Let’s talk about JAPAN.
The Country That Loves Butterflies
蝶愛づる国
Japan is one of the very few countries that has a “national buttery.” In the past, many opportunities for interacting with insects were incorporated into school education and anyone who spent their childhood in
Japan has probably had the experience of observing butteries up close, more or less.
日本は「国蝶」を定めるごく少ない国の1つです。学校教育の中に昆虫と接する機会が多く取り入れられていることもあり、日本で幼少期を過ごした人であれば、多かれ少なかれチョウを間近で観察した経験があることでしょう。
The national butterfly, Oomurasaki, has beautiful blue-purple wings. The swallowtail butterfly is characterized by its gorgeous black and yellow pattern. These butterflies, which can be found throughout Japan, have been especially familiar to the Japanese people since ancient times.
美しい青紫色の羽を持つ、国蝶・オオムラサキ。華やかな黒と黄色の文様が特徴的なアゲハ。日本全国で見られるこれらの蝶は、日本人にとって古くから特に身近な存在でした。
Some say that swallowtail butterflies were revered as “tokoyo-no-kami (everlasting gods)” in ancient Japan because of the great difference between their larval form and their adult form as butterflies.
アゲハチョウに至っては、幼虫の姿と成長してチョウとなった姿があまりにかけ離れていたことから、古代日本では「常世神[ルビ：とこよのかみ]」として敬われていたという説もあります。
The cover painting of this issue features such a mysterious swallowtail butterfly and other pretty butterflies fluttering their wings against a blue background reminiscent of the earth. The bright, transparent screen gives the impression of the strength of life, contrary to the fragile impression it may give.
Through the bright, transparent screen, you can feel the strength of life even at just a glance.
Through the bright, transparent screen, you can feel the strength of life, contrary to its fleeting nature.
今回の表紙画は、地球を想起させる青を背景に、そんな神秘的なアゲハをはじめとする可憐なチョウたちが羽ばたく作品。明るく、透明感のある画面からは、儚い印象とはうらはらに生命[ルビ：いのち]の力強さが感じられます。
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