Day one on the Japanese Peace Run began with a meeting at Kyoto. It gave us all the time to gather and meet each other, some of us for the first time and went out to explore the city.
いよいよ、2025年日本ピースランのスタートです。チームメンバーが世界各地から京都に到着！まずは鴨川でウォームアップ。
We made our way out to Uji Kodomo Sports Festival at Nishi-Uji Park in Uji City an area famous for its green tea. It was growing everywhere on our journey to the city. Children were attending and trying a number of activities. Karate, Aikido, Volleyball, Out door play and of course the Peace Run.
日曜日の初日、最初の訪問先は宇治市の西宇治公園で行われているUjiこどもスポーツフェスタ。市内の子供さんが色々なスポーツを体験できるイベントです。ピースランは昼休みに参加させていただきました。会場を盛り上げていた京都ハンナリーズのマスコットと記念撮影。
With the official mascot of Kyoto's professional basketball team Hannaryz.
We set up stations and the children came to each space to do an activity with the runners and get their passports stamped.
芝生広場に集まった親子連れや子供さんたちと、ピースランの大陸スタンプラリーを楽しみました！国当てクイズに答えたり、ピーストーチと一緒に走ったりして「ピースランパスポート」にスタンプをもらいます。
Mr SUGAI Masatsugu the section head of the sports section of Department of Culture and Sports
宇治市文化スポーツ課スポーツ担当の菅居聖承係長さんと。
After our Udon noodle lunch we headed to Hanazono joyful Kodomo-Kai (kids club).
お昼は近くのうどん屋さん。今回が初来日のメンバーが約半分。作りたてのうどんと天ぷらに舌鼓を打っていました。
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A remarkable group for children who are looking for some peace and joy it is run by the equally remarkable Shunichiro Shinozawa through his Hanazono Church. This is a place where children can visit by themselves for free of charge. “In 2012, I placed a fish tank in the entrance of my church as a recreational purpose. One day a young boy visiting our church told me that he had never seen a live fish", said Shunichiro.
午後の訪問先は、右京区太秦にある花園教会水族館です。こちらの篠澤さんご夫婦は、教会の他、主に放置された水の生き物を多数保護し、水族館を運営しています。さらに、何らかの理由で家にいるのが困難な子供達の憩いの場所となり、子供たちは水の生き物の世話や自分で料理をすることを学べます。
We arrived at the church to be greeted by Shunichiro who opened his large garage. We were greeted by the smell of salty water, river water and pond water and a menagerie of exotic and aquatic animals. Iguana’s, turtles, fish, eels, electric eels, carp, monitor lizard, geckos, salamanders, shrimps and even a Galapagos Tortoise. Not what we were expecting!
所狭しと並べられた水槽を見て回ると、珍しい生物に出会うことができます。
The aquarium has over 190 different species and is certified as an aquarium by the Ministry of the Environment and the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries and is a member of Kyoto Museums. The Peace Runners were given a tour by many of the children that attend the church.
ここに来ている子供さんたちが、いつも自分たちが世話している魚、亀などの生物を紹介してくれます。
Indeed, there is not much nature around this church, because it is located in a residential area. Mr Shunichiro said "I still remember that excited boy's eyes looking at the fish tank. I began to think that I wanted to provide children with opportunities to experience nature. I gradually increased the number of aquariums and began purchasing rare fish, such as those from the Amazon, and keeping them in aquariums. In addition, due to the power outage caused by the Great East Japan Earthquake, many people had to give up their fish pets, and I began to adopt them and care for them."
Later we gathered with them in the church for a peace prayer and went shopping with them to purchase the food we were to cook together.
水族館見学の後は、2階の教会に集い、全員で平和の祈りを唱えます。
前もって子供さんたちが用意してくれた青汁入りミニカステラとラッシーをいただきました。ごちそうさまです！
そのあとは近くのスーパーに皆で買い物に行き、一緒に料理します。メニューは炊き立てご飯、野菜たくさんスープ、きゅうりの浅漬け、本格インドの塩とスパイスで味つけたラッシー。インドからのメンバーが子供達に手伝ってもらい伝授しつつ作ります。
It was wonderful meeting them all and sharing time with them. We made new friends.
花園ジョイフル子供会の皆さんとこうして楽しいひと時が過ごせ、とても嬉しく思います。篠澤さんご夫婦、今日はどうもありがとうございました！
Gratitude to Ms HIDAKA Yuki from the Local Autonomy Office who has helped the Peace Runners since 2018.
京都市地域自治推進室のコーディネーターである日高ゆきさんは、2018年の京都ピースラン以来のご縁です。今回もこちらの花園教会水族館と繋いでいただいたほか、出発地京都でのイベント企画と実現に大変ご尽力くださり、チーム一同、大感謝です。
