A helpful reader has sent me a couple of photos demonstrating that far from being obsolete, the expression aiaigasa (相合傘 - sharing an umbrella) which popped up in yesterday's post, is thriving in its incarnation as a youthful declaration of love:
Believe it or not, this one is still alive and kicking. Young kids carve little umbrellas into wood and put their initials underneath it, in much the same way that we do with initials and hearts back home. I saw fresh aiaigasas as recently as this New Years (drawn onto dirty glass). I took some pictures which I'll share with you. It's mostly elementary kids and jr. high schoolers who do this. Some joker put "ika" and "tako" under one. Enjoy!
Thanks Thomas!
when i was a kid living in japan at the end of showa jidai, we used to do this too, draw that mark and put your name and your crush underneath. however, i never knew what it was called. sometimes one would write the kanji for inochi on top.
Posted by: kalavinka | August 19, 2007 at 09:14 AM
that is such a lovely expression
nice sentiment!
Posted by: Aileen | August 23, 2007 at 11:32 AM
My students at senior high school here still love drawing aiaigasa. It's usually only the girls. I had the privilege once of a san-nen-sei (3rd year student) drawing one for me and my fiance. So cute!!
Posted by: Emma | August 24, 2007 at 11:58 AM
I told my friend Koji that I had learnt about this and he told me about how when he was at Junior High School, he had an exchange diary that he shared with his girlfriend at the time. They would exchange the diary and write an entry each on alternating days. They maintained the diary for over a year and Koji still has it now. On the first page is an umbrella below a love heart, with their names written underneath and "since 1985". So cute!
Posted by: Aileen | August 26, 2007 at 11:23 PM