Week in the Life of an SL Okamisan

So hard to believe it’s time for our Tsukimi, our Moon Viewing Festival. Last week’s post has our full schedule and why this event is so special to us. This week, I wanted to do something a little different and give you a glimpse into how an SL Okamisan spends her time in SL. Time got away from me last week and I was unable to pull this post together the way I would have liked. So, enjoy and please forgive the dates…

Saturday, August 31st 
Attended Tsuyu-chan’s First Performance

Tsuyu-chan has grown so much since she first joined Shinmachi. Here she is narrating her first performance with our group called “The Fisher Lad.” The show featured the beautiful dance of two of our hikikomi kamuro: Amethyst-chan (Tsuyu-chan’s younger sister) and Raven Moon-chan. It was a wonderful performance and she far exceeded my expectations. That’s probably why she’s now a tomesode shinzo!




Sunday, September 1st
Welcomed in a new student

The first of the month is always a time for new beginnings. This Sunday I was happy to welcome in a new SakuraSayuri-chan, as an attendant for Shinmachi. She is super sweet and eager to learn, and I know she’ll be an excellent addition to the group. Roughly a week later, I was happy to welcome in another equally sweet attendant named Diana-chan.

Monday, September 2nd 
Decorated a new residential building

There have been a few changes to the open field next to the Yukaku Ryukin. We hired a few carpenters and now there are new buildings for rent. I scooped up the largest building as soon as I could and decorated it as a stand-alone residence for the older courtesans. Be sure to keep reading to learn about who protects the house in our absence!


Tuesday, September 3rd 
Writing an open letter for our patrons

This day I took some time to prepare a weekly letter describing our activities to “post” on “site” near the Yukaku Ryukin for all of our patrons to read. One was written by hikikomi kamuro Amethyst-chan and concerned the way she spent her day during Bon Odori. The other was a draft for our release concerning Tsukimi.

Wednesday, September 4th
Lessons 

After Tsuyu-chan’s performance on Sunday, we spent this week’s lesson time reconnecting. After praising
Tsuyu-chan for the great work she did, I offered her and Amethyst-chan a few tips for future shows along with some suggestions for speaking with patrons. Special guest Nick-san stopped by to listen in on the lesson; he always has the most fascinating questions which really generate more discussion during lessons.



Thursday, September 5th
Relaxing!

My life can’t be all work now, can it? I took time today to enjoy the two new gardens near the Yukaku Ryukin.




Friday, September 6th 
First rehearsal for the Moon Odori

I am eagerly awaiting all of the events for the moon festival, but I am most excited for the moon odori. There are so many new things we are doing for this performance: new dance styles, new ‘stage’ set up, new music and new formations. I can’t wait to see how it all goes [here’s hoping SL is kind to us on performance day].


Saturday, September 7th
Brought home a guard for our residence

I nearly forgot to mention the protector of our residence at Aosagi. Isn’t he adorable? His name is Hiashi, obviously named for the fire on his fur and the phoenix on his chest.

Tsukimi: Moon Viewing Festival

Tsuki-ni-Hoshi, moon star, is the crest of Shinmachi. Beyond a few of its other meanings, we chose this crest because of its direct connection to our patron kami, Tsukiyomi-no-mikoto. We, as courtesans, look to his guidance and protection as we ply our trade during those hours the moon god has dominance in the sky.

Thus, tsukimi is a very important time for us and we have been remiss in our duties in not having a festival to honor Tsukiyomi-sama. Tsukimi, or moon viewing, is the Japanese Festival honoring the Autumn moon. From Wikipedia, "Tsukimi refers to the Japanese tradition of holding parties to view the harvest moon. The custom is thought to have originated with Japanese aristocrats during the Heian period, who would gather to recite poetry under the full moon of the eighth month of the lunisolar calendar, known as the "Mid-Autumn Moon." Since ancient times, Japanese people have described the eighth lunisolar month (corresponding to September on the contemporary Gregorian calendar) as the best time for looking at the moon, since the relative positions of the earth, sun, and moon cause the moon to appear especially bright."

