Lang-8にアップしている日記（２０１２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 :) )
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- January 1
New Year's Ritual
My four-year-old daughter Tomo-chan started to cry and yell when my father refused to change the TV channel.
Tomo-chan: "That does it! I hate you! I wanted to watch something!"
Mother:"Tomo-chan, let your grandpa watch it for a while, won't you? He has been looking forward to watching the New Year's Ekiden marathon relay."
Tomo-chan: "I don't care about the marathon at all, people! I want to watch what I want, and I need the remote NOW!"
Mother: "By the way, how many mochi rice cakes would you like to have for your ozoni soup?"
Tomo-chan: "Ten."
- January 2
Kuromame Girl
My one-year-old daughter Haru-chan loves kuromame sweet black beans better than any other New Year's food. She kept going back to the kotatsu heater table where we were preparing New Year's osechi festival meal yesterday. I told her not to eat kuromame before all the food was ready, but she wouldn't listen and kept sitting in front of her kuromame.
When I went to her for the third time, Haru-chan had placed two plates of kuromame in front of her.
- January 3
The List Goes On
On Sundays and holidays, I take my daughters to the places they like. I sometimes can't decide where to go, so I tried to determine the priority list by asking Tomo-chan yesterday.
Me: "Tomo-chan, which do you like best, the zoo, the park, the doughnut shop or the hot springs?"
Tomo-chan: "I like the zoo, the park, the doughnut shop, the hot springs, the ice cream shops and the toy shops best."
- January 4
Ice Cream Fight
My family and I went shopping yesterday. We dropped by an ice cream shop and bought two ice creams. I shared one with Haru-chan, and my wife and Tomo-chan shared the other one.
My wife opened her mouth and turned to Tomo-chan. Tomo-chan put her ice cream into her mouth and she took a big bite. Tomo-chan gazed at her ice cream for a while, and then turned her back on my wife.
- January 7
Winter Night
When I closed my eyes to sleep in the bed last night, Tomo-chan, who was lying beside me, covered my right shoulder with my futon quilt.
- January 8
Yo-ho?
My daughters and I went to a park today. My one-year-old daughter, Haru-chan, went up to a tall shute and yelled at me, "A-hooooooooo( Hey, you stupid )!"
- January 9
How to Get Younger
Me: "Do you enjoy the nursery?"
Tomo-chan: "Yes. I can see Shiho-chan, Koki-kun and many other friends there. You envy me, don't you?"
Me: "Yes, I do. I wish I could go to a nursery again."
Tomo-chan: "You can go to a nursery when you get younger."
Me: "When I get what?"
Tomo-chan: "Younger."
Me: "Is there a way to get younger?"
Tomo-chan: "Yes, there is. And in the nursery, there's a slide where we play during the lunch break ―"
Me: "Ho -- hold on! I want... can you... could you please tell me how to get younger?"
Tomo-chan: "It's easy. Eat less and you'll get younger. Don't eat too much, Daddy. Have you seen grandpa's belly before? You don't want to have that kind of belly, do you?"
- January 10
My Little Squirrel
Whenever Haru-chan falls down this winter, acorns fall out of her jacket pockets.
- January 11
Milk Mustache
Tomo-chan loves milk. Last night, she drank a glass of milk, turned to me and said,
"Daddy, look at my mustache!"
- January 12
Train
My family and I usually hold hands when we go from the living room to the bed room at night. Last night, I held Tomo-chan's hand, when Haru-chan asked me to hold her hand.
I reached out my hand to her, when Tomo-chan held Haru-chan's hand.
- January 13
Lecture
My father sometimes confuses my daughters' names. When he called Tomo-chan Haru-chan, Tomo-chan said something to him;
Tomo-chan: "Grandpa, let me get something straight. I am Tomo-chan, and she is Haru-chan. How many times must we go through this?"
(She's four, and 71 years younger than him)
- January 14
Pls Don't Call the Police
I’m in charge of the badminton club at my school, and I play badminton with my students after school. I sometimes practice jumping smash in the school corridor when no one is around.
Since no one was around, I jumped high up in the air on my way from the teachers' room to the men’s bathroom this morning, when a teacher came out of the women’s restroom.
- January 15
Pecking Order
My father is the oldest and strongest in my family. No one can argue back. Except for one person, that is.
Tomo-chan: "Grandpa, stop drinking already. Alcohol is bad for you. Uh-uh. No buts, please. Daddy, don't buy Grandpa any alcohol."
- January 16
Growing Up
Tomo-chan sometimes makes a tunnel with her legs so her baby sister Haru-chan can enjoy crawling through it.
Haru-chan has been growing fast lately, and she sometimes ends up lifting Tomo-chan when she goes through the tunnel.
- January 19
Where's the Verb?
My one-year-old daughter Haru-chan has recently learned how to use the Japanese conjunction "to (=and)."
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Haru-chan: "Daddy?"
Me: "What?"
Haru-chan: "Grandma and mommy and daddy and Haru-chan and, and Ne-chan(=sister), and, kitty and..."
Me: "A-ha?"
Haru-chan: "...and grandma."
- January 20
Magic
Last night in the bathroom, Tomo-chan said to me,
"Daddy, would you like to see my magic trick?"
I said yes. She smiled and grabbed the cap of the bubble liquid bottle. She then waved both her hands around, put the cap between her thighs, and asked me,
"In which hand do I have the cap?"
I answered,
"Ah, didn't you put it between your legs?"
