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.
art
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.
Pianist’s Nail
StandardMei-Shun had taken piano lessons from 4 to 17 years old. Her last instructor always told her to keep short nails. She never allowed her students’ nails to touch keys of her piano — such noise must be a kind of torment for her sensitive ears. Now, Mei-Shun is swaying between fashion and hobby.
Culture of Dance
StandardMaster Mei-Shu stays in Tokushima, her hometown, to enjoy watching Awa Odori tonight. She has grown up in ever-dancing culture, that would be a big envy among Japanese dance fanciers including Mei-Shun. And Tokushima people share a nice ground to welcome any dancer on the stage, shown in their manner to give warm applause at the beginning of each performance.
Self-Lesson
StandardIt is no easy to avoid mistakes in playing piano. Touching wrong keys is out of question for professional pianists, while sounds uncomfortable to normal ears. What is the most important to enjoy beautiful flow of tones? Correct reading of scores seems the first. Picking up parts difficult to play smoothly would follow for concentrated practice.
Full of Flowers
StandardThis vase is made by 辻常陸 whose works of simple beauty attract us. It is Professor S. who first informed us on him — she gave Mei-Shun a mug to celebrate her late recovery. Not only drawings but also the kind-to-hand shape of his work lets you feel really refreshed after tea. Now, a thistle joined our table while full blossom of wisteria and three little butterflies wait for white flowers to top them.
Joy of Dancing
StandardMei-Shun finished learning how to dance Suisen-Tanzen today. Since it has been superficial so far, the role of a night butterfly in transient loves must be soaked into dancer’s limbs and mind from now. She has only three months and a half left before the stage performance. Practice, practice and practice would continue.
Artistic Couple
Standard
Japanese Culture@wkday
StandardThey made it. Former Yama-Hoko parade of Gi-On Festival was safely held today despite raging Typhoon Nangka. 23 portable shrines were led by a number of white ban-kasa, Japanese traditional umbrellas on which town names each shrine belongs to are written. Weekdays prevented us from enjoying even serial Yoi-Yama nights this year. Dear Fune-Hoko, see you next year.
Green Breeze
StandardProfessor S once told Mei-Shun that bracelets seemed to be for men. And that her husband, ex-ambassador extraordinary and plenipotentiare, had asked his sweetheart to hand-make some. He is absolutely right — they must have ultimate power to protect him (^-^),
À la carte
meishunkikunoe 