有限会社 芳美商事

「季節の声」

アパートの一室、カーテンを閉めた窓の向こうでは、寒風が吹きすさぶ音がかすかに聞こえる。主人公の哲也は、ベッドタウンのありふれたアパートでひとり暮らしをしている。都心まで電車で30分のこの町は、静かで便利だが、どこか味気ない。そんな中、季節の変わり目だけは、この平凡な暮らしにも特別な感覚をもたらす。

仕事帰り、哲也はふらりと立ち寄ったセブンイレブンで、目に留まった冬の商品を手に取った。まずは「もっちりホットクあんこ」。韓国の屋台を思わせるもちもちした生地にシナモンの香るあんこ。パッケージに描かれた湯気のイラストが、手の冷えを思い出させる。隣には「北海道十勝産小豆使用 焼き餅しるこ」。甘さ控えめと書かれたその商品は、冬の静かな夜にぴったりだと感じた。さらに目を引いたのは、不二家の冬季限定チョコ「LOOK 赤ワイン」。赤ワイン「マスカットベーリーA」を使用した大人向けのチョコレートだ。

哲也は「今日は自分にご褒美だ」と、これらの商品をカゴに入れた。レジで会計を済ませると、冷えた空気を感じながら帰路につく。

部屋に戻り、エアコンをつけてコートを脱ぐ。小さなテーブルに並べたコンビニ商品たちが、まるで冬の夜を温かく彩る舞台のように思えた。「ホットク」を口にすると、生地のもちもち感とシナモンの香りが懐かしさを呼び覚ます。続いて「焼き餅しるこ」をレンジで温め、湯気の立つ器を手に取った。小豆の甘さは控えめで、焼き餅がほのかな香ばしさを添えている。

最後に「LOOK 赤ワイン」を口に運ぶと、濃厚な赤ワインの香りとチョコの甘さが広がり、仕事の疲れを一気に忘れさせた。「たまにはこんな夜もいいよな」と独り言をつぶやきながら、窓の外を眺める。

街灯に照らされた道路に、ちらちらと雪が舞い始めていた。この都会に隣接したベッドタウンでも、こうして季節は確かに存在している。哲也はふと思った。日本人は、たとえ忙しなく働く現代の暮らしの中でも、こうして季節の変化を生活に取り入れる民族だと。コンビニの商品ひとつにすら、冬の情景や味覚を楽しむ工夫が込められている。

季節を感じること、それは単なる伝統ではなく、自然と調和し、生活を豊かにする知恵だ。そして、それを支えるのは、変わらぬ四季を慈しむ日本人の心だ。

「やっぱりいいな、こういうの」
哲也は独り静かに微笑む。冷たい雪を眺めながらも、心には確かな温もりが広がっていた。

解説
この物語では、現代の暮らしを舞台にしつつ、身近な冬の商品を通じて日本人が無意識に持つ「季節感を大切にする心」を描きました。哲也の目線を通して、コンビニやスーパーというありふれた風景の中にも、四季を慈しむ日本の文化が息づいていることを表現しました。

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“The Voice of Seasons”
In the quiet of his modest apartment, Tetsuya could faintly hear the sound of cold winds blowing outside. His home was in a commuter town bordering the city—a convenient but nondescript place, just a 30-minute train ride from Tokyo. Life here was uneventful, a routine blend of work and solitude. Yet, the change of seasons brought an unmistakable sense of quiet beauty, even to this ordinary existence.

On his way home from work, Tetsuya stopped by the local 7-Eleven. His eyes were drawn to the store’s seasonal winter items. First, the “Chewy Hotteok with Red Bean Paste” caught his attention. This Korean-style street food snack featured a delightfully chewy dough filled with red bean paste, infused with the aroma of cinnamon. The steaming image on the packaging made him think of his chilled hands. Next to it sat the “Shiruko with Roasted Mochi, Made with Tokachi Red Beans.” The promise of subtly sweet red bean soup paired with roasted mochi seemed like a perfect match for a quiet winter evening. Lastly, he noticed the LOOK Chocolate: Red Wine Edition. This winter-exclusive treat, featuring Muscat Bailey A red wine, promised a luxurious indulgence for an adult palate.

“I deserve a little reward today,” he thought, placing the items into his basket. After checking out, he stepped back into the crisp winter air, the cold biting at his face as he made his way home.

In his apartment, Tetsuya turned on the floor heater and shed his coat. He arranged his winter purchases neatly on his small table—it looked almost like a cozy stage set for the season. The Hotteok was the first to go; the chewy dough and cinnamon-scented filling evoked a sense of warmth and nostalgia. Next, he heated the Shiruko in the microwave. Holding the steaming bowl, he savored the gentle sweetness of the red bean soup and the roasted aroma of the mochi.

