徒然横浜生活 Since 2003

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Weekly Topics/Archive
February 2009


What a surprise!                             No.69−Feb.24, 2009

 The day before yesterday, I went to see a movie.

I decided to accompany my wife because she often asked me out to the movie the day before.


 The title of the movie was the "Changiling" starring Angelina Jolie and directed by Clinton

Eastwood.

It was a suspense film based on the true story about child's disappearance,which happened in Los

Angels about 80 years ago.


 It's been a long time since I saw the good movie.

I was overcome by the script.

Especially,her performance really came back to life.

So, I imagined with my sixth sense she might win some kind of film award after the movie.


 On the followin day,I happend to know on TV the 81st annual Academy Awards ceremony was

being held and she had been nominated for the best actress award.


 But unfortunately she couldn't recieve the Academy Award for best actress.

My sixth sense was actually poor.


 However,much to my surprise,Academy awarded the best foreign film award to Youjirou

Takida's "Departures".

In addition to it, Kunio Kato's "Tumiki-no-ie" won the best animated short film.

I was surprised twice to hear that.


 They provided encouraging news to the current gloomy conditions.

Anyway, I felt happy.


[Note] accompany someone ; 誰かのお伴をする、と一緒に行く

  ask someone out to 〜 ; 誰かに〜へ行こうと誘う、 starring 〜 ; 〜主演の

  child's disappearance ; 児童失踪事件、 be overcome by 〜 ; 〜に圧倒される

  script ; 脚本, performance ; 演技, come back to life ; 迫真に迫る

  some kind of〜 ; 何かの〜、  the best actress award ; 主演女優賞

  the best foreign film award ; 最優秀外国映画賞、 "Deparyures"; 映画「おくりびと」の英名

  Tumiki-no-ie ; つみきのいえ(映画の題名)、 the best animated short film ; 短編アニメ映画賞


  encouraging news ; 明るいニュ−ス, gloomy conditions ; 暗い世相


 Japanese Diary / No.125−2009.02.24 / 「いやぁ 驚きました!」


Pilgrimage to the old temples in north Kamakura(3/3)
        
Part.3  Fukugenzan Meigetsu−in               No.68−Feb.23, 2009

 Walking along the tracks of JR Yokosuka Line toward Kamakura from Engaku−ji,you can see

the guide board to Meigetsu−in.

Walking a little bit along the stream after turning to the left there, you can see the entrance of it.

I got there in around ten miutes on foot from Engaku-ji.


  Walking a little bit from the entrance, you can see the information board about it.

I got some information about the temple stopping there.



The information board about Meigetsu-in The entrance gate called Soumon


 Going ahead more, I got to the small gate combined with the tollgate.

I paid 300 yen as the admission fee and got a sheet of the tourist brochur on the temple.


 According to it,it was a Rinzai Zen temple of the Kenchou-ji school.

It was originally just the guest rooms of much bigger temple called "Zenkou-ji" which was closed

by the goverment during the Meiji period.


 It was deserted in the February temple because it had few visitors.

Passing through the tollgate,there were the grave and mausoleum of Hojo Tokiyori just on the left,

who was the founder of Saimyou-ji.

Saimyou-ji was the predecessor of Zenko-ji.


 Meigetsu-in is commonly called "The Temple of Hydrangeas". ( Azisai-dera in Japanese )

Lots of hydrangeas are planted in this temple and so it might fill the garden with blue flowers of

hydrangeas during peak season in June.


 You can see the main gate,Sanmon walkin up the ston-paved slope with a gentle gradient

after crossing Katsura bridge over the stream.

There were trees producing a lot of straw-colored flowers like waxwork along the slope.

What is this flower called?

( I knew it was called Chimonanthus praecox, Roubai in Japanese when I checked it out after

getting home.)



A lot of flowers of Chimonathus praecox
producing on their trees
The main gate of Meigetsu-in called Sanmon


 It was almost empty in the temple as the season was by its own nature.

Passing through the sanmon, I could see the main hall.

There was a karesansui garden called a Japanese rock garden or sometimes a Zen garden

in english in front of it.



The main hall called Hojo The Japanese rock garden


 Thouh I thought it to be the main hall,I felt strange to see "Hojo" written on the wooden name

plate under the eaves.

In fact, the hall had a living room called Hojo in the same building.


 When I looked at the living room,it had a round window.

I saw the landscape of the garden beyond in the window.

I imagined it would be the best sales point of this temple.



