Lang-8にアップしている日記（２０１０年）です。
Here are some excerpts from my diary in Lang-8.
I appreciate it if you correct my English :)
("-chan," which you often see in my diary, is something used when we call or mention someone who is very young. It's also used when you call girls' names in Japan, as in "Hanako-chan," "Fumie-chan." This "-chan" plays an important role in Japanese in that it gives you a vivid image of a little kid instantly in your mind. I may not use "-chan" when I write something in English, but it has become part of my daughters' names when I call their names, so I cannot help but use it :) )
---
- March 29
Spring Wind
I went to a park far from my town for the first time in about 20 years. The park is located in a city where one of my aunts was living. My mother used to take me and my brothers there. I went there to find something which would remind me of my mother, but the park was totally different from the park I remembered. The ice cream shop was gone, and the slide which I had thought was gigantic was not that tall.
My two-year-old daughter, Tomo-chan, paid little attention to the beautiful cherry blossoms. She was running, jumping and laughing all around in the park as if she were a spring wind.
- April 28
Picture Drawing
I have seven holidays from tomorrow on.
Tomo-chan is going to receive a little award for her picture drawing. This is the first prize she is going to get, so my wife and I are a little nervous.
She insists she has drawn flowers, but I cannot recognize any flowers at all.
I asked her, “Is this a stone?”
She said, “Chau (No)!!” and punched me.
- May 1
Onsen Girl
Yesterday I asked Tomo-chan where she would like to go. She answered,
"Onsen (Hot spring)."
I guess girls of the same age would like parks and zoos...
She drinks coffee with milk after taking a bath.
- May 6
Softball
My Golden Week holidays are gone. I go back to work today.
I am going to practice softball tonight, because there is a softball tournament in my town on Sunday.
I am not cut out for ball-related sports, especially baseball and softball. My batting average is about 0.00005.
My wife said the other day if I could hit a ball, she would buy me a car.
- May 7
I’m Your Father, You Know
Tomo-chan has been interested in lots of things around her lately, and she’s been asking questions like,
"Kore Nani (What's this?)"
I'm glad that she's learning the names of the things around her. She also asks me and my wife, saying
"Namae Ha? (What's your name?)"
But she seems to have trouble pronouncing "Na-," so it often sounds like,
"Omae Ha? (Who the hell are you?)"
- May 8
Her Target Is Milk
Tomo-chan loves to sing, and has started to sing her own original songs recently.
Here's her latest song released in the kitchen on May 8;
"♪Tooodokaaanaiiiii (I can't reach the fridge door)"
"♪Tooodokaaaanaiiiiiiii (I can't reach the fridge door)"
〇
- May 10
Lollipop
In the bathtub, my wife asked our two-year-old daughter,
"What kind of boys do you like?"
She answered,
"Peropero-Kyangi (Lollipop)."
- May 14
Spider
I am scared of spiders.
I am scared to death of spiders!
A spider is living in the bathroom at home.
His name is Devil.
I ask my two-year-old daughter to scare him away.
My daughter is stronger than me.
So is my wife.
- May 14
June
June is just around the corner. I don't like June very much.
For one thing, it has no holidays.
Second of all, it's rainy in June in Japan.
One nice thing about June, though, is that you can hear frogs sing when it rains.
My daughter loves frogs too, and sings "Kaeru-no-Uta (Frogs' Song)" about ten times a day.
- May 17
Growing Up
Last year, my daughter was holding my little finger when walking.
This year, she's holding my little finger and ring finger.
- May 19
Long Way To Go
I played badminton with my fellow teachers after school yesterday.
We played three doubles matches.
This is an annual sports event in my school. Some teachers play table tennis, some go for a walk.
I started playing badminton last year when I started to be in charge of the badminton club.
I put into the matches all the energy and technique that I learned throughout the year.
My team lost three matches out of three.
This is a top secret to my club students.
- May 20
Babies' House?
My daughter used to say,
"Mommy and dad came to me."
At first, I thought she was talking about my wife and me picking her up at her nursery every evening.
My daughter started attending nursery once a week after finishing her full time nursery period. Yet, she kept saying the same thing almost every day.
Wondering why, one day my wife asked her,
"Where from?"
She replied,
"(Pointing at the sky) There."
I asked her,
"What's there up in the sky?"
She said to us,
"A house."
- May 21
Environmentally-Friendly Two-Year-Old Girl
In the morning --
Me "Hey, don't toy with your diaper."
My daughter "Okay."
At night --
My daughter "Daddy, turn off the light in the bathroom."
Me "O-okay."
- May 22
Nice Try
My daughter "I want to go to the zoo."
My wife "You know, you can't go to the zoo every day."
My daughter "...Haru-chan said she wants to go to the zoo too."
Haru-chan is her younger sister.
She is three months old.
- May 23
Give-and-Take
While I was buttoning up my daughter's shirt, she was removing sleep from my eyes.
- May 28
I’m Not Your Guest
When I am hectic at work, I cannot see my daughter while she is awake.
The other day, I had breakfast with her for the first time in a long time.
I said to her, "See you," and was about to leave the living room.
Then she said to me,
"Matakitene (Come to my house again)."
- May 29
Pudding-bowl Haircut
My daughter got a haircut the other day.
My wife cut her hair.
Now she looks like a dancing mushroom.
- May 31
You Are The One
Yesterday morning, during breakfast --
(Haru-chan is a baby girl)
My wife "Can you pass me the milk?"
Me "Here you are."
My daughter "Hey, Haru-chan is asleep. DON'T TALK so LOUDLY! Talk quietly, people."
Me "Sorry, but your mother just wanted..."
My daughter "NO buts, daddy!! What if Haru-chan gets up and cr- ACHOO! AAAchooooouu!"
- June 5
Domestic Violence
My two-year-old daughter can't stop laughing once she starts to laugh.
A Japanese phrase goes,"Hashi Ga Koronndemo Okashii Toshigoro"
This phrase literally means that girls, especially teenagers, will laugh even when chopsticks fall and roll on the ground. It's often used for someone who laughs over trivial matters.