Then my wife coughed and elbowed me. So I said,
"Oh -- Open your hands, will you? Oh, my! The cap's gone! How come? What on earth did you do to the cap!"
It was too late. She wouldn't talk to me for the next two hours.
- January 21
Big Sister
Yesterday, my pet dog Hana jumped toward Haru-chan, making her cry.
Watching that, Tomo-chan stood in front of her, and yelled at Hana in a very loud voice,
"Hey! Do not bite Haru-chan!"
- January 22
Holding Hands
Last night, I asked Tomo-chan what she wanted to do on Sunday. I expected she would like to go to the zoo, the park and the hot spring as usual. She thought for a while and said,
"I want to hold your hand."
I asked her,
"Is that it? Hold my hand? Why?"
Then she answered,
"Because your hand is warm."
- January 23
You Mean, Pan (Bread)
Yesterday, my family and I went out. I asked Haru-chan what she wanted to eat for lunch. She said, "Panda."
- January 25
Decision
Yesterday, Tomo-chan told me that she would sleep with my parents, not with me, my wife and her baby sister Haru-chan.
My wife asked her why. Then she answered,
"I don't want Haru-chan to catch my cold."
(Tomo-chan was a little feverish last night)
- January 26
Poor Bear
Haru-chan loves her stuffed toy bear very much. She has started to carry it on her shoulders recently, as if she were a mother.
The bear is sometimes upside down, making her look like a hunter.
- January 27
Birthday Every Day
Haru-chan turned two years old yesterday. My wife and I gave her three Totoros (stuffed toys), and a birthday cake.
Her big sister Tomo-chan enjoyed the Totoros and the cake so much that she asked me, "Whose birthday is tomorrow?"
- January 28
Discovery
When my wife calls our two-year-old daughter "Haru," she answers "Hai (Yes / I'm here)."
When called "Haaaaaruuuuuuuu," she answers "Haaaaaiiiiiiii."
- January 29
A New Family
My son was born yesterday. The due date was February 24th, so my wife and I were very surprised.
Though he was born about one month earlier than expected, his weight is 3,058 grams, a normal weight for a baby, I guess.
My wife started breastfeeding him shortly after he was born
Holding him in my arms, I wondered how many times I had been held by my father, who is now in heaven.
We're thinking of naming him Yuta ― yu means kind, and ta means first.
My two daughters are very mischievous and strong, so I hope he won't be overpowered by them!
- January 30
Mommy
Haru-chan was sick yesterday, so I asked my parents to take care of her while I took Tomo-chan to the hospital to let her meet our newborn baby Yuta yesterday.
On our way to the hospital, we shared chocolates in the car. Tomo-chan wouldn't touch the last two, so I asked why. She said they were for her mommy and brother.
Tomo-chan said, "(He's) pretty!" dozens of times, touching her baby brother's hair.
At night, Haru-chan was getting better so she joined us at dinner. During dinner, she picked up one of my wife's chopsticks from the chopstick-holder, placed it on my wife's place on the table and said, "Mommy."
- January 31
Prayer
My mother seldom dumps food, so our fridge is usually full. When she has to throw some food away, she holds it with both hands, closes her eyes for a second and says, "I'm sorry."
- February 1
Winter Gift
Someone has given a scarf to the stone fox statues in my favorite park.
- February 3
New Family
My wife came back home from the hospital with our newborn baby, Yuta.
My daughters and parents were overjoyed.
My pet cat, Kuromi, was a little scared and was sitting away from the baby for a while.
In the evening, though, Kuromi sat right next to him licking his face.
- February 5
Telling Off
My daughter Tomo-chan wouldn't get up last evening, so my wife said to her,
"Tomo, get up already or I'll eat your dinner."
"NO! That's my sis's food," cried her baby sister Haru-chan.
- February 6
I Hear Ya
My wife was busy taking care of our newborn baby Yuta, so I cooked lunch and dinner yesterday.
After eating Udon noodle for lunch, I asked Haru-chan what she wanted to eat for dinner.
She thought for a while, when her big sister Tomo-chan whispered "curry" in her ear.
Haru-chan then turned to me and said, "Curry."
- February 8
Revenge
My badminton club students, some fellow teachers and I played badminton matches in the school gym after school yesterday.
Eighteen students and four teachers joined the meet. Students hit smashes after smashes towards teachers.
- February 10
Little Volunteers
I jogged in the park with students from the badminton club after school yesterday.
They were running way ahead of me. All of a sudden, they all turned to their right and went up to an elderly man.
A little while later, they greeted him and started to run again.
I couldn't get what they had been doing and saying in the distance, so I ran up to them and asked.
One of the students, Kazuhiro, answered,
"That elderly man accidentally knocked down his bicycle, knocking three other bicycles. So we helped him stand the bicycles."
I was very proud of them.
- February 11
Hungry Girl
Last night, Haru-chan picked up my eraser and said,
"Oh, mochi (rice cake)."
- February 12
Wedding
My family and I went to the wedding party of my wife's cousin yesterday.
My daughters wore a dress for the first time.
Tomo-chan was overjoyed to hear that she would be able to eat cake at the wedding. She asked, "Can Kuromi go to the party too?"
(Kuromi is our pet cat)
It was a heartwarming wedding.
In the wedding, the groom wrote a thank-you letter to his aunt, who kept making dinner for as long as five years after his mother passed away.
His father remarried a woman. She, his second mother, was crying in the wedding. I learned that a foster parent is no less affectionate than a biological parent.
