Hotarugari( firefly-watching events)

Hotaru-gari(蛍狩り) literally means "hunting for fireflies", but actually means going out to see flashing fireflies. The Japan Meteorological Agency announced the end of the rainy season in the Kanto region on 29 June. The season ended 7 days  earlier than last year and 22 days  earlier than average. A seasonal rain front activated by Typhoon Prapiroon(Typhoon No.7) has brought torrential downpours in many parts of Japan. The threat of heavy rainfall and flooding will persist until Sunday.

Firefly-watching is nearing an end while I am dillydallying. Most of firefly-watching events were done, but some of them will last until mid-July.

蛍 / Firefly (credit:St.Také/flickr)

Kaneda River in Nan-bu cho, Tottori Prefecture

fireflies 05 (credit: mstkeast/flickr)

audience waiting to flashing fireflies at Hotaru no Sato in Fukutsu City, Fukuoka Prefecture

IMGP1346 (credit: yuki5287/flickr)

Kawaura River, Minokamo City, Gifu Prefecture
mid- to late June

Numerous fireflies glowed above the stream. 川浦川の蛍（ホタル） (credit: T.Kiya/flickr)

In  early June, Hotaru-hojo-sai (Releasing Fireflies Ritual) is held at Yanagihara Shinchi Pond in Tsurugaoka Hachimangu Shrine, Kanagawa Prefecture. Visitors can see fireflies flashing during a week from the ritual.

鶴岡八幡宮ほたるまつり - 柳原神池/鎌倉散歩  (credit: Tranpan23/flickr)

Tokyo Hotaru Festival imagined fireflies by Sumida river through LED lights. This event is not held any more.

IMG_9810 (credit: Hetarllen Mumriken/flickr)

The word "hotaru (fireflies) " appeared in Nihonshoki (Chronicles of Japan) finished in 720, but  it is unclear what the word meaned.


In the Heian period(794-1185), fireflies were referred in literature such as the collection of poems "Collection of Ten Thousand Leaves", Sei Shonagon's "The Pillow Book", Murasaki Shikibu's "The Tale of Genji."

Sei Shonagon praised that lots of fireflies flitted to and fro on a moonless summer night. She also loved that a couple of fireflies hovered and blinked a dim light.

Hotaru (The Fireflies) is the 25th chapter  of "The Tale of Genji." When Genji's half-brother Hotaru Hyobukyo no Miya(蛍兵部卿宮) visits Tamakazura(玉鬘, Genji's adopted daughter), Genji releases fireflies behind a screen to light up her with fireflies, showing her beauty to him.

Title: Hotaru (The Fireflies), the 25th chapter of "The Tale of Genji"

Artist: Toyokuni(Utagawa Toyokuni Ⅲ/Kunisada I, 1786-1864)

Publication Date: 1852

Book title: Genji 54-jo(源氏五十四帖, 54 chapters of "The Tale of Genji")

courtesy of National Diet Library

Title: Hotaru (The Fireflies), the 25th chapter of "The Tale of Genji"

Artist: Ogata Gekko(尾形 月耕, 1859-1920)

Publication Date: 1892

book title: Genji 54-jo(源氏五十四帖, 54 chapters of "The Tale of Genji")

courtesy of National Diet Library

Title: Hotaru (The Fireflies)

Artist: Ichiyosai Toyokuni(Utagawa Toyokuni Ⅲ/Kunisada I , 1786-1864)

Book title: Genjiko no zu(源氏香の図)

courtesy of National Diet Library

Genjiko(源氏香) is a game in Ko-do( incense burning) in which  participators smell five scents and guess same ones. Five scents can be all the same or different. There are 52 possible combinations of answers. A collection of the patterns that show the combinations is Genjiko no zu. The combinations are assigned to the Chapters of “The Tale of the Genji.” Five vertical lines mean scents. The rightmost line means the first scent, and the leftmost one does the fifth scent. participators connect the lines that seem to be the same scents.

Set partitions 5; Genji symbols

By Watchduck (a.k.a. Tilman Piesk)

 from Wikimedia Commons

Genjikonozu 
by  Mukai
from Wikimedia Commons

In the Heian Period, fireflies symbolized feelings of love, visible love, yearning heart. Actually fireflies light up to attract a mate.