Laughter is the best medicine. I'm happy that she laughs very often.
There is one problem, though.
She keeps slapping my buttocks when she laughs.
- June 6
Champion
I have been practicing Shorinji Kempo, which is one of Japanese martial arts, for more than 25 years. I have confidence in my defence. No one has punched or kicked me for the last decade.
But my two-year-old daughter kicks my face at least five times a night while she is sleeping.
- June 7
Mother
My wife has stopped wearing high heels, so I asked her why yesterday.
She answered,
"How could I run after my daughter with high heels on?"
- June 9
Atta Appetite
The other day, my family and I went to a local shopping mall.
After we finished our shopping, we went to an ice cream shop there.
When we finished eating, my two-year-old daughter picked up her empty ice cream cup and started to walk away from the table.
"Where are you going?" I asked.
She took it to the shop counter, trying to give it back to the shop clerk.
"Atta girl! I'm proud of you." I said.
Then she turned to me and said,
"Ringo-Jusu (I want apple juice)."
- June 11
Firefly
My family and I went to see fireflies at a nearby river tonight.
It was the first time our eldest daughter had seen the fireflies, and she insisted she stay in the car. She was scared of the firelies!
When my wife, baby and I got off the car, she jumped out of the car, and came right between my wife and me.
There were dozens of beautiful fireflies out there tonight.
I lost track of time and enjoyed watching them.
I hope my daughters and their children will be able to see beautiful fireflies in the future too.
- June 17
Tortoise Diet
I did Show & Tell for the first time in my English class yesterday.
Some students introduced their baseball gloves, some introduced favorite books and others autographed balls.
One of the students brought a big tortoise to school.
(I had asked him to draw a picture of it or take a picture before!)
He asked me in the morning to keep it outside his classroom until the Show & Tell, so I put it near my desk in the teacher's room.
It kept scratching the inside glass of the aquarium, squeaking for a good six hours.
I think I lost two kilograms or so yesterday.
- June 18
Trans"parent"
My daughter looked me in the eye and said to me last night,
"Papa, Osoine (What's taking daddy so long?)"
- June 20
Cake Song
My daughter loves singing.
She sometimes makes her own original song;
--- My wife "Tomo-chan, there's a cake in the fridge."
My daughter "♪Tomo-chan noooo (I'm gonna eat the cake)"
"♪Tomo-chan noooo (I'm gonna eat the cake)"
"♪Papa, Gakko (Daddy, go to work)"
- June 21
Daughter’s Day
My wife took my father and me to a hot spring yesterday, as a surprise.
It was Father's Day yesterday in Japan.
I thanked her and decided to take it easy and relax the whole day, but then my two-year-old daughter slipped on the bathroom floor.
Imagine a patrol car and a fire engine siren going off in a small room; that’s how noisy it was.
After crying out loud, her "concert" began. She forced me and my father to sing along with her.
When leaving the bathroom, she said to the bathtub, "Onsen, Mata Kurune (Mr. Hot Spring, see you again)."
- June 22
Sesame Street
Since I teach English, I try to listen to English as much as possible.
In my car, I listen to English MDs that I have recorded.
They are from movies, NHK English TV programs, sitcoms, vocabulary CD books, English news and many others.
My favorite is Sesame Street.
I like Telly Monster very much.
Now imagine a 35-year-old man at the wheel, grinning as he listens to Sesame Street.
It's scary.
- June 23
Am I A Bird?
During breakfast the other day --
Me "Morning. Can you give me half of your bread?"
Daughter "Okay." (She gave me about one hundredth of her bread)
- June 24
Girls Today
I am working for a boys' school.
At the end of the fourth period, the students always burst out of the classrooms and run to the school cafeteria.
Yesterday I said to my fellow teacher who has worked in a girls' school,
"I bet you didn't see this kind of race in the girls' school."
He said no, but he also said,
"Some girls kept eating food displayed at the school cafeteria in secret every day and got grounded for two weeks."
I have two daughters.
On second thought, my first daughter robs me of my food.
- June 26
Medical Checkup
I went to the hospital for a medical checkup yesterday.
I had taken a medical checkup at work, and I was supposed to have my kidneys and white blood cells checked again.
My wife insisted on going to the hospital with me, but I asked her to stay at home to take care of our two daughters. One of the two is still a baby girl.
One hour after I arrived in the hospital, to my surprise, my wife came to the hospital.
She said she was worried about my health. She told me she had squeezed her breast milk at home and given it to our mother, asking her to take care of our daughters.
I noticed she didn't wear makeup. She kept sitting right next to me in the hospital.
The doctor told me that nothing was seriously wrong with my kidneys and white blood cells.
We dropped by the cafe in the hospital and had a short date there. We ordered pudding.
Looking at her face, I remembered what she had said to me three years before;
"If, which is a big if, your cancer comes back to you, I will stay with you."
Then and there, I decided to propose to her.
- June 27
Pecking Order
In our bedroom, I usually sleep at the closest position to the door. My two-year-old daughter is the second closest, my wife is the third, and my five-month-old daughter is the farthest.
Last night --
Wife "(To our two-year-old daughter) Will you close the door?"
Daughter "(To me) Will you close the door?"
- June 28
Finishing Blow
Yesterday at the dinner table, I was talking about the badminton practice match held at my junior high school. My wife asked how my students' team was, pouring barley tea into my two-year-old daughter's glass.
Me "My team lost in most matches!"
Daughter "Kampaaaai(Cheers)!"
- June 30
Negotiator
When you put "na" after some Japanese verbs, it sounds a little cuter.
Yesterday, during dinner --
Daughter "Mama, Tomato Kudasai (Mommy, give me your tomato).
My wife "No. You've had enough, haven't you?"
Daughter "Kudasai-na."
