customers, correspondents, etc., as an amends—so it is haltjocularly said—for cheating them during the rest of the twelve month. At present, when all such antique customs are falling into desuetude, the 2oth October has come to be regarded rather as a day for what are called konshinkwai—social gatherings, that is, of the members of a guild, political coterie, learned society, and so forth.
November has several Shintō festivals. The most notable of these, held in honour of the Goddess of the Kitchen-range (Hellsui no Kami), and termed Fuigo Matsuri, or the Feast of Bellows, takes place on the 8th. Fires are then also lighted in honour of Inari and other deities in the courts of Shintō temples,—the reason, so far as Inari is concerned, being the assistance rendered by that deity to the famous swordsmith Kokaji, for whom she blew the bellows while he was forging a sword for an ancient Mikado.
Nov. 15.—This is the day on which children who have reached the age of three are supposed to leave off having their heads shaved. It is accordingly called Kami-oki, that is, "hair-leaving," but corresponds to no actual reality, at least in modern times. The Kazuki-zome, or, "first veiling" of girls aged five, and the Hakama-gi, or "first trowsering" of boys aged five, formerly took place on the same day; but these also are now empty names.
Dec. 8.—The Hari no Kuyō, a festival at which women rest from the constant use of the needle by entertaining the other members of the household,—they, and not the men, directing matters for the nonce.
Thus ends the year. The adoption of the European calendar in 1873 tended to disorganise the old Japanese round of festivals; for with New Year coming five or six weeks earlier than formerly, the association of each holiday with a special season was destroyed. How go out and search for spring herbs on the yth January, when winter weather is just beginning, instead of showing signs of drawing to an end? Confronted with this difficulty, usage has
