使った錦糸町「シマホッケ」の写真を上げましたので両者の違いはお分かりいただけるでしょう。いつも馴染みのスーパーでは、このホッケは398円くらいなので、かなり割安感はあった。シマホッケだとロシア産で１尾298円が相場だったので、それと比較しても割安感がある。なんですが、わたしは案外保守的なのでいつものスーパーでも再度確認してから、判断したいと思います（笑）。
　ということで庶民の味ですが、国際関係・戦争の影もそこに投影されて食べものの相場観にも変化が生まれてくるのでしょう。今後ともウォッチし続けて行きたいと思います。

　さて北海道の夏の味覚と言えばなんといってもトウモロコシ。これも「トウキビ」という別称もある。わたし的にはトウキビ一択なのですが、これは日本各地域での言い方の違いなのでしょう。
　日本人の品種改良努力はすさまじいものがあって、最近の進化した品種では、ちょっと味覚で驚かされるものがある。こういう品種改良への志向性の根源には、北海道の開拓・国土利用というDNAがそこに投影されているように思う。コメが採れない土地から採れる土地への進化努力を日本民族は北海道で行ってきた。明治以前にはほとんど採れなかったコメが、いまでは新潟県に肉薄するコメ産地に変貌した。そこではコツコツとした民族的努力が傾注され続けてきた。いまでは品質面でも上位等級のコメが産出されブランド米までが出現している。
　トウキビでもいま、同様の進化努力が花開きつつあるのでしょう。すばらしい。


English version⬇

Hokkaido's common taste, “hokke no kirai” (hokke fish crackers) once again.
I was completely excited about hokke. International relations are also projected onto the world of taste, and we are getting deeper and deeper into the world of taste. On the other hand, sugarcane is at its peak. The evolution of umami is amazing. The evolution of umami is amazing.

　Thanks for your continued interest in “hokke no akira” (open hokke) (laughs). As a Hokkaido-native and a citizen of Sapporo, I would usually go to the supermarket and say to myself, “Ah, hokke (hokke) open fish. I'll have some one of these in the future. I was not really aware that there are two types of hokke: striped hokke and so-called hokke. I was only aware that striped hokke had their heads cut off, and that was the only difference between the two.
　Yesterday, I even received a comment from a housing researcher in Hokkaido, who always comments on my blog, saying, “The hokke are getting excited about opening hokke (laughs). It seems to be causing a stir in the world, and as a blog whose main topic is housing, I am sorry to say that it is a topic outside of our main focus.
　Since striped hokke is usually labeled as “Russian,” I have been rejecting it, especially after Russia's invasion of Ukraine. On the other hand, the so-called “hokke” has its head honestly attached as shown in the photo above, and even though I thought its meat was a little less thick than that of striped hokke, I was a fan of this type of hokke.
　Yesterday, too, I couldn't help but notice it at the supermarket where I stopped by and took another picture of it (laugh). At the supermarket yesterday, a hokke was priced at 295 yen. Below I have uploaded a photo of the Kinshicho “striped hokke” I used in yesterday's blog so you can see the difference between the two. At the supermarket I am familiar with, this hokke is priced at about 398 yen, so I felt it was quite inexpensive. The price of Russian striped hokke was 298 yen per piece, so it seemed cheap compared to that. But I am a conservative person, so I will make a decision after checking again at my usual supermarket (laugh).
　So, although it is the taste of the common people, the shadow of international relations and wars will be projected on it, and the market price of food will probably change as well. I would like to continue to watch the market.

　The summer delicacy of Hokkaido is corn. It is also known by another name, “sugarcane. For me, corn is the only one I would choose, but this is probably due to differences in the terminology used in different regions of Japan.
　The Japanese have made tremendous efforts in breeding, and some of the more recently developed varieties are a bit surprising to the palate. I believe that Hokkaido's DNA of cultivation and utilization of the land is projected at the root of this orientation toward variety improvement. The Japanese people have made efforts in Hokkaido to evolve from a land where rice could not be harvested to a land where rice could be harvested. Rice, which was almost unobtainable before the Meiji era, has transformed itself into a rice-producing region that is now close to Niigata Prefecture. The Japanese people's persistent efforts have been devoted to the development of the rice production area. Nowadays, the quality of the rice is of a higher grade, and even brand-name rice is being produced.
　The same evolutionary efforts are now blossoming in the sugarcane industry. This is wonderful.

