"And there are banners and swords, and images of the famous generals of Japan dressed in splendid armor. My father always plays with me on the day of the Flag Festival, and he tells me about the brave soldiers of our country.
"In the evening the people light their prettiest paper lanterns, and hang them in the gardens and before every house and store.
"Sometimes my father takes me boat-riding, and the most beautiful sight of all is the river with the many colored lights twinkling from the boats."
Hana and Tora tell us about other great festivals of their country, and they invite us to visit them again at the time of the Feast of Cherry Blossoms.
A dip of the nose,
A turn of the toes,
A spread of the hand,
A bend of the knees—
It takes all these
To say "Good day"
In chrysanthemum land
So far away.
[MARCH]
In March come the March winds;
They blow and they blow,
They sweep up the brown leaves,
That green ones may grow.
—Selected.