Woman poet Izumi-Shikibu(ca.978-?) depicted fireflies as her visible affection for her husband in one of her waka poems. She felt like her strong feelings for him left her body and  flew around flashing. Commuter marriage was common among nobles in the Heian Period. Noblemen  visited their wives' houses. It was common that a married couple of nobles lived apart. A nobleman who lost interest in his wife gradually kept away from her. Her husband also had not seen her for a long while. 

Minamoto no Shigeyuki (源 重之, died 1000) wrote a poem about one sided love:
"Fireflies can't tell their feelings in words. They can do nothing but burn out.  They arouse pity."

In the Edo period, commoners also  went out to see fireflies when they began to appear at dusk. Edo residents visited spots to see fireflies such as Sorin-ji Temple in Yanaka, now-defunct Sugatami-bashi Bridge (an area around Nishi-waseda and Takada),  an area near Asukayama Park in Kita Ward,  an area near Iidabashi, jindai-ji Temple in Chofu City.

Title: Hotaru-gari Azuma Fuzoku(蛍狩当風俗)

        (Kabuki actor Sawamura Tanosuke Ⅲ)

Artist: Toyokuni(Utagawa Toyokuni Ⅲ/Kunisada I, 1786-1864)

Publication Date: 1860

courtesy of National Diet Library

Outstanding Kabuki actor Sawamura Tanosuke Ⅲ(1845-1878)  is graphically portrayed in this print. He was a gorgeous onnagata (an actor specializing in female roles) , even after he had his both legs amputated at the knee due to necrosis and had his right hand and left four fingers amputated.  He performed Kabuki with his prosthetic limb.

Title: Hotaru-gari Azuma Fuzoku(蛍狩当風俗)

 (Kabuki actor  Ichikawa Ichizo Ⅲ)

Artist: Toyokuni(Utagawa Toyokuni Ⅲ/Kunisada I, 1786-1864)

Publication Date: 1860

courtesy of National Diet Library

Title: Hotaru-gari Azuma Fuzoku(蛍狩当風俗)

 (Kabuki actor )

Artist: Toyokuni(Utagawa Toyokuni Ⅲ/Kunisada I, 1786-1864)

Publication Date: 1860

courtesy of National Diet Library

Title: Hotaru-gari Azuma Fuzoku(蛍狩当風俗)

 (Kabuki actor )

Artist: Toyokuni(Utagawa Toyokuni Ⅲ/Kunisada I, 1786-1864)

Publication Date: 1860

courtesy of National Diet Library

Title: Odori Keiyo Gedaizukushi(踊形容外題尽)
         Eiri shosetsu asagao monogatari(絵入稗史蕣物語)
Artist:  Utagawa Toyokuni III(Utagawa Kunisada I, 1786-1864)
Publication Date: 1856
courtesy of National Diet Library

Title: 34(A woman holding a uchiwa(fan) in her mouth and a firefly cage in her hand)

Artist: Yoshu Chikanobu (楊洲周延, 1838-1912)

Publication Date: 1898

Journal title: Shinbijin(真美人)

courtesy of National Diet Library

Children used to put fireflies into straw cages called hotarukago and placed them at their bedsides. I didn't know the cage. Some elderly people miss the cage.
hotarukago:
https://blog.tokyu-resort.co.jp/branch/nasu/200907/29/blog091636-17227.html

An around 70-year-old woman who were born and raised in Tokyo, one of my friends, saw fireflies flickering above the paddies in her childhood. They used to be common insects  even in Tokyo until about 60 years ago. Now fireflies drastically have decreased in Japan because they can live only in clean rivers. So artificially-raised fireflies are released in  many parts of Japan. Even now, there is a natural growth area of fireflies in Seijo, Tokyo. The area is not open to the public for the sake of environmental preservation.

ホタルブクロ/蛍袋 (Bellflower) (credit: Dakiny/flickr)

In Japan, spotted bellflower(Campanula punctata) is called Hotaru-bukuro(蛍袋), which  literally means a sack for fireflies. It is said to be named for a Japanese lantern which was also called hotaru(火垂る). According to another account, It was named so  because a bellflower containing fireflies looked like a lighted lamp.