【ホッケの開き 650円 in 錦糸町。札幌価格 298円】

　先日、北海道の庶民の味覚の代表選手・ホッケの開きについて書きましたが、わたしは性格ワルくも（笑）、出張先の本州地域ではときどきスーパーで価格チェックを行う趣味を持っております。～あ、競合他店に価格情報をリークする目的などは金輪際ありません。ただ、そういう誤解を避ける意味で写真撮影取材した店舗名は伏せます。～
　しかしホッケの開きに注目していたことはこれまでなかったので、今回はじめて錦糸町という首都圏地域ど真ん中でも購入可能だと言うことによろこびの気持ちを持っていた。「おお、おお、ここでオマエの美しい姿に出会うとは・・・」と若干詠嘆気味にのめり込んでしまった。
　わたしは普段は、価格は低いけれど「地元産」とは言えないロシア輸入ものはあまり買わない。札幌ではこのロシア産ホッケの開きはだいたい300円程度。それよりも100円程度高くても、北海道地元産を買うようにしている。簡単な見分け方はアタマを落とすのがロシア流で、北海道ではアタマも付いていることが多い。たぶん「捌き方」で国ごとの漁師に「流儀」があるのでしょうか？一物全体食的な雰囲気を感じてやはりアタマも味わってみたいのがわたし好み。
　価格は現実的に２倍以上の開きがあるのだけれど、市場での流通量とか、希少性などのいろいろな要因があると思われるので、こちらの価格が妥当かどうかは、わたし的にはわからない。しかし、ホッケの開きが首都圏地域のみなさんにも選択可能な状況であることが喜ばしい。もしわたしが錦糸町に居て北海道を恋しく思う心理を持っていれば、こういった価格差は気にならないのではないかと想像する。
　北の海を泳ぎ回っていて、この地で人びとのよろこびとともに往生のときを迎えられるのは、ホッケとしても魚冥利かも。
　今回の旅も昨日終了で昨夜札幌帰還。たぶん蒸暑の夏最盛期で、さすがに最終日にはややバテ気味。っていうか、日曜日にトラブルがあって、急遽宿泊先場所を変更したので、夜遅くまで移動の必要が出来して疲れきってしまっていた次第。予測の甘さが結果になってしまったのです。しかし、酷暑の中にもかかわらず、健康ぶりは確認できて、いわばストレステストとしては自分自身で及第点だと思えていました。
　８月中はいろいろな仕事の進行、デスクワークが増えるのでたぶん出張機会はしばらくなく落ち着いて札幌で過ごすことになりそうです。本州以南地域のみなさんは酷暑にめげず、ご自愛ください。札幌は涼しいなぁ。


English version⬇

HOKKEI open fish 650yen in Kinshicho. Sapporo price: 298 yen]
Found at a supermarket in Tokyo. With the development of refrigerated transportation technology, products from around Hokkaido are also available. The lineup is irresistible to those who are in love with Hokkaido. Hokkaido

　The other day, I wrote about hokke (hokke), a typical delicacy for the common people of Hokkaido, and I have a bad habit of occasionally checking prices at supermarkets in the Honshu area where I travel (laugh). ～I have no intention of leaking price information to competitors. However, in order to avoid such misunderstandings, I will not reveal the names of the stores I photograph and cover. ~~ I was just looking at the hokke (hockey sticks).
　However, since I had never paid attention to hokke (hokke) before, I was delighted to know that for the first time, hokke was available in Kinshicho, right in the middle of the Tokyo metropolitan area. I was slightly absorbed in the experience, exclaiming, “Oh, oh, I never thought I'd see your beautiful figure here...” I usually pay lower prices, but this time I was able to purchase the hockey in Kinshicho, right in the middle of the Tokyo metropolitan area.
　I usually do not buy Russian imports, which are less expensive but not “locally produced. In Sapporo, the price of Russian hokke is about 300 yen. Even if the price is 100 yen higher than that, I try to buy the local product from Hokkaido. A simple way to tell the difference is to remove the head, which is the Russian way, and in Hokkaido, the head is often attached as well. Perhaps each country's fishermen have their own “style” in how they handle the fish? I prefer to taste the head as well, as I feel the atmosphere of “whole food”.
　The price of hokke is more than twice as much, but I do not know whether the price is reasonable or not, since there are various factors such as the amount of hokke distributed in the market and its rarity. However, I am glad that hokke is now available in the Tokyo metropolitan area. I imagine that if I were in Kinshicho and had the mindset of missing Hokkaido, I would not mind such a price difference.
　It is a great pleasure for a hokke to be able to swim around in the northern sea, and to be able to die with the joy of people in this place.
　This trip ended yesterday, and I returned to Sapporo last night. It was probably the peak of the hot and humid summer season, and as expected, I was a bit tired on the last day. We had a problem on Sunday and had to change the place where we stayed suddenly, so we had to move around until late at night, and we were exhausted. I was too tired to travel until late in the evening. However, despite the extreme heat, I was able to confirm that I was in good health, and as a stress test, so to speak, I felt that I had given myself an acceptable score.
　I will probably not have the opportunity to travel to Sapporo for a while during the month of August, as I will be working on various projects and will have more desk work. For those of you in the south of Honshu, please be patient with the extreme heat. It is cool in Sapporo.

