Thank you so much, Professor M. He reminded Mei-Shun of the thirteenth moon or 栗名月 seen last night. It abruptly turned to the end of autumn from Sunday with a cold, too cold rainfall. Putting on 袷=awase or a double kimono, Mei-Shun visited Master Bando’s place today to start lesson of 松の寿, 長唄. On the other hand, Ms. S would dance 寿, 大和楽 on a stage anticipated next year.
Master Bando plans to hold a stage performance next year. It would be a simple one with no wig or long kimono, called 浴衣ざらえ=yukata-sarae or ざらい= –sarai. Mei-Shun means to dance 男舞, male-style while Ms. S female 女舞. Such a small goal gives them a kind of mettle to learn more. And bigger 本ざらえ=hon-sarae/i is anticipated after next, with 白拍子花子 putting on 金烏帽子.
It was the last lesson given by Master Bando this month. Actually, Mei-Shun took it just twice, caused by lower condition. She could not make enough dance with horseies either, for reasons of rainfalls and etc. added. Staying home sounds healthy in a pandemic environment? Well, if good exercise would accompany — she has got one more bag of sugar around waist again!
萩=hagi, bush clover began to bloom in our garden. Mei-Shun loves it which reminds her of the 紗=sha kimono, a gift from beloved Master Mei-Shu. Where are you, black beauty? Since she did not have a chance to put you on last month, her yukata and others including you for summer stay folded in the closet. Or shall we dance on coming Saturday changed from Tuesday?
So we reached the last day of the most torrid month in our country. Mei-Shun visited Master Bando, put on upper 半襦袢=han-juban, kimono underwear in half and a pair of pants. Such a weird combination is only available here, within today. Now she drops in a post office to purchase stamps to send 残暑見舞, greeting card at the end of summer. Oh, a heavy rainfall seems to have come for tomorrow.
Ms. Piano, thank you so much for always soothing Mei-Shun’s mind. You really are one of precious three featured herein. Mikan-chan, kabuki dance and you are her family of course, stay beside her even if she is closed indoors by recent thunderstorm, heat wave and evil disease. She resumed practice of “Golliwog’s Cake Walk” composed by Master Debussy for Shin who loves this score.
Mei-Shun visited Master Bando, saw Ms. S as usual. Yes, such a day seems the best — she recognized it when lost what or who was important. Even a slight fever could remove her fingers from Ms. Piano, 舞扇=dance fan and a bag filled with horsey-riding tools. Now おてもやん=Otemo-yan, funny red-cheek lady from Kumamoto started to join their repertoire.
Mei-Shun visited Master Bando today instead of Tuesday, when was too torrid and windy to go outdoors after atypical Typhoon Lupit run through Japanese archipelago. It is 入り, the beginning of O-bon period, makes her feel a bit sorry to appear in person at home of anyone except for family. She therefore wrapped up small sweets while a 舞扇 given by Master Sensha years before.
Master Bando sometimes recommends her students to dance in slender pants. It is convenient for both herself and them including Mei-Shun; the former lady is able to check how their legs and feet move, while the latter feel a kind of relaxed in torrid weather. However, it all depends on scores — if a guy is featured like 松の緑, there is no problem. On the other hand, 白拍子花子 would prefer kimono.
Mei-Shun visited Master Bando instead of Tuesday. Since another Friday student canceled today’s lesson, it became much more intensive than usual. It is always concentrated of course, yet long-time student like Ms. K often joins others in performance. She has learned so many scores that helps new comers who sometimes forget how to do next.
