Hiking and sketching at Mt. Jiromaru in Amakusa / 山行きスケッチ＠次郎丸嶽（天草）

　子どもが次郎丸岳にはまって、今日でもう3回目。1回目に家族で行ってからまた行きたいと言うので連れて行った2回目からタイムチャレンジだと言って走って登っている。全くついていけず一歩一歩ようやく登って私が到着する頃には頂上で優雅に寝転んで本を読んだりして待っている。

　 My son is into mountain climbing now and so we visited Mt. Jiromaru for the third time today. He fell in love with this mountain when we came a few months ago and wanted to go again, so I took him the second time, and he started running up the mountain saying he wanted to see how fast he could climb to the top. So there is no way I can climb with him since I am panting up the mountain one step at a time, let alone run. He is lying down at the top, reading a book when I finally get there.

 次郎丸の頂上エリアは、そんな風に過ごしたくなるのも分かる天空のプラットフォームのような場所で、大きくて滑らかな石の上から天草を囲む海とそこに浮かぶ小さな島々が見渡せるまさに絶景スポットだ。寝転んだり読書したり音楽を聞いたりするのにこんなに最高の場所も珍しい。九州百名山に選ばれるたのもよく分かる。

　The area atop Mt. Jiromaru is like a platform in the sky made by a large smooth rock from which you can view the sea and the small islands surrounding Amakusa, so it is understandable that he wants to get up there as soon as possible. It is one of the greatest places I know for one to lie down and relax to read or listen to music. My kid seems to have quickly understood this and wants to come again next week, for the fourth time. 

  今は10月なので、麓では柿がたわわだった。山から降りてくると、親切な地元のお婆さんが柿の木に登って取って来ても良いよと言ってくれた。そこで梯子をお借りして息子が柿の実をとる。渋柿の木だけど、よーく熟れて真っ赤な柿なら甘くて美味しいという。そういう話は聞いたことはあったけど、今回実際にそれを木からもぎって食べるのは初めてだった。熟して透明感が出てきたそれは、昔南の島で食べたパパイヤを思わせた。手でするすると皮が剥けて、食べてみるとなるほどとても甘くて美味しい。 

　It is October now so persimmons at the foot of the mountain were loaded with fruit. On our way back, a local old lady offered us to climb up the tree and get some fruits. So we borrowed a ladder and my son got some persimmons. It was a type of tree that only bears bitter persimmons but she told us that the very ripe ones that looked almost red, become sweet so that you can eat them. I had heard about that but it was the first time I actually encountered an opportunity to eat them right off a tree. The ripe persimmons - so ripe that they looked almost transparent - looked a little bit like papayas I ate once on an island near the equator. The skin was easy to peel off with our hands, and yes, they were definitely sweet and delicious.

  美味しい美味しいといただいてお礼を言うと、お婆さんはまたおいでと言って下さった。きっとまた来て、次は太郎丸に登ってみたいと思う。 

　So we thanked the lady for the wonderful treat and the old lady kindly invited us to come visit again. I would love to come again, and next time would like to try climbing Mt. Taromaru. 

スケッチに使った道具：シュミンケの水彩パレットと水筆、コピックのセピア色のペン、ユニボールシグノの白、クリップと画板代わりのカッターシート。

Sketching material I used: Shmincke Pallette, water brushes, Copic pen (Sepia), uniball gel pen (white), some clips and a drawing board. 

次郎丸嶽登山口はこちら↓半日あれば山頂まで往復できます。

https://goo.gl/maps/Cbgb3J5eDBv54xPL6