Lang-8にアップしている日記（２０１３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 4
Feast
(Osechi is a traditional Japanese food to celebrate New Year's Day)
On New Year's Day, my two-year-old daughter, Haru-chan, spotted the boxes of Osechi on the table and said,
"Is it Haru-chan's birthday today --?"
- January 5
Arm Wrestling
Watching her mother and big sister enjoy arm wrestling, my two-year-old daughter said to me,
"Let's play arm wrestling, Daddy!"
She then held my hand, formed a handshake for a few seconds and said,
"Yes, I won!"
- January 11
Hello?
During winter, sometimes my wife can't iron my shirt.
- January 14
Coat
While my family and I were walking outside, it began to rain. Since my daughter Tomo-chan's coat had a hood, I let her wear it. My other daughter Haru-chan's coat didn't have a hood. I didn't know what to do, when Tomo-chan let her in under her coat.
- January 15
Quick Learner
My little daughter Tomo-chan was playing her maracas late last night, and I told her to stop.
"Hey. Stop it, will you?"
"Why should I?"
"Stop it, or snakes will come to the house."
"They will?"
"They will. They like the sound of maracas."
(Two minutes later)
"Daddy, get me the toys on the shelf. It's too high for me to reach."
"Go brush your teeth instead. You can't play with your toys this late at night."
"Get me the toy, or snakes, demons and thunder will come."
- January 18
I Love Mom
Last night, my daughter Tomo-chan asked her younger sister Haru-chan whom she wanted to marry.
"Haru, who do you want to marry?"
"Mommy."
"Uh-uh. You can't. You can't marry someone in your family. Daddy will be a grandfather in the future, and Grandpa, a star. So -- who will you marry then?"
"Mommy."
- January 20
Revenge
Last night, my mother said to my little daughter Tomo-chan,
"Tomo-chan, stop talking so much during dinner."
After dinnner, my mother got a phone call. It was a long phone call, and Tomo-chan said to her,
"Grandma, don't talk for so long on the phone."
- January 25
Pianist
My five-year-old daughter, Tomo-chan, has learned how to use her left hand to play the piano recently, and has been eager to show it to me. Every night, she takes me to the piano room and plays some tunes. Last night, she played "Tulip" on her piano.
This morning I woke up to the feeling of tapping on my shoulder. I was surprised to find that it was Tomo-chan's left fingers; she was playing the piano in her dream.
bodyguard
- February 4
Growing up
Yesterday, my family and I went to our favorite park. My three-year-old daughter, Haru-chan, asked me to take her to the restroom. Then my other daughter, Tomo-chan, asked me if she could take her there instead. Five minutes or so later, the two jumped out of the restroom, and ran to the slides hand in hand.
At night, it is my role to brush their teeth for the second time; their nursery school has asked me to do so because little kids tend to miss lots of spots while brushing. When I was heading for Haru-chan with my brush, I noticed Tomo-chan had already started brushing Haru-chan's teeth for the second time.
Little by little, my five-year-old daughter has started to take my place.
- February 8
Sharing
Last night, my five-year-old daughter, Tomo-chan, said to my wife,
"Mommy, why don't you go on a diet?"
Feeling a bit annoyed, my wife said to her,
"What do you mean by that? I'm a bit unhappy to hear that kind of thing."
Tomo-chan started to cry and went away.
Later that night, she said to me,
"I can't get what Mommy is angry about -- I just wanted her to wear a pair of pretty pants of mine."
- February 11
Ms. Talkative
My family and I went to the mega shopping mall yesterday.
A shop clerk in a clothing shop started to talk with my daughters;
Clerk: "Hi, how old are you?"
Tomo-chan: "I am Tomo-chan and I'm five."
Haru-chan: "I am Haru."
Clerk: "Haru-chan, how old are you?"
Tomo-chan: "Haru, tell him how old you are."
(Haru put up three fingers)
Clerk: "Oh, you're three. Good job."
Tomo-chan: "And my mommy is thir-"
Clerk: "You don't have to tell me how old your mother is."
- February 13
Star
Last night, my five-year-old daughter, Tomo-chan, teasingly told me to be a star in the sky. So I "fought back" a little.
(She learned in her nursery school that people become a star when they die)
"Daddy, be a star."
"Oh, should I?"
"Yes."
"You don't need me?"
"No, I don't."
"That means no hugs, no chocolates or anything."
"I don't care!"
"Gee, then I'll be a star -- maybe tomorrow morning."