- July 2
Don’t Move
I make it a rule to make my students laugh as many times as possible at school. That’s what schools are all about. I want them to have pleasant memories at school. But when they break their promises or speak ill of others, I become probably one of the scariest teachers on earth. When I say "Oi (Hey)." to my students in the classroom, they get dead silent. Literally no sound is to be heard.
My pet phrase "Don't make me angry." often makes my students tremble. Some even cry.
Last night in the bathroom, my two-year-old daughter put a rubber ducky on my head. I was not allowed to move.
- July 3
Torture
My two-year-old daughter often asks me to draw pictures.
Me "What would you like me to draw?"
Daughter "Spiders."
(I'm scared to death of spiders)
Me "Anything else?"
Daughter "Spiders. Big ones."
- July 4
Growing Up
I felt something heavy on my left arm this morning, which woke me up.
I first thought it was my wife's head, but it turned out to be my daughter's.
I wish my daughter were two years old forever.
- July 5
Small Yet Big Sister
My two-year-old daughter Tomo-chan has started to take the time to be a sister to Haru-chan, her younger sister.
Haru-chan is five months old, and has started to turn from side to side in the baby bed. Tomo-chan always encourages her by saying, "Haru, Gambare (Go for it)."
When Haru-chan throws up the breast milk, Tomo-chan wipes her mouth. When we go out, Tomo-chan grabs the stroller and pushes it. While she’s pushing it, her face is behind the stroller. She isn't tall enough.
When she takes care of Haru-chan, she keeps saying,
"Haru, Kawaiine (Haru is cute, isn't she?)."
But she seems to have difficulty in pronouncing "Ka," so this sounds like
"Haru, Kowaine (Haru is scary, isn't she?)."
"Haru, Mechamecha Kowaiine (Haru is extremely scary, isn't she?)."
- July 7
Fortunetelling
If my two-year-old daughter has one piece of rice on her cheek at the end of dinner, I will have a good day the next day.
If she has two pieces, I'll have a great day.
If she has no rice on her cheeks, I'll have average luck.
- July 10
Fireworks
Today at the dinner table, we heard fireworks from the next town.
Next thing I knew, my two-year-old daughter was sitting on my lap. She is scared of fireworks.
Fireflies and hydrangeas are gone, and the rainy season will be over soon.
- July 11
Toilet Lid
Daughter "Oshikko (I want to pee)."
Me "Okay."
My wife usually takes our two-year-old daughter to the bathroom. But she was busy changing our baby girl's diaper, so I took her to the bathroom instead yesterday.
After she finished, I gave her a piece of toilet paper and helped her to put on her diaper and pants. I was about to leave the bathroom, when she flushed the toilet and put the lid on the toilet bowl. I don't usually do the latter, so I asked why.
"Why did you put the lid on the toilet?"
"Mushi-san ga hairan yoni (So that Mr. Insects won't go in the toilet bowl)."
- July 13
Addition
Yesterday at the dinner table, my daughter asked me,
"Where will you go tomorrow?"
I answered,
"School. To school."
Then she asked,
"You'll go to school twice?"
And I replied,
"No, no. I go there once. Once a day."
Then she said to me,
"Dad, don't go to school early."
- July 14
You Cooked!?
"Itadakimasu" is a Japanese greeting when we say before eating.
It's hard to translate it into English, but it means something like "Let me eat the meal."
Yesterday, at the dinner table --
My mother "Itadakimasu."
My two-year-old daughter "Meshiagare (Help yourself)."
- July 15
Tutor
I have two girls. One is two-year-old Tomo-chan, and the other is five-month-old Haru-chan.
Last night at the dinner table, Tomo-chan said to Haru-chan,
“Haru, this is Bahba (grandma), this is Jiji (grandpa), this is daddy, this is mommy, and this is ... TOMO-CHAN!! Tooomooo-chan!”
- July 16
My Father
The other day, I took my daughter to the bathroom.
She abruptly started gazing at something, something that I couldn't see, and said to me,
"Here's Jiji (Grandpa)."
Her grandfather was watching TV in the living room, so I laughed and said,
"No, he is over there, not here."
Then she said,
"Not that Jiji."
I couldn’t understand what she was talking about for a moment, and suddenly, my heart skipped a beat.
I thought,
"Is she talking about my biological father?"
I asked her,
"What does he look like? What's his name?"
She couldn't answer any of the questions.
She kept gazing at "something."
One of my dreams in my late twenties was to let my biological parents hold their grandchildren.
I got married after they died, so I couldn't make the dream come true.
Do they sometimes come to my house to see my daughters?
I hope they do.
- July 17
Someone Tell Me How To Defeat Tomatoes
Me "Which do you like better, daddy or dinner?"
Daughter "Daddy!"
(I kissed her twenty times)
Me "Which do you like better, daddy or tomatoes?"
Daughter "Tomatoes."
(It seems that she pictured dinner with no tomatoes on the table in the first question)
- July 18
Share
I go to a dojo (a gym for Shorinji Kempo) every Sunday. Last week, when I was about to leave my house for the dojo, my two-year-old daughter rushed to the front door, crying out loud.
I was surprised and said,
"Wh -- what happened?"
She held out her hand and said,
"Take it with you."
She handed me a piece of sweet rice cake.
- July 19
She Could've Bought 100 Chocolates
My two-year-old daughter often plays with my wallet, and sometimes pulls out bills.
The other day, she took a 10,000 yen bill and waved it at me saying "Daddy."
"Give it back to me, young lady!" I shouted.
"No!" She laughed and started to run away with the money.
"I'll give you this chocolate!" I said.
"Okay." She ran back to me.
- July 21
Afro Girl
My mother often says to me,
"Ofuro Onegaishimasu (Take a bath, please)."
My two-year-old daughter often plays the parrot, but she can't pronounce the vowel "O" well, so this sounds like,
"Afro Anegaishimasu (An Afro haircut, please)."
- July 24
Sisters
Yesterday, I showed my two-year-old daughter Tomo-chan a picture taken when she was about six months old. Then I asked her who the baby girl was in the picture.
