November 14 - 15, 1953 Lovely Mums and The Shichi-go-san Festival

Diary Entry:  Nov. 14, 1953

"Ann Harbin came before we finished breakfast to ask us to go to Hirakata. Left about 9:30.  Beautiful day.  Loveliest mums of all varieties. 

Scenes with characters dressed in flowers, boats made of flowers, castle (Osaka) done in mums.  Playground for children, rides of all sorts.  Saw play (musical comedy) all girl cast.  Beautiful staging and costumes.  Ceiling even opened & was mass of paper wisteria & lanterns.  Show was fabulous.  I bought two furoshiki for souvenirs.

 Took our lunch and ate on the mt. side. 

On way over stopped and took pictures of small school children exercising outdoors."

Diary Entry:  Nov. 15, 1953

"Went into Kobe to see Shichi-go-san.  Little children dressed beautifully.  B took pictures of children with parents' permission--they seemed pleased as punch.  Went to the Oriental Hotel for lunch--elegant spot.  Bought Ann's long underwear.  Strolled along Motomachi.  Came home & Ann put on her u-wear.  Looked so cute."

NOTE:  The Shichi-go-san (seven-five-three) is a celebration honoring the healthy growth of children of ages 7, 5, and 3.