- February 13
Name of Love
Tomo-chan can read Hiragana characters, but she can't write them. So in the space for names in her textbooks, she always draws a heart.
- February 15
Her Address
My mother asked Tomo-chan her address yesterday.
"Say, Tomo-chan, you've got to remember your address in case you get lost. Do you, by any chance, know your address?"
"Of course I do. My address is near the nursery. No, wait! On second thought, it's a little far from the nursery."
- February 17
Double Bubbles
MHaru-chan has recently started to blow bubbles in the bathroom with her big sister Tomo-chan. Now I see twice as many bubbles as before at bathtime.
- February 18
Angel
When I get home late at night and end up eating alone, my little daughter Tomo-chan comes over, sits down beside me and says,
"I'll sit right beside you so you won't feel lonely, Daddy."
She usually plays cat's cradle while I eat.
Last night she was sick, throwing up every now and then.
When I came home late last night and sat at the dinner table, she sat on the farthest chair from me.
- February 20
Their Interest
I talked about my university days in my class the other day. It was the class in which students were supposed to get the image of what university life is like, so I talked about everything I remembered: friends, how to commute, academic records, club activities, part-time jobs, the thesis I wrote and so on.
"Do you have any questions?" I asked at the end.
Two students asked me the following questions:
"Did you have a girl friend in university?"
"How did you meet your wife?"
- February 23
Dream Job
Weeks ago, Tomo-chan replied to my wife when asked what she wanted to be in the future,
"I want to be an ukulele teacher."
Last night she said,
"I want to be an English teacher."
I am an English teacher and play the ukulele (though I am not good at it).
I wonder if I made my father just as happy when I told him I wanted to work for his company.
- February 24
Novice Magician
Tomo-chan showed me a magic trick in the bathroom last night.
She told me she would make the cap of the bubble soap bottle disappear. She then started waving her hands around.
I was looking at her hands, when she said to me,
"What are you looking at? Close your eyes till I hide it."
- February 25
My Teacher
When I waved at Haru-chan last night, she waved at me back with both hands, smiling.
- February 26
I Hear Ya
Last night, Tomo-chan whispered in my mother's ear,
"Grandma, tell Daddy that I helped you with the laundry this morning."
- February 27
Snowman
I saw a snowman at my favorite convenience store this morning.
- February 28
Dinner
My daughters and I went to a local public hot spring last Sunday.
It was a cold day, so all the bathtubs were crowded.
Haru-chan poured some water into a pit of the rock with a basin, turned to me and said,
"Daddy, dinner is ready! It's curry!"
- March 1
Reporter
"Tomo-chan is four years old."
"Oh guess what, my baby brother Yuta-kun was born."
"My sister Haru-chan and I blew soap bubbles last night. Didn't we, Haru-chan?"
"Grandma cooked curry yesterday! I ate three bowls of curry, and my sis, two."
"My Mommy often tells me to clean the room."
"My cat Kuromi scratched my buttocks yesterday. Kinda hard to hold her."
"Daddy said sorry to Mommy yesterday."
My little daughter Tomo-chan talks about everything happening in my house at the cash register of the local supermarket.
- March 3
Afternoon Snack
When Haru-chan hears me say, "I'm hungry," she makes a circle with her forefinger and thumb and says, "Daddy, here's a doughnut."
- March 11
Ukulele
I played the ukulele in front of an audience of 500 people in the school gym, in the school festival the other day.
It was the first time for me to play the ukulele in front of so large an audience. I was really, really nervous.
So I wouldn't get a stage fright, I wrote the number 120 on my left thumb; I practiced the tune for the stage, "Arigato," 120 times at home.
It was no use. The moment I sat in front of the audience, my mind went blank.
As I was playing, though, I somehow remembered my wife playing "Happy Birthday" on my ukulele on my 32nd birthday, four years ago.
She had seldom touched my ukulele before then, so I was very surprised.
She made mistake after mistake, blushed and said, "Huh?" "Hmm."
After playing it, she murmured, "Happy Birthday."
It was the poorest and the most beautiful ukulele I had ever heard in my life. She made my day.
Before I knew it, I finished playing Arigato.
My wife couldn't come to the festival, so she sent me a text message, "How was your ukulele performance?"
I replied, "Dunno."
She replied, "I wish I had been there!"
"You were," I said to myself.
My wife drew a Japanese cartoon hero, Anpanman, on our daughter's pancake.
- March 15
Student
(I teach English and badminton at school. I also teach Shorinji Kempo, which is a type of Japanese martial arts, on weekends)
My daughter Tomo-chan asked me to make pancakes the other day.
"Daddy, make me some pancakes for breakfast."
"I don't know how."
"Then you can learn from Mommy."
"Got it."
"Until she wakes up, I'll teach you a new trick of cat's cradle. Get me that wool string."
- March 16
Would-be Elementary School Girl
(My daughter Tomo-chan asked my father to buy her a school backpack yesterday)
"Grandpa, buy me a school backpack."
"Tomo, you're four years old, so you've got to wait for another, what, three years to get one."
"You know what, grandpa? The school backpacks will be sold out today."
- March 17
Grass-eating Archenemy
Tomo-chan loves the zoo in the neighorhood, so she asks me to take her there every weekend. Last night she didn't ask me to. I asked her why.
"You don't want to go to the zoo? Why?"
"Because the goat is walking around."
(The zoo lets some animals out of the cage so that children can touch and feed them. They sell leaves of cabbages so that children can feed the animals)
"He isn't scary, is he? So woolly and cute."
