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First-Time Mochi Maker |  |
Eve
Maya-san, that’s a wrap!
Maya
Yeah, good work, Eve-san! Do you have any plans after this?
Eve
No, not especially!
Maya
Shall we head home together then?
Eve
Sure!
Maya
So many things happened today, huh?
Eve
Yes, I feel like I had one-year worth of events in just one day today!
Eve
I must say… I really didn’t expect to draw great misfortune on New Years day…
Maya
Tell me about it… But in the end, it turned out to be a good first shrine visit for the year, so I’m glad!
Eve
Yes, I was able to get to know the others better as well, so it was a great New Years day!
Maya
Speaking of New Years, how do people in Finland spend it?
Eve
Hmm, let me think… Ah, everyone sets off fireworks to celebrate the New Year.
Eve
New Years is the only time of the year that we’re allowed to use fireworks at home!
Eve
You can see fireworks being set off all over town, so it’s really fun!
Maya
Ohh, that sounds exciting! Are there any other things that differ to what we do in Japan?
Eve
Hmm… Oh! Finland doesn’t have special New Years foods like osechi or anything like that.
Eve
Everyone has the usual foods like potato salads and sausages!
Eve
It takes a lot of work to cook food for Christmas, so most families make simple meals so that they can take it easy over the New Year.
Maya
That is the same approach we take to osechi in Japan too. It looks extravagant, but we always make a lot to last the whole new year period, so it makes life easier.
Eve
I see! So that’s how it works!
Maya
Oh, that reminds me, Eve-san... You said it was your first time to get a fortune slip. Does that mean you don’t have them in Finland?
Maya
I know that there’s things like tarot cards or fortune cookies...
Maya
Do you have anything like that connected to the New Year?
Eve
At New Years, we do Tinan Valaminen!
Maya
T-Ti-Tinan...?
Eve
Tinan Valaminen! It’s a way of seeing our fortune for a year, so I think it’s just like a fortune slip!
Maya
Th-That’s a name that is definitely going to tie my tongue in knots... How does it work?
Eve
We heat a horseshoe made of tin until it melts, and then we chill it in water.
Eve
We then look at the shape once it has become solid again, and that tells us our fortune for the year!
Maya
Ohh, that sounds kind of interesting! Are there certain shapes that are better or things like that?
Eve
I guess there are some shapes that if it turns into them, you might have good luck, but...
Eve
It’s not strict and structured like the fortune slips in Japan.
Maya
Huh? Wh-What do you mean? It’s a type of fortune telling, isn’t it?
Eve
It is, yes... Oh! For example, if you did it and it came out in the shape of a snake, what would you think of it?
Maya
Hmm... A snake... A white snake kind of feels like a symbol of good fortune...
Eve
In that case, you will have good fortune this year! ... It kind of works like this!
Maya
What? Th-That’s it?!
Eve
Yes! For example, if it looks like a bird, you might have a year where you can spread your wings!
Eve
... We use the shapes to talk about how we want our year to be.
Eve
It’s really fun to look at the shapes and discuss them!
Maya
The fact that you can decide the outcome yourself, means it’s quite an easy-going method of fortune telling, doesn’t it...?
Eve
Fufu, I guess it is when you compare it to fortune telling in Japan.
Eve
Oh, but...
Maya
What is it, Eve-san?
Eve
The fortune slip I got today isn’t any different, right?
Eve
I drew great misfortune, but because of that, I ended up having a fun New Year!
Eve
My great misfortune today depended on the way I looked at it. Just like Tinan Valaminen!
Eve
The important thing isn’t the result of the fortune telling, but the mindset you have when you look at it!
Maya
I see! Fufu, that’s very much like you at say, Eve-san.
Eve
Is it?
Maya
Yes, just listening to you is so refreshing. It’s perfect for starting the New Year!
Eve
I’m not sure what you mean, but I am glad you feel that way.
Maya
It was really fun hearing about New Years in Finland and everything else!
Eve
I am happy to hear it! Maya-san, happy New Year!
Maya
Oh, that’s what I should be saying. Happy New Year!
Transcript
Eve
Oh, BanG Dreamer-san! Happy New Year!
Eve
May this year be great for both of us! I am looking forward to it!
Eve
BanG Dreamer-san, how was your New Year?
Eve
I visited a shrine on the first day of the year! Maya-san and I went there as reporters for our work.
Eve
Yes, it was really fun!
Eve
In the beginning, I thought it was going to be an unhappy New Year because the fortune slip I drew was great misfortune, and I lost my pouch, but...
Eve
A kind stranger found my pouch and thanks to Kokoro-san I was able to experience some things I can only do at New Years, so it turned out to be a wonderful day!
Eve
We flew kites and made mochi! They were both difficult, but I was able to learn many things about New Years in Japan!
Eve
I was carrying something really important in my pouch, so I was truly relieved when we found it!
Eve
Inside it were my New Years cards! They are special treasures from my friends!
Eve
They were given to me by the other members of Pastel＊Palettes, my friends at school, and even from Hanne in Finland!
Eve
That's true, normally we send Christmas cards in Finland, but Hanne sent hers following Japanese traditions instead.
Eve
It was a picture of fireworks on it! It reminded me of New Years in Finland and brought back many memories.
Eve
You're surprised that we have fireworks in winter? In Finland, they are a very important part of our New Year!
Eve
Oh, Hanne also wrote on her New Years card that she wanted to come to Japan again! I was so happy!
Eve
Although, I might not have gotten these back if it wasn't for the lucky items...
Eve
Yes! Ako-san and Rinko-san bought a hamaya arrow and other lucky charms for me!
Eve
They bought them for me and said it was to blow away my great misfortune!
Eve
Maya-san, Kokoro-san, and Misaki-san searched really hard for my pouch too. I cannot thank them enough!
Eve
That reminds me, Japan has so many things that are considered to bring good luck at New Years! I was so surprised when I reading about them!
Eve
The one that surprised me the most the "one Fuji, two hawks, three eggplants" dream!
Eve
I can kind of understand why Mt. Fuji or hawks might bring good luck, but...
Eve
Why would eggplants be considered lucky? I cannot begin to imagine!
Eve
Perhaps eggplants contain mysteries I cannot understand just yet...
Eve
If I study more and more about Japan, it might start to make sense!
Eve
BanG Dreamer-san, have you ever dreamed about eggplants?
Eve
I haven't either, so now I am really curious!
Eve
If you ever dream of eggplants, please let me know!
Eve
I can't wait to hear about it!