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| Mixed Chorus Group | Fonte | Our twelve monthes of Nagareyama in Japan |
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 On the heaven, there were a cowherd and a woman weaver. The Lord of Heaven forgave their marriage. But since their marriage, they ignored work of themselves and played their heads off every day. The Lord of Heaven completely got mad, and commanded them to live separately that the woman weaver is in the east and the cowherd is in the west across the Milky Way ( it's a big river ).And the Lord of Heaven set the evening of July 7, only once a year, for their meeting. In Greece constellations, the cowherd is the Altair on the Aquila and the woman weaver is the Vega on the Lyre.  On the earth in today's Japan, we attach decorations and strips of paper to a bamboo grass and display it on the day. These decorations like as a Christmas tree. Because we celebrate realization of their meeting that they prayed for, and we pray to realize our wish too.We write to strips of paper so that to improve a character, to improve sewing, a family can live on health, and other wishes. Because this date July 7 is according to the old lunar calendar, there are some areas performing the Star Festival at the beginning of August.  We had a chorus training camp on 22 and 23 July in this year (2006).
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 The month of August is the summer vacation in Japan. At school, it begins in late July and continues during August. At most of factories, they have mass leave around 5 to 10 days in mid-August. At most of business offices, stores and governmental offices, there is no mass leave. They will have around 5 to 10 days vacation in rotation.In the vacation, some people go to seaside, highlands and mountains. Many people return to their hometowns and spend time with relatives and old friends. An important Buddhism ceremony is held from August 13th to 16th. By the way, some representative flowers in August are Morning-glory, Sunflower, Oleander and Lotus, I think so. The Morning-glory blooms every morning. They give us a morning fresh feeling.  Under the scorching sun, Sunflower is the most dynamic flower. It was brought into Japan in 1666. The land of origin is North American Continent. Hiroshima-city was burned to the ground by an A-bomb on August 6, 1945, and it was said that neither a grass nor a tree would grow in three-quater century. But Oleanders bloomed at the first in the next summer. The citizens were encouraged by them. Oleanders are not well liked because of their highly toxic, but they are special flowers for the citizens of Hiroshima.  Lotus sets up his roots in mud, and lengthens a stem from muddy water. And in air, it blooms beautiful and fantastic.For this reason, Lotus becomes the most important flower in Buddhism. In Buddhism, it is told that from the deep worldly desires, the highest realization opens out. In addition, it is said like this, Lotus does not bloom on cool highland, but in mud on hot low land. |
In summer, it is very hot all through the night as well as the daytime in Japan, but it is cooled down at night by the beginning of September. In autumn, much delicious foods are supplied. The first, rice ripens. It is the typical grain for Japanese people, and new rice tastes very good.  About seafoods, Saury pike ( samma fish ) tells the beginning of September. In early September, it will be caught in inshore of Hokkaido district, and it will be carried to the south on a cold current. Samma fish is written as "autumn-sword-fish" in kanji characters. In-season salmon tastes good specially. It is caught in Hokkaido district in September. And others, many seafoods become delicious towards winter. About fruits and nuts, Japanese persimmons and Japanese common chestnuts are typical in September. And others, pears, grapes, apples are good. In the fields or hills, Matsutake mushrooms are typical. They get acclaim for their fragrant flavor. Maitake mushrooms are good for taste, and some other mushrooms are good. In October, Shimeji mushrooms are the best for taste. In Japan, there are some words to praise the autumn. For example, "Autumn for Eating", "Autumn for Reading", "Autumn for Sports" and "Autumn for Arts and Musics". We the Fonte-Choir had the 31st annual concert on September 30, 2006.  |
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