"Okay, go ahead."
"What should I do to be a star again -- Oh, I rememeber. I've got to go to the sun first."
"You do?"
"A-ha. And I'll ask him to make me a star."
"You're lying."
"I'm not lying. That's what I've heard. So I've got to go to the east, first thing in the morning --"
"Don't do that."
"-- and I'll ask him to place me right next to the moon."
"No!"
"I've always liked the moon. Must be fun to be beside him, flying together in the sky --"
"Stop it!!"
(She started to cry. I apologized to her and said I wouldn't be a star for the next 100 years)
- February 18
Generous Gardener
My little daughter Haru-chan and I watered the flowerbed yesterday. I watered with a big spring can, and Haru-chan, a small plastic bottle.
Not noticing she reached the end of our flower bed, she started to water the flowers in my neighbor's flower bed.
- March 2
Rainbow Candy
My five-year-old daughter Tomo-chan and I talked about rainbows last night.
"Daddy, do you know rainbows?"
"Of course I do. Have you ever seen one?"
"Yes, I have! I saw a rainbow the other day."
"Lucky you. Where was it?"
"I was on the nursery school grounds and saw it over a mountain."
"I wish I had been there."
"Yeah. I should have poked it so I could get it."
"You could get what?"
"The rainbow. Then I could've had a bite."
"I wonder what rainbows taste like -- sweet? Or sour?"
"I bet they are super-sweet."
- March 9
Penalty and ...
My three-year-old daugther, Haru-chan, often asks me to carry her on my shoulders. Last night she told me to, and I said Okay.
After dinner, I was checking my students' essays, when she came over and said,
"Daddy, did you forget? You were supposed to carry me on your shoulders?"
She then told me to bow and then hit me on the head.
"It hurts." I said.
Then she told me to bow again. She kissed my head.
- March 15
Dr. Dolittle
My three-year-old daughter, Haru-chan, does anything she can to defeat me. Last night, she kept pulling her grandfather's sleeve and I told her off. She started to cry, then yelled at me,
"I'm angry at you, Daddy! And... and... look! The kitty Kuro-chan is angry at you too!"
(Our pet cat Kuro-chan was sound asleep)
- March 20
Yesterday?
I was a bit tired three days ago, so I didn't carry my three-year-old daughter Haru-chan on my shoulders, which she often asks me to.
The day before yesterday, she glared at me and said,
"Daddy, you didn't carry me on your shoulders yesterday, did you?" Then she said, "I'm angry at you!"
Last night, she glared at me again and said,
"Daddy, you didn't carry me on your shoulders again yesterday, did you?"
- March 25
Spring
My children and I went for a walk in the park yesterday.
We enjoyed seeing the beautiful cherry blossoms along the river. They were all in full bloom.
Along the way, a passerby asked my daughters,
"Are you two twins?"
This made me realize that my second daughter, Haru-chan, is almost as tall as her elder sister, Tomo-chan.
On our way home I found my son Yuta looking at the gutter. I took a look, and noticed a few cherry petals floating down there.
- March 30
I Need Another Father
Last night, I told Tomo-chan not to play with toys at the dinner table. I took them away, then she started to cry. My other daughter, Haru-chan, started to tell me off for her sister.
Haru-chan: "How come you made my sis cry!"
Tomo-chan: "You shouldn't have taken my toys away so abruptly!"
Me: "But we're eating dinner here and ..."
Haru-chan: "No buts, Daddy! You were being mean to my sis. Apologize to her!"
Tomo-chan: "If you had taken the toys slowly from me, you know, I wouldn't be crying!"
Haru-chan: "Say 'I'm sorry.' Huh? I can't hear you!"
Tomo-chan: "By the way, Daddy, don't stick your chopsticks into the food you eat -- looks so childish."
Haru-chan: "Try to get with the program, Daddy."
(They succeeded in scolding me seven times within two minutes)
- April 10
Magic Shoes
My daughter Tomo-chan and my mother talked about the Sports Day in her nursery schol during dinner yesterday.
"Grandma, Sports Day this year is held on Octber 6th."
"It is? I'm looking forward to it."
"I hate it. I don't want to run."
"Why not?"
"Because I'll lose ― Daddy, can't you buy me a pair of shoes which make me faster?"
- April 16
My Birthday
It's my birthday today. I turned 38.
I'm teaching English at a senior high school. We usually exchange greetings at the beginning of the class. This morning in English class today, my students did something different and surprising.
