Kaori-san, please take our gratitude. You gave us another chance to come to this beautiful, ancient capital of Japan. Current rate of yen, however, might make our regular hotel here booked out — that is why we enjoyed a stay at our favorite one in Osaka last night. We took a local train after a slight exercise of walking to the station one more stop away. Clouds in the sky and summer hats nicely protected us from ultraviolet rays.
They followed a pair of glasses from Niijima Island, included in Izu-Shichi To=seven islands of Izu where volcanoes are so active that we can enjoy nice hot springs while 抗火石=kouka–seki, meaning the rare lava-rock, is used as one of ingredients to make such beautiful olive green arts.
Kaori-san, an illustrator and good high-school classmate of Mei-Shun, will hold her second exhibition in June at Merry-go-round Kyoto, the same venue as her first one. Congratulations and thanks — November gave us a shock of long queue for taxi last time. Our driver was kind enough to teach how to avoid waiting, which would not have to work for June.
Mei-Shun has found the best way to use “tarha”. It has quite stronger notes, might be better on handkerchiefs for example, according to Professor S. Yes, and another way seems to spray it onto after-bath goods including bathrobes, towels and hair turbans. Since we wash ourselves in the bathroom to prepare for a new day, that name sounds pretty right.
Mei-Shun’s last piano instructor Ms. S will play at a concert held in April by TIAA (Tokyo International Association of Artists). Hearing that they would award her as a talented composer on the stage, Mei-Shun felt so happy. However, Ms. S gave a shocking news today that her younger son had been injured in an accident, followed by a relieving one that his brain had no problem.
However, he was called back to the capital soon — time always flies for young lovers. Broken-heart 松風 and 村雨 had only to get along, with a kimono he left as a reminder. This story was first produced into a 能 =Noh played by two performers, later descended to Japanese dance by one performer.
Here is a handmade pair of pails for Shio-Kumi practice. Thank you so much, Master Mei-Shu. That story features pretty sisters named 松風 and 村雨, who were involved in sea salt making at a small, remote village. One day, they saw a noble guy in a banishment penalty and fell in love with him.
Kaori-san, how kind of you to draw Mei-Shun in Suisen-Tanzen performance on the letter of winter greeting! Thanks a million. She put it on Ms. Piano to attract her for practice as much as possible. It is working well, they say with smile.
Akemashite Omedeto Gozaimasu. This is Mei-Shun’s first omikuji (=sacred lot) of 2016.
第二十二番 吉 The 22nd Lucky
このみくじにあう人は たちこめていた雲間に 再び月の明るさが射し込むように 万事気短にする事なく よくよく思慮すれば 神仏の御加護の下 幸せが訪れる
For those who see this sacred lot, consideration on every deed: never being in a hurry would lead to bright happiness under the protection of the God, as moonlight breaks through night clouds.
This is Christmas arrangement from Shin. It looked quite chic in color first, yet big red buds set in the center have opened little by little to give all different impression. What a great job!
meishunkikunoe 