I hope you can join us for at least one (maybe all) of the festival events we have scheduled for the end of next week. And, if you have a chance, you should visit the Matsubaya Oiran Ageya and Yukaku on the 13th at 7pm slt - the stunning courtesans there will also be holding there second O-Tsukimi Matsuri.

Shinmachi Tsukimi Schedule

September 18, 2013
Time: 5pm slt
Event: Poetry Reading
Location: Yukaku Ryukin at Aosagi

September 19, 2013
Time: 5pm slt
Event: Tea Ceremony for Tsukiyomi, Patron Kami of Shinmachi
Location: Near the Yukaku Ryukin building at Aosagi

September 20, 2013
Time: 6pm slt
Event: Moon Odori
Location: Dojo at Keisei

Amethyst-chan's Day on Bon Odori, part 3

Today we conclude Amethyst-chan’s Day on Bon Odori series. I hope you enjoyed it as much as I have!

Traveling back home, I stumbled across others as they were talking: there was another show in town.  They mentioned it was Okamisan and another shinzo from the Yukaku Ryukin.  My ears perked up in excitement as I rushed to where they were performing as I wanted to see my Okamisan perform again.  Quickly gathering my kimono, I strayed towards the place they would perform.

Here is where it got complicated; the directions were tricky since it was dark at this time. Barely could see my hand in front of me. As I proceeded closer to the sea, I could hear loud seagulls and saw more lanterns in the far distance. Gathering my kimono, I came to Sengoku Ochaya and after quietly entering in I saw a small library of scrolls; Others headed upstairs to the upper level of the building.  Following slowly behind, I climbed the stairs and I kept going up. 

There I saw Okamisan kneeling as she greeted each visitor.  I did my best not to distract her since I knew her attention was on the guests.  Either way I smiled and respectfully bowed to her. Sneaking behind the many guests as each was sitting down at the tables near the wide stage and spotting a free cushion next to an elegant geisha I sat down.

The guests were sitting comfortably on their cushions and the lanterns’ glow flickered brightly into the night as Okamisan began preparing for the performance. The shinzo was dressed in splendid kimono with her long sleeves flowing and Okamisan began to speak as she as was playing her shamisen.  Okamisan started with explaining what the meaning of Bon was an occassion for greeting and holding memorial services of those that departed ancestors.  On Bon the souls are released from Yomi, the land of the dead.  Our beloved descendants are able to come back to visit as they eat.  It made me wonder what the ancestors ate. Only shaking the thought off my eyes returned back to the stage. 

The lovely shinzo was dancing as Okamisan went on to tell a story related to the meaning of Obon.  It was one of a distraught mother as she didn't want her daughter to live a life that she had in her past; the tale had a joyful ending though.  As it was coming to an end Okamisan gave a thankful bow to everyone for listening to the tale. I applauded for the music, the dance and storytelling and everyone was cheering for Okamisan and the shinzo. 

She and the shinzo turned to put things away.  Waiting until all had left she came over to me smiling.  Bowing in respect to her and she turned to the geisha that was sitting next to me, who smiled bowing respectfully to Okamisan.  A bit embarrassed that I did not know, but Okamisan introduced to me her as the most senior furisode shinzo, Rinya-san.  Wincing my eyes closed, I bowed to Rinya-san and smiling Rinya-san bowed back to me.  This was the third person I met from the Yukaku Ryukin.  

So thus this concludes my long adventurous day throughout Bon Odori.

Thinking of all the friends I made this week, some are really interested in and share the same fondness I have for the Japanese culture. I do have respect for many cultures even though my heritage is not of theirs.  Still, SL has provided me this chance to be who I want to be.  I enjoy doing so many wonderful things in SL and never once have I ever regretted it.

~Ame chan.