mei Tag

24 Feb Poetic Names to Use in March

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I started this blog series of poetic names in April last year, so this post marks the completion of a full 12-month cycle. I learned a lot in the process, even discovered that some words I had assumed I knew actually had different meanings. I am still hoping to find tea utensils with these names or to make sweets that are reminders of these poetic names. I may start writing about Zen phrases beginning next month . . . no promises yet. Early March: - Bon bori（雪洞） - A paper lamp shade, paper lantern, or anything related to the Hina Matsuri Doll...

11 Feb Poetic Names to Use in January and February

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Belated New Year’s greetings! We had a great Hatsugama gathering. I hope you are having a happy 2018 so far. Poetic Names for January Basically, poetic names related to happiness and luck are appropriate all month. At the end of the month is Setsubun (February 3 festival) /Risshun (the first day of spring, usually February 4th) so related words would be also appropriate. Oh Buku （大福）- Tea made with new year well water, good luck, good fortune; Fukuju （福寿）- Long life and happiness; Nana kusa （七草）- The seven spring herbs. On January 7th, we eat rice porridge with seri (Japanese parsley), nazuna...

19 Dec Poetic Names to Use in December

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2017 is about to end. I hope you had a great year and best wishes for happy holidays! Poetic names for December include: Early December Suisen (水仙)- a narcissus; Kangiku（寒菊）- a winter chrysanthemum; Shiwasu（師走）- another name for December; Seibo（歳暮）- year-end gift, the end of year; Mid December Tsurara（つらら）- an icicle; Irori（囲炉裏）- a hearth; Fuyu no Yama（冬の山）- winter mountain(s) – anything related to "winter" is also good in December such as Fuyu Kodachi (barren trees in winter) and Fuyuno (winter field); Yuki no Asa (雪の朝)- snowy morning – just as above, anything related to "snow" works in December such as Yuki Zora (snowy sky) and Yuki Ore (tree branches breaking under the...

28 Nov Poetic names to use in October & November

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We had a big event, or an intensive seminar, last month, and I didn’t get a chance to post the poetic names until now. So, here's the list of poetic names for October (too late?) and November (a bit late...

03 Sep Poetic names to use in September

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It’s already September, time flies! Here’s the list of poetic names to use this month. Early September Aki kahze （秋風）- autumn/fall breeze; Shuten （秋天）- fall sky, strikingly blue sky in autumn; Ginpu （吟風）-from GinpuRogetsu (吟風弄月), reading poems in the autumn breeze while watching the beautiful moon; Choyo （重陽）- the Choyo Festival (around September 9th) which features chrysanthemums, the flower symbolic of longevity and eternal youth. The picture is to collect morning dew on the flower (if you wipe your body with the cotton, you'd be free from illness for the year). Mid-September Aka Tombo （赤とんぼ）-a red dragonfly; Ko Getsu （湖月）- the moon reflected on the lake (typically, anything...

10 Aug Poetic Names to Use in August

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We don't have classes at Shofuso in August (probably too hot, since we don't have AC – a good old Japanese tea house……) but we compiled the poetic names to use in August anyway! Early August To- Hanabi （遠花火）-fireworks afar Sato Gaeri （里帰り）-homecoming Yoi Suzushi （宵涼し）-cool evening, evening coolness Kadobi （門火）-fire lit at a gate (for Obon festival, to welcome the spirits of ancestors) Mid-August Toro- Nagashi （灯篭流し）-floating lanterns (Obon festival customs, to send off the spirits of ancestors, when the lighted lanterns are floated down the river to the ocean) Utsu semi（空蝉）-cicada, a cast-off shell of cicada (a symbol of temporal, short-lived life) Fuyo-（芙蓉）-a flower of the hibiscus...

07 Jul Mei-Poetic Names (July)

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It is already July, so here is the list of poetic names typical for July. Early July * The first three are related to Tanabata, a festival celebrated on July 7th which has roots in the Chinese star festival (the Qixi festival). It is said that the lovers across the Milky Way can meet once a year if it does not rain. People (kids) write their wishes on paper strips and hang them on bamboos. Ama no Kawa （天の川）-Milky Way (up to July 7th) Oh se （逢瀬）- A tryst (up to July 7th) Ginga （銀河）-Galaxy Uchiwa （団扇）-A round paper fan Mid-July Fu-rin...

01 Jun Poetic Names for June

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It's already June! Here, I have compiled a list of poetic names and their descriptions typical of June. I list poetic names by early, mid-, and late each month, but all these timings are relative, so you should use your judgment to determine whatever feels right for the day. Seasons vary based on where you are. For example, I grew up in the most northern part of Japan. Japan's academic year runs from April to March, so we graduate in March and typically school starts in April. As a kid, whenever I attended graduation ceremonies in March or commencement ceremonies in...