Hi there! My favorite cousin and her husband visited us in Fukuoka. So my husband and I took them to a castle ruins town in Akizuki. My cousin told us that she really loves castle ruins because the ruins evoke us the dramatical history of human beings. Akizuki castle ruins town is so small yet so beautiful. There are cherry trees along the main street and the young leaves are swinging gently. The castle ruins enshrined a small temple and watch dog statues are guarding the temple for hundreds years. It is touching.
皆さん、こんにちは。神戸から大好きな従姉妹夫婦がやってきたので、私達夫婦は福岡の小さな城下町、秋月へ二人をお連れしました。古城跡に歴史の趨勢のロマンを感じて萌えるという従姉妹は、秋月城址とその周りのかそけき面影を残す新緑の頃の桜並木にも喜んでくれました。小さな森のようになっている秋月城址の祠（ほこら）では狛犬様が門番をしていて、我が身が朽ち果てようとも何百年も見守りを続けるその姿は、郷愁を誘います。
The castle gate is still there.
門扉が残っており、兵（つはもの）どもが夢のあと。
At the wide premises of the castle ruins, there is a junior high school. The building is covered with burned wooden boards and it is really historical and valuable.
秋月城址に立つ秋月中学校は、全国的にも珍しい焼き板張りの校舎で歴史的価値が高いものです。
A slope leading to the school.
中学校に続く坂道。
There are so many historical ruins.
歴史を今に伝えるものが随所に息づいています。
These stone walls are all piled up one by one. Such a labor.
石垣は一つ一つ手で積み上げたもの。
There was a street shop an old lady owned. She is a farmer and she was selling all sorts of vegetables and tea which she grew. And she made explanations with beautiful caligraphy of her own. The sight was so stunning as if it were an art work. The old lady was so charming and hardworking. She said she would stay at the shop until that day and from the next day she was going to prepare for the rice planting. I was so happy to be able to encounter such a truly beautiful lady. Life goes on and we keep on walking. I am so thankful that I’m so blessed with people I meet.
桜並木の街道にある、農家のお婆さんが出しているトタン屋根のお店で、山菜と紫蘇の実ふりかけを買いました。一つ一つの農作物の商品に流麗な達筆で説明書きがされており、お婆さんとそのお店自体が一幅の絵のようでした。ニコニコ笑顔で働き者のお婆さんはその日までは店をして、翌日からは田植えの準備にかかると話されていました。私は本当に美しい人と出会えたと嬉しくなり、その後も時々あのお婆さんのことを考えます。美しい風景に出会い、美しい生き様に出会う。これもまた人生の豊かな味わいです。
That’s all for today, blessings to you all!
それでは今日はここまで。皆さんお元気で！