Hotaruyaki (credit: raichovak/flickr)
porcelain with a transparent pattern called 'hotarude'

Japanese women writers from a thousand years ago

Utakai Hajime (歌会始, Imperial New Year's Poetry Reading) was held at the hall named Matsu-no-Ma(松の間) of the Imperial Palace on January 16. The reading of traditional tanka poetry is convened by the Emperor.  This year's theme was "ritsu(立)" and next year's theme is "sei(静)". "立" literally means "stand", but this character is used in various idioms. This ceremony includes only chants of traditional tanka poems.

Tanka (literally, short poems) is a type of waka poetry, and has a five-line poem with the 5-7-5-7-7 syllable structure. Choka (literally, long poems) generally consist of more than 10 to more than 20 lines with alternatively five and seven syllables and a couplet of seven syllables at the end. As choka (literally, long poems) became less popular, waka came to refer to tanka.

In connection with this ceremony, I am going to introduce several waka poems of Japanese women writers from a thousand years ago.  In the Heian period(794 to 1185), many women were active as writers although they were not professional writers.

Izumi Shikibu's poem included in Ogura Hyakunin-isshu

あらざらむ　この世の外の　思ひ出に
今ひとたびの　逢ふこともがな
A-ra-za-ra-n Ko-no-yo-no-ho-ka-no
O-mo-i-de-ni
I-ma-hi-to-ta-bi-no A-u-ko-to-mo-ga-na

"I am going to die soon. As a memory to take to the afterlife, I am eager to meet you again."

Izumi Shikibu(和泉式部, c.976- ?) was one of Murasaki Shikibu's colleagues. She was well known as an excellent poet, and Murasaki Shikibu appreciated her talent in the Diary of Murasaki Shikibu. However, Izumi Shikibu had many love affairs. Murasaki condemned her as an immoral woman in it.





Koshikibu no Naishi(小式部内侍, 999-1025) was Izumi Shikibu's daughter.

She also served to Empress Shoshi as a lady-in-waiting and was known as a woman with many love affairs like her mother. She died in childbirth in her 20s.

Koshikibu no Naishi's poem included in Ogura Hyakunin-isshu

大江山 いく野の道の遠ければ
まだふみもみず 天の橋立
O-o-e-ya-ma I-ku-no-no-mi-chi-no To-o-ke-re-ba
Ma-da-fu-mi-mo-mi-zu A-ma-no-ha-shi-da-te

"One must cross over Mount Oe and pass through Ikuno before reaching Tango.It's a long way, so I haven't been to Amanohashidate yet. (I haven't received a letter from my mother.)"

Rumor had Izumi Shikibu ghostwrote for her daughter. A nobleman told her mockingly, "Did you send a messenger to Tango to ask your mother to ghostwrite a poem?" Izumi Shikibu was in Tango area. She replied to him with an excellent poem. Amanohashidate(天橋立) has long been known as one of famous viewing spots in Tango(current an area in Kyoto).

Akazome Emon's poem included in Ogura Hyakunin-isshu

やすらはで 寝なましものを 小夜更けて
かたぶくまでの 月を見しかな
Ya-su-ra-wa-de Ne-na-ma-shi-mo-no-wo
Sa-yo-fu-ke-te
Ka-ta-bu-ku-ma-de-no Tsu-ki-wo-mi-shi-ka-na

"If I had known you wouldn't come, I would have gone to sleep immediately. The night fell and I saw the moon setting in the west (while waiting for you.) "

Akazome Emon(赤染衛門, c.956–1041) was also one of Murasaki Shikibu's colleagues. Murasaki shows her veneration for Akazome Emon in her diary. Akazome Emon was happily married and also had interactions with Sei Shonagon.


Eiga monogatari (栄花物語, A Tale of Flowering Fortunes) describes the lives of Fujiwara no Michinaga and his family. It is believed to have been written by a number of authors. Akazome Emon is thought to have written the first thirty volumes. This tale was written entirely in kana(Japanese syllabary characters). It was a history tale by women and for women.


