title: Girls' Day / Boys' Day
author: Minako Ishii
description: The first thing that catches the eye with the nifty new two-books-in-one "Girls' Day/Boys' Day" is its size. At seven inches by seven inches, it's just right for little hands. Kids can pick a story, "Girls' Day," or "Boys' Day," by turning the book upside down, and over. <P>Brief text covers both events, highlighting similarities and differences between community, school and family celebrations that take place in Japan and in Hawai'i. <P>Impressive interior images of celebrations in Kyoto, Chiba and Honolulu bleed over the pages alongside smaller inset photos. <P>The text is succinct and filled with interesting tidbits. For example, Girls' Day began in China as a religious ceremony, and Japanese nobles adopted the custom more than 1,000 years ago. Dolls, kimono and food customs are detailed. <P>While Girls' Day is celebrated each year on the third day of the third month, Boys' Day falls on the fifth day of the fifth month. For Boys' Day, the significance of samurai, the iris and flying carp are explained. Children and adults will find much to enjoy in these pages, as, in all, this is a delightful work of nonfiction. -- <i>The Honolulu Advertiser, March 4, 2007</i>
zlib_text: 
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
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  Our Song by Yoshii Akihisa
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  Let's buy a sky-blue pen.
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  And treat everyday as an anniversary.
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  Draw a round circle on the calendar, and add another memory to us.
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  There's no need to bother about the reason.
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  We're living now,
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  Just this fact would make this day irreplaceable, a day worth remembering.
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  The blue rings drawn on the calendar are,
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  The days called 'Survive a Near-Death Experience day'.
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
    
  
  
  Author: Yoshii Akihisa.
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
    
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
    
  
  
    
  
  
    
  
  
  
  
  
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  Me and Doubt and a Man's Pride
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  “Akihisa-kun, if I win the next round, can you please put on this girl's
  outfit?”
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  “Ahaha, you really like to joke around, Himeji-san.”
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  “Akihisa-kun, if I win the next round, can you please put on this girl's
  outfit?”
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  “Ahaha, your joke's quite good, Himeji-san.”
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  “Akihisa-kun, if I win the next round, can you please put on this girl's
  outfit?”
  
  
  