落雁の盛りこみ（the set of hard dry sweets made of soy flour)

『落雁の盛込み』

　私の幼い頃、親戚でよく結婚式やお葬式や法事がありました。いつも母が出席していました。そして夕方、母を送ってくださった方と二人で両手に持ちきれないほどのお引き物を持って、母は帰ってきました。それをすぐ上の兄と私は胸をわくわくさせて待っていました。

　結婚式ですと、30センチ位かと思いますが、大きな鯛の形をした落雁、りんご、柿、梨、葡萄等の果物の形をした落雁、それにレンコン、白菜、大根、サトイモ、にんじん等の形をした落雁の盛り込み。お葬式では、蓮、菊、きのこ等の形をした落雁の盛り込みでした。

　次の日、お正月にお餅を切る時のまな板の上で、その時の人数分に合わせて母は落雁を切り分けるのです。それがうれしくて、うれしくて…。全員が見守る中、鯛から始まります。細い尾尻の方は切り身が厚く、太い胴の部分は薄いのです。全部切り終わると、一番年下の私が最初に切り身を選ぶことができるのですが、なかなか決心がつきません。いつもですと兄や姉が口ぞえをして助けてくれるのですが、その時ばかりは彼らも同じ競争相手ですから、教えてもらえません。自分の判断で切り身を選ばなければなりません。すぐ上の兄は迷っている私に向かって、「早く取らないか！」と怒鳴ります。そしてやっと自分の取り分が手に入ります。その時の盛込みの落雁のおいしかったこと！本当に今でも忘れられません。

"the set of hard dry sweets made of soy flour"

　In my youth there were many wedding ceremonies, funeral services and Buddhist services among the relatives. It was always my mother who attended them. And she came home in the evening, accompanied by one of the attenders, with their hands full of presents given to the guests. The youngest son, my brother and the youngest daughter , I were excitedly waiting for her to come home.

　In the case of wedding ceremonies, the set included a bream-shaped hard dry sweet( called "rakugan" in Japanese) the size of about 30 cm, fruit-shaped rakugans such as apples, persimmons, pears, grape and so on, and vegetable-shaped rakugans such as lotus roots, Chinese cabbages, Japanese radishes, taros and so on. In the case of funeral services, the set included flower-shaped rakugans such as lotuses,chrysanthemums, mushrooms and so on.

　Next day on the board for cutting a rice cake in a New Year, my mother used to divide the rakugans among the family member then staying at home. I was looking forward to the family event. She starts with a bream-shaped rakugan among the whole family watching intently; She cuts its tail thick and its trunk thin. So I could not decide which to choose its pieces, though I, the youngest child in the family, had the right to choose the pieces before everyone else. On usual occasion my elder brothers and sisters would give me some advice, but they did not this time. Because all the children in my family have a competitive relationship in this case. So I have to choose the pieces on my own. My youngest, elder brother shouts at me who can not make a decision, "Take your portion soon!" At length I have obtained my portion! I can not really forget how delicious the rakugan was.