For refreshing a brain which is tired with research, I enjoy(1)jogging,(2)hiking and climbing at the season without snow, (3)skiing, and (4)gardening.
Jogging
From entering Hokkaido University, I jogged a small hill in Sapporo for recovering stiff shoulders. In the research lab. where I moved two years after I entered to Nippon Telegraph and Telephone Public Corporation, I began jogging with seniors in lunch time. Since that time, a half century passed. I took part in many Ekiden aces such as Koukyo around Emperor’s place, Atsugi near our labs, Okutama-Valley, Isehara one-round near my house, Hibita which starting point was the ground of the elementary school. Full marathons which I run are Tsukuba in Ibaraki Pref., Katsuta in Ibaraki Pref., Kakegawa in Shizuoka Pref, Hokkaido, and Shonan in Kanagawa Pref. Half Marathon races are Sendai International, Matsushima, Tome, Sapporo, and so on.
At present, I run 70-80 km every month for keeping my physical strength. At Hokkaido Marathon, I have fortunately run the whole distance within the time limit of 5 hours every five times. This year, I look forward to participating in this marathon which could not be held due to COVID-19.
Hiking and climbing
In the second year after I entered, I was invited to climb mountains by my colleague. The first mountain was Yanbushidake one in Shizuok Pref. Nest, I went to the length of Kitadake, Nakashirane, Ainodake, Nishinotoridake, and Notoridake over the sea level of 3000m. I have enjoyed many mountains as follows.
Mountains selected one hundred mountains in Japan
- Kita-dake: 2nd highest, and Aino-dake in Yamanashi Pref.
- Kaimon-dake and Miyanoura-dake in Kagoshima Pref.
- Shibutsu san and Akagi in Gunma Pref.
- Tsukuba san in Ibaraki Pref.
- Tanzawa san in Kanagawa Pref.
- Rausu-dake in Hokkaido
- Mount Fuji in Shizuoka Pref.: highest, I've climbed 3 times.
- Okuho-daka dake between Nagano and Gifu Pref.: 3rd highest
- Hayachine san and Iwate san in Iwate Pref.
- Zaou san in Miyagi Pref.
- Azuma yama, Adatara san, and Bandai san in Fukushima Pref.
- Chokai san, Gassan, and Asahi mountain range in Yamagata Pref.
- Nasu-dake in Tochigi Pref.
Others
- Shichimen-zan in Yamanashi Pref.
- Akita-komagatake in Akita Pref.
- Funagata-yama, Izumigatake, and Nanatu-mori in Sendai
- Many mountains in Tanza area in Kanagawa Pref.
Mountains in Tohoku area are very near from Sendai. One-day trip is easy. In the fall season, the color of mountains is changed to blazing red because there are many maple trees. Please come to mountains in Tohoku area.
Ski and Ski Tour
The first experience of skiing was my first birthday on January 10th. According to my father, I could not walk, but he put me on skis and pull me. This memorial ski was green with a picture of white rabbits and kept in my house till my junior-high school. Therefore my carrier on skiing is close to 70 years. In my childhood, I enjoyed skiing at a vegetable field. The first ride of ski lifts was in high school. In my university days, my skill was raised up due to teaching my younger brother who learned skiing from a professional demonstrator.
During joining Nippon Telegraph and Telephone Public Corporation, and Nippon Telegraph and Telephone Company, I had my seniors taken to mountain skiing to Azuma mountain range in Tohoku area, and Renge hot-spring and Asahidake mountain (2418m) in Nagano Pref. in golden week. The specialist in climbing mountains, who climbed K2 of 2nd highest mountain in the world, gave a chance to falling down in ski at Mount Fuji. Since coming to Tohoku University, I enjoy skiing at mainly Yamagata Zao. There is the steepest wall with angle of 38 degree, so-called “Yokokura no Kabe”. I wonder till when I can fall down at this wall. The quality of snow in Tohoku area is great. Please come to Tohoku and let’s enjoy skiing together.
Gardening
I have been interested in plants since my childhood. I entered alone to wild fields and hills with a satchel as a case for keeping plants. The reason why I enjoyed plants alone is maybe there was nothing without nature friends because my hometown was too country side. For recent 30 years, I have enjoyed gardening in a small garden and a veranda through trial and error. I have grown up orchids without any green house. If they are cold resistant a little, you will be able to grow up them as the following manual which I wrote under my experiences. Please challenge to grow orchids.