The living room having a round window The landscape of the garden in the window


 Unfortunately,it was the desolate winty landscape.

It was inevitable.

If you visited here during the seson of new green leaves or for Autumn leaves or on a snowy day,

I'm sure you could look at more wonderful views in the window.


 Visitors can be served powdered green tea for a fee in the living room.

I heard some of the cost of the tea have been donated to UNICEF.

It sounds like a good arrangement,and the temple has been contributing to society by it.

A group of women was enjoying the view of the garden from a round window, while having a cup of

powdered green tea with sweets.


 On the left of the main hall, the thatched-roof Soyudo Hall is dedicated to the memory of

founding priest,Misshitsu Syugon.



                 
Click the thumbnail-size image below to see the full-size image.
Soyudo Hall Red and white plum flowers in full bloom Flowers of daffodils


 Red and white plum flowers were in full bloom in the yard in front of Soyudo Hall.

And also daffodil flowers which would blossom during the winter and spring were in full bloom

under them.

Anyway, I felt the coming of spring after the first day of spring.


 When I looked at my watch,it was past 4 pm.

So I decided to finish today's pilgrimage to old temples in north Kamakura.



[Note]  combined with 〜 ; 〜を兼ねた、 school ; 派、 be deserted; ひっそりしている

  predecessor of 〜 ; 〜の前身、 be commonly called 〜 ; 通称〜である

  The Temple of Hydrangeas ; アジサイ寺 ( hydrangea ; アジサイ )、 stone-paved ; 石畳の

  gentle gradient ; 緩やかな勾配、 straw-colored ; 淡黄色の、 waxwork ; ろう細工

  be almost empty ;人影がほとんどない、 by one's own nature ; ことがことなだけに

  Japanese rock garden ; 枯山水庭園、  Hojou ; 方丈、 under the eaves ; 軒下に

  esolate winty landscape ; 冬枯れの景色、 desolate ; わびしい、 be dedicated ; 捧げられる,奉納される

  good arrangement;
粋な計らい、 Misshitsu Syugon ; 密室守厳(明月院の開山,初代住職)

  daffodil; 水仙(スイセン)

 

Picture Picture / Pilgrimage to old temples./ 「北鎌倉・古寺巡礼−福源山 明月院−」
Japanese Diary / No.121−2009.02.15 / 「北鎌倉・古寺巡礼(3/3)--明月院--」


Pilgrimage to the old temples in north Kamakura(2/3)
        
Part.2  Zuirokuzan Engaku−ji                  No.67−Feb.21, 2009

 Engaku−ji was just a five-minutes walk from Toukei−ji.

It was across the tracks of the JR Yokosuka Line from Toukei−ji.


 To my surprise, the railway tracks of JR Yokosuka Line cut across the temple ground of

Engaku−ji.

I'm sure that a part of the grounds was appropriated by force in order to build them.


 When I walked up the stone stairways, passing the stelae which the characters.

"The headquarters of the Engakuji branch of Rinzai Zen,Engaku-ji" and "Mausoleum of Tokimune

Hojo" were carved on the surface of,I got to the entrance gate.

 Huge cedar trees thrusting toward the sky and the landscaped border welcomed me.



You get to the entrance gate when you walk up a fleight of stone steps.


 When I went through the gate which a wooden name plate saying "Zuirokuzan" was set up,

the vast temple ground spread out before me.
 

 I paid 300 yen as admission fee at the entrance and got a sheet of tourist brochure.

Walking a little bit, I saw the information boards on the history of the temple and the location map.

I stopped there and took a look at them for a while to get some informations about it.



 According to the information,the temple was founded in 1282 by a chinese Zen monk

at the request of the 8th regent of Kamakura Shogunate, Tokimune Hojo.

It was in order to honor those who died in the Battle of Bunei which Mongolian tried to invade

Japan as well as spreading Zen Buddhism as his spiritual support to the world.


 I was very surprised to know those of both sides who died in the Mongol invasions of Japan has

been honored in this temple.

I felt this would be a spirit of Zen.



 First of all,I visited Keisyou-in.

A nul sat in meditation at Buddhist sanctum.

Walking up the stone steps from there,there was the two-storied main gate called "Sanmon"

standing majestically.

It had similar appearance to the gate of Nanzen-ji in Kyoto,but was a little bit smaller than that.

Every gate of Zen temple might be the same architectural style.


            
Click the thumbnail-size image below to see the full-size image.
Main gate (Sanmon) Main hall (Butsuden) Stone basine
like "Temizuya"


 Going straight ahead after passing through it, there was the main hall called "Butsu-den".