"Haru-chan," she answered.
My wife and I laughed -- Haru-chan is Tomo-chan's six-month-old sister.
- July 25
Losing Streak
Yesterday I asked my two-year-old daughter the same question that I’d asked her last week.
"Which do you like better, daddy or dinner?" "Daddy!"
(I kissed her thirty times)
"Which do you like better, daddy or tomatoes?"
"Daddy’s Tomatoes."
- July 26
Greetings
My two-year-old daughter has started greeting recently without being told to.
"Jiji, Oyasuminasai (Granpa, good night)."
I was glad and said,
"Hey, that’s a nice greeting. Hop on my back. I’ll take you to the bed room. Say, when you get up in the morning, what do you say?"
"Okitayo (I got up)."
"Well, good. Anything else?"
"Ohbutsuen Ikuyo (Let’s go to the zoo)."
- July 28
Bubbles
Yesterday in the bathroom, my two-year-old daughter and I enjoyed blowing soap bubbles. The bubbles flew for a while, and some stayed on the floor. When I was about to leave the bathroom, she said to me,
“Dad, don’t step on the bubbles.”
“Why not?”
“They’d get hurt.”
- July 29
Kiss
(Tomo-chan is my two-year-old daughter, and Haru-chan is my six-month-old daughter)
Last night, I was showing Tomo-chan a video that I had recorded.
When Haru-chan appeared in the video, Tomo-chan kissed her cheek on the screen.
- July 30
Crisis
Yesterday, at home --
Me "I’m home."
Wife "Oh, welcome back."
"I’m hungry. What’s for dinner?"
" -- Nothing special."
"Where’s my ukulele?"
"Dunno."
"Hey, are you angry? What are you angry about?"
"Ask yourself."
"Huh? Did I do anything wrong?"
"Yes."
"I -- I don’t understand."
"You don’t love me."
"Wh- what are you talking about? I came back home just now and, and -- I haven’t done anything wrong!"
"You have."
"No, I haven’t!"
"Yes, you have!"
"Fine! Tell me what it is!"
"I got a haircut! You should’ve said 'Got a haircut?' or something!"
(I kept praising her new hairstyle a million times to get something to eat)
- July 31
Child Seat Driver
While my wife was driving yesterday, our two-year-old daughter kept “advising” her.
“Mama, Abunaiyo (Mommy, you’re too close to the car in front).”
“Mama, Shaberantoyo (Mommy, don’t talk at the wheel).”
“Mama, Hidaridayo (Mommy, turn left).”
- August 1
Her Breakfast
When I was about to go to work yesterday morning, my two-year-old daughter asked something.
"Daddy, where are you going?"
"I’m going to school."
"Don’t go."
"Hmm. I have to."
"What are those?"
"Ah, they’re rice balls. My lunch. Your mother made them for me."
"Daddy".
"What?"
"Leave the rice balls."
- August 2
Doctor
Yesterday, I had a slight injury to my lower lip. While I was taking a nap, my two-year-old daughter accidentally dropped a bag onto my mouth.
Minutes later, she asked me,
“Daddy, what happened to your mouth?”
“Beats me. Seems like a slight injury.”
“Need some medicine?”
“No, thank you. A little saliva will cure it.” So saying, I licked my injury.
She bent down for a close look at my mouth, then licked my lower lip.
- August 3
Homestay Visit
I’m going to stay in Australia for two weeks for a homestay visit with some of my students from tomorrow until August 18.
We are staying in different homes and going to the same school to learn English and Australian culture.
In the last trip, three-day trip that is, my two-year-old daughter gazed at my face for a long, long time when I got home. Then she started to cry.
I hope she’ll remember me in two weeks.
(The staff at CBC put up a Japanese national flag to commemorate the victims of the Hiroshima atomic bomb on August 6)
- August 18
Summer Again
I came back to Japan from my two-week homestay visit in Australia this morning.
In Adelaide, I always wore a sweater and a scarf every day. Wild parrots were looking for something to eat on dead trees. I once cooked nabe (a Japanese cuisine cooked in a pot in winter) for my host family.
When I arrived in Japan, I was welcomed by huge clouds and lots of singing cicadas.
When my two-year-old daughter heard my car, she jumped out of the house and ran toward me yelling "Welcome back, Daddy!" She held my hand and srarted skipping around me like a merry-go-round. I lifted her up high and gave her a big hug.
"You know what Daddy, we ate grandpa's watermelons!" she said excitedly.
"That's great! I missed watermelons in Australia. Let's go to the kitchen. Where's mine?"
"In the field."
- August 20
Straw Hat
I asked my two-year-old daughter if she wanted to go for a walk yesterday.
"Want to take a walk?"
"Sure!"
"Oh, you have to go back and put some shoes on. Don't forget a hat -- it's so sunny."
"Got it."
When she returned, she wore her grandmother's straw hat and her rain shoes. The hat almost covered her entire face. She was feeling the way to walk.
- August 21
Anyone Will Do
The day before yesterday, my wife asked our two-year-old daughter Tomo-chan who she wanted to marry in the future.
"Tomo-chan, who do you want to marry in the future?"
"Daddy."
Yesterday, my wife asked the same question.
"Tomo-chan, who do you want to marry in the future?"
"Mommy."
"Oh, how nice of you. But mind you, you cannot marry a woman -- you are a girl, you know."
"Haru-chan."
(Haru-chan is her baby sister)
- August 22
Crisis
My two-year-old daughter hates to put on her diaper after taking a bath.
“Hey, put on your diaper, or you'll catch a cold.”I said.
“No, I don't want to!” she replied.
“You can't go to bed naked!”
“No!”
“Hmm. Tell you what. Let's play janken. If I win, you have to put on your diaper.”
“What if daddy loses?”
“I'll do whatever you tell me to do. Deal?”
“Okay. Rock, paper, scissors!”
“Daddy, put on the diaper.”