Ise no Taifu's poem included in Ogura Hyakunin-isshu

いにしへの　奈良の都の　八重桜
けふ九重に　にほひぬるかな
i-ni-shi-e-no na-ra-no-mi-ya-ko-no ya-e-za-ku-ra
kyo-u-ko-ko-no-e-ni ni-o-i-nu-ru-ka-na

"Double-flowered cherry blossoms from ancient capital Nara look beautiful in full bloom at the imperial court today."

Double-flowered cherry blossoms from Nara were presented to the Emperor. Although Ise no Taifu(伊勢大輔, c.989-c.1060) was a newcomer, she was chosen to receive the blossoms. Her predecessor was Murasaki Shikibu. She made up this poem on the spot by order of Michinaga.

Udaisho Michitsuna no haha's poem included in Ogura Hyakunin-isshu

なげきつつ ひとりぬる夜の 明くる間は
いかに久しき ものとかは知る
Na-ge-ki-tsu-tsu  Hi-to-ri-nu-ru-yo-no
A-ku-ru-ma-wa
I-ka-ni-hi-sa-shi-ki  Mo-no-to-ka-wa-shi-ru

"I spend lonely nights alone crying over you. How could you know how long the nights are?"

Michitsuna no haha /Udaisho Michitsuna no haha(右大将道綱母, c.935-995) was one of Fujiwara no Kaneie's eight wives and was Fujiwara no Michitsuna's mother. She is said to have been wondrous beautiful. She is famous as the author of the Gossamer Years(蜻蛉日記,Kagero Nikki). It is considered a forerunner of the women's diary genre, and greatly influenced the Tale of Genji.

Kaneie approached her enthusiastically, but he got tired of her soon. Her husband had his official wife and many mistresses. The form of marriage in those days involved commuting relationships.
She composed this poem shortly after she gave birth to Michitsuna around 20 years of age, in 955. She was furious when she found out he had taken another mistress. One day, He visited her for the first time in quite a while. He asked her to open the gate, but she didn't open it. He felt offended and went home.she sent him this poem with a withered chrysanthemum flower.

She was a jealous and temperamental woman. She resented her husband, was jealous of his official wife and loved her only child. She was far below Kaneie socially, so her son's promotion was delayed. Kaneie's official wife gave birth to powerful brothers, Fujiwara no Michitaka and Michinaga.

In her mid-thirties, 970, she secluded herself at Ishiyama-dera Temple in the 7th month after she had a falling out with Kaneie . He visited the temple in the 8th month and they got back together. The following year, she secluded herself at a mountain temple to enter a nunnery, but he got her back. She got over her husband, and came to expect from her son.

The following year, she adopted a girl between Kaneie and another woman. She moved outside the city and lost access to him. Her diary ended at around the age of 40. She died 20 years later, in 995.

In fact, she and Kaneie spent New Year's Day together every year until around 970. When she secluded herself at Ishiyama-dera, he joked to amuse her. Her sister laughed hugely, but she stopped herself from laughing. She was good at sewing. He sent her rolls of cloth before major events, and made her make formal costumes.

He was a member of the Fujiwara family with power, and took over a leadership position. Nevertheless, her diary were widely read among nobles.



Sugawara no Takasue no musume (菅原孝標女, 1008-c.1059) was Michitsuna no haha's niece, but Takasue no musume was born after Michitsuna no haha died.  She is known for her travel diary, the Sarashina nikki(更科日記).

We learn about classical Chinese and Japanese literature in high school. This diary appeared in my school text book. For high school students, this diary might be more suitable than other ones. I thought it was a tedious story in high school. I was only interested in erupting Mount Fuji in the diary. Now I feel close to her unspectacular life.

She grew up at her father's post, in Kazusa(current central Chiba Prefecture).  At the age of 13, his father finished out his term and she went to Kyoto in the company of him. She lost a sibling, got hooked on the Tale of Genji and other stories, served as a lady-in-waiting at the Imperial court, got married at around the age of 33, gave birth to three children, sought solace in religion, and lost her husband at the age of 51. Her diary ended at the age of 52.


