Fear the Crab

A few years ago, I expressed an interest in figuring out what my family’s kamon was, or even if we had one.  My paternal grandmother has three kimono in her possession, each given as a memento.  Two were very formal kurotomesode (picture) from her mother and her mother-in-law, worn by each at her wedding.  At the time, she told me this was the kamon of her mother-in-law:

Chou

I figured this must be the crest of my grandfather, since it came from his side.  However, my grandmother can no longer remember which kimono was whose, so there is a chance she mixed the two up.  Maybe it was this crest, from the other kimono?

Myouga

The point might be moot, though.  I learned later (through a source I can no longer remember) that women were not obligated to wear their husband’s crest on their formal kimono, so I cannot state definitively whether or not my inherited crest is the butterfly, or the ginger, or neither.

For reasons unknown, I put off the search for other pursuits, and when I resumed it recently I went back to my grandmother, who showed me the third kimono, a gift to my uncle (my dad’s brother) for boys’ day.  Since it was a formal kimono with five kamon on the sleeves, chest and back, I felt that perhaps this one was the true crest of my family:

Sasa

The kimono even had protective paper over the crests, perhaps indicating a custom-make.  However, from everything I’ve been able to glean about kimono, kamon, and my family, there is a very good chance that this kimono was simply purchased as-is, or perhaps already in possession of someone who decided to hand it down to my uncle.  Which meant that this crest could potentially be mine, or representative of a completely different family (related or not).

In order to be sure, I hired a local company that offers research into Japanese family crests.  I figured if a third-party could confirm or deny my findings, it might be worth it to know for sure.  I sent in the required data of family name and region we came from.  I even added these pictures of crests as well as the kanji for our family name, as it might help narrow the field.

* * *

One month later, I get the result:

Meyui

For me it was completely from left field.  I did not expect a totally different crest, though perhaps I should have, given the rather arbitrary mutability of kamon historically.  I wish the researcher who found this crest included some kind of statement, even if it was as simple as “I don’t know whose crests the others are, but this one is actually yours.  I found it at Someplace, Somewhere.”

By “arbitrary mutability,” I mean that kamon often underwent small changes as it passed from father to son and beyond, usually an indication of the later generations attempting to establish their own significance.  Kamon also held more weight in the past, but with time people kept taking new ones or making them up as they went along. It stands to reason that at some point in my family’s history, someone somewhere picked up this crest.  It could have been adopted a very long time ago, or as recently as those that sailed the Pacific to settle here.

I still can’t definitively state that the above is actually my family’s crest.  Even though the result comes from a third-party, it’s possible that they just slapped any old design on fancy paper and called it mine.  Or they’re completely legitimate and after extensive and thorough research via family temples and graveyards, they have discovered that this is the true kamon of my familial name.

Maybe it doesn’t matter.  What does the kamon represent?  Is it a link to the past?  Does it regale with legends of old, of battles won and lost, of honor and glory found?  Is it something I show to people and say, “Hey look, this is my crest, it means awesome?”

If the kamon is a representation of the family, I think what matters more is what I do with it now.  Perhaps the true significance of kamon is as a visual symbol of how I lived this life, what values I upheld and what people remember of me.  Perhaps the kamon is as much a reminder as it is a symbol, that what I do and how I treat others has consequences.  Like the corporate logos of famous brands, people may associate this kamon with my current and future deeds, and that is certainly something worth remembering.

The new Americast tub was installed today.

The tub

This type of tub doesn’t have legs and relies on a 2×4 secured against the wall underneath the back ledge.  Apparently that length of wood is what supports the tub, along with the wall itself.  The plumber told me something about putting some kind of material underneath in the space between the tub and the concrete base, but I didn’t quite understand whether it was for support to dampening the sound of water against the surface.

One thing I was not aware of when I bought this tub was that there are certain no-nos when it comes to cleaning it.  I can’t use Brillo pads or abrasive cleaners like Comet.  Instead I have to use a sponge or rag with mild cleansers such as dish-washing liquid or Liquid Tide.  There are also peculiar strips on the bottom of the tub, whose documentation indicates they are to prevent slippage, but apparently they also prevent dirt from being cleaned off.  The plumber said that no matter what I do, eventually these now-semi-invisible areas will become quite noticeable.  I can only hope the staining matches the walls, to make it look intentional, you know?

The plumber also installed new copper pipes for the water, as well as the Grohe pressure valve designed to regulate it all.

The shower pipes

The line for the shower head is off-center to accommodate the handshower system we purchased. The plumber will install the bar in the center so that the shower head is situated in a more-natural position.  He remarked that most showers actually have a fixed head and a separate hand-shower, using a diverter valve to determine which one water will flow through.  I told him that my experience has always been with a single outlet for water, whether it was a fixed shower head or a hand-shower.  He didn’t seem that impressed.

Here’s a closeup of the shower valve.

The pressure valve

This thing is super expensive, but it’s supposed to last a long long time, so hopefully it will pay for itself in the duration.  I don’t know if that black cap will stay on, but on the outside, this particular trim will cover it.

From what I can understand, the pressure valve will maintain a constant flow, and the handle is used more to determine the temperature.  This is slightly different than what I am used to, in which the handle controls the flow and a separate knob (often set in the handle) controls how hot it gets.  I’m sure I won’t mind either way.

The materials for the wall repair arrived, and much work was accomplished.

New wall, base

There’s still a bit of work left at the base, but it is progress nonetheless.  I’m particularly happy about the replacement of that wooden beam.

New wall, top

The redwood planks used to repair the wall were pre-cut.  I guess the size has changed over the last 40 years, because it obviously does not line up the same.  I am not too worried about that, however, since this section will be covered by the shower tile that will reach all the way to the ceiling.

Closet floor

The workers also replaced the rotten section of floor in the bedroom closet next door.  The gray stuff is a protective sealant that will be applied along the edge, in the hopes that it will prevent future damage.  We also sealed the exterior.

Exterior wall, base

This is the area I referenced earlier, where the slope and years of rain are strong contenders for being the cause of all this trouble.  The rain gutter spout right next to it probably doesn’t help.  We plan to do something about that, perhaps get a cheap plastic “extension” or some kind of diverting funnel to move the water away from the house.

Maybe drop it into the neighbor’s yard.