Children of the Sun. William H. Clark

      

      Children of the Sun

      Representatives

      For Continental Europe:

      BOXERBOOKS, INC., Zurich

      For the British Isles:

      PRENTICE-HALL INTERNATIONAL, INC., London

      For Australasia:

      PAUL FLESCH & CO., PTY. LTD., Melbourne

      Published by the Charles E. Tuttle Company, Inc.

       of Rutland, Vermont & Tokyo, Japan

       with editorial offices at

       Osaki Shinagawa-ku, Tokyo 141-0032

      Copyright in Japan, 1965

       by Charles E. Tuttle Co., Inc.

      All rights reserved

      Library of Congress Catalog Card No. 65-15291

       ISBN 978-1-4629-1798-3 (ebook)

      First printing, 1965

      PRINTED IN JAPAN

      Children of the Sun

      is dedicated to our son, Billy

      who saw his first dawn in Japan

      played in the sunshine there

      and who will be able to rejoice someday

      in life’s final sunset

      as he finds his friends and classmates

      safe in the arms of Jesus

      Ta-chan, No-chan, and Billy-chan going to kindergarten together

      Photography by Commander Douglas W. Finrow USNR

       and other anonymous photographers

       Courtesy of Fuji Film Company, Tokyo

      TABLE OF CONTENTS

       THE DAWN

       A Little One Is Born

       Special Occasions for a Japanese Baby

       More Special Days for Baby

       Poor Little Sparkle

       Little Heathen Child

       Seven-Five-Three Festival

       Shy Tomi

       Little Pumpkin Head

       Kindergarten

       IN THE SUNSHINE

       Girls’ Day

       Hands that Talk

       Boys’ Day

       Sumo Wrestling

       A Grandmother’s Plea

       Little Eighth One

       Autumn Flower

       Little River

       Naughty Kazuko

       School Is Fun

       Because of an Egg

       My Name Is My Problem

       AT DUSK

       To Please a Thousand Gods

       My Mother Saw Heaven

       Yuken, the Miner’s Son

       Christmas in Japan

       New Year’s Traditions

       Silvery’s Secret

       The Sunset

      THE DAWN

      For the beautiful morning

      After a restful night,

      For food and clothing warm

      We thank Thee, Heavenly Father.

      (Courtesy of Nihon Kirisutokyodan Sambika Iinkai. Children's hymn in Japanese, copyright release no. 88)

      Our baby

      A Little One Is Born

      A little one is born.

      What dreams are born with him.

      What longings, hopes, and wishes

      Fill his parents’ hearts this day.

      A little heathen child is born,

      Born to worship idols deaf,

      Born to honor ancestors dead,

      Born to live with superstitions,

      Born to die?

      Oh, why should it be?

      This little babe should hear of Jesus,

      This little soul would trust I’m sure.

      Baby dear, I’ll come to your land.

      Just wait, I’ll soon be there ...

      A walk with Grandpa

      Special Occasions for a Japanese Baby

      In Japan babies are usually born at their grandmother’s house. Right away they are given a bath in a big wooden tub.

      7th Day: On this day the tiny baby has his first haircut. With a straight razor his head and neck are shaven, leaving just a black fringe on the top of his head. Then all of the relatives come to a dinner of red rice (rice and red beans cooked together). The rice is very pretty and tasty, with sesame seed and salt sprinkled on top. At this time, too, the new baby is given his name.

      Baby doesn’t like the good-luck dragon!

      More Special Days for Baby

      32nd Day: Today Baby is dedicated to the neighborhood gods. The baby is dressed in a beautiful, embroidered silk kimono and taken on his grandmother’s back. Before they enter the Shinto shrine’s courtyard, the grandmother dips water from a stone trough and washes her mouth and hands.

      Above the shrine door is a metal gong which Grandmother rings and then claps her hands twice and bows low. Soon the priest, wearing a bright silk brocade robe, waves