MK-18, Chrysanthemum & Butterfly
MK-19, Hyotan (Bottle Gourd &
Bee)
MK-20, Chikubushima (Chikubu Island).
This design was selected from a Noh play, "Chikubushima".
Chikubushima is actually a small island on Biwa Lake near to Kyoto.
There have only been a few temples built there over the past hundreds
of years, but no residences or businesses.
The story of the Noh is about the island where a vassal asked an
old man who was a young woman on a boat for a ride. The vassal asked
the old man why a woman is allowed to this island against the regulations.
The old man replied that the young woman is the goddess Bensaiten
of music and wisdom, and both of us are not human. Then, the goddess
went into the temple and the old man disappeared into the lake.
After a while, the Bensaiten came out in bright dress and danced,
while in the lake the old man also appeared again from the water
with a lot of treasures and gave it to the vassal. He wants him
to help his people before he goes back into his Dragon Palace in
the lake. The technique is Shishiai Togidashi Maki-e.
MK-24, Ninjas
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