Do you know the word kawatare? It can be written like 彼は誰, meaning the time dark enough to wonder who is there in older Japanese. It first included both sunrise and sunset, yet soon the latter has been replaced with tasogare or 誰そ彼. Thanks a lot, kotobank.
Many of us light ceremonial bonfires at home entrances in the evening, on the first and last date of obon period. The former called Mukae-Bi, while the latter Okuri-Bi to welcome/see off spirits of ancestors. Gozan-Okuri-Bi held in Kyoto on August 16th is quite famous as a beautiful summer spectacle along with Gi-On Festival.
The last lesson before obon holidays was given by Master Mei-Shu today, rainy and nicely cool. After the “exercise”, she told Mei-Shun on the foundation of Kikunoe-Ryu (=a party for Japanese dance). Her older sister, called Mei-Shu I, became the first director of Kikunoe in 1992.
Most of Japanese businesspersons enjoy obon summer holidays, dated normally from August 13 to 16. Spirits of ancestors are worshiped at home during this period. In fact, obon seems like utilized as power conservation campaign since 2011, when we were hit by the devastating earthquake in March.
Kikunoe Party is headed by the symbolic name of kabuki star Mr. ONO-E, Kikunosuke. He is called Sen-Sha Kikunoe as a Master of Japanese dance. Mei-Shun met with him for the first time when she took an examination to be a natori (=accredited dancer) in 2012.
Kyoto Gi-On Festival season has come. From this year, Ato-Matsuri (=the latter celebration) is held on July 24th after half-a-century pause. Today’s Saki- (=the former) Matsuri has 23 portable shrines, parade along streets. Ato-Matsuri has other 10 shrines, including O-Fune-Hoko (=the big ship-shape shrine).
“46,000 days” festival is held at Sensoji Temple, Tokyo today. However, Typhoon Neoguri, landed on Kyushu early in the morning, brings a stormy weather into Kanto area. Shin gave Mei-Shun a curfew. She cannot but stay at home with Mikan-chan …
Japanese dance has scores, as music does. Musical score for music, dancing score for dance? … A Master’s thesis published from Kanazawa College of Art mentions this word, so it seems correct.
July 7 is Tanabata star festival date. Japanese people erect wish trees made of bamboo stems so they can write their wishes on strips of paper and attach on. It is based on a Chinese legend about two lovers, represented by the stars Vega and Altair, who are allowed to meet only once a year. (2014/07/04, Japan Times, with writer’s correction)
However, in the middle of rainy season, the Milky Way is rarely seen. It seems to mean that we should not interrupt the lovers from below.
Chugen (=summer gift) season has come. Trainees of Japanese cultures, including sado (=tea ceremony) and kado, (=flower arrangement), are supposed to bring chugen and seibo (=winter gift) to their trainers. As for Japanese dance, natori dancers are to follow this custom. However, Master Mei-Shu gave Mei-Shun a souvenir of Hokkaido yesterday – what a timing! It is just before receiving chugen from her student.
meishunkikunoe 