Mei-Shun visited her mother’s home. Relaxed on lunch and a cup of tea, they saw a little, brown mouse (a Micromys minutus maybe) climb a grapevine in the garden to approach half-dried persimmons hung from a laundry pole. Although it looked very cute, mom would not like kissing it, put her winter dessert into a net basket. Well, you have already bit some, kid, they are all yours. Bon appétit!
travel
Beauty Excursion
StandardSince Mei-Shun has lost contact with one of her hair designers, she reserved another saloon in Tokyo for a haircut. Reasons why she chose it follow as 3 Cs; convenience, contents and communication. Located in Shinagawa, reasonable price and good technique, friendly but not talkative staff. Humm. She likes it.
Lip Brush
StandardKumano is famous as a place good brushes are handmade. Mei-Shun has thought it means the city accommodates the ancient shrine for a long time, that is a big misunderstanding. This city belongs to Hiroshima Prefecture. She learned it at a shop in Ginza lately.
Wrapping
Portable brush
Southern Hemisphere
StandardProfessor M, one of Mei-Shun’s most respected friends while a co-student of Master Mei-Shu, visited Republic of South Africa. It is his first experience to reach the southernmost country of the African Continent. They say water whirls anticlockwise there — is it true?
Travel Recommendation
StandardWe visited Namari onsen (=hot spring) in Hanamaki, Iwate Prefecture this weekend. It takes 2 hours and a half from Ueno by Tohoku shinkansen (=bullet train). Our first trip to there found several ryokan (Japanese-style hotel) spread along a winding mountain path. Nicely alkalescent water and quiet environment give you a genuine relaxation.
Japanese Culture@wkday
StandardThey made it. Former Yama-Hoko parade of Gi-On Festival was safely held today despite raging Typhoon Nangka. 23 portable shrines were led by a number of white ban-kasa, Japanese traditional umbrellas on which town names each shrine belongs to are written. Weekdays prevented us from enjoying even serial Yoi-Yama nights this year. Dear Fune-Hoko, see you next year.
Recommend to See
StandardFor a “trip” to Tokyo, Mei-Shun always reserves a window seat of Joban line train to enjoy nice views. Ushiku Pond soon appears on the right. Nisshin Co. factory follows with steam from Cup Noodle-shaped chimney. Many river banks serve as sport fields. And the Sky Tree of course, as colors turn from green to gray.
Spring Drive
StandardMei-Shun visited Mt. Tsukuba Shrine with her mom-in-law. Sunshine, soft wind, pink and white ume plum blossoms welcomed us. And many frog stones as well, symbolic figures for this mountain.
Light Lesson
StandardToday’s lesson was given at night. Mei-Shun has to be careful not to make Master Mei-Shu feel too tired. She often complains about her physical burden to go to Tokushima once a month. Since Master Mei-Shu is our chairwoman of the board of directors while the best dancer, it is her duty to instruct our directors.
The Long and Straight Road
StandardDuring every new-year vacation, Mei-Shun bring her mother-in-law to a Yasaka Shrine in Tsuchiura, the headquarters of which is in Kyoto, closely related to Gi-On Festival. Since Tsuchiura branch is not registered in the navigation system of her car, Mei-Shun has to rely on mom’s memory. Well. She wishes it were good enough …
meishunkikunoe 