【セミのいのちは短くて。神護寺・空海との出会い】

　どうも最近、イキモノに対してその「けなげさ」に深く癒され続けている。自分のいのちもやがて無に返っていくことが自然と受け止め始めてきて、その分、いま輝いている存在、未来がたっぷりと感じられる存在に対してこころが向かってきて仕方がない。それは植物に対しても、動物・虫に対しても同様なこころが働いてくるのだ。
　きのうもセミの必死の鳴き声とウグイスについて書いたけれど、けさ蒸暑の朝の散歩路で、さかんに泣き叫んでいるセミの声を聞いて癒されていたら、ふと道端で、すべてを燃やし尽くした個体が、干からびて横たわっていた。まだ動くかも知れないと軽くついてみても無反応。諸行無常、かれに成仏のときは至ったのだろう。
　以前であれば、こういう死骸にはまったく無反応だったのに、この小さないのちのためにも「祈りたい」という心理がかすかに目覚めてきていることを感じている。
　昨日はある大きな集会に先立って上野の国立博物館を参観していた。そこでは空海が朝廷から管掌を委託された「神護寺」の展覧会が開かれていた。展示のいちばん初めの位置で、空海の管掌に至るまでの神護寺、その前身である寺院についての「縁起」を記した漢文書類を飲み始めていた。こういう展覧会で、漢文の文章を読むのは初めての経験だったが、なぜかその書き手と心理を同期できるように思って一字一句ごとに読み進めてみた。
　もちろん不明箇所も多いし、現代の文字とは違う漢字も書かれているので、ときどきわかる大筋に踏まえて読んでいる内に、前身の寺院は和気清麻呂が勅許を得て開山したことがきちんと記録され、同時に弓削道鏡のことも触れられている。前身の寺院は道鏡の専横を阻止した宇陀神宮の神宣への感謝で創建されたことが記されていた。
　そういった縁起について、その時代人の空気感とともに読んでいると、いきなり現代語訳を読むよりもずっと、その時代人と対話している実感が強くなっていた。なんとなく前段で書いたようないのちとの対話みたいな心理。AIを使って、こういった人間の内面領域を開発するというのも、興味が湧く。バーチャルで昔人の人格を「再構成」して、その人格を可視化して「対話」をさせるというのは有り得るかも。〜妄想ですね（笑）。
　しかし、午前中早めに終わって集会会場に向かいたいと思っていたのに、すっかり遅刻寸前までその時間を超えた昔人との対話が、こころの海を満たしていく。「え、空海さんって右上がり系のくせ字だったんだ？」。さらに空海の「自筆」書類までもが登場してきて、切り上げる寸暇を与えてくれないではないか。最後は立ち去りがたく「もう一回来たい」と心理を納得させながら会場を去っていた。


English version⬇

The Life of a Cicada is Short. An Encounter with Kukai at Jingoji Temple
Guided by a simple dialogue with life, we visited an exhibition at Jingoji Temple. Tracing the history from Wake-no-Kiyomaro to Kukai. A time capsule called a Buddhist temple. The Time Capsule of Buddhist Temples