It is said it was the building for enshrining the principal image.


 There is a stone basine like "Temizuya" on the right side in front of the hall.

What is this?   Characters of "souseki" were carved on the surface.

It might be the facility which worshipers used for rinsing the mouth and pouring water over the

fingertips to purify themselves before approaching the hall at shrines or temples.


 On the left side of the hall,white plum blossoms were in full bloom.

They added color to desolate wintry scene in the temple.


 I got to the hall called "Hojou" after looking at "Senbutu-jou" and "Kyoshirin", the place for sitting

in meditation.

It had been the chief priest's residence, but has been used for various regious ceremonies and

events.


 In the front yard, a tall juniper called "Byakushin"in Japanese was thrusting toward the sky.

It might have increased the annual rings with the history of the temple.



Hojo which was originally
the chief priest's residence
A tall juniper
(Byakushin)
White plum blossoms
in full bloom

A pond called Myoukouchi..

 Walking up the slope,I could see a pond called "Myoukouchi".

It looked like just the pond in the park in harmny with the surrounding

landscape.

A lady was drawing a picture od the landscape on the canvas.

It was really a peaceful scene.



 Going ahead furthe, I got to the thatched Butsunichi-an.

It was the burial site of Hojo Tokimune and also the mausoleum of Hojo clan.

When I paid 100 yen as additional entrance fee, I got a stick of incense with sheet of tourist

brochure.

 In the small yard, white plum blossoms were in full bloom.

I offered incense in front of the maousleum and prayed for my family's good health and

the economic recovery.


 In this yard,there was also a tea house,which came into the novel, "Senbazuru" written by

Japanese novelist,Kawabata Yasunari,though I haven't read it.

In addition, you can watch cherry blossoms, while enjoying powdered green tea at the outdoor

bench.

What a rare case it was to be a smoking area !

I took cigarette breaks there.



The main gate
of Butsunichi-an
u
The mausoleum of
Hojo Tokimune
White plum blossoms
in full bloom in the yard
The tea house


 There was a cave called "Byakuroku-dou" at the bottom of a cliff.

According to a legend,a herd of white cheer jumped out of the cave in the opening ceremony of

the temple and listened to the sermon.


 At last,I came to "Obai-in" located in the innermost part of the temple grounds.

It was a small thatched temple containing a statue of Kannon.

It is said the temple was founded by the 1st shogun of the Ashikaga Shogunate, Ashikaga Takauji

as a burial site for 15th chief priest,Muso Sosseki.



The cave called
Byakuroku-dou
The main gate
of Obai-in
Witch hazel(Mansaku)
blossoms


 In the yard, witch hazel called "Mansaku" in Japanese produced yellow flowers.

Mansaku means good harvest.

According to the blog about it, it was named so because it produce a lot of flowers on the branch

or first in the eary spring.


 I went down the hillside to the exit from here.

On the way, I visited Benten-dou and Great Bell which was the last good place for me.

They were located on a hill, passing through a red gate and climbing a flight of steep stone steps.


 Great Bell was hanging in the belfry in front of Benten-dou.

It was the lagest of all the many temple bells of Kamakura, which was casted in 1301 on the

request of Hojo Sadatoki and donated by him to the temple.

What a grand bell it was !



Great Bell
(National treasure)
The lounge called
Benten-chaya
The view of Toukei-ji


 There was a lounge called Benten-chaya next to Benten-dou.

I took a break while driking sweet alcoholic amazake to warm myself because it was a little bit cold.

I was only visitor there.

There was a lovely view across the valley before me.

I could look over other temple complexes in the Kitakamakura neighborhood from here, such as

Toukei-ji.


 After that, I went right on to Meigetsu-in.



 Anyway,just as expected of the headquarters of the Engakuji branch of Rinzai Zen, Engaku-ji

had interesting spots enough to enjoy.



