Mei-Shun took the year-end lesson from Master Bando today. She dropped in her favorite tea shop to purchase; green tea for herself, 和紅茶=normal tea grown in our country and ほうじ茶=roasted green tea for the master and Ms. S. The latter lady gave this 名取 several 柚子=yuzu and sweets. Oh, a phone message from a kimono cleaning shop was found at home.
It never matters for Master Bando if a Tuesday is 勤労感謝の日, Labor Thanksgiving Day: there are always lessons. Mei-Shun visited her in a T-shirt and jeans today, put on 羽織 kimono jacket on them to dance 松の緑 and 松の寿. Shin continued to work from last night to this morning, could not have let his wife know when he would get on a train. Oh, his message arrived at noon on her phone.
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.
They were just lately recognized by Mei-Shun. Our backyard ginkgo, cut upper half last year has already reached eastern verandah. A little more length of your leaves on the top branch please, to kindly serve as a curtain to shut eyes of car-shop workers. They would also feel relieved never seeing her hang laundry there including yukata. Let’s expect together fireworks to bloom in the sky soon.
Mei-Shun continues practice of 松の緑. Master Bando kindly gave her its hand-written score consists of 9 pages. She managed to reach 7th, began to catch lyrics. Interestingly, Shin chooses favorite songs by what they say, while his wife by how melody sounds. However, when she moves to music, story becomes very important in order to play a kind of role.
Mei-Shun wishes. She found a summer hemp kimono descended from beloved grandmother of her mother’s side the other day, stored in a box put on bedroom 広縁=hiro-en, indoor verandah. A bit spots, yet has no problem for kabuki dance lessons. Actually, it was too tight to move smoothly years before when she had several more sugar bags around waist.
Mei-Shun put on yukata, cotton kimono for summer yesterday at Master Bando’s place. Since weather forecasts said it would hit 25 degrees Celsius, she gave up normal one in yellow coordinated with Shin’s amber. Even if it is 単衣=hitoe or single, you have to be wrapped by 襦袢=juban underwear on European/American style. On the other hand, yukata works as a kind of lingerie by itself.
Mei-Shun finally saw Master Bando and Ms. S again for a kabuki dance lesson after 2 weeks. She changed kimono into yellow from blue, while white obi sash with pink embroidery from ivory-light blue-pastel pink one in checkered pattern. The former is one of gifts from beloved Master Mei-Shu, accompanied by an amber accessory from Shin. Oh, this 名取’s grandma also joined with a blue 帯締め=obi band.
Mei-Shun finally saw a DVD of her performance last year as 白拍子花子: it took her 4 months to be courageous enough. Oh-oh, she makes too much bending and extending in knees to look stable — please stop jumping around the stage. More shocking is that she almost stands still showing her back and obi sash to audience, even if she meant to turn head to the left with shoulder going down toward the floor.
meishunkikunoe 