Ki no Tsurayuki (紀 貫之, ?-945) was a famous male poet. He wrote the Tosa Diary in kana characters pretending to be a woman.  It's a story of travel from Tosa(current Kochi Prefecture) to Kyoto. It had great influence on the development of women's literature.

Setsubun

February 3rd is Setsubun. It means each end of four seasons and February 3rd is the last day of winter. February 3rd of this year also corresponds to the first horse's day of February (初午, Hatsuuma).

photo by:Motoko Alexander(photost.jp)

People throw roasted soybeans while shouting "Fuku wa Uchi, Oni wa Soto(Fortune in and demons out)" to ward off evil spirits and attract good fortune. The thrower of this event used to be the master of a family or a man called Toshi-otoko who was born in a year with the same sign of the Chinese zodiac as the current year. People eat the same number of beans as their age, wishing for health.



Ikuta Jinja Shrine(生田神社) in Kobe


At many Buddhist temples and Shinto shrines, the throwers are men and women who were born in a year with the same sign of the Chinese zodiac as the current year. People try to get beans thrown from them.

Ikuta Jinja Shrine

Minatogawa Jinja Shrine(湊川神社) in Kobe
purification ritual with a bow



Minatogawa Jinja Shrine
Lucky Man and Fuku-musume throw soybeans





Tsuina-shiki at Nagata Jinja Shrine



In ancient times, this event comes from an annual ceremon called Tsuina(追儺) that was held in the Imperial Court on New Year's Eve in the lunar calendar. At some temples, tsuina is held to ward off demons in early January.


At first, monks read a sutra aloud or burn small pieces of wood on the altar to invoke divine help. Several demons dance and hold the ceremony to cut rice cakes(kagami-mochi). At last, pieces of rice cakes are thrown to visitors.




Tsuina-shiki at Nagata Jinja Shrine



Tsuina-shiki at Nagata Jinja Shrine


Tsuina-shiki(追儺式) at Nagata Jinja Shrine(長田神社) which dates back 650 years is held on the day of Setsubun.

Seven demons appear as messengers of the god, burn disasters with burning torches, strike misfortunes with swords, purify the country, pray for the safety of people and for good health and celebrate the coming spring.



Tsuina at Tenporin-ji Temple(転法輪寺) on January 7


Demons pat visitors on the head.














Tsuina at  Myouou-ji Temple(明王寺) on January 4





Tsuina at  Myoho-ji Temple(妙法寺) on January 3




Myoho-ji Temple(妙法寺) on January 3


 












Tsuina at  Taizan-ji Temple(太山寺) on January 7





Tsuina at  Kakurin-ji Temple(鶴林寺) in early January














Tsuina at  Tamon-ji Temple(多聞寺) on January5

 

Tsuina at  Usuki Hachiman Jinja Shrine(魚吹八幡神社) in late March






Usuki Hachiman Jinja Shrine(魚吹八幡神社) in late March







Tsuina at  Choko-ji Temple(朝光寺) on May 5



Tsuina at  Ruri-dera(瑠璃寺) in early February

Tsuina at  Josho-ji Temple(常勝寺) on February 11

Tsuina at  Josho-ji Temple(常勝寺) on February 11

Tsuina at  Getsurin-ji Temple

Demons go from Getsurin-ji Temple(月輪寺) to  Omiya Hachimangu Shrine (大宮八幡宮) in January.



Tsuina at  Omiya Hachimangu Shrine



Omiya Hachimangu Shrine

phot by 神戸観光壁紙写真集




serdine for Setsubun and Ehou-maki roll


People living in the Kansai region eat uncut rolled sushi called Ehou-maki(恵方巻き) in silence for good luck, while facing in the year's auspicious direction (north-northwest this year). This custom has been rapidly spreading in other areas. I also ate this sushi.


People in the Kansai Region eat grilled sardines on this day. Some people put up small decorations of sardine heads and holly leaves on their house entrances. Because spiky leaves of a holly stick into the eyes of demons and smoke and smell pouring from griled sardines ward off demons.


The word "oni(鬼)" is usually translated as "demon".
The word "鬼" originated from ancient China, but its meaning varied from the original. Oni was originally believed to be an invisible being that puts a whammy on people.