To be continued on the following page,"Pilgrimage to old temples in north Kamakura."(3/3)


[Note] cut across 〜; 〜を横切る, appropriate 〜 by force; 〜を強制収用する

  the stone stairways ; 石段、stela ; 石柱、thrust toward 〜; (植物などが) 〜に向かって伸びる(成長する)

  landscped ; 景観整備された、 border ; 植込み、花壇、 set up ; 掲げる

  tourist brochure ; 旅行者向けパンフレット、 regent; 執権、 Kamakura Shogunate ; 鎌倉幕府

  honor ; 祀る、 Battle of Bunei ; 文永の役、  Mongolian ; 蒙古、  Zen Buddhism ; 禅宗

  Mongol invasion of Japan ; 元寇, sit in meditation ; 座禅する、 Buddhist sanctum ; 仏殿

  two-storied ; 二階建の、 majestically ; 威風堂々と、  enshrine ; 祭る、安置する

  principal image ; 本尊、 Temizuya ; 手水舎、  worshiper ; 参拝者、 purify ; 清める

  desolate winty scene ; 冬枯れの景色、 Senbutu-jou ; 選仏場、 Kyoshirin ; 居士林

  chief priest ; 住職、  juniper ; ビャクシン(針葉樹の一種)、  annual ring ; (木の) 年輪

  in harmony with 〜 ; 〜と調和して、 draw a picture of 〜 ; 〜の絵を描く

  thatched ; わらぶき(屋根)の、 Butsunichi-an ; 佛日庵、 

  burial site ; 墓所、 mousoleum ; 廟所、 clan ; 一族、一門、 a stick of incense ; 一本の線香

  powdered green tea ; 抹茶、 take cigarette breaks ; 一服する、  cave ; 洞くつ

  Byakuroku-dou ; 白鹿洞、 legend ; 伝説、 a herd of deer ; 鹿の群れ、 sermon ; 説教

  in the innermost part of 〜 ; 〜の最も奥の部分、 Musou Sosseki ; 夢窓疎石

  witch hazel ; (植物)マンサク、 Benten-dou ; 弁天堂、 Great Bell ; 大鐘

  a flight of steep steps; 長い急な階段、 belfry ; 鐘楼, cast ; 鋳造する

  donate to 〜 ; 〜に寄贈(付)する、 grand; 雄大な,lovely view ; 絶景

  go right on to 〜 ; その足で〜へ向かう


Picture Picture / Pilgrimage to old temples./ 「北鎌倉・古寺巡礼−瑞鹿山 円覚寺−」
Japanese Diary / No.120−2009.02.15 / 「北鎌倉・古寺巡礼(2/3)--円覚寺--」


Friendly mahjong competition                    No.66−Feb.18, 2009

 Last Wednesday,I took part in friendly mahjong competition.


   


 It was the customary competition which was organized by the owner of Japanese-style

restaurant near my home.

I've been associated with it since I retired from work.


 On that day, twelve regular customers of the restaurant were at the game.

The participation fee was a five thousand yen.

We played the game on three tables for mahjon arranged on the tatami mat.


 The order of the game was determined by the total score of four games for each player.

We played it with the orthodox style of rule without "Kui-tanyau" and "Ato-zuke".

The matching after the first game was determined in advance by the ranking of the game just

before.

As one of the rules,we had to stop each game just after an hour.


 Befor the first game,we restored our energy, drinking some beer or sake we could do as much as

we wanted,with some nice dishes prepared by the wife of owner.

We started to play at 6:30 p.m. at the signal of the chime.


 In the first two games,I could never win the round though I held a ready hand, and so I was

lowest in rank after the first half of the competition.

As other players played well, they never discarded my winning tile even though I got a winning

hand silently.

And also I could never draw my winning tiles even though I declared completing a ready hand

several times.


 My score was minus 33 at the time.

I wonder if I was not having any luck or I had some poor play.

I got so much frustrated.


 In the halftime,we took a break for 30 minutes.

Everyone drank again.

I started next game after having a rice cake spread with bean paste and eat kenchin-soup

to empower myself.


   


 I won the third game by a narrow margine because I won several rounds straight.

But I lost the final game with minus score.

After all, I finished in eighth place with minus 33.


 I used to play mahjong after five before retirement from a company,but did that once in a while

by way of entertaiment at the class reunion.


 I'm really loosing my touch.

I knew every person currently working was a good mahjong player.


 I'm now saying to myself practice makes perfect.