"No. He sticks his tongue out over and over again and tries to get my cabbage leaves."
"Your sis wants to go to the zoo."
"Hmm... Tell you what, Daddy. If the goat approaches me, lift me up on your shoulders."
- March 18
Scientist
When I wash my daughter Haru-chan in the bathroom, she puts some shampoo and body soap onto her hand, gazing at it with a frown.
- March 21
BBQ
It was a national holiday yesterday, and I had a barbecue party in the yard at my house with 31 students from the badminton club and a Lang-8 friend of mine, Edward.
Girls took care of my little daughter Haru-chan in the nearby park, and the boys and Edward enjoyed playing soccer after the barbecue.
This is the second barbecue at my house, and it's always difficult for me to buy the right amount of food ― my family has to eat barbecues for the next five days!
- March 25
Big Sister
I told Tomo-chan to clean the room yesterday.
"Tomo-chan, clean the room and I'll buy you some sweets."
"Really? Will you buy some for Haru-chan too?"
- March 28
Balloon Keeper
The other day, Tomo-chan got a red balloon at a barbershop. She liked it very much.
When we were about to step out of the car to stop at a supermarket on our way home, she said,
"Mommy, can you stay in the car and keep an eye on the balloon so that it won't be stolen?"
- March 31
Aggressive Karuta Fighter
Since Tomo-chan has learned how to read Hiragana characters, we sometimes play karuta cards. Here's what the last night's match was like;
When I got my first card, she glared at me.
When I got the second, she growled and stuck out her tongue.
When I got the third, she started to cry.
When I got the fourth, she robbed me of the card.
When I got the fifth, she made a new rule that the person who put his/her palm onto the card "second" would get the card.
When I got the sixth by placing my palm onto her palm, she yelled at me, "I got it! You're so slow!" and took the card away.
- April 1
Strawberry Cake - Strawberries = Cake
My family and I went to eat at a cake shop yesterday.
My wife felt like eating strawberries, so she ordered a strawberry cake.
There were two strawberries on the cake.
"Mommy, I want to eat a strawberry," said Haru-chan.
"I want the other one," said Tomo-chan.
- April 4
Not Now
I was practicing the tune "The Rose," the ultimate love song, on my ukulele last night. Haru-chan then came up and said to me,
"Daddy, I gotta poop. Let's go to the bathroom."
- April 7
Kiss Permission
"Chuchu, iiyo (You can kiss him)."
"Chuchu, Dameyo (You can't kiss him)!"
I need a permission from Haru-chan to kiss my baby son, Yuta.
- April 8
You're Not to Blame
Tomo-chan showed me a letter this morning. She is going to give it to her best friend in the nursery, Shiho-chan. When I asked her to read it to me, she said no.
Later, my wife said to me,
"She wrote, 'We are not in the same class this year. I'm sorry.'"
- April 14
Yu as in Yuta
I bought a hiragana-character chart at a 100 yen shop the other day. It can be put up on the bathroom wall by wetting the back.
In the bathroom last night, I read out one hiragana character after another and Tomo-chan pointed at the characters.
When I read "Yu," Haru-chan suddenly turned to me and said, "Yuta-kun!"
- April 15
Perfect Fighter
I asked my wife a question last night. She seldom watches movies.
"Who starred in the movie Edward Scissorhands?"
"― Arnold Schwarzenegger?"
- April 16
You're Supposed to Say Happy Birthday
Yesterday was my birthday. I turned 37.
When I got home, Tomo-chan ran to me and said,
"Welcome back, Daddy! Where's the cake?"
- May 4
Cat Food
(My wife hates me kissing our pet cat, Kuromi)
When my wife was making rice balls for my lunch at work the other day, she saw me kissing my cat Kuromi. She turned to me and said,
"Would you like some cat food in your rice balls, darling?"
- May 5
Artisan
When I scold my Tomo-chan in the bathroom, she starts to connect her bubble straws together, making a long sword.
- May 6
Haru vs Hana
Yesterday, my dog Hana jumped at Haru-chan and licked her face. She started to cry, ran to me and yelled,
"I was eaten! I was eaten by the doggie!"
- May 7
Count Down?
Last evening Tomo-chan came to the bathroom and said,
"Daddy, I'm gonna close the door! So hurry up! Four!"
"Daddy, I'm closing! Four!"
- May 19
Two Seconds
Haru-chan got angry yesterday. So I said sorry to her.
"That's it! I hate you, Daddy! I won't forgive you!"
"Haru-chan, I'm sorry."
"Never mind."
- May 20
Prosecutor
Last evening Haru-chan noticed that the door in the dining room was left open. She started to ask my wife questions.
"Mommy, did you shut the door?"
"I think I did. But it's open. How strange."
"When did you shut the door?"
"Well, I went to the bathroom, and ― yes, I shut the door when I came back."
"Are you sure?"
"I'm sure."
"Then, did you shut the door slowly or quickly?"
- May 28
The Wisdom of Age
When my pet cat Kuromi is run after by my daughters, she jumps onto a high fence and looks down at them.
- May 31
Lego Phone
Last night Tomo-chan made a phone with her Lego blocks and held it between her shoulder and cheek. She then pretended to cook with an imaginary kitchen knife, saying, "What took you so long, darling? Dinner's almost ready. Come home quick."
- June 2
Come Again?
Last evening Tomo-chan said, "Whew! Did I play a lot at the nursery today! Daddy, can you massage my shoulders after dinner?"
