Solar May ends within today, expecting lunar one in the middle of next month. After rainy morning, Mei-Shun met a young postman at the porch, who handed mails and asked her if above image is a rose. Of course it is, yet such a question sounds quite weird. “My parents’ garden accommodates climbing roses only, I saw a bush for the first time”, he explained. So experience depends.
Thanks a lot, Master 二所ノ関. His stable sent Mei-Shun a piece of 番付表, a ranking list of sumo wrestlers for coming 五月場所. As shown above, only elite rikishi are in readable size of kanji. Her favorite finally joined there again, taking 5 basho. She is happy to prepare an early-summer kimono, plans to put it on celebrating 初日=sho-nichi, the 1st day of match on Sunday.
Mei-Shun, who lately resumed practice of “Life is Merry-go-round” on Ms. Piano, was not on that fun-fair equipment featuring horseies but on a train to Tokyo Station today. A bit cloudy sky still accommodates clear views of Ushiku Pond, a cup noodle maker’s chimney and Skytree as usual. After having a haircut, she enjoyed the first walk toward the end of Joban Line platform.
We have 節分=setsu-bun, on the border of winter today before 立春=risshun, the 1st of vernal and all 二十四節気 tomorrow. It is also lunar birthday of Mei-Shun who visited the nearest shrine to greet Gods. Oh, omikuji lots would still be handed by a priest, who was not at a reception desk. He might be preparing to hold a ceremony in the main building, with candles lit and chairs arranged.
It is Coming of Age Day today. Since 18-year-old young people are already called adults, 20-year might be taken normal these days. However, alcohol drinking and smoking would be allowed after the latter. Many local governments therefore hold gatherings on the 2nd Monday of January, may let them follow parties. Cheers from Mei-Shun with a glass of fresh red wine, souvenir of Nagano by Shin.
Solar November, while the last nine weeks of 2022 starts with 大安=tai-an, the best day in 六曜. Oh, the 1st of lunar months are fixed, like latest October 25 was 仏滅=butsu-metsu, the worst. It is always exciting for Mei-Shun to learn novel matters. Do you agree with her, Ms. Piano? She made an appointment to tune you soon, by a new person this time.
Hi, 雁金=karigane green tea. It is quite reasonable compared to others Mei-Shun likes including 嬉野茶=ureshino– and 知覧茶=chiran-cha from Kyushu. However, its taste is never inferior to them made of leaves only. To be honest, it is just today when she learned that above name is used in Kyoto, while calling it 茎茶, meaning stalk tea is normal in major part of our country.
Here are a can and a bag of above souvenir Shin kindly brought home. Mei-Shun is so happy to receive them that never stops opening them after every meal from Saturday dinner. The former is soft in flavor of sweetened red-bean paste, while the latter hard in 梅=ume plum and butter. Combination of a sour fruit and milk fat is a bit amazing to her: dried and salted 梅 means a great friend of rice.
Mei-Shun actually likes sumo. Former 横綱=yokozuna, highest-rank wrestler 稀勢の里 recently opened his new stable in 阿見町, next to 土浦 City. When Shin drove her and his mother to a grilled eel restaurant, they passed by 二所ノ関部屋 looking like a big temple or a gymnasium. It took just a second for the wife to check it up on the net, decide to be a supporter.
Shin went on a business trip to Thailand last week. Yummy souvenirs include Bertholletia or Brazil nuts whose big, rare trees naturally grow in Amazon Rainforest only. People in that smiling country therefore might love this nutritive breed, trade it by cashew and coconuts. It was also the first experience for Mei-Shun to have popular sweet tamarind, dried and packed in the smallest bag.
meishunkikunoe 