Chibi Tayuu "In Full Scale" - Finished

              This picture was inspired from an actual print and I dedicate it to my two girls who I love very much.

Chibi Tayuu "In Full Scale" - Unfinished

Otsukimi Matsuri

Tsukimi or Otsukimi, literally moon-viewing, refers to Japanese festivals honoring the autumn moon. The celebration of the full moon typically takes place on the 15th day of the eighth month of the traditional Japanese lunisolar calendar; the waxing moon is celebrated on the 13th day of the ninth month. These days normally fall in September and October of the modern solar calendar.

The Tsukimi custom originated from the Chinese Mid-Autumn Festival. The tradition is now so popular in Japan that some people repeat the activities for several evenings following the appearance of the full moon during the eighth lunisolar month.

Tsukimi traditions include displaying　decorations made from Japanese pampas grass (susuki) and eating rice dumplings called Tsukimi dango in order to celebrate the beauty of the moon. Seasonal produce are also displayed as offerings to the moon. Sweet potatoes are offered to the full moon, while beans or chestnuts are offered to the waxing moon the following month. The alternate names of the celebrations, Imomeigetsu (literally “potato harvest moon”) andMamemeigetsu (“bean harvest moon”) or Kurimeigetsu(“chestnut harvest moon”) are derived from these offerings.

**Sunday Sept 23rd starting at 2pm -4pm SLT** 
O-tsukimi  Matsuri (or Jugoya also known as 'Chuushuu-no-meigetsu' ) "Moon Viewing" festival 

Matsubaya at Suigetsu will be performing for your pleasure and entertainment this Sunday Sept 23rd at 2pm-4pm SLT in a small celebration of the Harvest Moon in observation of O-tsukimi Matsuri "Moon Viewing Festival", and the Autumnal Equinox (which officially takes place Sept 22, 9:49 am RLT).
Join us for sake, tea, and dances and tales of the moon and its lore  performed by the oiran,tayuu and kagema of Matsubaya!  See you Sunday!

Matsubaya okaasan, Tsukuyomi no Mikoto

***Traditional Japanese garb a must.***

Okaasan Shurayukihime will perform Tsuki no Usagi  (月の兎or月のウサギ) Tale of the Rabbit in the Moon. 

Lead Tayuu Higurashi will preform The Bamboo Cutters Daughter

Ageya Opening tonight with Story and Dance

Tonight at 10pm SLT Matsubaya Lead Tayuu Higurashi will open the door of Suigetsu's Ochaya and preform the Story of O-Tei,  a tale taken straight from the Kwidan. 

Come join us tonight to listen to this tale of fated love and its power over karmic re-birth. 

 **In this tale, the bond between lovers is so strong and pure that the fated reincarnation of the lover occurs while the other still lives.

Dedication to Two Dragons

Some of you may remember of something that broke my heart. I spoke of it and made a dedication to two lovely ladies I have never had the pleasure of meeting, but the honor of hearing about them makes them feel like friends. They are my Dragons from a far off land, and this blog entry is especially for them.

Something very horrible happened to them, and their recovery is a long and hard one. It will take  time, a long time in their healing. Both women have lost something very precious to them, their minds, their comfort it their bodies, many many things have they lost, and it makes living their lives all the harder now. Things scare them, and yet they smile, weather it is from happiness or fear I can't be sure, but my heart aches in knowing that the path to becoming 'well' isn't going as smoothly as some would have hoped for.

For one of them, being nude helps to escape their fears, she goes everywhere like this because clothing now scares her; for the other it's her in-ability to bear children. Every day she mourns this loss as a family has been one of the things she desired very much.
For them, life is hard, but it is the reality they  live in now, one they have to struggle to over come.

They fight, they run, they refuse help. They laugh, they cry, they scream, they get angry. Going out in to the world is not easy for them, their souls, and for one, even her body is bared to the world....

I hear stories of them, of what they were like before, two beauties who dazzled with songs and dances together with other women who shared in their love of music. I hear stories of them now, two beauties who are broken but still here. They are still with us, even if they're closed off from us right now. There are people who still love you and won't give up on you, because it's going to be hard, it's going to be VERY hard to move forward.

But you can do it. Darkness won't be around forever. There is darkness in all things in the lives we live, but because things are black, there is light as well. I want to hear you sing songs again one day, with everyone else who stood beside you, I want to see you dancing again and smiling and being happy, I know i am not the only one.

So please, smile again. laugh and sing and dance with those who love you. We're all waiting for you. The first step is the hardest, but you have help, you won't have to do it alone. you're loved, you'll never be truly alone.

Higurashi

Just an update.

It's been awhile now, so time to update and bring good news! The lovely lady Kazumi, Tayuu of Suigetsu, our sister house, has a kamuro of her own now. She's a lovely little bundle of energy and a joy to have around. So many smiling faces in the Hanamachi now. plans for the Lantern Festival and the Moon Viewing Festival are coming along nicely now. We'll be ready to start building, I'm so for early planning. it makes doing things sooo much easier ^^

Umetsuki, Shinzo to our Okaa san, Shurayukihime, had the Grand Debut recently. She told the story of the Egret Brother, and danced. It was truly lovely. I can't wait to see the rest of our girls during their debut, and dancing on stage.

Two new recipes will be added to Cooking With Matsubaya, specialties to the Moon Viewing Festival which is fast approaching. I'm looking forward to trying to making these new ones.

Lots of things planned for this month and next month, so keep up with us by watching the Notices inworld, and by checking back here as well.

Higurashi

                                         Little Haru, Suigetsu's newest Kamuro

                                        Ume chan on stage at her Grand Debut