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.