Why I was offline yesterday

[Saionji Shonagon]

Yesterday saw the investiture of Reikoku Takeshi and Hosokawa Sora as Prince and Princess of Cynagua in the Kingdom of the West. I am indebted to Ii Saburou Katsumori for his assistance in rendering my portion of the ceremony in Romaji so I could represent His Highness.

The first photos I've seen are up at
www.facebook.com/#!/album.php?fbid=494685511043&id=671246043&aid=274749

(What, doesn't EVERY girl have a Namban translator as fashion accessory?)

Yes, there was taiko! One of the court members plays with Sonoma County Taiko and convinced his friends to come help us celebrate.

The next six months are going to be fun.

[kazuyama]

Seeing this makes me realize just how much sewing I have to do for my family.
I wish I could have seen this, and the translator was a nice touch as an accessory

[Saionji Shonagon]

It was a fun event. Lots of people got into the spirit and made Japanese clothing for the event/reign.

The translator was a last minute addition. I was originally going to address the outgoing Prince in Japanese, then again in English. (It's a flowery your-time-is-done-your-successor-is-here speech.) During the run-through we tried it with me pausing at the end of each sentence and a herald interspersing the English, then Talon (the gentleman in red and black behind me) volunteered to do it on the day. I must also credit the excellent acoustics. The venue was the ritual room of a Masonic hall and though I was facing the dais, I am told I was clearly audible at the back of the room.