Thank you so much for your kind following of this site. Mei-Shun has to stay in a hospital for an operation, expecting to see you again from the middle of next month. Please keep yourselves in good health!
Month: February 2015
Japanese Culture?@wkday
StandardCats sound “nyah” to Japanese ears instead of “meow”. And 2, pronounced “ni” in Japanese makes February 22nd the Cat’s Day catching their calling three times. Mei-Shun plans to send a small gift to one of her cat-fancier friends.
No Car with Wine
StandardRespectful friends of Mei-Shun kindly invited her to a lunch party. 2 professors put on jackets to welcome her in kimono, yet sorry. She cancelled today’s lesson running short of time. A good French restaurant in Tsukuba, looked full-packed with 80% women. We would like wines next time.
Waiting for …
StandardOur “Yellow Card” has grown up in buds. It is so nice to see her get more beautiful day by day, but – a whole month has already passed since we first found her in a small cluster. How long does it take to meet your petals?
Spring Style
StandardTora-chan looks getting slimmer these days. And the silky touch has begun to return on her fur coat. In the middle of winter, it was so thick that Mei-Shun felt like brushing a dog. Just one concern is the snowy weather in March here. Take care, darling.
Burned Corn …
StandardIt’s normally all right. Mei-Shun is not so bad at making popcorn. However, she turned a wrong page this morning – most of them are browned or even blacked, smelling burned. Oh no, we would like popped ones. Tomorrow again.
St. Valentine’s Day
Standard… is actually a chocolate day for Japanese people. Mei-Shun has prepared boxes of chocolates for her lover, family members, close friends, colleagues, etc. When she stayed in UK, couples exchanged funny cards with each other on February 14th, looked very interesting. Which custom would you prefer?
Doll Festival
StandardMaster Mei-Shu has three granddaughters. When Mei-Shun visited her today, she found beautiful hina dolls set in the corner of the lesson room to celebrate those three girls. In Suisen-Tanzen, a dancer carries a long, fur-headed spear. We use a bamboo stick for practice, yet have to be very careful for a while not to hurt the dolls.
Japanese Culture@holiday
StandardMost Japanese temples and shrines have omikuji, fortune-telling paper. For easy ones, we put coins into a box before picking up one piece. More formally, we make payment to a clerk, shake a box or can to receive a stick on which a number is written. Informed on the number, they hand us a corresponding piece of omikuji paper. Some of them have a small figure of god which is believed to bring luck to you.
Spring Drive
StandardMei-Shun visited Mt. Tsukuba Shrine with her mom-in-law. Sunshine, soft wind, pink and white ume plum blossoms welcomed us. And many frog stones as well, symbolic figures for this mountain.
meishunkikunoe 