Re: Michinoku okamisan memories

[Fujimori <fujimori@club-internet.fr>]

Doreen Simmons wrote:
> 
> Hi all,
> 
> Before I see what's come in today, I just wanted to share a small memory
> with this civilized list
> 
> I have just finished watching, on Japan's NTV, a program that included a
> generous segment on ex-ozeki Kirishima's new heya, Michinoku-beya.
> 
> A few years ago, there was a special dampatusu-shiki (retirement
> hair-cutting ceremony) for Takanomine, a man who at the time held the
> record for the longest wait to get promoted to juryo. He didn't qualify for
> a big public ceremony, but his heya (Izutsu) sponsored a private ceremony
> at a hotel. I went to take photos, and it came as a total shock when my
> name was called to pick up the gold-plated scissors and take a snip at his
> hair - but that's another story.
> 
> While I was kneeling on the carpet and taking pictures of the hair-cutters,
> I became aware of a vigorous conversation taking place just behind me in
> Japanese. "What do I say?" - "Just say, 'Konbanwa' - Good evening'"  Sure
> enough, a few seconds later, a little voice said "Konbanwa" right in my
> ear. I turned, and saw a small girl, not beautiful but
> beautifully-turned-out, who met my eyes with a confident look that said:
> "I've never met anybody who didn't love me and I'm sure you will, too."
> 
> I smiled and returned her greeting. But my real respect was for the mother
> (now Michinoku okamisan) who was bringing up her precious daughter to
> assume that a visiting foreigner was a human being who could probably
> understand Japanese and should be addressed on this assumption.

  Pretty good description of Naoko-san and of Elisa-chan...
  Elisa didn't wait much to get close friends with my two daughters :
the oldest one, six years older than her, but it was Elisa who took the
situation in hands (she is nearly as tall as Isabelle who is rather big
and looks older than her age).  As for the younger one, Camille, three
years younger than Elisa, she would always try to do Kenka with Elisa,
very jealous when I speak to somebody else than her (but Elisa didn't
take advantage on her or loose her temper, except when doing sumo). I
noticed that Elisa, though rather spoiled by her parents, always minds
other people's kimochi.  She is very cute and swift understanding
people; a few seconds and she is aware of the whole situation.  She
would never do anything even if she wants very hard to do it, when she
notices that the others around her are not as enthousiastic about it as
she herself is.  This is one of the points that has caught my sympathy
for this little girl, eleven years old, but that one would be inclined
to treat like a grown-up person.

As for Naoko, it would cost too much to my poor English to add the
proper thing to the description.  All I can say is that she has got
nerve and strong shoulders... but those who have seen to-day's program
will sure have a more complete idea, let us hope.  I couldn't see it yet
- have to wait a few days, to get it by mail...  


Liliane