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.
Mei-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.
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 …
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.
夏越の祓：Nagoshi-no-Harae (=Half-of-the-Year Eve Purification)
Mei-Shun and her husband Shin found Chi-no-Wa (=rings to go through) set up at Sodegasaki- and Kiji- Shrines in Gotanda, Tokyo. They are for O-Harae (=great purification) ceremonies to purify your half-year sins; the one held in June is called Nagoshi-no-Harae, while the other in December Toshikoshi-no-Harae. Visit to the nearest shrine is the best, yet submission of katashiro paper dolls toward the shrine could replace your appearance in person.
Actually, we experienced O-Harae for the first time. In front of the main building of Kiji Shrine, an envelope with katashiro enclosed was waiting for us. Only one – the last remaining piece? Thanks a million! The instruction says, “Write down full name and age of your family on the katashiro (green one is for men, red one for women). Pat yourself with it, before spraying three times your breath …” Hmm. The envelope has blanks to fill in with your name and address. That means katashiro would be mailed to you hereafter, every half a year.
