岸和田城と人情
昨日所用にて岸和田市に行った。昔、調査員をしていた頃は岸和田にもしょちゅう行っていた。ところが最近はとんとご無沙汰であった。
そうだ、せっかく岸和田に行くのだから岸和田城に行ってみよう・・・。しかもこの陽気、春爛漫、桜も満開花盛りである。
所用の約束は午後2時。逆算して12時ジャストに会社を出て、地下鉄北浜から天下茶屋経由の南海岸和田駅へ、岸和田着13時。お城までは10分とかからない。途中コンビニで弁当を買い、岸和田城着13時15分。
お城の周辺は花見客で超満員。ところが、丁度お城の真ん前、文化会館の前のテーブルが一つ空いていた。これ幸いと、そこに腰かけ、一人コンビニ弁当を開く。
周辺は老人会や婦人会とおぼしき団体でいっぱい。ワイワイガヤガヤ、そうとうな賑いであった。でも、浮き立つような陽気と桜で、ワイガヤの騒音などは全く気にならない。
ただ、この陽気に一人コンビニ弁当はちょっと傍目には寂しく映ったかも。でも本人はいっこうに平気。ノンビリと、お城と桜をながめながらコンビニ弁当に舌つつみ。
すると、隣に居た、80歳余とおぼしきお爺さんが、コレっと紙コップに入ったお茶を出してくれた。全くの見ず知らずのお方である。エッと声が出そうになったが、その声を押さえ一声”ありがとうございます”。
なんと、その後のコンビニ弁当の美味しかったこと。人の人情って、こんなに弁当の味を変えるものか・・・。弁当を食べ終えると「ありがとうございました」心からのお礼の言葉が出た。
だんじりの岸和田は人情の街でもあった。
岸和田城
Yesterday I went to Kishiwada City on business. I used to go to Kishiwada often when I was a researcher. However, I hadn’t heard from him in recent years.
Since we’re going to Kishiwada, let’s go to Kishiwada Castle… Moreover, the spring is in full bloom and the cherry blossoms are in full bloom.
My appointment was at 2pm. Calculating backwards, I left the office at exactly 12:00 and took the subway Kitahama to Nankai Kishiwada Station via Tengachaya, arriving in Kishiwada at 13:00. It doesn’t take more than 10 minutes to get to the castle. I bought a packed lunch at a convenience store on the way and arrived at Kishiwada Castle at 13:15.
The area around the castle was packed with people watching cherry blossoms. However, there was a table in front of the cultural center, right in front of the castle, that was vacant. Taking advantage of this, I sat down there and opened a convenience store lunch box.
The surrounding area is filled with groups of elderly people and women’s groups. It was very lively. But with the buoyant sunshine and cherry blossoms, the noise of the Waigaya didn’t bother me at all.
However, the convenience store lunch box for one person seemed a little lonely to the side in this cheerful weather. But he’s not worried about it at all. I took it easy and ate a convenience store lunch while looking at the castle and the cherry blossoms.
Then, an old man next to me, who looked to be about 80 years old, served me tea in a paper cup. He was a complete stranger to me. I almost let out a gasp, but I suppressed my voice and said, “Thank you.
What a delicious convenience store bento afterwards. It’s amazing how humanity can change the taste of a lunch… When he finished his lunch, a heartfelt “Thank you” came out of his mouth.
Danjiri in Kishiwada was also a town of humanity.
