Thank you so much, Professor M. He is good at calligraphy designing, sometimes works as a manager of Shimanekoya studio. These chic pieces were sent from Kaori-san last year, enclosed with a letter of 寒中見舞い=kanchu-mimai, a winter greeting. Her husband is from Kyoto, might be the reason why her gift is always accompanied by scent of that ancient capital. At a glance, Mei-Shun decided to make them her name cards.
art
Under Moonlight
StandardPhotos of 松風 arrived at hands of her twin sister Mei-Shun. A photographer in charge was sensible enough to include a piece of long shot. Regarding the moon, she thinks that Professor M, one of her most esteemed friends, is the best to take it. His wonderful skill allows any shape of the moon to be very clear. How do you broadminded followers compare one of his fine works with Mei-Shun’s?
Horseshoes Tree!
StandardMei-Shun’s first riding boots are leather ones, made of lace-up short boots and chaps. If she puts them on after rain or — snow, muddy water directly comes through the little holes. It is so disastrous that she has used rental boots so far. However, they are for everyone, not for her only. Unfit boots seriously hinder communication between you and horsies. She therefore bought a pair of long rubber boots as a Christmas gift for herself. By the way, please find a chic tree handmade by our club staffers.
Missing Supermoon
StandardThe biggest and brightest moon in almost 69 years? Rain was so merciless that prevented us from seeing her in Kanto area last night. Mei-Shun is cordially looking forward to 十六夜 tonight, still haunted by her twin sister 松風. Yes, she has become her 十八番=ohako, most likened and well performed role, while more practice is required for the latter condition. It is wished 花道=hana-michi, a bridge ranging from the left of audience seats to the stage, would be available on the next opportunity.
Japanese Culture@holiday
StandardThis is 三蓋傘 for 汐汲. Although a bit old and broken, not the real one to perform on the stage with Mei-Shun soon, you have made a good debut on real Culture Day. Thank you so much, Master Mei-Shu. She kindly called a property shop over and over on behalf of her student to rent it. Her connection works well on such occasion: the longer you communicate with stage staffers, the more convenient things would be. Now, since it rained hard yesterday, let’s wait for practice until the roof floor is completely dried.
Moonlights
StandardSonate (sonata quasi una Fantasia) Op. 27 by Beethoven,
Clair de Lune by Debussy,
… share top of Mei-Shun’s favorite piano score list. Mov. III of the former was the last for her to play in front of audience when she was 17. Such difficult one never let her relax, that Mov. I and II are among her repertoire. They tend to appear on Ms. Piano in rainy days, while it rarely does this month. It is why Mei-Shun makes it an excuse to choose these soothing scores that we see the moon later at night after 十五夜.
Joy of Art
StandardIt is great honor for Mei-Shun to have a chance to visit a mosque for the first time led by Professor S, who is major in interfaith dialogue. Tokyo Camii & Turkish Culture Center is in Shibuya Ward, an amazing place of Islam and art. Marble walls and stairs with an impressive dome and minarets suddenly appear among tall trees. Now indoors taking off shoes, shining stained glasses and arabesque patterns jump into your eyes. Adhan by an imam sounds incredible, just like fantastic music.
Ijuro VII
StandardMaster Mei-Shu belongs to generation of heavy phonograph records. It was so hard to bring weighty items to lesson sites, she says. She currently uses cassette tapes, some of which derive from old phonographs via open reels. That is why they are full of noise and jumpiness: original source were already hurt. Mei-Shun therefore decided to purchase CDs — who offers DL for classical Japanese music including 長唄=naga-uta, 大和楽=yamato-gaku, 清元=kiyomoto and 常磐津=tokiwazu?
Shall We?
StandardMei-Shun’s goal in horse riding is dressage. A horse and his/her rider would cooperate with each other to make beautiful performance, that seems to resemble dancing. In Japanese dance, performer is fundamentally alone on the stage. On the other hand, dressage requires good communication between a horse and a human being in the field. Therefore, the more she practices with kind horseys, the more she might be interested in 連舞=tsure-mai, meaning Pas de deux or Duet.
Trichosanthes cucumeroides
StandardMaster Mei-Shu had a sudden stomachache the other day. It made a lesson canceled on the way, while her mouth never stopped chatting. Mei-Shun takes it a duty of student to listen to, yet if Master starts to complain, she intends to wander in concentration looking aside.
物言えば 唇寒し 秋の風
MATSUO, Basho said that speaking ill of others makes yourself lowered in above haiku poetry. So did 烏瓜=karasu-uri, Japanese snake gourd it seemed when Mei-Shun left Master’s house.