[Note] customart ; 恒例の、 associate with 〜 ; 〜を(の)の仲間に加える、 tatami mat ; 座敷

  Kui-tanyau ; 喰いタンヤウ(麻雀用語)、 Ato-zuke ; 後付け(麻雀用語)、  matching ; (試合の) 組合せ

  restore one's energy ; 英気を養う、
we can drink as much beer as we want ; ビ−ル飲み放題である

  win the round; 和了する(麻雀用語)、
hold a ready hand / get a winning hand; 聴牌する(麻雀用語)

  be lowest in rank ; 最下位である, discard ; (不要な牌) を捨てる、 
tile ; 牌(麻雀用語

  declare completing a ready hand ; 立直(リ−チ)する(麻雀用語)、 I wonder if 〜 ; 〜なのかしら

  be not having any luck;つきに見放されている、 
get frustrated; イライラする

  rice cake spread with bean paste; ぼた餅、 
empower〜 ; 〜(人)を力づける

  by a narrow margine ; かろうじて、 
straight; 続けて、 by way of entertaiment ; 余興に

  once in a while; たまに,lose one's touch ; 下手になる、腕が落ちる

  say to oneself that 〜 ; 〜を自分自身に言いい聞かせる

  Practice makes perfect ; 継続は力なり


 Japanese Diary / No.123−2009.02.17 / 「第36 回忍 麻雀大会」


Pilgrimage to the old temples in north Kamakura(1/3)
        
Part.1  Shokozan Toukei−ji               No.65−Feb.10, 2009

 I get a little bit tired today.

Yesterday, I visited three temples in north Kamakura as previously scheduled though it was cloudy

and a little bit cold.

It's because I walked around the temle grounds, looked at the buildings and the gardens, and took

some photos of them for about four hours in the afternoon.


 This day, I took the JR Yokosuka Line from Yokohama and arrived at Kitakamakura station after

about 20 minutes.



Kitakamakura station of the JR Yokosuka Line


 I learned about Five Great zen Temples of Kamakura in history class in my high school days.

And so, I knew I wanted to visit once there.

But I've never been there though I've lived in Yokohama not so far from Kamakura.

Furthermore, it was one of my motive for this visit that I knew Nanzenji was the headquarters of

the Nanzenji branch of Rinzai Zen,when I visited it last month.



Panoramatic photograph of Toukei-ji from the lookout platform of Engaku-ji


 I found out in advance on the internet where their temples were located in.

I knew there were no less than eight big old temples near Kitakamakura station.

As I could never visit all of them in a day, I decided to visit only three of them this time.



The main building of Toukei-ji


 First, I visited Toukei−ji.

It took about three minutes to walk on the Kamakura Road along JR Yokosuka Line from

the station to there.


 I entered the temple after I paid three hundreds yen as the entrance fee and got a sheet of

small guide card about this temple.


 According to the guide card, it belongs to the Engaku-ji Branch of the Rinzai Zen Sect.

It was opened by Hojo Sadatoki in 1285 and was founded by nun Kakusan−ni, wife of Hojo

Tokimune, after her husband's death.

It's been a nunnery which men coudn't enter until Meiji Period and so is best known as a historic

refuge temple for women who were abused by their husbands.


 As I expected,many of the visitors were some groups of women and elderly couples.

Inside the temple grounds, red and white beautiful plum blossoms were in the bloom of beauty.


Red plum blossoms inside the temple grounds White plum blossoms inside the temple grounds


 Unfortunately, I couldn't look at cultural heritages such as old Budda status, Makie and paintings

because its treasure house was closed.


To be continued on the following page,"Pilgrimage to the old temples in north Kamakura.(2/3)".


[Note] Five Great zen Temples of Kamakura; 鎌倉五山、 motive for 〜 ; 〜の動機

  no less than 〜 ; 〜ほども多くの、 Toukei−ji ; 東慶寺、 nun ; 尼、尼僧、 Kakusan−ni ; 覚山尼

  nunnery ; 尼寺、 historic ; 歴史的に有名な、 refuge temple ; 駆け込み寺、 abuse ; 虐待する

  be in the bloom of beauty ; 美しい盛りである、
cultural heritage ; 文化財、  Makie ; 蒔絵

 Japanese Diary / No.119−2009.02.10 / 「北鎌倉・古寺巡礼(1/3)」


There have been really many gloomy news,haven't there!
                                                
No.64−Feb.6, 2009

 Nowadays,there have been gloomy news about the business world on TV and newspapers

almost daily.


 Yesterday,the big front-page headline of the Mainichi Newspapers told us that Panasonic

Corporation cut 15,000 jobs.

In addition to it, Panasonic predicts a deficit of about 380 billion yen in the business year ending

in this March.

It's because it will book huge restructuring costs,the exchange losses due to higher yen and

the revaluation loss on the stock holdings associated with declines in stock prices though it

predicts a surplus of 60 billion yen in operating profit or loss.


 According to the news paragraph,Panasonic announced that it would close down 27 production

sites at home and abroad, and cut about 16,000 extra workers including not only nonpermanent

employees but also regular ones in its group by the end of March 2010.


