It was cold this morning. The low in central Tokyo was 8.5°C, the sharpest chill of the season so far. On the 12th and 13th it is forecast to drop further, to 6–7°C in the city center. The trees’ color looks set to deepen.
Do you know the song “Irozuku Machi”—A City Turning Color? Yes, Saori Minami sang it in her idol days. “The city turns color, but the one I want to see does not come.” Ah, how bittersweet. Lyrics by Mieko Arima; music by Kyohei Tsutsumi, who passed away the other day.
We went to see the “Earthquake Ginkgo” in Otemabori Green Space, not far from the Palaceside Building. It is wrapped in gold, beautiful against the blue sky and the Palaceside Building. In a break from work, wander over and look. It feels good.
Ginkgo brings to mind a famous poem by Akiko Yosano: “Like a little golden bird in shape / ginkgo leaves scatter / on a hill in the evening sun.” Just then the Earthquake Ginkgo’s leaves were dancing in the wind; to liken them to birds felt wonderful.