- August 24
Doorkeeper
When I was about to leave the living room yesterday, my two-year-old daughter opened the door saying, "Right this way, sir."
- August 25
She Flies To...
Yesterday my two-year-old daughter said to me, "Daddy, when I grow up, I'll go to school and get on a plane."
So I said to her, "Oh, you mean, the airport. And will you travel?"
"I'll go get grapes for you," she said.
"Well, thank you. Where are you going to buy the grapes?" I asked.
She replied, "In the supermarket."
- August 26
Nurse
The other day, I injured my right wrist in the Shorinji Kempo dojo hall. I received some cold compresses to heal the bruise from my doctor.
When I got home, my two-year-old daughter asked me, "What happened to your hand?"
I said to her, "I accidentally chopped the floor with my hand."
Then she came up to me and started rubbing my wrist, saying "Pain, pain, go away."
She then threw "the pain" away. She turned to me and asked, "Has it healed?"
"Much better." I smiled and answered.
She kept asking me "Has it healed?" every other minute at the dinner table.
- August 28
Motivation
Yesterday, my students talked with a native speaker of English as an oral English exam.
About one hundred students talked with Tim, who I asked to work as a one-day assistant language teacher.
At first, I thought most of them would be hesitant to speak face to face with a native English speaker. That was wrong. They tried hard to communicate with Tim with their limited English. Some of the students shook hands with Tim, and some even said jokes to make him laugh! We took a group photo together after class.
My first motivation to learn English dates back to my junior high school days, when my friend and I were cleaning the teachers' room and the assistant language teacher came up and talked to us. We exchanged greetings in English. I was so happy to communicate with a native speaker of English for the first time in my life. English became something that was relevant to my life from that day on.
- August 29
Marmalade
This morning, I couldn't find the orange marmalade in the fridge, when my two-year-old daughter decided to help me.
"I wonder where the orange marmalade is ... "
"Daddy, I know where."
She came up to me at the front of the fridge.
"Lift me up, Daddy."
I took her underneath the arms and hoisted her up.
"There," she said as she grabbed the jar of marmalade. She turned to hand me the jar saying "Here you are."
She loves homemade orange marmalade. I made it with Helen, who was my host mother during my homestay visit in Australia this month. I learned from her that the substance called pectin in the citrus fruits' seeds helps the jam water to jell. I was impressed by the way she made the marmalade -- she made use of everything in the fruit; skins, pulp and seeds. She took out every single seed of the oranges, grapefruits and lemons, and carefully put them in a piece of cloth, then floated them in the pan.
"Where did you buy this marmalade, Daddy?" my daughter asked.
"Oh, I didn't buy it. I made it in Australia," I answered.
"With koalas?" she asked me again.
- August 30
Lecture
( "Un" is an informal way of saying "yes", and "Hai" is a formal way of saying "yes" in Japanese )
My two-year-old daughter and I were taking a bath the other day.
"Daddy, you have to count to ten before you get out of the bathtub."
"Un."
"Daddy, when you leave here, be sure to put the bathtub lid back on the bathtub."
"Un"
"Hai wa? (You're supposed to say 'hai.')" she said.
- August 31
Alarm Girl
My two-year-old daughter sometimes wakes me up in the morning by pulling my pajama shirt off and putting her belly onto my back.
- September 1
Sprinter
("Gegege No Nyobo" is my two-year-old daughter Tomo-chan's favorite TV drama)
"See you, Tomo-chan."
"Where are you going, Daddy?"
"I'm going to school."
"Don't go."
"Hmm. I have to."
"I'll wait for you here at the front door."
"How nice of you. But you can go back to the table for breakfast."
"No. I'll stay here."
My wife then called Tomo-chan, "Tomo-chan, 'Gegege' has started."
"Coming."
(She dashed back to the living room)
- September 4
You Are the One
In my school, the class leader says,
"Fukuso o Tadashite (Check your school uniform)!"
at the beginning of every class.
Yesterday, my class leader's fly was wide open.
- September 5
Jumping the Gun
Last evening, my family and I went to the nearby Onsen (public bath).
When I received the locker keys from the person on the counter, my two-year-old daughter had already started taking off her clothes.
- September 7
Nursery Today
Last night --
My two-year-old daughter "Daddy, good night."
(She blew me a kiss)
"Ho- hold on! Where did you learn that!?"
"At the nursery."
- September 9
Her Pet
My two-year-old daughter "Daddy, give me money."
Me "Give you what!?"
"Money. I want to give some coins to Baku-san."
("Baku" is a Japanese word which means "tapir". We have a money bank shaped like a tapir.)
"I see. But if I give my money to you, you won't be able to go to the swimming pool."
"I don't mind."
"Or you won't drink your favorite apple juice any more."
"I don't mind either."
(I handed her a coin. She put it into the Baku-san's mouth)
"Yummy?"
- September 9
Give and Take
While I was washing my two-year-old daughter's body, she was washing my hair in the bathroom yesterday.
- September 10
September
My dog Mari-chan died last Sunday. She was about 18 years old.
My big brother had kept her since my younger brother and I left home.
I took Mari-chan for a walk whenever my brother's family went out for a few days. Whenever Mari-chan saw me, she started jumping around wagging her tail in a big way.
My biological mother took very good care of her.
My mother used to kiss and hug her when she fed her.
My mother passed away on September 14.
Of all the twelve months, Mari-chan chose the same month, September, to go to heaven.
I hope Mari-chan has found my mother up there.
- September 11
Growing Up
My seven-month-old daughter Haru-chan started to crawl last evening.
My two-year-old daughter Tomo-chan has started singing a lullaby to Haru-chan recently.
- September 12
Changing Diapers
When we go out, my two-year-old daughter Tomo-chan sometimes wets herself.
"OK, now when you feel like peeing, say so." "Gotcha!"
"Tomo-chan, don't move while I'm changing your diapers -- stop shaking your buttocks!"
"Put your hands on the car -- not on the ground! Can't you see the dog poop?"