 It plans to strengthen the company's financial and business position by it because the profitability

from automobile-related products and digital appliances such as flat-screen TV has been getting

worse.


 In electric and electronics industry,downsizing over 20,000 employees in NEC, over 16,000

in Sony and about 7,000 in Hitachi with personnel relocation had been just announced the other

day.


 Unemployment of nonpermanent employees in automobile industry has now become one of the

huge social issues and so I'm afraid that this will further accelerate an aggravation of employment

conditions.


 We are now in worldwide recession.

I hope major countries will carry out their policies for overcoming the recession in a coordinated

manner as soon as possible.


 And then, I hope good solutions to employment issues will be found out in order that

nonpermanent employees will not get thrown out onto the streets and amount of pension to our

pentioners will not be reduced in the near future.


[Note] gloomy ; 暗い,憂うつな、 business world ; 経済界

  front−page headline ; (新聞記事などの) 一面トップの見出し

  cut 100 jobs ; (不景気などで)100名の人員を削減する、 predict 〜;〜と予測する、〜を見込む

  a deficit of 〜 yen ; 〜円の赤字、 
book huge restructuring costs ; 多額のリストラ費用を計上する

  exchange loss ; 為替差損、  higher yen ; 円高、 revaluation loss ; 評価損

  stock holdings ; 保有株式、  associated with 〜 ; 〜に伴う、 
surplus ; 黒字,剰余金

  operating profit or loss ; 営業損益、 news paragraph ; 新聞記事の一節、 close down ; 閉鎖する

  production site ; 生産拠点、 at home and abroad ; 国内外の、 cut worker ; 人員削減する

  nonpermanent employee ; 非正規従業員

  
strengthen the company's financial and business position ; 企業体質を強化する

  downsizing ; 人員削減、  personnel relocation ; 配置転換、 unemployment ; 失業

  social issues ; 社会問題、   aggravation ; 悪化、  employment conditions ; 雇用情勢

  carry out ; 実施する、 in a coordinated manner ; 協調して

  get thrown out onto the streets ; 職を失って路頭に迷う、 
pensioner ;年金生活者


 Japanese Diary / No.118−2009.02.05 / 「ホント,暗いニュ−スが続きますネ!」


Today is Setsubun.                          No.63−Feb.3, 2009

 Today,February 3rd is Setsubun.
A bag of soybean my wife got
from the supermarket.


 In Japan,it means the day before the beginning

of spring according to the lunisolar calendar.

On the evening of this day, people open the door

of their houses and drive the demons out of their

home and gardens by throwing handfuls of

parched soybeans and shouting " Demons out !

Fortune in ! "


 People also eat the same number of beans as

their age, wishing for good health and prosperity.


 Those living in the Kansai region have the

custom of eating rolled sushi called " Ehoumaki "

for good luck on this day, while facing the year's

auspicious direction.

It seems that this custom has been rapidly

spreading to other parts of Japan.


 As my wife got a bag of parched soybean,I also did that.

As I’m elderly, so it’s too many for me to eat the number of them equal to my age.

I ate some of them, but drunk Japanese sake with the other ones as its snack.


 Now,not only Japan but also all over the world have been suffering a recession.

So, I drank it, hoping to pull out of the recession as soon as possible.


 "Setsubun" came up in conversation of today's English conversation class.

I asked my teacher whether there was such a day as Setsubun in America.

He answered me that a similar day to Setsubun was Halloween Day though they got dressed up to

frighten evil sprits away.


 I just thought that there were some customs and events in any country to cleanse away all the evil

of the former year or drive away disease-bringing evil spirits for the coming year.



 [Note] lunisolar calendar ; 太陰太陽暦、 the day before the beginning of spring ; 節分

  demon ;鬼,悪魔, drive out 〜 ; 〜を追い出す、 a handful of 〜 ; 一握りの量の〜

  parch ; (豆など) をいる,あぶる、 soybean ; 大豆、 
Demons out ! Fortune in ! ; 鬼は外,福は内

  auspicious ; 恵方の、吉兆の、 rolled sushi ; 巻き寿司, snack ; おつまみ

  come up in conversation ; 話題に上がる、 
pull out of a recession ; 不況から抜け出す

  frighten away 〜 ; 〜をおどして追い払う, cleanse away 〜;〜を洗い清め


 
Japanese Diary / No.117−2009.02.03 / 「今日は節分」



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