Amethyst-chan's Day on Bon Odori, part 2

Here is part II of Amethyst-chan's Day on Bon Odori. Enjoy!
~ Okamisan Aisya

After my trip to Yoshiwara,  I decided that I wanted to see another friend I recently made named Tsukuyomi sama.  His home is Matsubaya Ageya and the Yukaku of Old Yoshiwara, where he lives there with his family and friends.  I did try to sign up to join there and that is how I met Tsukuyomi sama and his wife Lady Somenosuke.  They are the sweetest couple anyone could ever hope to meet.

Bon Odori at Matsubaya

Before I get ahead of myself, I want to mention that it was getting close to being late as I approached their home.  In the back I saw bright lanterns and heard others chatting loudly with each other.  So, going around their ageya through the side gate and climbing up the pathway I pushed through cheering crowds of their friends laughing among themselves: Matsubaya was hosting it's first Bon Odori festival.

Walking on I bumped into another familiar face, Amatsu sama.  Silently bowing, since I rudely bumped into him, and then smiling as I kept my attention on trying to find my friend Tsukuyomi sama.  Preceding into the Ageya, I removed my wooden sandals again. I bowed humbly as others went past me. I saw Tsukuyomi sama pop his head from a sliding screen and he seemed to be in costume.  Waving at me, he pointed to the next screen where others were going in. He kept telling me to follow them as he slammed the screen closed. Following others in to see a small stage, I turned to the side to look in the back: there was another table with floating bowls and a steamy pot sizzling.

Matsubaya Yagura Dance

Here, slowly I crossed the room to sit at the table.  Kawhack!  Noise came from behind from the screen on the stage. Loud applause came from the others in the small room as they greeted the stunning couple walking up to the stage.  My eyes darted back to the stage to the three actors dressed in Heian era kimono! Tsukuyomi sama sat on the other side next to another beautiful performer; they were so bunched up with so many stacks of kimonos on their bodies.

One of the performers I noticed was Lady Somenosuke sama, with her beautiful kimono flowing as she gracefully walked.  Turning around to kneel you could see the details woven into her silk kimono. I was amazed at how spectacular the kimono looked on each person.  They knelt on their knees waiting for the music to begin and when it started, each performer stood up slowly and danced for the guests. During the dance, I decided to take one of the bowls and eat since my stomach was grumbling.

Matsubaya Yagura Dance, Two

Enjoying the dancing, I swayed with the music as it ended.  Everyone clapped after the performance which we then learned was called 'Yagura Dance.'  So heading out I went out to enjoy the rest of the Bon Odori Festival they had available. I also tried fishing as well talking to others.  I saw that the sun was setting and I thought to myself that it was best to head back home. Once again, I bade farewell and I was off.

Next week we will conclude this series of posts with part III of Amethyst-chan's day on Bon Odori. 

Amethyst-chan's Day on Bon Odori, part 1

In a special two part blog post, Amethyst-chan will be sharing her experiences during Bon Odori. Enjoy!
~Aisya



There are so many wonderful festivals that happened today, for itwas the last day of Bon Odori. Today was mainly getting the courage inside to mingle with others.  We all get the fear sometimes when you go silence; at the same time you can deny being bored!

So I decided to adventure out from the Yukaku Ryukin today, which is where I am learning to train to become, or should say to aspire to be, a beautiful Oiran.  Under the tutelage of my new elegant oneesan Tsuyu-san.  Eeeeye! With her beautiful kimono and her painted white makeup, she makes me very proud to be her imouto.  Okamisan has chosen wisely to put us together. *Smiles as she lowers her head in a bow.*

Tsuyu-san

I was greeted by my good friend Nick san who was by chance visiting me from before hand.  Wanted to tag along with me to see Little Yoshiwara. I did manage to hear a Kimono class was being taught at the Ochaya of Little Yoshiwara. So with my wooden sandals clacking on the pavement I decided to visit.  There I saw old friends: many patrons, minarai, maiko, and others. I saw the armor clad Kadaj-sama who was the local samurai there.  

Nick-san

Ah, then Sayu san the brilliant, sparkling butterfly... I usually think of her that way since she is an inspiration to many young minarai.  Now the reason why I mention about Sayu san.  She did the greetings to guests and introductions for the sensei would be teaching the Kimono class.  A young minarai who adorns ebony with dazzlingly cranes surrounding her kimono.  Her name was Yumi san, a dear friend to Sayu san.

Yumi-san

She starts off by explaining each history of the kimono, ranging from how it was created to where it stands still to this very day.  She explained the difference of colors that signified which season to wear the kimono, coordinating to the celebrations of meetings, festivals, and so on.   As for the descriptions of each designs, most of symbols on the patterns have different meanings.  Explaining more, she directed our attention to her kimono. Yumi-chan said, "Believed to live for a thousand years and to inhabit the land of the immortals it is a symbol of longevity and good fortune.Hopefully that good fortune will help me make it to maiko. ^^"

After showing more of the kimonos to another wall.  She ended the class with questions and many were asked. Getting up from the cushion as I bade everyone and my friend Nick san, "sayonara and ja mate ne, minna san."   Bowing respectfully to everyone that I was delighted in taken a trip to Yoshiwara. 

Rebuilding Kurogawa Machi

About a week or two ago something struck the western part of the Aosagi Sim, in the Kurogawa Machi district leaving our town’s infrastructure badly damaged. We lost several of the buildings in the shopping district, the sidewalks were crumbled to ruins, trees were uprooted and even the waterfall beside the Yukaku Ryukin was reduced to a shadow of its former glory. Thankfully, the Shinto and the Buddhist temples were not impacted. 

Perhaps the most significant loss for this oiran was the
loss of the two bridges. The southwest region of Kurogawa
Machi was completely cut off from the shopping district! 

 Ojiisan has called the carpenters and the masonry men; the town is starting to look better than ever. The open field left in the wake of the disaster besides the Yukaku Ryukin now has a couple of new buildings, new stone pathways and even a stable for Yuriko and Cotton.

And, the bridges are back! We can now walk across the river to shop and the stroll is made all the more beautiful with the new sidewalks, designed by Ookuma-sama himself. Further, the random furniture and trash left lingering around the shopping district has been picked up and we can enjoy a clean space. Our home is looking better than ever and we hope you can join us soon!