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After they put on their sandals, Mandy realized something.

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"Seiko, we have no money to buy these," she said.

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"It is a gift," said Seiko.

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She said good-bye to her aunt and picked up her basket of flowers.

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They went back onto the street.

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"Did you come to Sendai with Shogun Ieyasu?" asked Seiko.

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"Who's he?" asked Vinnie, forgetting about the general.

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Seiko looked at him strangely and said,

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"You do not know Shogun Ieyasu?"

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"Well, oh sure," said Vinnie nervously.

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"The shogun has come a long way to see Daimyo Masamune," said Seiko.

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"Why?" asked Mandy.

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"The shogun likes to visit all the daimyos in every district," she said, "to make sure they are obeying his orders."

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"What's going on over there?"

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Vinnie pointed to a crowd buying colorful strips of paper.

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"People are getting ready for the Star Festival," Seiko said.

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"Sendai celebrates the festival better than any other town!"

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"Why are they decorating those trees?"

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Mandy noticed bamboo trees along the street with shiny pieces of paper hanging from their branches.

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"People write their wishes on paper and then tie them to the trees," explained Seiko.

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"The wind carries their wishes away and makes them come true."

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Seiko turned into a small street off the main road.

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The children followed.

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They finally came to a narrow road with two-story buildings on each side.

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"This is where I live," said Seiko.

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Bright and colorful fabrics hung from poles along the rooftops.

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They swayed with each gentle breeze.

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"What is this place?" asked Vinnie.

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"It's my home and a dye factory.

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My family and another family all work together.

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We make the most beautiful kimono in all of Sendai," Seiko said proudly.

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She took them inside her home.

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Seiko's parents and her brother were stirring the dyed cloth in large wooden vats.

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"The flowers I picked will be used to dye the fabric," said Seiko.

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She handed the flowers to her father.

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"What kind of flowers are they?" asked Mandy.

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"They are called safflowers," said Seiko.

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Mandy touched the dyed fabric.

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It felt soft and smooth.

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Seiko's mother spoke to her daughter.

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"My mother will bring you some food and drink," said Seiko.

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"Thank you," said Vinnie.

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He remembered the rice at Master Masamune's house.

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It had looked very good.

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A few minutes later Seiko's mother appeared with two bowls on a tray.

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"Is that rice?" Vinnie asked eagerly.

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Seiko's mother bowed to them.

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"I apologize. Only samurai are allowed to have rice.

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I can only offer porridge."

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Vinnie felt embarrassed for wanting rice.

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He took the bowls and bowed to Seiko's mother.

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"This looks delicious!" he said.

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"Thank you very much."