"Now, stand up -- don't dance! Stand up STRAIGHT! Hands on your sides!"
(Her left hand hits me on my head)
- September 13
Karaoke
The two-day school festival was over yesterday.
I went to a karaoke bar with my fellow teachers after school.
I drank, shouted and danced for a good three hours.
I got rid of all my stress!
Later that night, I was scolded by my wife and two-year-old daughter at home.
- September 14
My Mother
Today's the anniversary of my biological mother's death. She died of a subarachnoid hemorrhage seven years ago.
My father and I found her lying unconscious in the living room. We called an ambulance immediately, but it was too late. Next thing I knew, she was in a vegetative state.
The doctor took us to his office and told us that there was no chance for her to recover consciousness. He then asked if we wanted to keep the life-prolonging devices attached to her.
I remembered my mother had often told me that she didn't want to stay alive once she became bedridden, bothering her family and many others. So I asked the doctor to turn off the devices, except for the ventilator.
Her heartbeat was about to stop, when my father suggested we touch her hands and feet. My two brothers held her feet, my father and I, her hands.
I held her right hand. I was gazing at her face and hand, when I remembered a certain scene from the past. It was her standing in the kitchen cutting vegetables.
She kept making lunchboxes for her three sons, including me, for many years.
I burst into tears and held her hand tightly, hoping that a miracle would happen. Not this time. She went to heaven at the age of 59.
I'll pay a visit to her grave this evening with my family. I wish I could let my daughters hold my mother's hands. I wish my mother could hug her grandchildren.
- September 18s
You Can't Hurry Bike
My two-year-old daughter said to my mother last night,
"Grandma, I want a bike."
My mother replied smiling,
"I'll get you one when you get taller."
My daughter thought for a while, then said,
"I am taller,"
and stood on her chair.
- September 19
Free Noodles
Yesterday after a badminton club activity, I asked my badminton club students, 15 students that is, if they would like to join me for lunch. I had expected a few would come, but ALL the 15 boys came along. (When I ask them to go jogging with me, no one would come) I took them to a nearby pork ramen restaurant.
This is my favorite restaurant, and the owner there calls me "Sensei(Teacher)." with a friendly smile.
In Fukuoka, where I live, you can add another set of noodle to your ramen for 100 yen or so. This is called "Kae Dama."
She gave one free Kae Dama to each student. On top of that, she secretly gave me extra toppings for my ramen.
I'm thinking of buying some sweets for the restaurant in return today.
- September 20
That's What I Was Gonna Say
(My two-year-old daughter Tomo-chan runs away from me after taking a bath)
"Tomo-chan, sit here and dry your hair with this towel."
"Yeah."
"Tomo-chan, come here and put on the diaper -- and this shirt too."
"Yep."
"Tomo, I'll put this ointment on your heat rash - STOP dancing."
"Okay."
"Hey, let me brush your teeth. Open your mouth wide -- NOT your eyes!"
"Oh boy!"
- September 21
It's the Thought That Counts
I took a walk in the neighborhood with my family in the morning yesterday.
While walking among the trees, my two-year-old daughter stopped every now and then to pick up fallen leaves.
I asked her what she was going to use the leaves for. She answered,
"I'll give these to grandma and grandpa. I've got yours and mommy's leaves too."
With that, she gave me a yellow leaf.
I took my parents to the best restaurant in the neighboring town that afternoon because it was Respect-for-the-Aged Day in Japan yesterday. But I guess it was my daughter who gave the best present to my parents.
- September 23
Fridge Raider
My two-year-old daughter secretly gets sweets, milk and juice from the refrigerator by using her chair.
- September 24
Little Volunteers
My family, my brothers and their children got together for lunch yesterday.
We went to a popular restaurant, and as we had expected, there was a long waiting line there.
While we were waiting, my two-year-old daughter, nephew and nieces enjoyed weeding the restaurant's garden.
- September 26
Like Grandpa, Like Granddaughter
While watching TV, my father often falls asleep.
Although he is sound asleep, when someone turns off the TV, he yells,
"I'm watching it!"
My two-year-old daughter fell asleep in the car the other day.
I turned down the music, children's songs, to talk with my wife.
All of a sudden, my daughter woke up and yelled,
"I'm listening to it!"
- September 29
Drivers' School
The other day, my family and I drove to a neighboring prefecture for sweet potato digging. I forgot to fasten my two-year-old daughter's seat belt for the second time, when she told me off,
"Oh, Daddy, fasten my seat belt! How many times must we go through this?"
- October 1
Chestnut
I was tired and fell asleep shortly after dinner yesterday.
When I woke up, I found a chestnut in my shirt pocket.
- October 2
Eat Your Own Cake
Yesterdeay was my 4th wedding anniversary.
My wife made sushi, and I bought some cakes for our special dinner.
Every time I tried to eat my cake, my two-year-old daughter gazed at me with her mouth wide open.
- October 3
Thunder
When my two-year-old daughter and I were in the bathroom, we heard some thunder.
Then she jumped from the toilet and started to run away like a duck with her diaper around her ankles.
- October 7
Sharing
My two-year-old daughter, my wife and I were eating some chocolates for our afternoon snack the other day.
There were two chocolates left. Just as I was about to eat one of them, my daughter slapped my hand and said,
"These are for my grandmother and grandfather."
- October 9
That Makes Two of Us
Yesterday at the dinner table, my wife asked me something.
"Got a haircut?"
"Yes. I got a haircut YESTERDAY."
(She tried not to look me in the eye during dinner)
- October 10
Weekend Breakfast
On weekends, I can eat breakfast with my two-year-old daughter.
She watches her favorite TV programs, turns off the TV, and says,
"Well, well. Time for breakfast, guys!"
- October 11
Guardian Angel
My wife and I took care of the garden yesterday.
I was watering and she was mowing with a manual lawn mower.
When she was coming across from the opposite side of the garden to talk to me, my two-year-old daughter stood between the approaching lawn mower and me with open arms as if to say "stop."