　Recently, I have been deeply healed by the “spirit” of the creatures. I have naturally begun to accept the fact that my own life will eventually return to nothingness, and because of this, my heart cannot help but go out to beings that are shining now and that I can feel have a bright future ahead of them. The same mindset is at work for plants, animals, and insects.
　Yesterday, I wrote about the desperate cries of cicadas and Japanese bush warblers, but this morning, as I was being soothed by the cicadas crying out on a hot and humid morning walk, I suddenly noticed a dried-up animal lying on the side of the road, having burned itself to death. I lightly poked it to see if it might still be moving, but it did not respond. I thought to myself, “All things are in flux, and the time for Buddhahood has come to him.
　In the past, I would not have reacted at all to such a corpse, but now I feel that I am faintly awakening a psychological desire to “pray” for this little life.
　Yesterday, I visited the National Museum in Ueno prior to a large gathering. There was an exhibition of Jingo-ji Temple, which Kukai was entrusted by the Imperial Court to administer. At the very beginning of the exhibition, the visitors were drinking Chinese documents describing the “Engi” (auspicious omens) of Jingo-ji Temple and its predecessor temples before Kukai took control of the temple. It was my first experience to read Chinese texts at such an exhibition, but somehow I felt as if I could synchronize my mind with the writer of the texts and read through them word by word.
　Of course, there were many unclear passages and kanji characters that were different from those used today, so I read the text based on the main idea that I could understand from time to time. It was also noted that the predecessor temple was founded in gratitude to the divine decree of the Uda Shrine, which had prevented the tyranny of Michikagami.
　When I read about such a history with the atmosphere of the people of the time, I felt that I was talking to the people of the time much more strongly than if I had suddenly read a modern translation. I am also interested in using AI to develop this kind of inner realm of human beings. It might be possible to “reconstruct” a person's personality virtually, visualize that personality, and have a “dialogue” with it. 〜I'm delusional (laughs).
　However, although I had wanted to finish early in the morning and head to the meeting place, the dialogue with the old people, which exceeded the time, filled the sea of my mind until I was almost late. 'Eh, Kukai-san, did you have a right ascending type of habitual writing?' (Kukai's own handwriting). He even included Kukai's “autograph” document in the book, which left no time for me to finish the story. In the end, he was reluctant to leave the venue, convincing his mind that he wanted to come back one more time.

【セミ声とホーホケキョ同時合唱 in 東京調布】

きのうはかねて念願だった住宅の取材参観。東京都調布市内だったのですが、敷地が1500坪という広大さなので、この地域での自然が感受できる庭園が広がっていました。この取材については別の機会でその様子を発表します。
　そういうことで地域の方にお話しを聞くと、きのうのブログテーマと同様に季節感の変調について語っていただけた。東京・関東では早ければ２−３月ころからホーホケキョと鳴くウグイスの声が聞こえるところ、今年はこのいまの盛夏になっても聞こえて、ここのところ聞こえ始めたセミの盛大な合唱とが思わぬ重唱をみせているとのこと。話しながら不思議そうな表情を浮かべられていた。
　人間が感じる皮膚感覚の気温の異常さはともかく、自然界全体がこのような急激な気候変動要因によって変調をきたすのではないかと不安になってきますね。わたしのブログのよきご意見番の読者の方から「現在の生態系構成種は短期的な変動を吸収・克服してここにあるわけで、多少の変動には適応できる。しかし近年の気候変動はおそらく現生態系が未経験のレベルに達しているのだろうと思う。」というコメントが寄せられていましたが、まったく同感するところ。う〜む。
　きのうは日中の気温はレンタカーの外気温計でも37度。クルマ室内では25-26度程度の室温設定にしていましたが、そういうことで移動の間は快適環境を維持できましたが、さすがに都内のクルマ渋滞状況はすごくて４軒の取材予定だったのですが、３軒がギリギリということで終了致しました。
　という人間界の様子ですが、一方、写真は空にムクムクと立ち上がっていた入道雲。関東は日本最大の平野部だけにビルが乱立する都心や集住の極まった住宅地を離れると、こういったダイナミックな大空の美感が楽しませてくれる。やはり蒸暑地域らしい気候の特徴で、ここまでの蒸暑気候現象は北海道ではなかなかお目にかかれない。わたし自身のいろいろな住宅を取材したいという願いの起点に、どうもこういった自然の中での漂泊への願望、芭蕉さんや西行さんのような先人へのあこがれのこころが自分は強いのかも知れないと思っています。かれらの時代には徒歩や馬に乗っての移動が主流だったのでしょうが、現代では新幹線や鉄路よりもクルマ移動がかれら先人と、いちばん近しい行動様式ではと思っています。
　クルマで移動している間は過密な人間社会で一瞬も注意を忘れられないけれど、大渋滞で動かなくなると、こういう大空のパノラマが「まぁ落ち着きなさい」とでもこころに訴えかけてくれているようです。


