カウントダウン10

12月も今日を含めてあと10日。年末って実感は余りないが観光客の多さに年の暮れを知る。ハチ公口からスクランブル交差点にかけて地面が見えない。
週末、京都に行った知人から人が少なくてゆっくりできたと聞く。◯◯の人たちが来ないだけでそんなにも変わるのか。東京は確かに観光客は多いが確かに◯◯の人の姿をあまり見かけない。
今の渡月橋より人が多いなんて。たぶん魅力的な街なんだろうな。

Only ten days left in December, including today. I don't really feel the year ending yet, but the sheer number of tourists reminds me it's the end of the year. From Hachiko Exit to the Scramble Crossing, you can't even see the ground.
A friend who visited Kyoto over the weekend told me it was quiet and relaxing. Does it really change that much just because the usual crowd isn't there? Tokyo certainly has lots of tourists, but I definitely don't see many of the usual folks around.
More people than on Togetsukyo Bridge right now? It must be a really charming city.

解き放たれた夜

金曜日。仕事場と家の往復だけの一週間。瞬く間に終了。最近のルーティン、渋谷センター街のお店でお腹いっぱい頂く。最近少食気味だったのでこの一杯は腹にずンとくる。年末に近づいてるせいかどこもかしこも人だらけ。あとはササッと帰ってお家時間を楽しもう。皆さま、おつかれさまでした

Friday. A week spent only commuting between work and home. Over in the blink of an eye. My recent routine: filling up at a restaurant in Shibuya Center Street. Since I've been eating less lately, this bowl really hits the spot. Maybe because year-end is approaching, everywhere is packed with people. Now, I'll head home quickly and enjoy some home time. Everyone, you've worked hard today.

久々に・・・

夕方までいつも通り。変化ないルーティン。富士山の雪が心なしか増えたくらい。スズメたちの休息も見たか。
夜。久方ぶりに東京タワーがカラフルに彩られる。テンション上がったままに老舗ラーメン店へゴー。もやしワンタン麺。本日も美味しく頂けた。

Until evening, business as usual. The same old routine. Only the snow on Mount Fuji seemed a bit deeper. Did I catch the sparrows resting too?
Night. Tokyo Tower lit up in vibrant colors for the first time in ages. Still buzzing, I headed to a long-established ramen shop. Bean sprout wonton noodles. Another delicious meal today.

東京タワーの魅力

昨日は二度寝でお会い出来なかったモヤイさん。
おはようございます。今日もがんばってきますね。
改めて思うにこの一年で東京タワー、何千回、いや何万回眺めてきたんだろう。日々の変化も見続けて、東京タワーのクセまで分かるような気がしてきた。夜のライトアップの状態で満月を知るとか。
いつ見ても飽きないフォルム。できる限り見続けていこう。
知人から紹介のあった幕末志士判別クイズ？をやってみたら坂本龍馬になった。うれしい。

Yesterday I overslept and missed seeing you, Moyai-san.
Good morning. I'll do my best again today.
Thinking about it now, how many times have I gazed at Tokyo Tower this past year? Thousands? No, tens of thousands? I've watched its daily changes and feel like I've even come to understand its quirks. Like knowing when the full moon is by the state of its nighttime illumination.
Its form never grows tiresome, no matter how often I see it. I'll keep watching it as much as I can.
I tried that Bakumatsu samurai identification quiz? someone introduced me to, and it said I'm Sakamoto Ryoma. I'm happy.

人、ひと、ヒト。

観光客が増えていく様に年の暮れを実感する。
日一日、帰る頃には多くの人々を見かけるようになる。イルミネーションに集まる群れ、群れ、群れ。そういえば渋谷の青の洞窟まだ見てないな。週末にでも寄ってみよう。

As the number of tourists grows, I feel the year drawing to a close.
Day by day, I see more and more people on my way home. Crowds, crowds, crowds gathering around the illuminations. Come to think of it, I still haven't seen Shibuya's Blue Cave. I should stop by sometime this weekend.

かわいいモヤイさん

週初めモヤイさんへの挨拶から始まりあっという間にこんな時間。今月も半分。スピード増して時間が過ぎていく。気のせいか。

Starting with greetings to Moyai-san at the beginning of the week, and before I knew it, it was already this late. Halfway through the month already. Time seems to be speeding up. Or is it just me?

ちょっと優雅な

ずっと行ってみたかった一人しゃぶしゃぶ店でランチ。野菜と食べ放題のご飯付き。最後にラーメンまでついて、しかもお値打ち価格。最高。本当にご褒美気分。感謝。その後はドトールでPC作業。夕方から雨が降り出したので、夕食は家で。エネルギーを充電しなきゃ。

Had lunch at a solo shabu-shabu place I'd been wanting to try. It came with veggies and all-you-can-eat rice. Even had ramen to finish it off, all at a great price. Wonderful. It felt like a real treat. So grateful. Afterwards, spent some PC time at Doutor. Rain started falling in the evening, so I had dinner at home. Need to recharge my energy.

終わってみれば瞬間

今週も瞬く間に過ぎ金曜日。
モヤイさん、おつかれさま。
「永利」ランチで満腹になり
「野郎」でさらに腹を膨らます。
これだけ食べればきっと体調良くなるだろう
と願いをかけて。
週末はゆったり過ごしたい。

This week flew by, and it's already Friday.
Good job, Moya-san.
I stuffed myself at Eri for lunch,
then filled up even more at Yaro.
After eating this much, I'm sure I'll feel great.
I want to spend a relaxing weekend.

木曜日

木曜日の朝。随分日の出が遅くなる。
まだ東京タワーが神々しい光を放つ。
クリスマスツリーを見かける頻度が高くなり
年末に近づいている事を実感する。
まだ早いが今年のお礼に「金王八幡宮」へお参り。家系軽く啜り家路へと。

Thursday morning. Sunrise comes much later now.
Tokyo Tower still radiates a divine light.
Christmas trees appear more frequently,
making me realize the year's end draws near.
Though still early, I visit Kinou Hachimangu Shrine to give thanks for this year.
Slightly slurping down some ramen, I head home.

身体に良い食べ物といえば

澄み切った、とはいえないが清々しい空。体調も回復してきてる。絶好調とまではいかないが
喉の痛みは消えた。身体を整えるために仕事後は
慶應義塾横の本店へ。これを胃に流し込めば
明日は絶好調間違いなし、か。

The sky isn't exactly crystal clear, but it feels refreshing.
My health is improving too. Not quite back to top form yet,
but the sore throat is gone. To get my body back in shape,
after work I head to the main branch next to Keio University.
If I wash this down,
tomorrow will definitely be top form, right?