- October 13
Mantis
I took a walk with my little daughter Tomo-chan and my dog yesterday.
When we were about to leave the house, we found a big mantis in the garden.
It was tame for a mantis, and we were able to touch its wings and legs.
Last year, my daughter was too afraid of my dog to touch it, but I noticed that she kept patting my dog every time it stopped yesterday.
When we returned home, to my surprise, the mantis was still sitting in exactly the same place. My daughter then spoke to the mantis,
"Hey, Mantis-san, have you been waiting for us to come back?"
- October 15
Bilingual
My baby girl Haru-chan started crying the other day, and I had no idea what she wanted me to do. Then my two-year-old daughter Tomo-chan came up to me and said,
"Haru is thirsty."
With that, she poured some cold green tea into the cap of her plastic bottle.
- October 16
Rodent
A few months ago when my wife couldn't find a pair of scissors to cut a price tag off, so I cut it off with my teeth.
Since then, whenever she has an unnecessary price tag, she calls out to me,
"Where's my rodent?"
- October 17
It's Food?
The other day, my two-year-old daughter received a gift, a packaged box, she smiled and said,
"I'll eat this at home."
- October 22
Big Sister
My two-year-old daughter Tomo-chan fights with me, my wife and my parents. When we tell her off, she sometimes hits us or yells back.
I've found recently, though, that she never fights back against her baby sister Haru-chan, no matter how many times she gets hit or scratched by Haru-chan.
- October 23
Ashiyu
In cool evenings, before my two-year-old daughter washes her body and hair outside the bathtub, she fills the basin with bath water and places it in front of her, putting her feet in it.
When I first saw her do this, I asked her what it was. She answered, "Ashiyu." ( An ashiyu is a Japanese public bath where people can bathe their feet. )
- October 24
Big Eater
My nine-month-old daughter Haru-chan has recently started eating rice. She taps my wife's arm as if to say, "Give me the rice NOW." We have to wait for a while for the hot rice to cool down, but Haru-chan starts yanking my wife's sleeve and yells that she can't wait.
Yesterday my wife gave in, and gave Haru-chan a little hot rice. It seemed so hot to her that she started trembling and rolling her eyes up, in tears.
Seconds later, she was yanking my wife's sleeve again.
- October 26
Gifts
I was very tired yesterday, having worked for eight days in a row.
When I was eating dinner yesterday, I noticed that one of the fried squids was shaped like a heart.
After dinner, my two-year-old daughter gave me a big pine cone for my car.
I showed her a video of my favorite song before going to bed. To my surprise, she remembered some of the lyrics of the song, and kept singing them to me.
- October 27
Lego Phone
My two-year-old daughter often makes a telephone receiver with Lego, and talks with an imaginary person.
I asked her yesterday who she was talking with. She answered,
"Okyaku-san (My customer)."
Watching this, my wife laughed and said to me,
"She is always talking with you on the Lego phone while you are at work."
- October 29
My Teacher
My two-year-old daughter says to me when I go to work on a rainy day,
"Don't get wet."
On a sunny day, she says,
"Be careful of the cars."
I think I should say these kinds of things to my students.
- October 31
Concert
My two-year-old daughter Tomo-chan strums the ukulele, sings and dances after dinner.
Yesterday, she walked to her "stage" in the living room as usual and said,
"Tomo-chan no Ukurere, Nakanaka Jozuyo (My ukulele isn't bad, is it?)."
- November 3
Bib
My baby girl Haru-chan took off her bib and threw it away during dinner yesterday. The bib reads "I Love Daddy."
- November 6
Best Answer
In an English grammar class yesterday, I wrote the following sentence on the blackboard:
Nothing is more precious than ( ).
and told the students to fill in the blank.
Some said "Money," and others said "Time."
The last student said,
"My family."
Everyone gave him a big hand.
- November 7
Hot Drink
When I took a cup of hot coffee with milk out of the microwave this morning, my two-year-old daughter blew on it.
While I was drinking it, she kept blowing on my face.
- November 9
I Did It Myself
My two-year-old daughter Tomo-chan had a big scratch on her left cheek yesterday, so I asked her who had done it. She answered,
"I did it myself."
Later that day, my wife told me that our baby girl Haru-chan had scratched Tomo-chan's cheek.
- November 11
Can't Wait
My Wife: "Tomo-chan, go and wash your hands before dinner."
Tomo-chan: "Okay."
---
My wife: "Tomo-chan, let's eat some cake. Wash your hands."
Tomo-chan: "My hands are already clean."
- November 11
1 vs 3
My father likes to drink Shochu, or Japanese barley whiskey.
My wife : "Dad, you had better not drink too much. How many times do I have to say this? Everyone is worried about your health -- don't you get it?"
My mother: "You can say that again."
My two-year-old daughter: "You can say that again."
Shichigosan Festival
- November 15
High Five
We celebrated Shichigosan festival for our first daughter yesterday.
In this festival, girls aged 3 and 7, and boys aged 5 pray at shrines to grow up healthy. My daughter Tomo-chan looked a little nervous in a traditional kimono and with some accessories on her hair.
Back at home, she went to the bathroom by herself for the first time. She ran toward me, yelling,
"Daddy, I did it myself!"
and gave me a high five.
"Good girl!"
"Did you wash your hands?"
"Yes."
Seconds later, she said,
"I'll go wash my hands."
- November 19
Birthday Plan
Tomorrow is my first daughter's birthday. She'll be three. I asked her yesterday what she wanted to do on her birthday.
"Tomo-chan, what do you want to do?"
"I want an afternoon snack."
"Is that it?"
"And some milk."
"Anything else?"
"And, and -- take a picture of me on the tricycle, Daddy."
- November 20
Panacea
Today was my first daughter Tomo-chan's birthday. She turned three.
In the morning, when I shut the car door, her finger got caught and bled.
She cried and cried, and I asked her what I could do to make it up to her.
She said, "If I eat some cake, it'll get better."
