Japanese Castle Trek：日本の城トレッキング

彦根城に着いたのは朝の9時。ちょうど開城前。さすがに冬とあって、まだ観光客もいなく、撮影には絶好。かと思いきや、どんよりとした空は、さすがに冬です。でも行動するには冬が一番。あちこちウロウロしても、ちょうど身体が温まっていい。カメラに三脚、PowerBookかついでもなんともない。まあ、彦根城は平山城だからそれほど疲れることもなかった。外国人さんの観光客が多く、日本人のおじいさんが、カタカナのような英語でガイドをされていたのが、妙に楽しかった。

荷物をいっぱい持って天守入口のところにいると、「中は狭くて階段が急なので、荷物は置いていかれたほうがいいですよ」と、入口のおばさんに言われた。さすが国宝だけに、心配なのだろう。「中には入りませんから」といって、次はどこへ行こうか考えていると、犬を連れた家族がやって来た。「犬はつないでおいてください」と、入口のおばさんはその家族のお父さんに注意されていましたが、お父さんは「大丈夫です」と一言。「いや、でも…」とおばさんが言いかける間もなく、家族と犬は天守入口前まで。彦根城関係者のおじさんが駆け寄ってきたその時、飼い主のお父さんは、入口のところで犬に「STOP。戻ってくるまで、ここを動くな」といって犬にお座りをさせ、とっとと天守に入っていってしまった。あっけにとられていた関係者のおじさんや入口のおばさん。その後犬は、観光客にちょっかいを出されても、うろちょろ動き回らず、結局、飼い主である家族が出てくるまで、その場所を少しも動かなかった。しつけのいい犬はいいねぇ。

ちなみに、天守には荷物を車に置いてきてから登りました。本当は天守内部のシーンも作りたいのですが、なにぶん撮影技術がないのと照明機材がないのと時間がないのとで諦めました。

It will be that I reached Hikone-Jo in 9:00 a.m. It is, before the gate of a castle opens exactly. It is with winter truly, there is also no tourist yet, and it is best in photography. If it considers, empty is likely to begin to shed tears. This is winter of Japan too. For acting, winter is No. 1. Even if it moves here and there, the body gets warm, and it is Good. OK, even if he walks with PowerBook to a camera, a tripod, and it. Since Hikone-Jo is a castle on a small mountain, it does not get tired. A volunteer uncle guides in Hikone-Jo. Of course, it is English. Please use, when you visit. When I was in the place of a Tensyu entrance a lot with the load, "The way on which the load was put since inside was narrow and stairs were urgency was certainly" was said to the lady of an entrance. Hikone-Jo is a national treasure. Therefore, probably, it will be anxious that a crack is given.

I said "since it does not go into inside", and when it considered where it would next go, the family accompanied by the dog there came. "Putting the dog on leash" and the lady of an entrance were cautious of the family's father. However, father said, "It is OK" and has carried out to a Tensyu entrance as it is. It is panicked and the Hikone-Jo persons concerned have run up. For the father, by the way, an entrance is "STOP then. It said don't move this", stability was made the dog, and it goes into Tensyu until it returns. Having been taken at amazement is the persons concerned and the lady of an entrance. Even if the dog played to many tourists who visit after that, it did not move about. The place was not moved at all until the family who is an owner came out from Tensyu after all. The good dog of upbringing is good.

Incidentally, I reached, after putting the load on the car to Tensyu. Although he wanted to also make the scene inside Tensyu in fact, it gave up because of there not being there not being there being no photography technology and lighting equipments and time.