Instead of giving their usual greeting, they said, "Happy birthday!"
I was so pleased and surprised that I changed the passing grade of the grammar quiz from 4 to 3.
Then someone said, "Wow, it worked!"
- April 20
Woman in Love
My three-year-old daughter, Haru-chan, talked about the boy she "loves" during dinner yesterday.
"Grandma, do you know Ryusho?"
"No. Is he your classmate?"
"No."
"What about him do you like?"
"He... ah, he makes my heart race."
"He makes what?"
"And my heart turns into the shape of a heart."
(According to my wife, Ryusho is younger than Haru-chan and wears a bib and diaper)
- April 26
Ten Times as Energetic as Me
I caught a flu the other day, and I was told by my doctor to stay at home this week.
I felt like eating at dinner last night, so I went to the dinner table.
Seeing me, Haru-chan started to talk to me.
Haru-chan: "Daddy! Where have you been? Oh, I got it. You're sick in bed, aren't you? Mom told me that. Poor Daddy, but you can't help it. Grandpa, eat some tomatoes. Ah, guess what, Daddy? Mom bought you some jelly. Do you like peach jelly? Eat some jelly and I bet your cold will go away soon. Grandpa, I said you've got to eat some tomatoes, they're good for you. Oh my, am I hungry. Grandma? ― GRANDMAAA! ANOTHER BOWL OF RICE PLEASE!"
Grandma: "Haru-chan, your father has a headache. So can you speak in a small voice?"
Haru-chan: "(Covering her mouth with her rice bowl) Gimme another bowl of rice."
- May 8
Would-be Mom
Haru-chan has recently started to feed her baby brother Yuta.
Last night, she gave him some rice. She chewed her rice in her mouth so it can be easier for the baby to swallow, and then she fed it to him.
- May 13
Mind Reader
On Mother's Day yesterday, I made Sata-Andagi, Okinawan doughnuts, for breakfast.
When I came back to the dining room after watering the garden, I found Haru-chan already awake and eating one Sata-Andagi. I asked her,
"Morning. It's Mother's Day today, so wouldn't it better to wait for your mommy to wake up before you eat it?"
"But Mommy allowed me to eat the doughnuts."
"Oh, I see. So, where is she?"
"She's sleeping in the bed."
picture drawing "Mom" drawn by Tomo-chan
- May 16
Beginning of Summer
Summer is just around the corner. It was hot yesterday, so I put twice as many ice cubes in my glass of plum whiskey at dinner. Seeing that, my five-year-old daughter, Tomo-chan, asked me to pour some barley tea in her glass and to give her one ice cube.
My other daughter, Haru-chan, asked for a glass of barley tea too. Tomo-chan then said, "Give Haru-chan one cube of ice too."
- May 17
My Teacher
Yesterday some students of mine hadn't handed me their homework, so I told them to come to the teachers' room after school.
Student: "I ― I haven't finished my, my home-"
Me: "What did you say? Speak up!"
I had a busy day, so I went home late then.
I sat in front of Haru-chan, and picked up my chopsticks.
("Itadakimasu" is a Japanese greeting they say before eating something)
Me: "Whew, what a hectic day. So exhausted. Itadakima-"
Haru-chan: "Huh? I can't hear you! That's not the way you say Itadakimasu. Watch me: ITADAKIMAAAAAASU!"
- May 20
Ms. Contradiction
Last weekend, the director and the homeroom teacher from my daughter Tomo-chan's preschool came to my house for a quick get-together. They talked about how she was doing at preschool.
At the end of the meeting, the teachers asked me if I had any questions or concerns. I asked them if Tomo-chan was hitting her classmates, because she is such a mischievous and energetic girl.
They laughed and said,
"No, not at all. Compared to last year, she has grown up a lot. Boys go over to Tomo-chan at craft time and ask her how to make origami."
"She's teaching?" I asked.
"She is teaching. And I'm impressed with the way she stands in front of her sister Haru-chan to prevent boys from teasing her."
"She does?" My wife asked.
"Uh-huh. But a couple of hours later, she was bullying Haru-chan."
- May 21
What Took You So Long?
I sometimes cook for my family on weekends. Last weekend, I cooked curry and rice, my children's favorite, for lunch.
I called my children over to the table. I put a bib on my baby boy Yuta. As always, my daughters started to play.
Me: "Tomo-chan, stop playing with your spoon."
Tomo-chan: "Got it. Daddy, pour some barley tea in my glass, please."