- November 21
Elevator
Yesterday, my family and I got on a crowded elevator in a commercial building.
The door was about to close, when a young mother with a stroller hurried in, so the people around the door put their hands between the doors and let them in.
Her baby seemed to have a cold, and he started to sneeze. When he was about to give the second sneeze, the mother covered it with her hand.
- November 23
Second Mother
My three-year-old daughter reminds me of my mother.
"Daddy, don't drive with one hand! Use both hands."
"Daddy, don't eat the tail of the fish. It's bony."
"Daddy, you've got a sweater button undone." Stepping onto my laps, she buttons my sweater. "You don't want to catch a cold, do you?"
- November 25
Stuffed Animal
The other day, I took my three-year-old daughter to an aquarium and bought her a stuffed seal as a birthday present. She seems to like the seal so much that she has kept saying to me,
"Thank you for buying me the seal, Daddy."
She takes the seal wherever she goes.
When we go outside, she puts the seal under her jacket to keep it warm.
When she sits on the passenger seat of my car, she puts the seal under the seatbelt.
- November 26
Ballet Dancer
My three-year-old daughter often wears her shoes on the opposite feet. The other day, I said to her,
"No, that's not correct. You're wearing your shoes wrong."
She gazed at the shoes, then looked at me and asked,
"This way?"
With that, she crossed her legs.
- November 28
Intruder
The other day, my family and I were taking a walk. My three-year-old daughter Tomo-chan got interested in stores with beautiful decorations.
Tomo: "(Pointing at a sweet shop with Chirstmas decorations at the door) Daddy, can we go into that shop?"
Me: "Yes, let's go."
Tomo: "(Pointing at a shop with paper flower decorations on the windows) Mommy, can we go in there?"
My wife: "Yes, of course."
Tomo: "(Pointing at a house with a big stuffed dog at the window) Can we go in there?"
Me and my wife: "Ye-- NO."
- December 3
Ms. Makakaka
My daughter can hardly pronounce her nursery teacher's name, Ms. Yamanaka, correctly.
"What's your teacher's name again?"
"Ms. Makakaka."
- December 4
Boss
My three-year-old daughter has recently remembered my first name "Masaru."
She's an eager learner, and she tries to use her new vocabulary as frequently as possible.
"Pass me the toothpaste, Masaru."
"What did you say, Masaru?"
- December 5
Security Guard
I'm a school teacher, and my three-year-old daughter tries to prevent me from going to school.
"Where are we going tomorrow, Daddy?"
"Well, I have to go to school."
"Not again!"
"Sorry."
"You cannot go to school tomorrow."
"Why not?"
"I've locked your school."
- December 7
Turtle
My three-year-old daughter Tomo-chan sometimes helps my wife with the laundry.
Tomo-chan "wears" the laundry basket like a backpack, and says, "I'm a turtle."
- December 13
Comedian
Yesterday was my mother's sixty-ninth birthday.
I asked my daughter Tomo-chan to give the birthday present to her in the morning, but she is not an early bird, so she ended up holding it, standing asleep in front of her.
My family went to a Chinese restaurant and a cafe to celebrate her birthday. My three-year-old daughter kept singing and talking in the car. The song was impossible to understand as always:
"♪ Oh my dog running in the car -- ♪ The cat drew the tomatoes -- ♪ No, I'll eat the tomatoes tomorrow so don't touch them Daddy -- Oh which reminds me, grandma, tomorrow is the trash collection day. ♪ Not my tomatoes, Mommy --"
- December 16
Adjectives
My three-year-old daughter uses adjectives when she talks about her baby sister Haru-chan.
"Daddy, be kind to my cute sister."
"I wish my pretty Haru-chan could talk with me."
- December 19
A Discovery
I help my three-year-old daughter brush her teeth. I say to her,"Open your mouth big -- say 'Ahhhh.'"
I have noticed something recently.
She opens her eyes wide when she opens her mouth wide.
- December 23
My Hero
Today's the anniversary of my biological father's death. He died of cancer six years ago. My brothers, their families and my family got together and visited his grave this afternoon.
My father was a man of few words. There is one thing I vividly remember about him --
My mother was praising my brother's handwriting many years ago, when my father said,
"Masaru(Me)'s handwriting is good too. I think your handwriting gives off some kind of tenderness."
Shortly after he retired from his company, he was diagnosed with cancer and his days were limited. Yet, he kept working for the local community. He was in charge of the local community center then, and he kept writing documents in the hospital.
He kept living in different prefectures all by himself through most of his career so he could let us children keep living in our hometown. I had never heard my father complain.
He is my hero.
- December 24
Santa Claus
Yesterday at the dinner table, my family and I talked about Christmas. My wife asked me to buy her a Christmas present, which I refused saying her birthday is just around the corner. I talked to my three-year-old daughter.
Me: "Tomo-chan, do you know Santa Claus?"
Daughter: "Yeah. He came to my nursery the other day."
Me: "Guess what. If you are a good girl, chances are he'll come to you tomorrow night and you'll get a present."
Daughter: "Really!? Well then, my grandpa and grandma will get presents too!"
Me: "You bet."
Daughter: "And Haru-chan, too." (Haru-chan is her baby sister)
Me: "Yes."
Daughter: "But you and mommy won't."
Wife: "Why not?"
Daughter: "You two have been fighting, that's why."
- December 25
Good?
When I came home this evening, my three-year-old daughter ran toward me yelling,
"Daddy, I got a Christmas present this morning! I got it, I got it! Santa Claus came to me! I got it because I am a good girl!"
- December 27
Helper
My three-year-old daughter sometimes helps me and my wife take the laundry in.
She is short, so I put bath towels on her head so that they won't get dirty with the garden soil. She can carry as many as seven bath towels. Seen from behind, she looks like a walking marshmallow.
- December 30
Music Instrument
When my baby girl Haru-chan cries out loud, my three-year-old daughter Tomo-chan pats her mouth with her palm, making a crying sound "A-wa-wa-wa-wa...!"