Last Friday, PM of Japan abruptly requested us to behave to control the spread of COVID-19. Majority of schools in Japan are closed now. Kids in Yokohama will have a long “Pre-spring recess Recess” at least till March 13th. Further closure is in high possibility. Last weekend was almost the first days for this unexpected holiday. Not many people came out to shopping centers or using public transportation. Only a few senior citizens ventured out for Sunday lunch in restaurant … Having said that, it seems to me, we have not locked off ourselves in our room. Rather, we’ve changed our destination for holiday. Last weekend happened to have warm and fine weather. Many people enjoyed picnic in open space, I tell you.
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| Many
people strolled on the banks of Tsurumi River last weekend. |
The statement of the PM or not, Niiharu Lovers did our regular weekend activities for Niiharu Citizen Forest 新治市民の森. We noticed there were more family outing in the forest. Some families actually had parties in the forest with their neighbors. We’ve met many toddlers, with parents of course, venturing out the trekking roads of hilly Niiharu. They looked happy. One of my senior volunteers even started to get angry. “It’s a travesty! The reason schools are going to close is to prevent spreading virus outside. Kids should stay indoors!” To his statement, many other volunteers voiced the opposition. “Look. Sky is blue. Air is getting warmer. Birds have started to sing. Staying indoors surrounded by four walls is for prisoners. Kids must enjoy nature, especially when flu-like virus is spreading indoors!” Point taken. The governmental committee for COVID-19 has issued advisory. “Don’t enclose yourself in a closed space without smooth circulation of air. Dangerous locations include indoor gyms, concert halls, and restaurants. Instead, please take a nice walk in parks.” Corollary: let’s enjoy forest!
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| Last
Sunday was also good for birdwatching. I think one of them is common pochard … |
Last Saturday I’ve met a girl with an old lady picking Tsukushi (; my post on April 13, 2018) along a small stream in Niiharu. I tell you, for decades I haven’t met kids enjoying spring herb-gathering in my neighborhood. Kids are normally very busy for attending some after-school lessons or video-games. They have no time breathing open air of spring ... Then, I’ve found a gang of 3 boys slipped into the forest beyond the fence along the trekking road. You see? These days Japanese kids have too good manners. Unless we forest instructors tell them to venture out to see by themselves what kind of creatures are there in the forest, they simply stand in line and listen quietly a boring speech of instructors. But these 3 boys with their own will crossed into the shield-off area! I noticed they caught 4 big toads which were still sleepy in the mud. They carried the prize to the baskets attached to their bikes and busy admiring still drowsy croaks of amphibians. “We caught toads! … Oh, stay here, you toad.” One of them proudly showed me off their game in the wire basket. That’s something. Yeah, COVID-19 is still unknown virus that could kill. But the capriccio it created among our daily life has brought time for busy kids in Yokohama to experience the forests in their neighborhood. Well, the request of the PM is to close schools until early April. Kids have a month to explore the spring of our backyard. Hurrah!
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| Tsukushi (Field horsetail, Equisetum arvense), this year |
If you find environmental issues in Kanagawa Prefecture, please make a contact with Kanagawa Natural Environment Conservation Center 神奈川県自然環境保全センター
657 Nanasawa, Atsugi City, 243-0121
〒243－0121 厚木市七沢657
Phone: 046-248-0323
You can send an enquiry to them by clicking the bottom line of their homepage at http://www.pref.kanagawa.jp/div/1644/
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