- June 6
Copying
Last evening my mother told Tomo-chan not to make fun of her baby brother Yuta.
"Tomo-chan, he's only a baby. Don't make him cry."
When I said something to my wife last night, she pretended to cry. Seeing that, Tomo-chan scolded me saying, "Daddy, she's only 33 years old. Don't make her cry."
- June 11
On a Sunny Day
While I was walking with Haru-chan on my shoulders yesterday, my cap dropped off my head. When I was about to pick it up, she took off her cute, tiny pink hat and placed it on my head.
- June 13
Quack
Tomo-chan and I played doctor yesterday.
"(Tomo-chan) What seems to be the problem?"
"I feel tired, and a little feverish."
"Okay then, I'll give you a shot."
"Ho ― hold on, doctor. Can you tell me the name of the disease?"
"Huh? Right. The name. Hmm ... did you sleep well last night?"
"Ah, actually, I couldn't. I had a headache."
"All right, then. Let me give you a shot."
- June 16
Adviser
When I was washing my baby son Yuta in the bathtub yesterday, Tomo-chan offered me some advice.
"Daddy, why do you look so angry? Yuta is cute, isn't he? You're supposed to smile when you wash him."
"What? Oh, I get it. No, I'm not angry. I have bad eyesight, so I can't help but frown when I take a bath, I mean, when I can't wear my contact lenses ―"
"You gotta smile anyway Daddy."
○
- June 17
Clam Miso Soup
My family ate clam miso soup for dinner yesterday, which is my two-year-old daughter Haru-chan's favorite.
While she was eating it, she found a clam shell whose meat had come off. She then looked around and said,
"Who ate my clam!"
- June 23
Teacher
My two-year-old daughter Haru-chan imitates whatever her big sister Tomo-chan does.
Tomo-chan likes to slap my buttocks, sing naked, and jump onto my belly.
- June 26
You Do?
Last night, my two-year-old daughter Haru-chan turned off the bathroom light playfully while my wife was still in there.
My wife pretended to be angry so that Haru-chan could say "I'm sorry." She wouldn't say she was sorry, so her big sister Tomo-chan suggested they apologize together, thinking this would make it easier for Haru-chan to say she was sorry.
"I'm sorry," said the girls.
"That's okay, Haru-chan," said my wife.
She then hugged our daughters and said to Tomo-chan,
"I was very impressed with the way you helped Haru-chan."
Tomo-chan answered,
"You were? But, it was nothing special."
"No, it isn't," My wife said, "It can be very hard to apologize for what you've done."
"Yes, it is," Tomo-chan said, "I always say sorry at the nursery."
- June 29
Nursery Greetings
Last night, my little daughters sang a song together on an imaginary "stage" in the living room. My family gave them a big hand. My mother said to two-year-old Haru-chan,
"Haru, you're supposed to bow when your concert is over."
Haru-chan thought for a moment, bowed and said,
"Good morning. See you on Monday."
- June 30
Lecture
When my little daughter Tomo-chan has learned a new word, she is eager to use it.
"You know what, sis? This onion has got vitamin C."
"Daddy, you gotta eat the fish too. It's got lots of vitamin C."
- July 12
Take Care
Working for 15 to 16 hours a day at work, I hadn’t seen my little daughters while they were awake for the last three days. When I was about to leave at 5:30 this morning, though, my little daughter Tomo-chan woke up and got out of her grandparents’ bedroom.
She hugged me half-asleep and said, “Take care.”
- July 16
Home Doctor
My family and I went to the Udon noodle shop last night. When my father ordered his second glass of beer, my four-year-old daughter Tomo-chan said to him,
"That's it, Grandpa. You can't drink your barley whiskey at home tonight."
- July
Pay Attention to Me
My two-year-old daughter, Haru-chan, was a little feverish last night. When I was talking with my wife at the dinner table, Haru-chan cut in saying,
"Ah, Haru-chan is sick today."
- July 23
Nobody's Fool
This morning, my wife and my pet cat Kuromi, my beloved cat, saw me off in our yard when I left for work. I was about to stroke Kuromi's head, then I noticed my wife's gaze on me. So I first patted my wife's hair, and then Kuromi's.
My wife stood up then and asked me,
"Pure curiosity, how come you patted me for a mere one second and Kuromi, for a good five seconds?"
- July 27
Pen Pal
I usually send a text message to my wife to let her know when I will be home. Yesterday, she sent me a text message back saying, "Send another text message in Hiragana characters so Tomo-chan can read it."
My daughter Tomo-chan has started reading Hiragana characters lately. I sent her, "Hi Tomo-chan. It's me, Daddy. I'll get home at seven."
When I got home, Tomo-chan gave me a letter saying, "I love you, Daddy. Thank you for taking me and Haru-chan to a lot of different places on holidays."
- July 28
Zinnia
I planted some zinnia seeds a couple of months ago, and now they are all in full bloom. In the language of flowers, zinnia means "Kizuna (bond)." The colors are red, pink, white and yellow. At first I thought zinnias were short flowers, but I was wrong; the tallest one is as tall as me, about 170 cm tall.
Last week, one pink zinnia broke at its neck, so I wondered if I should cut its stalk to display it in a vase. But I felt sorry for it, and left it as it was.
The flower has been bright and beautiful for more than a week.
- July 29
Draw
My little daughter Tomo-chan slapped her younger sister Haru-chan three times during the daytime yesterday.
