35. The Red Garments
It was on December 26, 1874, that Oyasama wore red garments for the first time. Oyasama had suddenly said:
“I will wear red garments.”
Then Matsue and daughter Kokan set out to Nara in the morning to buy cloth, and came back toward noon. When they returned, Naragiku Nishio (renamed Osame Masui), Masu Masui (renamed Suma Murata), Kaji Nakata and other women were doing chores in the Residence. Since Oyasama had said:
“I will wear them as soon as they are ready,”
they all helped, sewing in haste, and the red garments were completed by evening. Oyasama wore them for the first time that night. It is said that Oyasama, dressed in the red garments, sat on the dais; and the people in attendance enjoyed sweet rice wine in celebration of the occasion.
Anecdotes of Oyasama, pp. 28–29.