Festivities in the old days—The New Year’s Day—The New Year’s dreams—January—February—The Feast of Dolls—The Equinoctial day—Plum-blossoms—Cherry-blossoms—The flower season—Peach-blossoms—Tree-peonies and wistarias—The Feast of Flags—The Fête of the Yasukuni Shrine—Other fêtes—The Feasts of Tanabata and Lanterns—The river season—Moon-viewing—The Seven Herbs of Autumn—October—The Emperor’s Birthday—Chrysanthemums and maple-leaves—The end of the year. _Page 287._ CHAPTER XXII. Sports and Games. Hunting—Horse-racing—Fishing—Outdoor games—Billiards—_Sugoroku_—Iroha-cards—Ode-cards—_Ken_—Japanese chess—The moves—Use of prisoners—The game of _go_—Its principle—Camps—Counting—“Flowers-cards”—Players—How to play—Claims for hands—Claims for combinations made—Reckoning. _Page 305._ ILLUSTRATIONS. The Seven Herbs of Autumn Frontispiece. _Page._ A Street in Yedo (From a picture by Settan, 1783–1843) 13 A Shop in Tokyo 18 In the Slums 25 A House and a Gate 27 A Roofed and a Pair Gate 29 Door-fastenings 32 A House without a Gate 36 A Garden 38 A Six-matted Room and Verandah 41 The Porch, open and latticed 45 An Eight-matted Parlour 47 A Visitor 49 A Sitting-room 50 A Chest of Drawers and a Trunk 52 Foot-warmers 55 A Shrine of the Rice-god 57 A Meal-tray 60 How to hold Chopsticks 61 A Meal 63 The Kitchen 65 A Skylight and the Kitchen-god 67 A Well 69 Raw Fish, whole and sliced 72 _Sushi_ and _Soba_ 77 A Box of Sponge-cake 79 The _Kimono_, rear and front view 86