According to old Japanese literature, oni gazed at a funeral procession of an empress, walked through the town of Kyoto and infested even the Imperial court to maneat.
Some people say that oni were humans including antigovernment force, conquered native tribes and people who were shut out of the social system.
Now oni came to be portrayed as humorous.
In the 6th chapter of "The Tales of Ise", the lover of Ariwara no Narihira(在原業平) is eaten by oni. In fact, it is said that Narihira was separated from his lover Takaiko(高子) by her brothers. Because she was very noble and was considered appropriate for a concubine of an emperor. Later she became an empress dowager. Narihira bowed before authority and couldn't openly profess his hatred for her brothers.
The writer of the story says, "They are called oni(それをかく鬼とはいふなりけり)" He expresses Narihira's deep regretfulness with the word "oni."
"Red Demon cried(泣いた赤鬼, Naita Aka-oni)" was written by Hirosuke Hamada(浜田 廣介, 1893-1973) who was a children's literature writer and was originally printed in 1965.

A gentle red demon tried to get along well with villagers, but they were afraid to make contact with him. A blue demon, his close friend, puts on a show to grant the red demon's wish. The blue demon plays a bad role and the red demon drives away the blue demon. The red demon bonds with villagers, but the blue demon leaves behind a letter and moves further away. The letter says the blue demon decided never to see the red demon again to prevent their secret from being leaked. The red demon cried.

This story is for children, but it makes a durable impression on its reader whether he is a child or not.
In the late 1910s many foremost writers and poets published their works for children. Although their works tell stories in simple terms, critics said they were profound books for children. Many of Japanese children's books don't have a happy ending.
The movie based on this story was released last year.
The play "Red Demon(赤鬼, Akaoni)" has been written and directed by Hideki Noda(野田秀樹.) We associate red demon with "Red Demon cried." The play was also performed in Thailand and the United Kingdom.


books for reference:
Akiko Baba, Oni no Kenkyu(A study of Oni),(Tokyo:Chikumashobo(P.E.),1990)
馬場あき子著, 鬼の研究(東京:筑摩書房(ちくま文庫),1990年)

The Story of the Futon of Tottori

We got our first snow later than usual in Tokyo and Yokohama on January 20 and had some snowy days. There has been more snow than usual in many areas this winter.

I was pretty sure Daikan(大寒) was the coldest day in the year. I had the meaning of it wrong. Daikan is the coldest period in the year. It started on January 21st and will continue until February 3rd this year.

The Story of the Futon of Tottori is included in Glimpses of Unfamiliar Japan(1894) written by Patrick Lafcadio Hearn（1850-1904) whose Japanese name is Koizumi Yakumo (小泉 八雲.)


A merchant stayed at a new hotel in Tottori. He was the first guest at the hotel. He was woken up in the middle of the night by small children's voices from futon(Japanese-style bedding.)
"Ani-san(elder brother), you must be feeling cold. "
"Nay, you must be feeling cold."
After that, the hotel had racked up enough complaints from guests to get the hotel's owner involved.  He got information about that troubling futon from a bedding supplier.

The original owner of the futon was a poor family with two little boys living in a rent house. The chidren earned a living by selling household goods after their parents died. The futon was the only thing left from the goods. On the beginning day of Daikan, the children wrapped themselves in futon. A cruel landlord took their futon away from them as a substitute for their rent and kicked them out of their house. They were buried in a cemetery after being found dead.
The hotel's owner felt pity for them. He brought the futon to a temple and held a service for them. Since then, the futon has kept silent.

掻い巻き布団と這い子人形　デザイン：内藤乃武子
"Kaimaki-futon and crawling infant doll" designed by Nobuko Naitou

Nobuko Naitou, Chirimen Nuno-asobi (Tokyo:MACAW publishing,2004),P.21.
内藤乃武子著,ちりめん布遊び(東京:マコー社,2004年),P.21.

Kaimaki(掻巻) is a traditional kimono-shaped comforter wadded with cotton. The comforter retains heat because shoulders are encased in it. Now kaimaki-type blankets, down quilts are also available.

drawstring bag in the shape of crawling infant

This picture is nearly as large as life.
The top of this bag is on the doll's back.