For Setsubun/Obake this year Satsuki of Tsurui in Gion Kobu has dressed up as a Yuki Onna (雪女), a very popular spirit in Japanese mythology. Since there’s much confusion surrounding what a Yuki Onna is I’m using this opportunity as a teaching experience (I’m still very limited in what I can do without my normal laptop) ^^ Yuki Onna literally translates to “Snow Woman” and, as the name suggests, she is a spirit who lives where there’s snow or is also known as the personification of snow itself. Most of the stories involving Yuki Onna are benign, but the ones that are popular are of the “tragedy” story genre. In these stories the Yuki Onna lures men into a blizzard where they then die and she claims another victim like a siren. In other stories she carries what appears to be a child with her, and if people approach her to “help” the baby she freezes them to death. The most prolific story of the Yuki Onna shares many characteristics with the story of Hagoromo (羽衣 - Feather Cloak), which I’ll explain another time (it’ll be featured in a kimono motif entry). In this story the Yuki Onna comes across a man in a blizzard. She glides towards him to claim him as another victim but stops short after she notices how handsome he is. The Yuki Onna decides to be benevolent and lets this man go on the condition that he is to never tell another person of their meeting. Years later the man gives in and tells his wife of his meeting with the Yuki Onna, and it is then that it is revealed that the man’s wife was the Yuki Onna all along. At first she is angry that he broke his promise, but he exclaims that since she is a Yuki Onna, a spirit and not a human, he did not break his promise. This story then ends with either the Yuki Onna smiling and continuing to live peacefully with her husband or she doesn’t accept his reasoning, takes their children, and returns to the snow from which she came. For the other stories, the Yuki Onna helps travelers who are lost in snowy mountains or in blizzards. One story explains that she does this because she once lost her lover in the snow and when she went to look for him she perished without ever finding him. Her spirit stayed in this world to prevent others from meeting the same fate.   Whatever you believe, the Yuki Onna is an enchanting spirit, just like Satsuki herself. I hope you all manage to stay on her good side ^^

What’s In a Name? Part 15

On the first day of holidays I give to all of you.. a new entry in the ongoing kanji series! Since this is a happy time of year we’re going to be looking at some happy kanji! Sono - 園 Prefix or Suffix: Both Old Meaning: Garden New (Standardized) Meaning: Garden Found In: All Five Hanamachi Thinking about flowers in beautiful gardens is a nice change from the cold outside! The kanji itself kind of resembles an old, stately garden with high walls and a water feature running through the middle Examples 晃園 Kōsono (Gion Kobu): “Clear Garden”, can also be translated as “Garden of Clarity,” a name that eludes to finding inner peace or enlightenment through meditation in a garden. 市園 Ichisono (Pontocho): “First Garden,” the most stunning garden of them all, possibly referring to a woman with many highly cultivated gei. 勝園 Katsusono (Kamishichiken): “Victorious Garden” or “Garden of Victory,” a name that brings to mind a garden that celebrates the triumphs of its owner. 園ハ Sonoha (Miygawa Cho): “Eight Gardens,” likely put together to make a sound rather than a deeper meaning, but it’s quite unique ^^ つね園 Tsunesono (Gion Higashi): “Constant Garden,” likens to a place that can weather any storm and still be beautiful. Some - 染 Prefix or Suffix: Both Old Meaning: Color New (Standardized) Meaning: Color Found In: All Five Hanamachi What would a flower be without color? This kanji is sometimes linked with dyes, specifically for kimono, but I don’t want to over complicate it too much ^^ Examples 染蝶 Somechō (Gion Kobu): “Colored Butterfly,” could also be “Colorful Butterfly.” It’s a lovely name either way! 福染 Fukusome (Pontocho): “Lucky Color,” another very happy sounding name. 尚そめ Naosome (Kamishichiken): “Esteemed Color,” the hiragana form of the kanji that still holds the same meaning. It brings to mind colors that are used for formal situations and hold special connotations.  菊染 Kikusome (Miyagawa Cho): “Colorful Chrysanthemum,” pretty straightforward. 染友 Someyū (Gion Higashi): “Colorful Friend,” it’s hard to have a boring name when it’s full of color, so a colorful friend must be just as exciting ^^ Yuki/Kō/Sachi - 幸 Prefix or Suffix: Both Old Meaning: Happiness, Being Blessed New (Standardized) Meaning: Happiness, Being Blessed Found In: All Five Hanamachi How can we talk about happy kanji without the kanji that symbolizes happiness!? We can’t, so of course it has to be showcased! Examples 幸苑 Yukizono (Gion Kobu): “Blessed Garden” or “Garden of Happiness,” the “苑” kanji, also pronounced as “some” (or “zome” in this case), also means garden (it’s like name-ception!). 幸子 Sachiko (Gion Kobu): “Blessed Child” or “Happy Child,” a name I had initially overlooked and had forgotten about, but it was brought to my attention as it has such a unique pronunciation.  久幸 Hisakō (Pontocho): “Long Time Blessings” or “Long Time Happiness,” a name likely given to a woman who was always smiling. さと幸 Satoyuki (Kamishichiken): “Village Fortune (Fortunate Blessings)” or “Village Happiness,” even bigger than a garden, so a woman with wide reaching happiness. 叶幸 Kanayuki (Miyagawa Cho): “Blessed Wish” or “Happy Wish,” given to a girl with a promising future who makes others happy. 幸べん Kōben (Gion Higashi): “Blessed Flower Petal” or “Happy Flower Petal,” a bit more difficult than the others since “ben” can have many meanings, but flower petals seem to work best in a world of flowers and willows.