写真・構成：岩崎量示
The English translation follows after the Japanese text.
〈瀬音の向こうのタウシュベツ〉
14年前の今日。音更川の向こう側にタウシュベツ川橋梁が見えるけれど、向こう岸に渡ることができないこの時期は、わずか数百メートルの距離が遠い。
日中の気温が上がり、夜の冷え込みも和らいくると、本格的な雪解けの始まりを感じる。川の瀬音が一段と大きくなるのが、その合図のようだ。
それでも、湖底の氷がすっかり消えてしまうには、4月半ばから下旬まで待たなければならない。
Fourteen years ago today, you could see the Taushubetsu Bridge across the Otofuke River, but it felt surprisingly far away at this time of year. Even though it’s only a few hundred meters, you couldn’t just cross over.
As daytime temperatures rose and nights got less frigid, the true start of the spring thaw was in the air. The sound of the river rushing louder was like nature’s signal.
Still, the ice covering the lakebed wouldn’t fully disappear until mid- to late April. Winter’s grip may be loosening, but you’d have to wait a bit longer before the season changed completely.
Ryoji Iwasaki