Me: "You can do it yourself. And Haru-chan, stop standing on the chair. The curry won't go anywhere, so you don't have to look into the pot so often."
Haru-chan: "Daddy, can't you hurry up a bit?"
Tomo-chan: "Barley tea, please."
Me: "I told you to pour it yourself. Pour some for Haru then ― stop dancing on the chair, young lady!"
Finally I made a bowl of curry for Yuta and when I turned to him, I saw lots of saliva coming down from his mouth.
- May 26
Our History
Yesterday, students got together in the gym to hear a lecture as part of class in my high school. Usually, class leaders count the number of the students in their class and report it to the homeroom teacher in this kind of extracurricular activity, but the leader of my class was absent yesterday. Therefore, the vice-leader, Takahiro, did the task instead.
Takahiro was class leader four years ago, in my seventh-graders' class. He was too shy to look me in the eye, and always had a cute Gachapin (Japanese cartoon character) commuter's pass holder hung from his neck. I would often tease him talking to Gachapin while he was reporting the number of the students back then.
In the gym he ran up to me and said, "Class 2, there are 36, we all are here."
I spotted a smile in his face, so asked him if he remembered something. He looked a little surprised, then gave me a big smile.
"Gachapin commuter pass holder"
- May 31
Granddaughter
My three-year-old daughter, Haru-chan, sometimes tells my father off,
"Grandpa, I told you not to drink too much!"
"Grandpa, don't sleep on the sofa!"
When she wears her diaper, though, she isn't powerful enough to pull it up to her waist. She then starts to cry and runs to her grandpa.
- June 3
That's Mine Too
Yesterday, I took my children to an indoor playground and a restaurant. I ordered rice and curry for my daughters and pumpkin noodle for my baby son, Yuta.
When the noodle came, he started to join his palms together and bowed a little; we Japanese do this before eating something, and he had learned it recently.
While I was feeding Yuta noodles, my order, hamburger steak, came to my table. Then Yuta joined his palms again.
- June 7
Weapon
When my wife says "Yuta, go!" my baby boy Yuta crawls to me and head-butts me.
- June 14
Give Me What?
My three-year-old daguther, Haru-chan, got angry at what I said last night. She said,
"I'll give you my fist on the head after dinner!"
My other daughter, Tomo-chan, told her off, saying she couldn't do such a thing. Haru-chan then thought for a while, turned to me and said,
"All right then. I'll give you a tickle-tickle after dinner!"
- June 15
Abnormal Father
I took off my trousers in the living room last night. I was about to go to the bathroom, when my three-year-old daughter yelled in a loud voice,
"Daddy! Don't show me your underpants!"
(My mother was on the phone)
- June 17
Her Favorite Characters
Yesterday in the bathroom, I helped my three-year-old daughter, Haru-chan, wash her hair. Last night, she took some shampoo bubbles with her hands, made a horn with her hair, turned to me and said,
"I'm Baikin-man."
She turned to the mirror, made two horns and said,
"Daddy, I'm Dokin-chan."
"banana dolphin" made by Tomo-chan
- June 24
A Song of Calpis
Yesterday, I made five glasses of Calpis for breakfast. I prepared two big glasses for my wife and me, and three, for children.
As I threw ice cubes in one glass after another, they played a sort of a beautiful melody.
- June 26
Umbrella
June is a rainy season in Japan. Rain reminds me of a scene five years ago.
After the first daughter was born, my family decided to live with my wife's parents, who now are my parents: since my wife was an only child, my parents adopted me to leave their family name when I married her.
I was a bit nervous for the first couple of weeks, living with new parents.
One day, I walked my dog Hana and was on my way home. It was cloudy, but was not raining at all.
On my way home, my father came from a distance. He had an umbrella with him. I asked,
"What is the umbrella for?"
He answered,
"It rained ― uh, a couple raindrops fell on me, so I thought you might want this."
Looking back, I received a warm welcome from my father.
Tomo-chan made me origami hydrangeas
- July 8
Gourmet
My family and I went to a doughnut shop yesterday. My baby son, Yuta, has started to point at what he likes to eat recently. The moment we went in the shop, he pointed at the most expensive doughnut.
- July 29
Novice Mathematician
My daughter Tomo-chan has started to understand division, and is eager to ask me to give her questions.
"Daddy, give me some division quizes."
"Okay. Divide 4 by 2."
"(Putting up her fingers) ― Ah, two?"