At night, Haru-chan kicked Tomo-chan's head three times while they were sleeping in their bed.
- August 6
Two of a Kind
I came back to my home prefecture after a three-day stay in Nagasaki. When I reached my school, I felt like hearing my wife's voice, so I gave her a call instead of sending her a text message.
"I'm home, is everybody fine?"
"Yes. Did your students behave themselves? Oh, what time are you coming back? You're going to eat dinner at home, aren't you?"
"At seven, I guess. I've got to go to the post office on my way home."
"For what?"
"I -- I mistakingly came back with the hotel key in my pocket. I gotta send it back as soon as I can."
"How foolish of you!"
"Fooli-- You, hey, haven't you ever forgotten to give your hotel key back to the front?"
"Never. Haha. And I have never left my white jacket in the States, either."
(talking about my school trip and my mistake in America)
"Oh, you haven't? I'm happy for you. Oh, you know what? I have never run out of gas in the middle of the road. Haha."
"Goodbye."
- August 7
Trigger Word
Having played and run around in the park, my two-year-old daughter Haru-chan had a blister on her soles last evening. While we were in the bathroom, I asked,
"Does it hurt?"
She thought for a moment, frowned, and started to cry yelling,
"Hurchu! It hurchu!"
It took me about five minutes to soothe her. My ears were ringing.
She was in a good mood, so I asked again,
"I bet it doesn't hurt any more."
She turned to me slowly, thought for a moment. Her eyes welled up with tears again. She cried and screamed,
"Hurchu! It HUUUUUURCHU!"
It took me another five minutes to calm her down. My ears had been ringing and playing some orchestral concerts by then.
I finally realized that as long as I didn't say the word "hurt," I could keep her from crying.
When I was about to get out of the bathtub with her, my wife opened the door and asked,
"Say, Haru-chan, does it hurt?"
- August 12
Dream Crusher
Yesterday, my family and I went to a shopping mall and saw Pikachu, a super hero mouse from a video game that is very popular with little kids. He was shaking hands with some of the customers. My young daughters were overjoyed to see him.
After eating lunch, we came back to the same place. Pikachu was not there. So my daughters asked where he had gone. My wife answered,
"Well, I guess he's gone for lunch."
- August 13
Fake Ring?
Yesterday, my little daughter Tomo-chan pointed at my wedding ring and asked me,
"Where did you buy this ring?"
"Guess where I bought it." I asked.
"-- Supermarket?" she said.
- August 14
I Hear Ya
My little daughters and I went to the supermarket by car this morning. They were fighting all the way to the supermarket, quarreling over where to sit in the car and slapping each other.
When we arrived at the supermarket, my daughter Tomo-chan asked me to buy some snacks. I replied,
"I don't want to buy any snacks for those who fight."
Then she thought for a moment, and talked to her sister Haru-chan,
"Haru, I'm sorry."
"Never mind."
"(In a small voice) Haru, say sorry to me."
"?? Sorry."
"Never mind. Done! Daddy, you can buy us a snack now!"
- August 17
We Can't Afford That
(I am a father of three little children)
Playing with her baby brother, my little daughter Tomo-chan said to her grandmother,
"Oh, how fun! If only I had five brothers!"
(My wife and I spat out our barley tea)
- August 24
Cars (Movie)?
When my car navigation system said "Turn left at the next corner," my little daughter Tomo-chan said in surprise,
"Wow, this car speaks! How smart!"
- August 25
The Reason
In the bed last night, my two-year-old daughter Haru-chan talked to me.
“Daddy?”
“What, Haru-chan?”
“I want to go to Niko Niko San.”
(Niko Niko San is a facility for children in my neighborhood. Haru-chan goes to the nursery school once a week, and on the rest of the weekdays, Niko Niko san is the place my wife takes her to.)
“I’m sure your mommy will take you to Niko Niko San tomorrow.”
“She will?”
“She will. Hey, which do you like better, Niko Niko San or the nursery school?”
“I like Niko Niko San better.”
“Why?”
“Because, because I like Niko Niko San.”
“Oh, I see.”
“Daddy?”
“What?”
“I like the nursery too.”
“Oh, you do? Why?”
“Because, because... I like the nursery.”
- August 28
Your Photo?
My mother came back home yesterday. She was in hospital for three days to take a surgery on her eyes.
My little daughter Tomo-chan jumped at her and asked her something.
"Grandma! I missed you. Did you miss me too?"
"Yes, I did. Or, no, should I say. Your father brought me our family photo to the hospital room. It made me happy."
"Oh, did you hear that, Mom? The photo of Tomo-chan made grandma happy in the hospital."
- August 29
Wall
I took a bath with my little daughters last night.
When I was about to rinse the shampoo out of my hair, my daughter Tomo-chan said to her sister Haru-chan,
"Oh, it splashes."
and stood in front of her.
- August 30
Draw
When I was watering the flowers in the flower beds in the morning yesterday, I asked my wife to help me, which she refused saying she was in a hurry. I said to her,
"Okay, suit yourself. But you can't look at my flowers, young lady!"
She then said to me,
"Okay, fair enough. Oh, since I wash your clothes and you won't help me with the laundry, you can't wear your clothes, honey."
- September 3
Two Fists
I went with my family to a park yesterday. Since my little daughter Tomo-chan said to me, "I'm going to hit you with my fist at home," I told her that I didn't want to buy her juice. She started to cry and her younger sister Haru-chan told me off saying,
"Daddy, how come you made my sister cry? I'm going to hit you with my fist at home!"
