Clad in pink uniforms, about 50 former Miss Peaches gathered at JR Fukushima Station as part of a reunion event, handing out peaches to rail passengers on the station platforms to promote the Fukushima Prefecture specialty.
　About 100 people who have served as Miss Peach took part in the reunion on Aug. 12, the first such event to be held since 2012.

　歴代のミスピーチが１２日、福島市のＪＲ福島駅新幹線ホームでモモのＰＲを行い、久方ぶりのユニホーム姿で乗降客にモモを手渡した。
　２０１２（平成２４）年以来５年ぶりの開催となった同窓会の一環。同窓会参加の約１００人のうち約５０人がＰＲにも参加した。

　Since 1963, the many Miss Peaches have helped promote the fruit of the prefecture. The reputations of the prefecture's products suffered deeply after the 2011 Great East Japan Earthquake and ensuing nuclear accident at the Fukushima No. 1 nuclear power plant, but Miss Peaches have poured their hearts into promoting the Fukushima fruit.
　At a reunion party held in Fukushima city, former Miss Peach members -- who combined have over a half-century of experience to share -- engaged in animated conversations about the past.

　１９６３（昭和３８）年の結成以来、福島の果物の知名度アップに貢献し、震災と原発事故後は根強い風評被害の中で懸命にＰＲに努めてきた歴代ミスピーチたち。福島市で開かれた５５周年同窓会では、長年たすきをつないできた仲間たちが思い出話に花を咲かせた。

　Hidemi Sakamoto, a Miss Peach from the program's 41st year, joined the promotion event at Fukushima Station with her daughter Rino.
　"I live far from Fukushima now, but that fact makes Fukushima peaches even more special to me," said Sakamoto, who served the role in 2003 when she was 18. She currently lives in Musashino, Tokyo.
　"More than six years have passed since the disaster and the nuclear accident, but I am happy that I became able to promote peaches again," she added.

　ホームには薄いピンクに水色のラインが入った服など、時代ごとに異なるユニホーム姿の歴代ミスピーチが勢ぞろい。１８歳だった２００３年に４１代ミスピーチを務めた坂本英美さん（３３）＝東京都武蔵野市在住、福島市出身＝は長女凛乃ちゃん（３）と共に参加。「今は離れているからこそ、福島のモモは私にとって特別な存在。震災、原発事故から６年以上経過したが、こうしてまたＰＲできるのはうれしい」と話した。

　An inaugural member took part in the reunion party as well. Hiroko Sato became Miss Peach － although the title was "Momo Musume" (peach girl) at that time － because she was looking for a part-time job as a sophomore at Fukushima University in 1963.
　Sato who now lives in Kitakata, Fukushima Prefecture, said she had initially imagined that taking on the persona would mean being a street merchant like Tora-san, the popular hero of the "Otoko wa Tsuraiyo" (It's Tough Being a Man) movie series, who is known for his itinerant lifestyle. "However, what I did was totally different," Sato said.

　同窓会の会場には、当時は「桃娘」と呼ばれていた「初代ミスピーチ」佐藤浩子さん（７３）＝喜多方市＝の姿も。１９６３年当時、福島大２年で１９歳だった佐藤さんは、アルバイトを探していて桃娘を知ったという。「桃娘になる前は、『フーテンの寅さん』のようにモモをたたき売りする仕事だと思っていたが、全然違った」

　This was before the Shinkansen bullet train service started, so Sato, wearing a sleeveless, all-ivory uniform, carried peaches in a woven basket and sold them with a smile to passengers of limited express trains.
　"What I took part in at the time was a brand-new project, but I somehow managed to handle my job," said Sato, smiling. "The experience gave me a backbone."

（　Translated by The Japan News　）

　アイボリー色でノースリーブのユニホーム。まだ新幹線がない時代に、特急の乗客を相手ににっこり笑ってかごに入ったモモを販売した。「初めての取り組みだったが、何とかなった。この経験のおかげで自分に度胸が付いたと思う」と笑顔で振り返った。

　【　２０１７年８月１３日付・福島民友新聞掲載　】