Part 1: Kimono to Greet the Coming Year

Kathrina: Hnn… Huu…

Kathrina: Fuwaah… I slept so well.

Kathrina: Kokona and Shizuka… seem to be up already.

Kathrina: Morning!

Panda: Oh, look whoʼs awake.

Panda: Happy New Year, Kathrin!

Kathrina: Huh?

Kokona: We are greeting the coming year! Happy New Year, Kathrina-chan!

Kathrina: Ah, thanks, you too.

Chisa: May the coming year bring you happiness.

Kathrina: Huh, why are you so formal all of a sudden?..

Shizuka: Itʼs only proper to greet the coming year on New Yearʼs Day, right? Youʼre supposed to do it in all seriousness.

Kathrina: Is that so?..

Kokona: It is! I wish you all the best in the coming year, Kathrina-chan!

Kathrina: Best wishes from me too.

Panda: Huh? Wait a sec. Isnʼt this Kathrinʼs first time celebrating New Year in Japan?

Kathrina: Yeah. Last year this time I was still in Germany.

Chisa: First New Year in Japan… How did you feel? Were you excited? Did you look forward to it?

Kathrina: Why would you ask, we’ve seen each other last evening.

Panda: Well, coz you were like “I have no energy to hang out with you guys…” and went off to your room.

Kathrina: Thatʼs because you were too loud. And I was too tired from all the cleaning, so I went straight to bed.

Kokona: I wanted to ask her whether sheʼd like to have some New Yearʼs soba, but she was sleeping soundly already. I was so surprised.

Kathrina: Youʼll gain weight if you eat late in the evening. Didnʼt you know sobaʼs really high in calories?

Shizuka: I canʼt believe you spent New Yearʼs Eve like that. Youʼre surprisingly indifferent to parties.

Kathrina: Well, not like it’s something to make fuss about. December turned to January, thatʼs all.

Kokona: Thatʼs not true! In Japan you usually do plenty of stuff for New Year, like eating ozouni* and osechi**.

Shizuka: Why do you only mention food?

Kokona: Right, there are other things too! Like... Yeah! A New Yearʼs visit to a shrine! I think it would be fun if we all went together!

Kathrina: A visit to a shrine?..

Panda: Thereʼs a tradition of going to Shinto shrines or Buddhist temples and praying for a safe and happy year ahead. But, aside that, itʼs just fun to see what omikuji*** youʼll get.

Kathrina: Hmm…

Chisa: Why don’t we go and see what luck awaits us this year?

Kathrina: Sure, we can. But aren’t you strangely enthusiastic about it?

Panda: Sassu draws omikuji with excellent luck every year, you know. So what do you say? Letʼs all go to a shrine together!

Kokona: Oh, by the way! Since thatʼs a New Yearʼs shrine visit, why don’t you wear a kimono?

Kathrina: A kimono?

Panda: Right! There must be some that Sirius used for performances before… Iʼll go ask Shamo-san just to make sure.

Kathrina: I-I don’t have much experience wearing a kimono, so thatʼs fine, don’t bother.

Shizuka: You worn it perfectly in The Tale of the Bamboo Cutter, though. Isn’t that a good idea? I think it suits you well.

Kathrina: There’s a difference between real life and performance, you know!

Chisa: Kathrina, you have something against kimonos?

Kathrina: I have nothing against them, but…

Panda: Well then, itʼs decided! Shamo-san also approved.

Kathrina: Ah… You guys sure don’t lose a second when it comes to things like this.

Kokona: No complaints! You should properly enjoy a Japanese New Year, Kathrina-chan!

Kathrina: If you say so…

TL note
* Ozouni is the Japanese New Year soup containing mochi rice cakes.

** Osechi are traditional Japanese New Year foods served in special boxes called juubako. Each of the dishes comprising osechi has its own special meaning celebrating the New Year.

*** Omikuji are fortunes written on strips of paper. They can be received at temples or shrines by making a small offering and randomly choosing one from a box.

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Pub: 10 May 2024 18:14 UTC
Edit: 14 May 2024 11:42 UTC
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