- September 6
Mother?
Yesterday, my two-year-old daughter Haru-chan told her big sister, Tomo-chan, what to do at the dinner table.
"Sis, don't cry anymore."
"Sis, stop talking and eat."
"Sis, don't eat croquette by itself. Eat it with rice."
- September 10
Haru-chan
When my two-year-old daughter Haru-chan gets angry, she says, "Daddy, I'll hit you with my fist ... after we take a bath!" (I have no idea why it's 'after the bath')
When we take a bath, she jumps into the bathtub, sits on my belly and kisses all over my face.
She has never hit me after taking a bath.
- September 16
I'm 37 Years Old
My two-year-old daughter, Haru-chan, said to me this morning,
"Eat them all, Daddy, or you won't grow up."
- September 17
What Life is
My daughter Tomo-chan asked me to play Shiritori yesterday. Shiritori is a Japanese game in which you give a word that starts with the letter which comes at the end of the word given by the other player; Neko - koma - manju - jusu ...
"Daddy, let's play Shiritori."
"Okay."
"Inochi(life)"
"Oh, you know a difficult word. What's life?"
"Life means... means... It means the food we eat."
- September 23
My What?
When my two-year-old daughter Haru-chan gets angry, she says to me,
"That's does it! I like Grandma, Grandpa, Mommy, my sis, Yuta-kun (her baby brother), kitty and doggy!"
Last night in the bedroom, she said something different.
"That's does it! I like Grandma, Grandpa, my pillow, Mommy, my sis, Yuta-kun (her baby brother), kitty and doggy!"
- September 24
Alligator Girl
Wearing her pajamas, my daughter Tomo-chan said to me,
"Daddy, look at my tail!"
- September 28
Food Critic
My family and I ate some squid for dinner last night. My two-year-old daughter Haru-chan asked my mother the name of the food.
"Granma, what's this?"
"It's squid."
"Squid. Okay, let me eat it -- hmm, it's good. It could use something maybe, but it's okay ."
- October 4
Second Place
My little daughter Tomo-chan is now practicing for the upcoming Sports Day at her nursery school. She is taking part in a short-distance running race, and in the practice race she usually comes in first, but yesterday she was second. She complained about it.
"Grandma, I only came second!"
"Oh, who won then?"
"Sae-chan."
"Better luck next time."
"I hate racing."
"You do? How come?"
"Because I lost."
"It doesn't matter if you win or lose. What's important is you do your best. Besides, Sae-chan must be happy to have won the race yesterday."
- October 11
Two Yoshikazus?
(My father's name is Yoshikazu)
Yesterday, my daughter Tomo-chan asked me,
"Daddy, when you get older, will you become Yoshikazu?"
- October 19
Interactive-style, Lecture-style
I went to Saga prefecture to take part in a seminar for English teachers. When I left home, my little daughter Haru-chan asked me where I was going.
"Daddy, where are you going?"
"To Saga prefecture. Obenkyo (To study)."
"Obento (Lunch box)?"
I wish I could be wo year old again ...
---
In Saga, I listened to two lectures.
The first lecturer, who is a professor of Saga university, talked about the importance of oral English. He insisted that lecture-style teachings and translating are of little use, and asked the teachers in and around Kyushu to teach their students based on interactive-style teaching.
In the question-and-answer section, I asked him something;
"In what stage of English education would you say we should improve our students' reading and translating abiities?"
I agree, to some extent, to the idea of putting emphasis on interactive-style teaching. That way, we can allow our students to better prepare for the international society, to better communicate with their future colleagues.
But I don't think interaction-style teaching is an absolute answer. Lecture-style teaching and intensive reading are also important in that they let students talk to themselves, ask themselves and search their heart.
I sometimes ask my students to translate English into Japanese. Some of my students are interested in such jobs as interpreters, translators and movie subtitlers.
English and Japanese are linguistically distant, so I believe it is very important for us to be able to translate English into Japanese so that we can help those who are not very good at English or haven't studied English intensively. Just because we make use of spoken English and interactive-style teaching doesn't mean all the students are to acquire a good command of English.
- October 27
Children
It was hectic at work all this week, and yesterday I saw my children at home for the first time in six days.
My daughter Tomo-chan kissed me twenty times.
The other daughter, Haru-chan, sat on my lap when I washed her in the bathroom. She used a bathroom chair to get onto my lap.
I realized that my son, Yuta, had grown up a little when I held him in my arms.
- October 28
A Student from Overseas
Yesterday, my school welcomed some overseas students who are studying in Fukuoka. They interacted with our students. In my classroom, we welcomed Clare, who is studying Japanese.
She came all the way from England to Japan as a volunteer worker three years ago, and was impressed with the kindness of the Japanese people. She then decided to study in Japan last year.
She praised Japanese people and culture, making my students and me very proud. My students talked in English about our high school, Japanese traditional culture, our hobbies and so on. Some showed her how to play a koma (Japanese top) and a kendama (cup and ball). I played "Sakura Sakura (cherry blossoms)," a Japanese traditional tune, on my ukulele.
After school, I asked my students how much they understood her English, and they said 80 to 90 percent. I was glad to hear that, because I basically speak English in my English classes, hoping their listening comprehension will improve.
- October 31
Driving School
Now that my second daughter Haru-chan can talk, I feel as if I have two driving school teachers.
Tomo-chan: "Daddy, you forgot to fasten my seatbelt."
Haru-chan: "Stop touching that(navigation) already and get the car started, Daddy."
