Kikunoe Ryu has been established by Mei-Shu I in 1992. She belonged to Otowa Ryu in Osaka for a long time. After her Master Kikuzo had passed away, kabuki actor Onoe Baiko VII advised her to become the leader of a new party of Japanese dance.
tradition
No Return
StandardToday is the deadline to pay for coming stage of Mei-Shun. In Japanese tradition, notes for happy occasions are required to be new ones. We therefore have to see tellers at banks to change used notes. Some banks set a new-note-available ATM during busy seasons.
Egret-like Castle
StandardMei-Shun visited Himeji Castle this weekend. After repair, some people ironically call it “shiro-sugi-jo” instead of “shira-sagi-jo” (=white castle looks like a beautiful egret), meaning too white one. They might prefer the clear contrast between black roof and white wall of normal Japanese castles.
Japanese Culture@wkend
StandardWe have 16 National Holidays per year. Respect-for-the-Elderly Day and Autumnal Equinox Day are set in September. The former is on the 3rd Monday, while the latter changes every year to balance current solar calender and older lunar one. On the two Equinox days, many people enjoy Japanese sweets called ohagi or botamochi, smooth rice balls coated with anko (=red bean jam) — both hagi and botan are names of flowers which respectively bloom in autumn and spring. Please find below hagi blossom in Mei-Shun’s garden.
Best Moon
StandardAutumn is the best season to enjoy otsuki-mi, a moon-watching party. Tonight has the most beautiful full-moon, while the last super-moon of this year can be seen tomorrow. According to the weather forecast, a typhoon might affect Kanto area. Humm. May we see you, Ms. Moon?
Old New
StandardDo 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.
A Wig to perform
StandardMei-Shun saw a wig fitter today for her performance in November. Interestingly, such wigs are tailor-made from scratch in Kanto area including Tokyo. However, in Kansai area of Osaka, shops have an enormous number of wigs in various size and shape: Japanese dancers have to fit their heads to the wigs.
Japanese Culture@wkend
StandardMany 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.
Last before Obon
StandardThe 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.
Japanese Culture@wkend
StandardMost 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.
meishunkikunoe 