Master Mei-Shu has three granddaughters. When Mei-Shun visited her today, she found beautiful hina dolls set in the corner of the lesson room to celebrate those three girls. In Suisen-Tanzen, a dancer carries a long, fur-headed spear. We use a bamboo stick for practice, yet have to be very careful for a while not to hurt the dolls.
Japanese culture
Japanese Culture@holiday
StandardMost Japanese temples and shrines have omikuji, fortune-telling paper. For easy ones, we put coins into a box before picking up one piece. More formally, we make payment to a clerk, shake a box or can to receive a stick on which a number is written. Informed on the number, they hand us a corresponding piece of omikuji paper. Some of them have a small figure of god which is believed to bring luck to you.
Spring has come
StandardOn such a warm, bright day! Mei-Shun decided to renew the paper on shoji slide door. We have three big ones and two small ones in Japanese-style bedroom. Nicely white shoji let us feel refreshed.
Japanese Culture@wkday
StandardToday is節分; setsu-bun, the last day of winter. We throw roasted soybeans toward outdoors calling “鬼は外; oni-wa-soto” while into the room saying “福は内; fuku-wa-uchi”. This ceremony has been held at home to invite health and happiness, hopefully with coming warm spring. 立春; risshun, the first day of spring comes tomorrow.
Joy of Sweets
StandardMei-Shun loves 和菓子=wagashi, Japanese sweets. Anko (sweetened bean paste) is harmonious not only with green tea but also with sugar-free tea and coffee. You can enjoy local excellence of taste at home these days, thanks to frozen ones available on delivery services.
Japanese Culture@wkend
StandardWe have 12 animals to symbolize a year. 2015 is represented by sheep, written in Chinese character as “未”. It is the 8th symbol among “子” rat, “丑” ox, “寅” tiger, “卯” hare, “辰” dragon, “巳” serpent, “午” horse, “未”, “申” monkey, “酉” cock, “戌” dog and “亥” boar. Many Japanese people purchase symbol ornaments to celebrate the New Year.
Japanese Culture@holiday
StandardAs one of entertainments of the new year, we have 百人一首, Poetry by 100 Celebrities. Each poem has 5+7+5+7+7=31 syllables. Players would remember the latter 7+7 part of a poem, look for and take the card on which it is written. A reader would help with the illustrated cards of whole poems. The winner is a player who takes the most number of cards, yet the real joy of this game seems to be in the reading.
Japanese Culture@holiday
StandardAkemashite Omedeto; A happy new year! As one of representative menus of washoku (=traditional Japanese cuisine), please find osechi below.
The First Box
The Second
The Third (optional European/American Style foods)
Stray Sheep?
Standard2015 would be symbolized by sheep, which Mei-Shun has not yet prepared. Actually forgot to – she used to visit a stationery shop to order nengajo (=new-year greeting card) while choosing annual ornament. However, she found nicely designed nengajo at a post office this year. Well, where does our symbol walk around right now?
Warm Menu
StandardMei-Shun read that dried mushrooms taste good. Stored for longer, they make nice combination with miso soup, nabe, flavoured rice, etc. It is fine today, sunny enough in our living room. Would you like music too, Mesdemoiselles?
meishunkikunoe 