There are also many “flower festivals,” such as those of viewing the plum, cherry, wistaria, iris, morning-glory, lotus, maple, etc.[58] One of the most important of the Buddhist festivals is that in honor of the spirits of the dead; it is called _Bon-matsuri_ and comes in the middle of July. Buddha’s birthday in April is also observed. There is a Japanese Memorial Day, celebrated twice a year in May and November, when immense crowds flock to the shrines called _Shōkonsha_, and pay their homage to the spirits of those who have died for their country. Moreover, space would fail to tell of the numerous local shrines and temples, Shintō and Buddhist, where the people flock annually or semi-annually, to “worship” a few minutes and enjoy a picnic for the remainder of the day. And, in Christian circles, Christmas, Easter, and Sunday-school picnics are important and interesting occasions. The common games are chess, _go_ (a very complicated game slightly resembling checkers), parchesi, and cards. Flower-cards and poetical quotations are old-style, but still popular; while Occidental cards, under the name of _torompu_ (“trump”) are coming into general use. Children find great amusement also with kites, tops, battledore and shuttlecock, snow-men, dolls, cards, etc.[59] The chief sports of young men are wrestling, rowing, tennis, and baseball. In the great American game they have become so proficient that they frequently win against the Americans and British who make up the baseball club of the Yokohama Athletic Association! Professional wrestling-matches[60] continue to draw large crowds to see the huge masses of flesh measure their strength and skill. _Jūjutsu_ is a kind of wrestling in which skill and dexterity are more important than mere physical strength.[61] Sleight-of-hand performers and acrobats are quite popular. The theatre[60] is a very important feature in the Japanese world of amusements, and still remains about the only place where Old Japan can be well studied. Theatrical performances in Japan are, of course, quite different from those in the Occident, and seem very tedious to Westerners, partly because they are so long and partly because they are unintelligible. When the writer attended the theatre in Mito, the play began, thirty minutes late, at 3:30 P. M., and continued, without interruption, until almost midnight. Then, according to custom, a short supplementary play of almost an hour’s duration followed, so that it was about one o’clock when he finally reached home. The Japanese, however, are accustomed to this “sweetness long drawn out,” and either bring their lunches or slip out between acts to get something to eat and drink, or buy tea and cake in the theatre.