By Mitsue Finch Uchida
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(Please scroll below for the English version)
8月の別名は葉月（はづき）。日本では8月は暑い盛りの頃、特に今年は猛暑ですでに40度くらいに気温がぐんぐん上がっているようです。しかし旧暦では秋にあたり、「木々の葉が落ち始める月」からこの「葉月」が由縁しているようです。
8月の典型的な行事は「お盆」です。そして嬉しいこと、楽しいことがやって来たときに「盆と正月が一緒に来たようだ」という表現を使います。今回はお盆の過ごし方についてご紹介します。お盆とは、8月15日前後に行われる先祖供養の儀式で、正式名称を「盂蘭盆会（うらぼんえ）」といい、古代インドのサンスクリット語「ウラバンナ（逆さ吊り）」を音訳したもので、地獄や餓鬼道に落ちて、逆さ吊りにされて苦しんでいる死者を供養するために行われる仏教行事のことで、これに日本古来の祖霊信仰が融合して、現在のお盆の形になったといわれています。もともとは怖そうな内容から来たのですね。お盆の期間に先祖の霊魂があの世から現世に帰ってきて、数日間を家族とともに過ごし、お盆が終わると再びあの世に帰っていくと信じられてきました。先祖が現世で過ごす期間は「中日（ちゅうにち）」と呼ばれ、自宅に僧侶を招いて読経をあげてもらったり、家族や親戚で集まり会食をしたりと。私も幼少時にお坊さんを迎え、仏前のまで拝みながらも暑くて早く終わらないかと願ったものです。日本では多くの企業がこの期間(8月13－15)にお盆休みを設けているため、帰省や旅行する人も多く、仏教行事としてだけではなく、現在では休暇をとる時期としてお正月、盆は日本人が大移動をし、空港、鉄道、道路ははごった返します。
そして、お墓参り（日本人は先祖代々、同じ一つの墓に入るのが一般的）をしてご先祖様を供養し、墓石や周囲をきれいに掃除し、線香や花、故人が好きだった菓子やお酒などを供えて、静かに手を合わせて、故人や先祖に思いを馳せ、感謝の気持ちを捧げることをします。幼少期に、茄子ときゅうりで馬と牛に見立ててお供えを作ったりしました。それは「精霊馬（しょうりょううま）」といって、キュウリを足の速い馬、ナスを足の遅い牛に見立てて、先祖があの世とこの世を行き来するための乗り物として用意し、馬にはあの世から早く帰ってきてほしい、牛にはあの世へゆっくり戻ってほしいという気持ちが込められているそうです。愛おしいですね。
さて英国はと言えば、ウィンブルドン、ユーロフットボールも終わり、パリでのオリンピックですね。そして、選手村でミシェランスターのシェフが作る食事が話題になっていますが、私にはどうも健康的とは思えませんが、それでもロンドンオリンピック時にマクドナルドがいたるところにあり、選手はそれをいただいたとか。それよりははるかに素敵で美味しいでしょうね。何と皮肉なことにパリは土砂降りの中の開会式、その後も雨に見舞われ、私達英国は真夏日で太陽が降り注ぐといういつもと違う夏の始まりです。さあ、皆さん素敵な8月、其々の夏を描き、楽しみましょう～～
ここでいつもの愚川柳：
ロンドンに 夏が来たきた～ もういいよ～
この暑さ 文句言わずに 日陰にて
セーヌ河 汚染はだれの せーぬかしら
桂三輝さんが8月もロンドンで公演をしてくれます！詳細はこちらからどうぞ
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Another name for August is Hazuki. August is the hottest month in Japan, and this year in particular, it’s been extremely hot, with temperatures already rising rapidly to around 40 degrees Celsius. However, according to the lunar calendar, it corresponds to autumn, and the name “Hazuki” seems to have its origins in “the month when the leaves begin to fall.
A typical event in August in Japan is Obon. When something happy or fun happens, we use the expression ““It’s like Obon and New Year came together.” Obon was such an important event for Japanese people. This time, we will introduce how to spend Obon, which is almost forgotten and it is old story.
“Obon” is an ancestor memorial service held around August 15th, and its official name is “Urabon-e,” which is a transliteration of the ancient Indian Sanskrit word “Urabanna” (hanging upside down). It is a Buddhist event held to commemorate the dead who have fallen into the path of a hungry ghost and been hung upside down in agony. It is said that this was fused with Japan’s ancient belief in the spirits of ancestors, resulting in the current shape of Obon. It sounds Obon came from scary content originally. It has been believed that during Obon, the spirits of ancestors return from the afterlife to this world, spend several days with their families, and then return to the afterlife once Obon is over. The period that our ancestors spend in this world is called “”chunichi” and they spend a day by inviting monks to their homes to read sutras, and by gathering with their families and relatives for dinner. I experienced it that monk visited my house for chanting when I was a child, and we listened to the sutras in a delicate manner all the way to the Buddhist altar, but it was so hot that I wished to finish it quickly. . . In terms of the timing, it will be held for 3 to 4 days around August 15th. In Japan, many companies have a Obon holiday during this period, so many people return home or travel, and it is not only a Buddhist event, but it is now a time for vacation during the New Year, and during Obon, Japanese people travel a lot. The airport is crowded at this time.
Then, they visit the graves (Japanese people generally go to the same grave for generations), pay homage to their ancestors, clean the gravestones and surrounding areas, and buy incense, flowers and the deceased’s favourite sweets. We offer alcoholic beverages, etc., and silently join hands to think of the deceased and ancestors and offer our feelings of gratitude.
When I was a child, I often made offerings out of eggplants and cucumbers to resemble horses and cows. It is called “a “Spirit Horse”, and cucumbers are likened to fast horses, and eggplants are likened to slow cows, The Ancestors on the cucumber represents the horse and the desire for the horse to return home quickly, and for the cow to slowly return to the afterlife. It’s adorable.
Now, back to the real life in the UK, Wimbledon and Euro football are over, and the Olympics are held in Paris now. The meals of Michelin star chefs have become a hot topic in Olympic village. I doubt they’re healthy but McDonald’s was everywhere during the London Olympics’ village, and athletes were eating them. Well, I’m sure Paris one is much nicer and tastier than London’s. Ironically, the opening ceremony was held in a downpour in Paris, and it continued to rain even after the opening ceremony.
On the contrary here in the UK, it has been summerly weather and the sun was shining brightly! Let’s enjoy the wonderful month of August and making memorable and beautiful summer!!!!
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Mr. Katsura Sunshine will be coming to Leicester Square again in August and will be giving us a performance. Purchase tickets here
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