Mei-Shun saw her mother, the best cook of ohagi, yesterday to enjoy it together. For us, ohagi is a dessert. However, some people have it as our normal staple food: they put cooked rice into a bowl, placing anko on it and – add tempura on the red bean jam!! Can you believe it?
Lovely Birthday!
StandardSeptember 20 is the birthday of Mei-Shun’s daughter, who is for ever three-year old. Would you … oh, like it? Thanks, my sweet girl. Mom feel happy too.
Can’t Move
StandardPlease find Mikan-chan below. Could you guess where she is? Well, she stays between Mei-Shun’s legs! Why you like such a place?? Let mom turn around, baby.
Feeling Relieved
StandardMaster Mei-Shu finally saw a doctor. No problem has been found after a medical checkup, including CT scanning and colonoscopy. Glad to hear that! Master, please eat more. Mei-Shun would eat less for you.
Painful Batty
StandardMei-Shun received a letter of estimate for a batty-repellent measure. Shocking price – it costs as much as she dances on the stage twice. Oh, you are shocked? Yes, amateur dancers have to pay for rental costumes, make-ups, stage settings, etc. by themselves.
Egret-like Castle
StandardMei-Shun visited Himeji Castle this weekend. After repair, some people ironically call it “shiro-sugi-jo” instead of “shira-sagi-jo” (=white castle looks like a beautiful egret), meaning too white one. They might prefer the clear contrast between black roof and white wall of normal Japanese castles.
Japanese Culture@wkend
StandardWe have 16 National Holidays per year. Respect-for-the-Elderly Day and Autumnal Equinox Day are set in September. The former is on the 3rd Monday, while the latter changes every year to balance current solar calender and older lunar one. On the two Equinox days, many people enjoy Japanese sweets called ohagi or botamochi, smooth rice balls coated with anko (=red bean jam) — both hagi and botan are names of flowers which respectively bloom in autumn and spring. Please find below hagi blossom in Mei-Shun’s garden.
Lonely Piano
StandardAs performance date approaches, Ms. Piano tends to be left alone. She is sometimes forced to be a kimono holder after Mei-Shun comes back from lessons. No, she would like to sing, rather than being treated like a piece of furniture. Just 5 minutes must not be spared for her.
Dance in a Rain
StandardMei-Shun is an umbrella lover. Thunderstorm might know that, kindly comes after she enjoys walking in a quiet rain. Ayame-Yukata features a geisha who appears on the stage with bangasa, a Japanese traditional umbrella. It is one of candidate scores for Mei-Shun’s 2015 performance.
Let’s Shrimp
StandardEchigo-Shishi has a climax part of ebi-zori: performers will arch his/her body backward like a shrimp, swinging sarashi. It was quite easy for Mei-Shun in her childhood, yet a kind of challenge now. Everyday exercise to strengthen the back muscle is indispensable.
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