As March transitions into April, life in the rural Japanese countryside comes alive with the onset of spring.
The most significant change is the initiation of beekeeping with Japanese honeybees (at my parents’ home).
Currently, there are no signs of the bees moving in, and it feels like a potential defeat. Nevertheless, amidst these activities, it has been a good opportunity to slowly reflect on the place where I was born and raised.
Especially noteworthy is the transformation from green to yellow as the temperature rises, a unique change characteristic of rural Japan, evoking a sense of nostalgia.
Even 2号, who usually only posts casual images on the blog, decided to include some photos in this article, showcasing the scenery around my parents’ home in April as a gallery. I hope you enjoy it.
Corn and Broccoli, as Always
Grandma’s field, where Grandpa and Grandma grow vegetables.
The April weekend in the rural countryside began with the harvest of broccoli.
Added to this was a stroll called “hive box inspection” (checking the preoccupied hive boxes before the bees move in).
While wandering around my parents’ neighborhood, I took pictures here and there, observing the asparagus we cultivated for personal use, which grew rapidly beyond our consumption pace.
We also chased a pheasant walking through the abandoned mulberry fields of a nearby neighbor.
When trying to move the hive boxes using a light truck along the field’s edge, we ended up dropping one wheel and getting stuck, behaving in a manner that wouldn’t make you think I’m almost 50 years old (laughs).
Still, the weekend in the rural countryside was enjoyable.
More Flowers in May As May approaches, various flowers start blooming in the garden and around Grandpa and Grandma’s house.
The strawberries in the field, which we started to pay attention to in early April, began harvesting a bit earlier than usual in mid-April. 2-1 (almost useless) and I conducted our first strawberry picking of the year.
In the latter part of April, the summer mandarin orange trees in the front yard began to bloom, capturing the moment with a smartphone along with the remaining fruits not yet harvested.
The locally famous baked manju (sweet buns) is a popular treat in northern Saitama, and upon discovering a shop that opened last year (?) relatively close to my parents’ home, 2-1 and I bought some.
Having enjoyed the taste, 2-1, eager for more, borrowed a bicycle from Grandma the following week and went to buy his own portion, which was quite amusing (laughs).
Despite my overseas business trips as the COVID situation settles down, I am reminded that Japan is where I truly feel at ease during holidays.
During our walks, passing by the only remaining pig farming neighbor always catches my interest. Checking the empty hive boxes in the sky isn’t a bad idea either; it’s strange how appealing it seems (laughs).