English version⬇

Cicada Voice and Hohokekyo Simultaneous Chorus in Chofu, Tokyo
The concept of allowable stress exists in architecture. It is a calculation that can cope with crises, but what kind of concept is needed for climate change? ...

Yesterday, I visited a house that I had long wanted to visit. The house was located in Chofu City, Tokyo, on a large site (1,500 tsubo), and the garden was spread out so that visitors could enjoy the natural beauty of the area. I will present the coverage on another occasion.
　When I spoke to people in the area about such things, they talked about the modulation of the sense of season as well as the theme of yesterday's blog. In Tokyo and the Kanto region, the cicadas can be heard from as early as February or March, but this year, even in the height of summer, they can still be heard, and they are unexpectedly joined by the grand chorus of cicadas that has recently begun to be heard. He seemed to be wondering why the cicadas were singing so loudly.
　I am concerned that the entire natural world may be affected by such drastic climate change factors, not to mention the abnormal temperatures that we humans perceive in our skin senses. A reader of my blog, who is a good advisor to me, said, “The species that make up the current ecosystem are here by absorbing and overcoming short-term fluctuations, so they can adapt to some fluctuations. But I think recent climate change has probably reached levels that the current ecosystem has not experienced.” I totally agree with this comment. Hmmm.
　Yesterday, the daytime temperature was 37 degrees on the outside thermometer of the rental car. However, the traffic jam of cars in Tokyo was so bad that we ended up visiting only 3 of the 4 places we planned to visit.
　On the other hand, the photo shows iridocumulus clouds that were rising in the sky. The Kanto region is the largest plain in Japan, and when you leave the city center with its clusters of buildings and residential areas, you can enjoy the beauty of a dynamic sky like this. This is a characteristic of the hot and humid climate of the region, and such a hot and humid climate phenomenon is hard to find in Hokkaido. I believe that my desire to visit various residences may have its origin in my desire to stay in nature, and in my admiration for my predecessors such as Basho and Saigyo. In their time, travel on foot or on horseback was the main form of transportation, but today, I believe that traveling by car is the closest to the way our ancestors traveled, rather than by bullet trains or railroads.
　While traveling by car, we cannot forget to pay attention to the overcrowded human society for even a moment, but when we are stuck in heavy traffic, the panorama of the sky seems to appeal to our hearts, saying, “Well, calm down.

