Fun of Good Old Japanese - 江戸・明治に学ぶ　楽しむ生き方

Festival (vol.7)、祭会（巻の七）  “Festival” meant only Kamo Festival in Kyoto, long time ago.  The history of the festivals is written.  The topic moves on to the Kanda Festival at the Edo period (1603 ～ 1868). The festival floats became bigger and bigger, and the organizers hired Kyokyaku (strong men) in order to prevent fighting. It was a rough festival. A Kyokyaku called “Kizaemon” slashed a subordinate of samurai. I’m sure it was a rough and an exciting festival.  A doll was put on the top of the floats at first, thereafter girls stood there and danced .  The interesting fact was that it was also the beauty contest because some girls became models of Ukiyoe printings ( Life in Edo, old Tokyo (Chapter7 (2)). By the way, a cow drew the float, so it moved slowly. However, there are very fast floats in Kishiwada, Osaka (movie: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T2SFZFu7bMg ). Float of the Kanda Festival 、神田祭･須田町の山車 Edo-Tokyo Museum 江戸東京博物館 Part2 ...

Trip and picnic (vol.7)、行遊（巻の七） Pilgrimage to Ise Shrine 、伊勢参り It is written, “ Many people travel to Kyoto, Osaka and Nara. Their main purpose is entertainments, not just visiting shrines and temples. Ise Shrine is an important place, so people visit it rain or shine. ” Isabela L. Bird mentioned, “Japanese don’t believe in any deities. Going to shrines and temples were just a picnic, moreover religious festivals are just En-nich carnivals. ( Travel of Isabella L. Bird in 1878, part 10 )”. I cannot deny it.  It is also written, “Drunkards are not suitable as trip partners because they waste time.” The author probably didn’t like drinking. Drinking during trip is a must-do fun for me! “ Girou” where fancy ladies were 、伊勢の妓楼・油屋 Ise Furuichi Sangu-kaido Museum 伊勢古市参宮街道資料館 「 今人多く、鹿島詣よりは、まず京師・大坂・大和廻りとて旅立、神仏に参るは傍らにて、遊楽をむねとす。伊勢は順路なれば、必ず参宮す。 」と書かれている。イザベラバードが、日本人には信仰心がないと書いたが、然もありなんである（ イザベラバードが見た明治初期の日本（ 10 ） ）。 特記するが、旅の道連れとして「酒好む人は、いたづらにいとまを費やすこと多ければ、わろし」とあり、筆者自身...

Party or Banquet (vol.5)、宴会（巻の五/上）   There are many chic or funny topics about parties.   At the sakura blossom viewing party, it started raining. A noble man (Toshiyuki Fujiwara) made a short poem then; Harusameno (Spring rain) hanano edayori nagarekoba (drop from the sakura blossom branch,) nahokoso nureme (I will get wet more) kaorimoya utsuru (because the sakura fragrance will also wet me) It was in the late 9 th century. He enjoyed a party under sakura trees even in the rain. Sakura in the temple near my house 『日本紀』（日本書紀？、 720 年）には、 宴（うたげ）は 、拍上（うちあげ）ということで、「 手を打ち遊ぶことよりいへる也 」とある。納得である。 　宴会について、粋な記述、楽しい記述がある。 まず、花をめでる花宴。『後撰集』には、寛平（ 889 ～ 898 ）の頃、桜花宴で雨が降り出した時に、藤原敏行が「春雨の花の枝より流れ来ば猶こそぬれめ香もやうつる」と詠んだ。雨に濡れても花を愛で、宴を続けたい。粋なものだ。 Burei (rude)-kou(party) in which participants forget all the formalities is written on Taiheiki (published in the 14 th century). “ The party was astonishing. They poured sake one another regardless of their ranking. Men took...

Eating & Drinking (vol.10)、飲食（巻の十/上） 【 Restaurant 、料理店】   In the early 17 th century when Edo (old name of Tokyo) became the political center, restaurants were not there . After the Meireki massive fire in 1657, a teahouse in front of Sensouji temple (Asakusa) served tea-flavored rice, tofu soup, simmered vegetable and so on. It was named “Nara-cha(tea)” and many people visited to eat it because it was rare then.   Afterward many restaurants were opened in Fukagawa, Shiba, Yushima etc. Eating around is really fun. Approach to Sensouji 、今の浅草寺門前 Ranking of the restaurants in Edo 、料理屋番付表 （ 1854 ） Edo-Tokyo Museum 江戸東京博物館 Part1 　江戸時代初期には、江戸に料理茶屋はなかったようだ が、その後、できてくる。 　明暦の大火（1657）の後、 浅草の門前の茶屋で、茶飯、豆腐汁、煮しめ、煮豆等を整えて、奈良茶と名付けて売り出した。「ことのほか珍しき事」ということで江戸中からお客さんが来たという。 　 その後、深川や芝、湯島などいろいろな所に料理茶屋ができた そうだ。グルメは大きな楽しみだ。 【Food pride of Osaka people 、大阪人のすっぽん料理自慢】  Although lots of dishes are written in this chapter, this episode attracts me (because I was ...