Master Mei-Shu belongs to generation of heavy phonograph records. It was so hard to bring weighty items to lesson sites, she says. She currently uses cassette tapes, some of which derive from old phonographs via open reels. That is why they are full of noise and jumpiness: original source were already hurt. Mei-Shun therefore decided to purchase CDs — who offers DL for classical Japanese music including 長唄=naga-uta, 大和楽=yamato-gaku, 清元=kiyomoto and 常磐津=tokiwazu?
Mei-Shun’s goal in horse riding is dressage. A horse and his/her rider would cooperate with each other to make beautiful performance, that seems to resemble dancing. In Japanese dance, performer is fundamentally alone on the stage. On the other hand, dressage requires good communication between a horse and a human being in the field. Therefore, the more she practices with kind horseys, the more she might be interested in 連舞=tsure-mai, meaning Pas de deux or Duet.
Autumn accounts for good moon seeing. 中秋=Chushu, the middle of this season, comes on September 15th. It is said to have a night of the best moon 名月=meigetsu, yet her shape would not always be in full round — two days later in 2016. Unity between name and reality will occur in 2021, one year after the Olympic Game held secondly in Tokyo. Regarding the moon, 松風=Matsu-kaze, heroine of 汐汲 dances a short story in moonlight. You never can catch it in water, that symbolizes her broken heart.
We had 鬘合わせ=katsura-awase, or 坪合わせ=tsubo-awase this afternoon. The latter involves stage settings and properties staffer, while ours means the former to make metal bases for wigs and to measure sizes for kimono costumes. A Japanese-style wig master gauges our head to fit a base like a cap first. Then he beats it with a wooden hammer to make the best curve on our cheeks. Finally, two metal belts will be arranged on our back of the head to support the biggest front part.
Master Mei-Shu has not felt very well. She is a little eater, rapidly lost weight last year. To our relief, no problem was found after CT and MRI examinations at a hospital. We would like her to stop here, or she might be blown away by a breeze. Her current condition brought back to Mei-Shun an awful memory of several years before. She had dysautonomia with serious dizziness when she tried to make a turn-around. Japanese dance includes much of this pattern, forced her to refrain from lessons for a whole year.
乙戸沼 Park always makes walking Mei-Shun relaxed. As water towers dance this morning, however, they reminded her of 娘道成寺, musume-dojoji. On the stage, this title accommodates a temple bell as enormous as one of these water ones. She must learn how to act the role of 花子, hanako by dancing for examination to promote toward 師範, shihan meaning a tutor of 菊ノ上流 next year. All right, she finished making a round of the pond. Now it makes Mei-Shun a little tense.
It’s been nice for good sleep since yesterday. Mom gave up walking out in the morning, doing workout indoors. Oh, she starts 汐汲 practice as well. Good girl, you have to do it every day. You ask how about me? Meow, no exercise is necessary. Look at my elegant body line. No diet either, my eating is well controlled by Dr. O’s advice.
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Please find below Mei-Shun’s newest fan for Japanese dance. 京扇堂, Shin’s recommendation of great art for a long time, met his wife at last this Wednesday. Just a step into the shop lead them to this shining green. How beautiful you are! Could you join Mei-Shun for practice 汐汲 at home? Ah, you would if accompanied by these coats. All right, let’s say “thank you very much” together to our generous sponsor.
Mei-Shun has learned how to dance 汐汲. We use a pair of balanced pails for the first quarter of this dance while a 三段傘= triple-layered parasol for the last. These big tools are not easy to handle elegantly — Mei-Shun would rent the latter as she did for the spear last year. Now her practice at home starts.
Master Mei-Shu gave Mei-Shun a lesson. The latter was surprised at hina dolls still displayed — it is a custom for Tokushima women to show their dolls for as long as 2 months before and after March 3rd. It made Mei-Shun feel like turning back time to February. Now we have enough time to prepare for 邦楽発表会 planned to be held on November 13th, don’t we?
meishunkikunoe 