Japanese hairstyle for women had 4 basic 髷 (mage=bundling); 兵庫(hyogo)髷, 島田(shimada)髷, 勝山(katsuyama)髷 and 笄(kogai)髷 in Edo Period. Suisen-Tanzen normally employs a 島田髷 wig, yet our ex-head Onoe Kikugoro VII uses a 兵庫髷 one. And that is why Master Mei-Shu chose the latter, looking very handsome with a gorgeous 打掛 (uchikake=long kimono). Mei-Shun would like to look like her on the stage soon, at least in style.
Citrus Babies
StandardCongratulations, Mikan-chan. You will be 12 years old on 20th this month. We are so happy to see you like our gifts. Does this bowl help you eat? … Oh? Where are you — in your new bed named Lemon by mom! So much satisfied you look.
Orange in Lemon
Clever Horses
StandardThey are just great. 110 and more horses are working for a club in Ryugasaki. They work much harder than many of us; 6 days a week from 10:00 to 20:00. Rachel, the first partner of Mei-Shun, is a 17-year-old girl who has a shiny brown coat. She is kind and patient enough to follow beginners’ awkward signs to stop, walk and trot. Thanks, Ray-chan. Mikan-chan gave a permission to communicate with you. See you next week with a banana.
Smart Girl
StandardTora-chan is a little eater. Mom-in-law feed her twice a day, yet two third of it would be left over. That is why another cats come to our garden at night. It causes fights between Tora-chan and such interlopers. A vicious circle it seems, while the worst might be that she prefers treats Mei-Shun give her.
Purrr …
Chase the Sun
StandardShe made it. Our futon mats were hung in the balcony to dry. Only for a few hours, yet it satisfied Mei-Shun after rainy days of a week and more. In the afternoon, dark clouds came up to bring a shower for a while. The weather forecast says it will rain hard tomorrow. Well, it’s good for our plants. Oh, you prefer refreshed blanket, Mikan-chan.
ZZZZZ …
Family Communication
StandardMei-Shun visited her mother’s home. She is well as always, that gives her younger daughter a relief and happiness. Her older daughter lives nearby, making grandma twice-a-week babysitter. Mei-Shun hopes her once-in-a-month visit help us check up mom’s health. How she looks, speaks and walks? How much she eats? A rare visitor might be able to recognize a small change.
School Restarted
StandardSo here is the beginning of September. Hello again, school children. How was your vacation? This summer has recorded the longest serial days of torrid weather, while it has been cloudy and cool since obon holidays. Such a big swing between too-hot and too-cool days would make us worry about the future — is it an effect of global climate change?
Izayoi Moon
StandardWe see 十六夜, one day after the moon looks full called 十五夜, tonight. It comes up to the sky a little delayed compared to last night. In old days, they took it as moon’s hesitation and read this Chinese letters izayoi. As the moon appears later night by night, they call 17th moon 立待月, 18th 居待月 and 19th 寝待月 meaning to wait for the moon standing, sitting and lying.
Shocking, but …
StandardMaster Mei-Shu kindly showed her Suisen-Tanzen performance of 23 years ago, commemorating Kikunoe-Ryu foundation. It was just excellent. Actually too brilliant for Mei-Shun to do the same. She found that the spear in her left hand must have looked almost sleeping so far. Such item symbolizes what the role has in mind. From now, her challenge to wake it up starts. Thank you so much, Master.
Cooler August
StandardIn order to perform feminine* Suisen-Tanzen, we put on a long-hemmed kimono, which requires a technique to deal with. Many Japanese dancers therefore have this tool to wrap up the lower half of the body. However, it is too hard to use it in summer — we perspire much in legs even not in exercise. Well, does Mei-Shun have to say thanks to Typhoon Goni?
*Suisen-Tanzen has a masculine version as well.
meishunkikunoe 