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推し活とプロダクティブ#11 鯉が紡ぐプロダクティブ

桜の季節が終わってしばらく経った頃から街に現れるのが鯉のぼり。
簡単に言ってしまえば、子どもの成長を願って、布に描かれた鯉を庭や玄関先にぶら下げるという江戸時代からの慣習。

江戸時代の武士の家では、男の子が生まれたら、オーダーメイドで作った2メートル超えの鯉のぼりを贈るという習慣もあったとか。
今や、すっかり簡略化され、保育園で子どもが作ってきた紙製の鯉のぼりや、百均で売られている小さなものが飾られることも増えている。

それ以上に増えているのが、子どもが成人して飾られなくなった鯉のぼりを街で集め、川や公園広場で飾るという動き。
200
以上の鯉のぼりが空に泳ぐ姿は、子どものいない人にも元気を与え、観光名物になっている街もあったりする。

それを真似したわけではないけれど、ワタシの住む街ではじめたのが、お店や高齢者施設や地域の掲示板で鯉のぼりを飾ること。
コロナ禍、みなが元気をなくし、孤立感が強まるなかで、掲示板に鯉のぼりを飾りはじめたのがきっかけ。

ついでに、うちの鯉のぼり(80代バァバと9歳の孫で毎年、作り溜めてきた10匹以上の鯉のぼり)を中庭から、道路に面した玄関先に移動し、それをご近所にもお願いしてみたり。
目指したのは、お祭りなんかではなく、街を歩いていたら、そこかしこになんとなく鯉のぼりが泳いでいて、見つけた人がなんとなく笑顔になるくらいのこと。

そんな小さなことだったのだけれど、うちの鯉のぼりの前で立ち話する人が増えたり、デイサービスでシニアが作った鯉のぼりを窓に貼り付けてくれたり、店長が実家から大きな鯉のぼりを持ってきて店先に飾ってくれたり。
街にゆるやかな一体感が生まれたような、そんな変化が…。

コロナ禍の影響が薄まりつつある今も、掲示板に貼り付けられた小さな鯉のぼりを子どもたちが発見してニッコリ。
それを後ろから眺めるシニアたちが笑顔になるという光景が見られたり。

そんな鯉のぼりが創り出すゆるやかな一体感を眺めていて感じることが一つ。
世代間のつながりが大事って色々な場づくりが行われているけれど、これくらいのゆるやかな方が良いのかな…という自分なりの結論。

例えば、「登校中の子ども達が(デイサービスでシニアが作った鯉を窓に飾ってくれた)可愛い〜と喜んでいましたよ!」と、伝えた時の、デイサービスのばあちゃん達、スタッフさんの嬉しそうな表情。
みんなが笑顔、みんなが小さなプロダクティブ、これくらいを増やしていければ良いのかな…^_^




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東海大学健康学部健康マネジメント学科
ウェルビーイングカレッジ
澤岡詩野(SHINO SAWAOKA

jzt1864@tokai.ac.jp
健康学部公式サイト:https://www.tokai-kenko.ac/
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