＜prologue＞
I started a blog called “The Baby Boomer Generation’s Miscellaneous Blog”（Dankai-sedai no garakutatyou:団塊世代の我楽多（がらくた）帳） in July 2018, about a year before I fully retired. More than six years have passed since then, and the number of articles has increased considerably.
So, in order to make them accessible to people who don’t understand Japanese, I decided to translate my past articles into English and publish them.
It may sound a bit exaggerated, but I would like to make this my life’s work.
It should be noted that haiku and waka （Japanese short fixed form poems） are quite difficult to translate into English, so some parts are written in Japanese.
If you are interested in haiku or waka and would like to know more, please read introductory or specialized books on haiku or waka written in English.
I also write many articles about the Japanese language. I would be happy if these inspire more people to want to learn Japanese.
my blog’s URL:団塊世代の我楽多（がらくた）帳 | 団塊世代が雑学や面白い話を発信しています
my X’s URL:団塊世代の我楽多帳（@historia49）さん / X
Requests to refrain from going out to prevent the spread of COVID-19 have forced the public to stay at home. Tokyo Governor Koike has also been actively calling for people to “stay at home,” “STAY HOME,” and “limit daily shopping to about once every three days,” and many people are sharing these messages online using hashtags.
YouTube is also overflowing with videos of people exercising at home. However, no matter how much people are told to “STAY HOME,” there are limits to how much exercise you can do indoors. Being cooped up indoors for too long can make you feel suffocated and can lead to “COVID fatigue.”
However, going for walks has been recommended from the start.
After the state of emergency was declared on April 7, I basically stayed at home to refrain from going out, but about two weeks later, I started taking walks for about an hour every day.
I wear a mask, maintain social distance, and avoid crowded places when I go for walks.
1. Benefits of Walking
(1) Refreshing Your Mind
Even if you walk indoors or in your own backyard, your radius is limited. However, a one-hour walk covers about 4-5 km, allowing you to breathe fresh air and feel refreshed. However, walking the same route every day can get boring, so I try to make adjustments, such as cycling to Settsu Gorge or the banks of the downstream Akutagawa River, parking my bike nearby, or pushing it while walking.
(2) Discovering New Local History
There’s the joy of discovering things you wouldn’t notice while cycling. Walking around Takatsuki City allows you to learn about various pieces of local history. However, please note that indoor facilities are likely to be closed during the state of emergency.
① Takatsuki Street Corner Heritage
Takatsuki City is a historic town, so there are “Takatsuki Street Corner Heritage” plaques scattered around street corners. There are apparently 111 in total.
I definitely don’t think I can do the “Great Traverse” or the “Shikoku 88 Temple Pilgrimage,” but I feel like I could do the complete “Takatsuki Street Heritage.” I’m thinking I’ll try to find the time and challenge myself without pushing myself too hard.
② Takatsuki Catholic Church
Here you’ll find the “Takayama Ukon Commemorative Monument.” I’d never read it in detail before, but the other day I stopped by during a walk and took a closer look.
③ Hachiman Taisha Shrine
This is also a shrine with a long history, but it was set on fire and destroyed by the Christian daimyo Takayama Ukon. However, it was rebuilt during the Edo period.
I only recently read the explanatory boards about the shrine’s history and the enshrined deity.
④ Akuto Shrine
This is an old shrine located along the Akutagawa River just before reaching Settsukyo Gorge. There is a large Zelkova tree here.
It has long been said that this tree is inhabited by divine spirits, and it is said that chanting “Nigimitama, Sakitama, Kushimitama” (Nigimitama, Sachimitama, Kushimitama) three times to pray for academic improvement, fertility, recovery from illness, overcoming hardship, and other miraculous events will bring about miraculous results.
I recently gained a new understanding of this as well.
⑤ Imashirozuka Kofun (Tomb of Emperor Keitai)
Imashirozuka Kofun (Tomb of Emperor Keitai) is the most popular kofun in Japan, thanks to its open access. It’s a historical and cultural heritage that Takatsuki City is proud of. I think it’s a must-visit spot for anyone interested in history, and even those without.
Imashirozuka Kofun Park is open to the public even during the state of emergency, so families can enjoy the spacious park for a change of pace or to exercise.
Please note, however, that the indoor Imashirozuka Ancient History Museum and its parking lot will likely be closed during the state of emergency.
⑥ Settsu Gorge
This is a popular sightseeing spot nestled in the satoyama woodlands that symbolizes the rural Takatsuki City. For me, it’s a place of healing. It’s also home to the Akutagawayama Castle Ruins, currently in the process of being designated a National Historic Site. This is the former castle site of Miyoshi Nagayoshi, Japan’s first ruler.
⑦ Castle Ruins Park
This park, built on the former site of Takatsuki Castle, is popular with families and young children. As detailed in the “Aman Ruins Park” article, Takatsuki Castle was unfortunately demolished in 1874 during the early Meiji period to use its stone walls for railroad construction, and its former grandeur can no longer be seen.
(3) Hatsune the Japanese Bush Warbler
While walking along the downstream bank of the Akutagawa River in late April, I heard the sound of a Japanese bush warbler singing from the grass below. It seemed it wasn’t used to singing yet, and its “hohokekkyo” wasn’t a smooth one, but this was the first “first song of the year” I’d heard.
As an aside, every early spring, a Japanese bush warbler would come to the lawn in front of the Kyoto townhouse built in the 1880s where I lived as a child.
At first, it would shyly try out a tentative song, struggling to sing a typical “hohokekkyo.” After a while, though, it gradually learned to sing more effectively, and that was one of the joys of watching.
I used to hear it often at the golf course, even in summer, but I hadn’t heard it at home for about 15 years, perhaps because I changed the trees in my garden after building my new house.
I rediscovered that Japanese bush warblers are surprisingly close to us, even if we don’t venture too far into the mountains.