Photo/Illutration Gingko trees in autumn colors adorn a park in Chichibu, Saitama Prefecture, in October. (Asahi Shimbun file photo)

Leaves of different species of trees change colors in autumn according to a set sequence, treating me to an “autumn foliage relay” during my daily observation of roadside trees.

When cherry trees shed their leaves, dogwood leaves become ablaze in their wine-red glory. Now that they are mostly gone, the vivid yellow of gingko leaves has taken over.

The expression “as pretty as a picture” comes out of my mouth, but there is truth to this overused phrase. It describes the bliss of seeing a flash of beauty that artists would capture and represent in their works.

In a comment written for a collection of his paintings, artist Kaii Higashiyama (1908-1999) described the brilliance of autumn leaves on a sunny day.

He continued: “However, while I was traveling one day, I saw each and every tree in the mountain in autumn colors standing quietly in a muted red hue under a slightly cloudy sky. The scene left the deepest impression on my soul.”

“Shuei” (Autumn colors), the work he painted based on that experience, depicts radiance amid dimness. I would love to actually come across such a scene someday.

I realize it’s already late autumn, and Tokyo had its first cold blast of the season on Nov. 4.

Watching falling leaves swirling in the wind, I feel a bit melancholic, but the leaves themselves look as if they were having fun. The rustling of leaves under my feet is the sound of autumn itself.

French poet Remy de Gourmont (1858-1915) penned a series of love poems addressed to Simone.

One poem, titled “Les feuilles mortes” (The dead leaves), starts to the effect, “Simone, let’s go to the woods, the leaves have fallen.”

The poet then repeats this line a number of times: “Simone, do you like the sound of footsteps on dead leaves?”

The poem goes on, “They (the fallen leaves) look so sad at the hour of twilight / They cry so tenderly, when the wind pushes them aside!”

Walking alone is fine and so is walking with someone. This is the season that allows us the luxury of feeling the winter chill in the morning and enjoying the warmth at noon.

--The Asahi Shimbun, Nov. 6

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Vox Populi, Vox Dei is a popular daily column that takes up a wide range of topics, including culture, arts and social trends and developments. Written by veteran Asahi Shimbun writers, the column provides useful perspectives on and insights into contemporary Japan and its culture.

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