Mei-Shun’s favorite tea shop, one of branches closed recently, sent her a letter of invitation. 蔵出し新茶=kuradashi-shincha, stored tea of the first harvest, has been “ripened” in a refrigerator for half an year since 八十八夜, they say. With a discount ticket enclosed, she would like to visit another shop at the nearest train station soon to reserve some.
It seems they started harvest from this weekend. The easternmost ears all stopped listening to us, bundled and dried on bamboo hangers. Mei-Shun felt somehow warm when she walked passing by them — do they emit heat while fermented? Under sunlight and rainfall one after another, they might be naturally cooked before peeled and steamed into shining white.
They are so curious. We should not speak ill of others along a lane between them, or they could absorb nefarious words to taste bitter. Harvested soon, we sincerely wish them taste sweet. It is interesting that only this space accommodates a different breed every year. Planted later than normal ones, they might not need so much sunlight compared to the latter.
This is みすず飴=misuzu-ame, Shin’s souvenir from Nagano Prefecture. Fruitful jelly wrapped with 和紙=washi, Japanese artistic paper is one of Mei-Shun’s favorite. More reasonable product in transparent package was a pet for her grandfather on mother’s side, a Nagano native. He stayed at a hospital for long, peacefully made his last journey just one week before his younger granddaughter’s marriage.
Thank you so much, Dr. A, who gave Mei-Shun a “Yes” phone call during this o-bon vacation. That became the happiest お盆玉 for the latter. She celebrated it with a glass of tasty 月の桂=tsuki-no-katsura, a cloudy and sparkling sake made in Kyoto. Scotch whiskey, 芋焼酎=imo-shochu and 泡盛=awamori are normally preferred, it has never brought her a hangover.
Mei-Shun loves them so much. She often says her favorite is Japanese cherry, yet the reason owes a great deal to lovely looking and such short time of the best like its blossom. As for taste, the former wins a triumph. Oh, how beautiful they are, with the sweetest scent! They are agricultural products, yet really artworks. Thanks a million, Shin, who knows well his wife is a fruit bat.
Misaka-Hakuho
Asama-Hakuto
Mei-Shun met Dr. A after 3 months from the previous appointment in spring. Diagnosis of current day was all right, while it would take 2-3 weeks to know results of check in blood sample as usual. If “Yes” phone call would come true, her next reservation will be fixed on October 31st when she would be happy to say “Trick or treat”. Oh, is it summer Day of Ox? Well, she prefers other fish in Tokyo tomorrow to eels today.
Shin reserved a hotel in front of 二条城 this time. It is very nice to see such a popular sightseeing point through a window, avoiding crowd. Early in the morning, they enjoyed walking around the garden after breakfast. Another pleasure to stay here is a nice French restaurant “C’EST SYMPA“. They serve really beautiful dishes and wines for amazingly reasonable price, while net shopping is available.
御中元=ochugen, summer gifts are ready. Mei-Shun ordered special packages to 風流堂 as usual, asking a minor change in products. She had wondered why they never post English version for online shopping, emailed on this matter this time. Their reply was in a letter attached to the box for Master Mei-Shu: it seems they keep the job for their smart granddaughter who lived in the U.S. till recently, a WASEDA Univ. student.
So this date has come to Shin and Mei-Shun. They miss a little 茅の輪=Chi-no-Wa and paper doll ceremony at Kiji (=Pheasant) Shrine in Gotanda while never stopped enjoying this sweet delicacy in the morning. After that, he went aboard for Hong Kong on business while she visited Master Mei-Shu. She said that her own instructor passed away at 91 yesterday, meaning that 師範 test for her student could be postponed for a while.
meishunkikunoe 