October 3, 2021：秋、養老孟司さんとコロナ (Autumn, Takeshi Yoro and Covid-19)

 After a storm passed, we have enjoyed sunny autumnal days. The word “autumn” in Japanese has many modifiers. According to a survey, the most popular modifier is “enjoying a meal (i.e. autumn is the best season for enjoying a meal) followed by “reading” and “sports”. Then, “sleep” is ranked fourth.
 According to Takeshi Yoro, an anatomist, “sleep” is essential to clean up waste (fatigue) in our brain that has generated in our activities (“Conscious Activities”) while awaking. Autumn must be the best season to eliminate all waste in our brain that results from our struggles in hot summer and to refresh our body and mind.
 Autumn is also the best season for sightseeing. In particular, the autumn in 2021 could be one of the most unforgettable autumns ever. On October 1, 2021, the Japanese government entirely lifted the state of emergency on the COVID-19. The ease helps people relax and encourages them to go outside, making theme parks, shopping districts and other tourist places bursting. ON the other hand, it causes experts concern about the resurgence of the disease. However, I expect people to eliminate it by using their steep learning curb.

　台風が過ぎ去り、秋らしい晴天が続いている。秋には様々な修飾語が付く。ある調査によると、「秋」で一番連想する修飾語は「食欲」らしい。次いで、「読書」と「スポーツ」と続き、四番目に「睡眠」が来るらしい。
　養老孟司さんによると「睡眠」は人が起きているときの活動から生まれた脳のゴミ（疲れ）を掃除するのに欠かせないらしい。きっと、「秋」は、クソ暑い夏に必死になって活動した結果生まれたゴミを掃除する季節なのだろう。過ごしやすい秋に、脳のゴミを掃除して、心身を休めたいものだ。
　とはいえ、秋は「行楽の秋」でもある。コロナ関連の制限がすべて解除され、街に賑わいが戻ってきたようである。行政を中心に再拡大を懸念する声もあるが、高い学習能力で乗り越えられると信じている。