しとしと雨の桜まつり初日、それでも春は、そこに
こんにちは、飴屋のかんばん娘です。
今日は待ちに待った「おおがわら桜まつり」の初日。でも……朝から空模様はしょんぼり顔。冷たい雨がしとしとと降り続き、気温もぐっと下がった一日となりました。
まさかの4月1日、山の方では雪が降っているという話も耳にしました。春の始まりを告げるはずのこの日が、まるで冬の名残を感じさせるような天気になるなんて…。自然って、時々いたずらっ子ですね。
雨の中、それでも足を運びたくなる場所
そんなお天気でしたが、私もレインコートを着て傘をさし、そっと桜まつりの会場を訪ねてみました。
木々はつぼみをふくらませ、雨に濡れながらも「もうすぐだよ」と静かに語りかけているようでした。
お祭りらしい賑わいを期待していたのですが、会場はひっそり。人もまばらで、まつりの会場を整えてはいるものの、どこか寂しげな空気が漂っていました。
でも、傘をさしながら歩く人々の中には、しっかりとカメラを構え、春を捉えようとしている方の姿もあり、心がほっこり。
東北楽天ゴールデンイーグルスの試合も、春の足踏み
今日はもうひとつ、東北楽天ゴールデンイーグルスのプロ野球ホーム開幕戦が予定されていましたが、こちらも雨で中止に。
あの熱気と歓声を楽しみにしていたファンの皆さんには、なんとも残念なニュースとなってしまいましたね。天気予報では、明日も一日中雨の予報。ひょっとすると、2日連続で試合が流れてしまうかもしれません。春が来るのを、野球も桜も、そして私たちも、少しじっと我慢して待っている―そんな気がします。
本当の春は、もうすぐそこに
本当は、今日この「桜便り」でおまつりの様子をたっぷりご紹介しようと楽しみにしていたのですが……今回は少し先送りにすることにしました。
お天気が回復し、桜が咲き誇るその日を待って、次回あらためてお届けしたいと思います。きっと、青空の下でのにぎやかなおまつりの風景を、今度はご紹介できますように🌸
静かな雨の中で見た、がんばる人たち
雨の中、駐車場で誘導にあたっていたスタッフの皆さん、本当にお疲れさまでした。
混雑とは無縁の、静かな駐車場。それでも、合羽姿で、丁寧に「こちらどうぞ」と案内してくださる姿には、頭が下がる思いでした。
お客様が少ない中でも、笑顔を忘れず、しっかりと自分の役目を果たしている皆さんの姿を見て、「これがまちのお祭りを支える力なんだな」と感じました。どうか風邪などひかれませんように。
次回は、春の陽気と桜の香りに包まれながら、皆さんに笑顔の便りをお届けできますように、春を待つ気持ちで、またお会いしましょう。
👉 次回の桜便りをお楽しみに！
【The first day of the Cherry Blossom Festival was a rainy one, but spring was still there.】
Hello, this is the Ame-shop’s signboard girl.
Today is the long-awaited first day of the Ogawara Cherry Blossom Festival. But… the sky has been gloomy since the morning. A cold, drizzling rain continued to fall, and the temperature dropped sharply throughout the day.
On April 1st, I even heard that it was snowing lightly in the mountains. Who would have thought that the day that should herald the beginning of spring would have weather that reminded us of vestiges of winter… Nature can be mischievous sometimes.
【A place you’ll want to visit even in the rain】
Despite the weather, I put on my raincoat, raised an umbrella, and quietly visited the cherry blossom festival site.
The trees were swelling buds, and even though they were soaked by the rain, they seemed to be quietly telling me, “It’s almost here.”
I was hoping for a festival-like bustle, but the venue was quiet. There were few people there, and although the festival venue had been prepared, there was a somewhat lonely atmosphere.
However, among the people walking around with umbrellas, there were some who held their cameras firmly in place, trying to capture the spring, and it warmed my heart.
【Games involving the Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles also hit a spring lull.】
Another professional baseball game was scheduled for today, the Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles‘ home opening game, but this was also canceled due to rain.
This is very disappointing news for fans who were looking forward to the excitement and cheers.
The weather forecast predicts rain all day tomorrow, too. It may be that two games will be canceled for two days in a row. It feels like baseball, cherry blossoms, and even we are all patiently waiting for spring to arrive.
【People working hard in the quiet rain】
Thank you to all the staff who guided people in the parking lot in the rain.
It was a quiet parking lot, far from crowded. Even so, I was impressed by the way they politely guided people in their raincoats, saying “please come this way.”
Even though there were few customers, everyone kept smiling and performed their roles well, and I felt that “this is the power that supports the town’s festivals.” Please don’t catch a cold.
【People working hard in the quiet rain】
Thank you so much to all the staff who guided us through the parking lot in the rain.
It was a quiet parking lot, far from crowded. Even so, I was moved by the sight of them wearing raincoats and carefully guiding us through the rain and cold, saying “please come this way.”
Seeing everyone working hard with smiles even though there were few customers, I thought, “This is the power that supports the town’s festival.” Don’t catch a cold.
Next time, I hope to bring you smiles and news surrounded by the spring sunshine and the scent of cherry blossoms. I look forward to spring and seeing you again.
👉 Previous cherry blossom news can be found here: #1 #2 #3 #4 #5
👉 Please look forward to the next cherry blossom news!
