tsukimi, moon viewing party, heian

[aimeekitty]

Still having trouble with my website, so I'm trying LJ post instead! :)
Tonight's moon-viewing party completely changed my attitude. And really, bad attitudes are lame anyway, right? I am ready to start fresh tomorrow and kick my to-do list!

This is my first time going to a Tsukimi (Moon Viewing) party! :) I'm so happy to be able to get to know kimono club members and my sensei better. I am really enjoying these type of events.
This one was my very favorite one so far.

The entire event revolves around the idea of harvest moon + there are bunnies in the moon that make mochi + so lets eat mochi + the moon is really pretty, huh? What is not to like.

The meal at the New Otani was the best one I've had there so far too. It was seriously awesome. I met a lady who teaches Katazome Japanese stencil dying on fabric. (!!!) Her kimono and obi were completely dyed by herself. How stunning! I met many other super sweet people, too. Everyone is always very friendly, and I adore my sensei. After dinner, it was dark, and the moon was out and full. A perfectly clear California night, too. Then a group of Heian musicians came out and played for an hour while we all drank sake and stared at the moon. My only regret is that you some of you guys didn't get to go with me! I don't think Mitch could have sat through the Heian music though. haha. But some of you guys would have dug it, I'm sure.

Tonight, I wore this kimono with butterfly obi

More about tsukimi:
http://japanesefood.about.com/od/holidaytraditionalfood/a/tsukimifood.htm
http://www.channel4.com/science/microsites/M/moon/909.html
http://hereandtherejapan.blogspot.com/2006/10/moon-viewing_06.html

	Heian Moon Viewing Party Look at the full moon! on the bottom left is a heian "orchestra" in full costume, too!
	Tsukimi-meal! Several of the items were moon or autumn-themed. The soup had a maple leaf hidden in the bottom of it. Lots of ginko nuts too. I'd never had one. They taste awesome. In fact, everything tasted awesome. I'm proud of myself of eating lots of things I'd never tried before. (I actually ate and didn't hate fish eggs. That may be a one-time thing though. O_O )
	:) my tea and kimono sensei on the far left in orange, Mr. and Mrs. Takase from the LA Kimono club, and me in the middle in light grey. :) Mrs. Takase had an obi with a bunny making mochi on it. SO PERFECT. It was perhaps the most beautiful obi I've seen.
	more Heian music
	Heian dancing. Apparently this song and dance are so old that they don't really know what it means anymore, other than the character is a dragon, and his dance is joyful.

Comments

[shigatsuhana.livejournal.com]

Wow Aimee! Sounds like such a beautiful evening. You are lucky to have such events in your area. Your kimono is beautiful too! :)

[aimeekitty.livejournal.com]

thanks so much! I am SO grateful to live in this area. everytime I think of some bad thing about living here, I remind myself about events like this. :)

[april-art.livejournal.com]

I was driving south on the 405 this evening and the moon was HUGE and so BRIGHT. I didn't even know it was the Harvest Moon, but I knew it was pretty amazing.

I'm sure the moon viewing was perfect! What a lovely thing.

[aimeekitty.livejournal.com]

Thanks :) I'm glad you got to see it too!!

[karisu-sama.livejournal.com]

Looks like it was loads of fun!

Tonight's full moon is also the Chinese Mid-Autumn Moon Festival. (My younger daughter was born on Mid-Autumn Festival as well, but the date of course changes every year with a Lunar calendar... ^^)

[aimeekitty.livejournal.com]

that's awesome!

[stereophilic.livejournal.com]

I'm glad you're feeling better!

The Chinese have a bunny in the moon too! But he doesn't make mochi. ::sad:: We eat mooncakes for a completely unadorable purpose, too - as opposed to the bunny making mooncakes. How depressing!

That explains the sudden burst of bunny-shaped mochi in the local Japanese restaurants, though, they were so cute Djinn nearly bought one - if not for the fact they were bean paste.

I love your kimono! The grey and the pattern looks so elegant and pretty. [I can't see the kimono and obi in your seperate links up there, though. D:] I wish I could see Mrs. Takase's obi better, it sounds lovely.

[aimeekitty.livejournal.com]

agggh... 403 forbidden. *___* stupid website. I had to do that cause of the trolls. I'm hoping I can put it back soon.
(cuase you know, linking stuff on one's LJ is oh-so-important haha... not really..)

now you make me want to go to the japanese grocer to see if there are lots of bunny cakes!!! I hadnt even thought to look!

I knew about chinese mooncakes! they are so pretty! Do you kn ow if there's some kind of significance or story around them? :)

I wish I'd gotten a photo of the back of Mrs. Takase's obi. The bunny was stitched with silver threads, so it kinda glowed! so pretty!

[stereophilic.livejournal.com]

Ohhh, I see. Man, such a pain! I hope that they let up soon, sheesh. At least I can see the rest of the pictures you uploaded on LJ! I always enjoy all the images you post. :D

You should! The Japanese make the cutest little bunnies ever. We're always tempted by Japanese plates and bowls with little bunnies [but we ended up buying those with sakura blossoms instead. Odd.]. If there're still any cute bunny cakes take photos!

The primary significance of chinese mooncakes is really unromantic - mooncakes were used to pass around secret military messages [messages on slips of paper were put into mooncakes and given around] during the period of time when the common peoples [the Hans] were being oppressed by the Mongolians, and planning a revolution.

It would be odd to go around aiming a camera at the back of someone's obi though, so I'll have to settle with your description. XD

[kellyhime.livejournal.com]

Oh, Aimee, this looks like a fabulous event! The food looks incredible and I would have loved to hear the music! You look so adorable in your kimono!^_^

[aimeekitty.livejournal.com]

Thanks Kelly! :)!

[arletta.livejournal.com]

Hey Aimee...I was wondering if I could ask your advice?
I have a Japanese penpal (we've been writing since high school!), and her birthday is coming up next month. I'm completely at a loss as to what to get her. Any suggestions on gifts from America that she might like?
(last year I just got her a Minnesota sweatshirt -__-)
I'd like it to be something she would really enjoy.

[aimeekitty.livejournal.com]

I'm never good at thinking of things like that unfortunately!

is there some way you can find out her favorite brands,etc...? Some people really like Disney stuff, and some of the st uff here you can't get over there. Also maybe tea, or chocolate or foods that aren't readily available?
You could probably draw her a picture too??

[slai.livejournal.com]

Hi Aimee,

Wow, I love your kimono! You look simply marvelous in it 8D! The food looks yummy too =9!

[aimeekitty.livejournal.com]

thanks so much! :)

[kitkat-nap.livejournal.com]

Thanks for sharing the night with us! =^_^=

[setsuna.livejournal.com]

Oh, wow, sounds like it was such a wonderful evening! Thanks so much for sharing.

How did you find out about this event? I hope there are others like it in the year... I'm inspired to find out!

[aimeekitty.livejournal.com]

I found out through my sensei, but many events are in the newsletter "Cultural News".

[setsuna.livejournal.com]

Ah, I see. I will try to find something local... thanks again for sharing!

...Sometimes I forget there are events like these that encourage you to (gasp) relax and just enjoy yourself!

[frostdoll.livejournal.com]

Ginko nuts taste great but I can't overcome the idea that when they fall off the tree they smell awfully. In my town there are a lot of ginko trees and my Japanese teacher picked them but I couldn't understand how she could manage the smell... turned out she had mint oil on an handkerchief handy for when it became too much!