Finally, the LOOK Chocolate offered the perfect conclusion. Its rich wine aroma and smooth sweetness melted away the day’s fatigue. As he finished, Tetsuya gazed out the window, where snow had begun to fall lightly under the glow of streetlights. Even in this commuter town, where life often felt routine, the presence of winter was undeniable.

A thought struck him: Japanese people, even in today’s fast-paced, modern world, have a way of weaving the seasons into their daily lives. From the carefully designed seasonal items at convenience stores to traditional winter flavors, there’s a collective appreciation for the passing of time. It’s not just a habit but a deeply rooted cultural instinct—a way of harmonizing with nature and enriching one’s life.

“This really is something special,” Tetsuya murmured to himself, smiling faintly. As the snow danced outside, a quiet warmth settled in his heart, reminding him of the simple joys of the season.

Explanation
It highlights the universal appeal of seasonal traditions while offering a glimpse into the uniquely Japanese mindset of cherishing seasonal changes in even the smallest details of daily life.

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大雪 閉塞成冬。風は鋭く冷たく、空は灰色の雲に覆われ、山々は白く雪に閉ざされていた。旧暦で言えばこの日は「大雪」。冬がその力を本格的に見せつけるころだ。農村では田畑はすでに収穫を終え、農具は倉庫の奥へしまい込まれている。動きの止まった風景には、静けさと安らぎが同居していた。

その村に住む青年・光太郎は、雪の降り始めた朝、小さな祠（ほこら）へ向かった。祠は「きのと み」の神を祀っていると言われ、村の人々が季節ごとに感謝を捧げる場所だった。冬の始まりには、彼らは神に無事に冬を越せるよう祈るのが習わしだった。

祠へ続く道は雪で白く覆われ、彼の足跡だけがその静寂を壊していた。光太郎の背中には母が持たせた一白の酒瓶と、手作りの赤い餅が入った包みが揺れている。「大安」の今日、神に供えるには最適だと母は言った。

祠にたどり着くと、雪に包まれた森の中でその小さな建物はまるで眠るように静かだった。光太郎は深く頭を下げ、酒と餅を供えると、心の中で言葉を紡いだ。

「今年も無事に秋を終えられました。どうか村人が健康で、厳しい冬を乗り越えられますように。」

そのとき、ふと吹いた風が木々の枝を揺らし、雪の結晶が朝の微かな光を受けて輝いた。光太郎はその美しさにしばし見とれた。冷たさの中に不思議な暖かさを感じる瞬間だった。

祠を後にして村へ戻ると、母が薪を焚き、温かい汁物を用意して待っていた。「神様もきっと喜んでくれるよ」と微笑む母の横顔を見ながら、光太郎は、冬の始まりが決して閉塞だけでなく、新しい静けさと安らぎをもたらす季節であることを改めて感じた。

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“The Arrival of Winter”
The term Daixue, meaning “Major Snow,” perfectly described the scene. The wind was sharp and biting, the sky cloaked in gray clouds, and the mountains lay sealed beneath a blanket of white. According to the traditional lunar calendar, this day marked the start of Daixue, when winter began to show its true strength. In the rural village, the fields had long been harvested, and farming tools were stored away deep in sheds. The motionless landscape was imbued with both tranquility and solace.

On this snowy morning, a young man named Kotaro set out toward a small shrine nestled at the edge of the village. The shrine, it was said, enshrined the deity of Kinoto-mi—a divine spirit to whom the villagers expressed their gratitude with each passing season. At the onset of winter, it was their custom to pray for safety and health through the harsh months ahead.

The path to the shrine was blanketed in pure white snow, the only disturbance being Kotaro’s lone set of footprints. On his back, he carried a bottle of sake his mother had given him, along with a bundle containing handmade red rice cakes. “Today is a Taian day—a day of great fortune,” she had said. “It’s the perfect time to offer thanks to the gods.”

When he reached the shrine, its small wooden structure stood quietly amidst a forest wrapped in snow, as if it, too, was asleep. Kotaro bowed deeply before the shrine, placed the sake and rice cakes as offerings, and composed his thoughts into a silent prayer.

“This year, we’ve safely completed the harvest. Please watch over the villagers and help us endure the challenges of this winter.”

Just then, a sudden gust of wind rustled the branches of the surrounding trees. Snowflakes, illuminated by the faint light of morning, sparkled as they fell. For a moment, Kotaro stood mesmerized by the beauty of it. Amid the cold, he felt a curious warmth—a fleeting connection to something greater.

When he returned to the village, his mother was waiting, stoking the hearth and preparing a steaming pot of soup. “The gods will surely be pleased,” she said with a gentle smile. Looking at her serene expression, Kotaro realized something: the arrival of winter was not merely a season of hardship and closure. It was also a time of newfound stillness and quiet comfort.

Explanation
This translation preserves the poetic and meditative tone of the original while making it accessible to readers unfamiliar with Japanese traditions. The story captures the intimate relationship between rural life, seasonal changes, and spiritual gratitude, offering a glimpse into the timeless rhythm of Japanese culture.