屋久島1974年
Yaku-shima, 1974

1974年8月
August 1974

先輩の大学院生が屋久島の裾野に残っている広葉樹林の調査を行う際、その助手に抜擢され、公費で滞在。

屋久島には、目立った観光施設もなく、しかし、例えばアイスクリームを買っても「本土」の定価より高いなど、まさに離島。既に鹿児島・宮浦間はカー・フェリーになっていたが、帰りに安房から乗った船は旧来の客船で、小さく、揺れて、ペンキの臭いのこもる舟底の丸い形の2等船室で少し酔う。しかし、それだけに、落ち着くところで、私の先生を含め、一度訪れた人を引きつける島だった。

しかし、屋久島の裾野に残っていた広葉樹林の調査の助手の日々。調査地に比較的近い民宿「山海荘」に宿を確保し(1997年に泊まった楠川温泉の主人によると、今でも山海荘はあるとのことだった。)、毎朝車で入れるところまで宿の人に送ってもらい、1日調査し、夕方歩いて宿に戻り、押し葉を作り、先輩がビールを飲み(当時の私は、先輩が「うまい。」と言いながらビールを飲むのが理解できなかった。)、そして寝るという生活。もっとも、最初に指導に来られた先生は、車で屋久杉ランドなどを案内して下さった。

I had an honor to be nominated as the assistant for a graduate student when he did a research of the broad-leaved forests on the foothills of Yaku-shima. Thanks to that, I stayed in the island on the official budget.

There was no significant tourism facility in the island. It was actually quite an isolated island. For example, even ice cream was more expensive than the standard price in the main island. Although the service between Kagoshima and Miyanoura had already been operated by a car ferry boat, the service between Ambo and Kagoshima was by an ordinary much smaller boat. The second class cabin on the bottom of the boat which I took on the way back was small and made me a bit sick. However, it was an island that attracts many who had once visited the island, including my professor.

Almost all days, we were engaged in the research of the forest which was still left on the foothills of the island after ensuring accommodation at Sankai-so near the research site. The owner of the lodging kindly took us to the end of the passable trail by car every morning. But on the way back, we naturally walked in late afternoon. After classification of plants, the graduate student enjoyed beer, which I did not understand those days. However, our professor, who came during the first few days for advice, kindly took us to Yakusugi Land where we could see typical inland forests of the island.

屋久杉ランド付近のサル Monkeys near Yakusugi Land	調査地付近の様子。山は愛子岳。 The research are and Aiko-dake
調査地の林内。箱根以西にしかないヒメシャラがたくさんあり、その幹が目立つことなど、私には珍しかった。 The research area.
調査地近くの女川付近	調査地近くの女川。水は大変澄み、冷たかった。 A river near the research area. The water was quite clean and cold.
中間のガジュマル Gajumaru in Nakama	安房から屋久島を離れる。 Departure from Yaku-shima, Ambo port
帰りに寄った霧島の高千穂の嶺から。 From Takachiho no Mine, Kirishima Mountains which I stopped on my way home.	その後、急行「高千穂」の自由席で東京に戻る。 After Kirishima Mountains, I took express train "Takachiho" for Tokyo, which is no longer available.