- November 2
Woman in Love
Last evening my two-year-old daughter, Haru-chan, asked herself,
"Gee, who am I going to marry?"
cosmos field
- November 4
Pajama Button
Last night, my-two-year old daughter, Haru-chan, noticed one of my pajama buttons was undone. She then put her toothbrush in her mouth and buttoned it up.
- November 7
Her Way to Revenge
I made my little daughter Tomo-chan angry last night. She then said to me angrily,
"That's it! I'm going to blow out the candles on your birthday cake next year!"
- November 10
Oops
My four-year-old daughter, Tomo-chan, had a cold yesterday. Having no appetite, she wouldn't eat anything during dinner.
"Would you like to eat some jelly instead?" I asked.
She nodded, so my wife brought a peach jelly out of the fridge.
Watching this, our two-year-old daughter Haru-chan stopped eating and said in a tearful voice,
"How -- how come my sis gets to eat jelly...?!"
- November 11
Slidephobia?
I went to a park with my family today. My two-year-old daughter, Haru-chan, said to me,
"Daddy, let's enjoy the slide!"
"I'm waiting here. Go ahead." I replied.
She then said,
"It's not scary."
- November 17
Novice Mathematician
My four-year-old daughter, Tomo-chan, asked me an addition in the bathroom last night.
"Daddy, what's one plus fifteen?"
"Sixteen."
"Right. Give me a quiz, Daddy."
"Okay ... what's 12 plus 13?"
"What?"
"Twelve plus thirteen."
"Come again?"
"TWELVE PLUS THIRTEEN."
"What?"
"What's two plus three?"
"Five."
- November 18
Getting Old
My four-year-old daughter, Tomo-chan, asked me something in the bed last night.
"Daddy, do you get old?"
"Of course I do."
"And you'll be a grandfather? I wish you were a father forever."
"You get old, don't you? So do I."
"Don't die before Tomo-chan dies."
- November 21
Sisters
My daughter Tomo-chan turned 5 years old yesterday. Time flies!
Her sister Haru-chan tried to take away the birthday present, which was a pillow, so Tomo-chan became angry and told her to apologize.
"Haru, say 'I'm sorry'!"
"I'm sorry."
"No, I won't forgive you!"
"I'm sorry!"
"Not loud enough!"
"I'M SOOOORRYYYYYY!!"
"TOO LOUD!!"
- November 26
Autumn Leaves in Kyoto
My fellow teachers and I went to Kyoto to see red and yellow leaves last weekend. We visited eight temples in two days. Of all the temples, I liked Jojakko-ji the best: we were literally surrounded by beatiful red, green and yellow leaves there. At one point, I thought as if I were dreaming. Totally breathtaking! I am an atheist, but I wondered if there really was a god somewhere.
According to a news article, the autumn leaves this year are the best in ten years. I was really lucky to see them.
- November 28
Marriage
My five-year-old daughter, Tomo-chan, asked me something last night. (I have three children: Tomo-chan, Haru-chan and Yuta)
"Daddy, was I born because Mommy and you got married?"
"Yes, that's right."
"And Haru-chan was born because Mommy and you got married again?"
"Ah, that's not correct -- how can I explain --"
"And Yuta-kun was born because Mommy and you got married again?"
- November 29
Rival
(The copies of my PC emails automatically go to my cell phone)
I received an email yesterday. It was from one of the visitors to my homepage on English education.
Praising my homepage, she asked me in the email to send her a set of handouts, stickers and English songs that I use.
I called my wife over and said jokingly,
"I've got a love letter from a young female teacher."
She started to read the text message on my cell phone, then started to bite the screen.
- December 8
Letter
I was very busy at work, and last night I was able to eat dinner at home for the first time in a week.
My five-year-old daughter, Tomo-chan, told me she would write a letter for me.
"Daddy, I'll write a letter for you. Don't look while I'm writing. Got it?"
"Got it."
(I looked into the letter)
"Daddy! I told you not to. Don't peek!"
"Okay."
(I looked into the letter again)
"Not again! I said, 'Don't peek,' didn't I?"
"Oh, I'm sorry."
I stepped away from her.
After a while, she said to me,
"-- Daddy, wouldn't you like to peek?"
- December 19
Everyday Lecture
I hear that second sons and daughters tend to grow up to be very talkative, picking up lots of vocablary from their elder sibling. I think this is true:
Haru-chan (my second daughter, two years old):
"Daddy, not again, how many times do I have to tell you that you can't be mean to my sis? Apologize to her. Uh-uh, not loud enough. Keep your eye contact when apologizing. Got that Daddy? I want you to stop being rude to your, oh boy, am I hungry, Grandma, give me another bowl of stew please. Don't you get it, Daddy? I can't hear you."
- December 20
Novice Criminal
My little daughter Haru-chan was doing something behind the sofa in the living room last night. Seeing that, my father asked her,
"Aren't you up to something?"
Then she answered,
"I am."
- December 24
Economically Friendly Wife
Last night, my little daughter asked her mother what Otoshidama is. Otoshidama means a money gift given to children on New Year's Day in Japan.
"Mommy, what's 'Otoshidama'?"
"Beats me."
- December 31
Thirty-year-old Chair
In Japan, most families clean their house at the end of the year. So does my family.
This is a picture of my chair, which my parents bought me 30 years ago when I entered elementary school. It survived another year. My pet cat, Kuromi, likes to sit on the chair, making her the second owner of the chair.
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