art

Japanese Culture@holiday

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This 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.

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Moonlights

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Sonate (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

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It 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.

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Ijuro VII

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Master 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?

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Shall We?

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Mei-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

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Master 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.

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Never Give Up

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It makes us feel real beginning of autumn to see golden rice harvest. However, attacked by extraordinary summer typhoons, some of rice ears lean to the ground, looked disappointed this year. Mei-Shun sympathized with them walking along. Now it is over by half: she found them dried on 稲木=inagi or inaki, bamboo hangers constructed on rice paddies after harvest. Bundled ears are spread under sunlight for longer shelflife and better taste.

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Amber Protection

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It is so big that Mei-Shun was nearly shocked at first. Shin, take her most profound gratitude please. They say your face oil serves for better luster on this gemstone. She therefore takes everyday care of it, anticipating an excellent debut on kimono — it is a 帯留, obi-dome accessory for obi sash. 久慈, kuji in Iwate Prefecture has one of the oldest amber-embracing strata in the world, Santonian, Late Cretaceous. How romantic it is to see Mother Earth memory of more than 85 million years ago!

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Joy of DFS

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Shin went on 1-week business trip to Europe last week. How strongly Mei-Shun wishes a story by respectful Mr. HOSHI, Shin-ichi would come true, in which our houses can be changed into airplanes. Well, in current reality, husband is always gentle enough to do wife a favor for cosmetic items. She has been excited to experience body oil for the first time. A brochure published by A airline co. says it has a scent of berries, yet it is rather a vegetable juice. No problem anyway, he is safely home.

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Bowl Couple

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They are purchased at 友部, Tomobe Service Station on Joban Highway. Ms. TANAKA, Alba is from Nicaragua, graduated from Mexican National Pottery School. She built her own kiln at the foot of Mt. Tsukuba in 1992. Her works are so light that you won’t feel even a full bowl of rice held in a hand. Shin and Mei-Shun were lucky enough to find her on leading-to-Tokyo lane of the highway: only this side serves wide space featuring a few artists including Ms. TANAKA.

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