【国連事務総長「地球は暑くて危険な場所に」発言】

　ここ数日の札幌は朝の内は22-23度程度の気温で推移して、ようやく北海道らしい夏の様相に落ち着いてきた感じでありましたが、昨日わたしは毎朝の散歩の日課を時間短めで果たしたあと、千歳から東京へ移動いたしました。
　到着後すぐは「お、ムッとくるなぁ」という湿度たっぷりの重たい空気感が迎えてくれましたが、一応東京暮らし前後８年ほどの体験があるので、すぐにカラダは適合を始めてくれる。諦めのいい性格の身体であります。みなさんこの環境の中で生活していられるのですから、エトランゼとしても礼儀正しくしている一択であります。ちなみに東京の昨日の気温は37.7-25.6度ということ。札幌の最高気温は28.9度なので９度近い温度差。
　で、仕事日でさっそく３軒ほどの訪問先を片付けたのですが、どちらも程度の差こそあれ、ガンガン冷房空調をされているので、ところによっては肌寒いほど。
　しかしまぁ、表題のような発言が出ると言うことは、地球温暖化の現実は相当のレベルで現在進行形なのだろうと思います。こういった猛暑気候が続くことでまず第一に不安なのは、農業生産への影響なのではないかと思われます。空からの眺めでは田畑の様子は順調な生育ではないかと思われますが、予断は許されないでしょうね。なんでもコメの価格が上昇という注意信号。
　これは海外からのインバウンド観光が完全に復活してきて、コロナ前の入り込み水準に戻って来たことで結果として国内需給の逼迫と言う現実があるとのこと。そういった市場要因であれば対応はいずれ可能でしょうから慌てることはないでしょう。しかし、数十年に一度しか咲かない草花が花開いたという報道もあったように、自然は確実に温暖化反応が進行している。
　日本史でも気候の温暖ー寒冷は周期的に繰り返されて、そういった変動を乗り越えながら日本民族は生き長らえてきている。変動からの経験知を活かしていく必要があるのでしょう。北海道の農業という意味では決してマイナス要因とも言えない。こうした環境変動をプラス思考で乗り切っていくことも可能性はあるでしょう。
　一方で漁業資源ではこれまでとは捕獲される魚種が大きく様変わりしてきていると。最近市場に行くと大物の「ブリ」が目を奪われるほどの低価格で出回っている。50cm超の大物が2,000円程度で出ている。握り寿司愛好家としては、おいおいブリかよと目を輝かせているのですが、捌いたら寿司ネタとしてはたぶん200-300カン以上、ひょっとすると500カンくらいになるかも知れないと思うと、家庭の冷凍庫に保存可能なレベルを超えてしまう。まさかブリばっかり寿司握りするわけにも行かないし。・・・
　しかし、今後ともこうした傾向が長期化するとすれば、そういう自然の恵みの変動に対応した料理を考えて行くべきなのでしょうね。う〜む。あ、いまは東京に居るのだった（笑）。本日からはライフワークの取材活動。頑張るぞと。


English version⬇
　
UN Secretary-General says “Earth is a hot and dangerous place.
Hokkaido has a maximum temperature of 28 degrees Celsius, while Tokyo is over 37 degrees Celsius. Everyone seems to be adapting to the situation, although they are feeling a bit “yare-yare” about it. We have no choice but to think positively. .......

The temperature in Sapporo over the past few days has been around 22-23 degrees Celsius in the morning, finally settling into the summer-like atmosphere of Hokkaido.
　Upon arrival, I was greeted by a heavy, humid air that made me feel a bit queasy, but I have lived in Tokyo for about eight years, so my body immediately began to adapt itself. It is a body that has a good disposition to give up. Since everyone is able to live in this environment, as an étrancée, I have no choice but to be courteous. By the way, yesterday's temperature in Tokyo was 37.7-25.6 degrees Celsius. The maximum temperature in Sapporo is 28.9 degrees Celsius, so a temperature difference of almost 9 degrees Celsius.
　I visited three places on my working day, and both places were air-conditioned to varying degrees, so it was chilly in some places.
　However, the fact that such a statement as the above is made suggests that the reality of global warming is ongoing at a considerable level. The first and foremost concern about the continuation of such a hot and humid climate is the impact on agricultural production. The view from the sky suggests that the fields are growing well, but we must not be too optimistic. A warning signal that the price of rice is rising for everything.
　This is due to the reality that inbound tourism from overseas has fully recovered and returned to pre-Corona levels of inflow, resulting in a tight domestic supply-demand balance. If this is a market factor, there is no need to panic, as it will eventually be addressed. However, as reported in the news that flowers that bloom only once every few decades have blossomed, nature is definitely responding to global warming.
　In Japanese history, climatic cycles of warming and cooling have been repeated periodically, and the Japanese people have survived and thrived through such fluctuations. It is necessary to make use of empirical knowledge from these fluctuations. In terms of agriculture in Hokkaido, it is not a negative factor. It is possible to overcome these environmental changes with positive thinking.
　On the other hand, I have heard that the species of fish caught in the fishery resources have changed drastically from the past. Recently, when I go to the market, large “yellowtail” are being sold at eye-poppingly low prices; a large fish over 50 cm in length can be found for around 2,000 yen. As a nigirizushi (hand-rolled sushi) enthusiast, my eyes are glued to the yellowtail, but when I think of the 200-300 kan or even 500 kan it would make as sushi material, it is beyond the level that can be stored in the freezer at home. I can't make sushi only with yellowtail. I can't afford to eat only yellowtail.
　But if this trend continues for a long period of time, we should probably think about how to cook in response to such fluctuations in nature's bounty. Hmmm. Oh, I am in Tokyo now (laughs). Today I will start my life's work as a journalist. I will do my best.