Toshiaki, Takauji and Kenshin really enjoyed the gay-colored Koi-Nobori streamers made of paper or cloth, which filled with wind and seemed to swim in the air on Tango-no-Sekku. Toshiaki's carp was the largest while Takauji's and Kenshin's ranged down in size according to their age.

The smell of the iris and the sage-brush was everywhere! Everyone from the castle down to commoners rushed around covering their roofs with iris and sage-brush. We all want our houses to look fantastic. You don't see this kind of thing at any other time of year.

This year it was completely grey with heavy clouds. Still the flags and Koi-Nobori brightened the sky to match our spirits.

The villagers brought us lovely herbal balls covered in coloured string and they were hung on either side of the pillars. The young girls, who bring the festival food, put iris combs in their hair and wear little abstinence tags. They tie long iris branches onto their silk jackets with lightly dyed threads. There's nothing new about this; it happens every single year, but I think it's quite elegant.

It's a bit like the cherry blossoms - they blossom every year without fail, but they're still beautiful every time.

At bedtime, I told the boys the traditional legend that traces the origin of the Boys' Festival to Tokimune Hojo's victory over the invading Mongols in 1282. In celebration, Samurai families erected flags and streamers to honor this victory. Years past, it had symbolized the unification of the country by the Ashikaga Shogun. It was important that the boys knew of their great heritage.

In the meantime, I had the Shobu (iris) leaves steeping in large pans of hot water, for I so enjoy the fragrant Shobu-yu (iris hot-bath). It was tradition to soak in the iris bath on Tango-no-Sekku not only because of its miraculous prophylaxis against all kinds of sickness, but because the sound of the word Shobu, although written with different characters, implied striving for success. It took a little coaxing, but I was able to get Norikatsu to join me in a long hot bath after the boys were asleep.

I'm not superstitious, really. But little harm and much pleasure can only come from bathing with one's husband and the possibility of success in our endeavors is certainly considered an added bonus.

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