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Kishida Toshiko (1863-1901) used snappy phrases such as this to attack the view that men by nature were superior to women. Once a lady-in-waiting to the Empress, she left that life saying that the court was "far from the real world" and a symbol of the concubine system which was an outrage to women. She became a talented and exciting public speaker ( Read more... )

In this thread (http://community.livejournal.com/himura_gumi/129328.html) Megumi, Kenshin and Kenji are enjoying a New Year's meal. Here's a recipe for Ozoni that you can try! 
New Year's Ozoni

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I'm so excited that I cab barely keep my fingers from shaking as I try to open the letter that now sits upon my lap.

I've been waiting for word from my friend, and have been worrying about her, wondering if she is faring well, or if her injuries, like mine, proved difficult to recover from.

The letter reads:

Megumi,

My boredom knows no bounds, I' ( Read more... )

AUGUST 15 - MAKING ALTAR OFFERINGS

“Nee-san, what do you think?” With all the solemnity of a priest conducting the holiest of rites, Suzume presents her creation for group inspection. Made from a cucumber, paper and some bits of balsa wood, her horse is examined.
“The legs don’t match,” Ayame points out rather testily, since her cucumber horse is ( Read more... )

June 15, 1879

Dear Takagi-san,

I hope that my letter finds you and your wonderful family in good health. I apologize for not being able to write sooner. I simply have not had the strength until now. I am out of danger, I wanted you to know that right away, lest I cause you any more worry than I already have. The infection, while still ( Read more... )

Dear Sanosuke,

I hope that my letter finds you well and safe. Hell, I hope it finds you at all considering the directions you left me with. Honestly, “I’m off in Hokkaido with the Ambassador” hardly constitutes a proper mailing address! It’s a good thing that that the embassy had a forwarding address and that Dr. Morgan was willing to share it ( Read more... )