"Correct. Well, divide 6 by 2."
"(Putting up her fingers again) ― Umm, three?"
"Well done! Let me give you a difficult one then. Divide 12 by 2."
She put up her fingers and thought for a while. Then she ran to her sister Haru-chan.
She asked her,
"Haru, can you give me your hand?"
I can't go to work, Kuromi.
- July 30
Ready
The other day, I told my daughters to pick up their swimsuits to go to the swimming pool. My wife, though, was reluctant about going to the pool, saying I was being an indulgent father, taking them to their favorite places every weekend.
I argued back and said children are supposed to have fun together with their family, rather than staying at home with nothing exciting to do. She then said children sometimes might want to read books and take it easy at home.
When one of my daughters, Haru-chan, came back, she was in her swimsuit and swim cap.
- August 6
High Five
When I held out my hand to give my baby boy Yuta a high five yesterday, my father, who held Yuta on his lap, looked confused a bit then gave me a high five.
- August 7
Curse Words in Summer
My three-year-old daughter, Haru-chan, fights back when I make her angry. What she yells differs from season to season;
"(Getting angry) You, little dad ― mosquitos, go suck his blood!"
- August 14
My Ancestor?
Yesterday, I planted new flowers to welcome our ancestors. From August 13 to 15, Japanese people welcome the souls of ancestors. I learned from my grandparents that they come back to life for these three days in the shape of insects.
While planting flowers, a grasshopper hopped on my leg. It stayed there for a while. I placed it onto my finger and put it back on the flower leaf. No matter how many times I poked it, it wouldn't jump away. It was so tame for a grasshopper!
I wondered if it was one of my ancestors.
- August 15
Terminator 2013
Since my wife was at work yesterday, I took my three children to the swimming pool. I thought my family would be the first to arrive, but I was wrong. Thirty minutes before the pool opened, there were already about 200 people waiting in line!
While I was relaxing at the poolside, an elderly woman, probably in her 70s or 80s, passed in front of me with a 1-meter long silver water gun in her hand.
- August 20
Novice Cook
My mother cut her finger while cooking last evening, and my father helped her cut onions. She told me that she saw him do some kind of cooking for the first time in her life.
While my wife and I were doing the dishes after dinner, she came over to me, showing me some unused pieces of cut onions. Then she said,
"Look, this is the onion he cut. How uneven!"
Although she got injured last evening, she looked happy.
- August 21
Musical
My little daughters asked me to give them a song title to sing yesterday, so I asked to sing "Elephant" first and then "Tulip," both of which are pretty famous songs in Japan. They sang them very well.
I felt like teasing them by giving a song that doesn't exist, so I asked them to sing "Cicada" for the third song.
They thought for a while, and to my surprise, they started to sing a song "Cicada"!
The pre-school today does teach children lots of songs, I think.
My baby boy Yuta was toddling around in the room, but once the girls started to sing, he started to spin around on the spot.
- August 26
They Made My Day
Yesterday, my fellow teacher Ms. Murata came over to me in the teacher's room and talked to me;
"Your students, Mr. Ikeda and Akamine, told me many great things about you."
"They did? Such as?"
"They said you are hardworking and that you check as many as 110 essays every weekend."
"Well, but that's part of my job."
"And your preparation for the class is perfect, they say."
"That's not correct ― I often forget what to say in class. And I sometimes leave my teaching materals in the teachers' room."
"They seem to be impressed with the way you teach the students some morals in English, not in Japanese."
"I announced I would teach them English basically in English three years ago, and I can't take it back."
During dinner at home, my wife said to me,
"You've been smiling for the last couple of hours. How come?"
- August 24
Negotiator
Last dinner my little daughter, Tomo-chan, asked me to give her some of my mentaiko fish eggs of mine, a type of spicy food for adults.
I picked some up with my chopsticks and gave it to her.
Looking at the eggs, she said to me,
"Grandpa gave me more last night."
- August 25
Novice Toilet Goer
My three-year-old daughter, Haru-chan, has started to go to the bathroom alone, but she seems to be a little afraid to do so.
"Grandma, I got to go to the bathroom."
"Can you go there alone?"
"I think I can."
"Good girl."
"But it's dark."
"You can turn on the light."
"Right. ― well, grandma?"
"What?"
"Push my back, please."
("Push one's back" is a figurative way of saying "encourage someone" in Japanese)
- August 26
Champion
Yesterday my wife and I had a little argument over who was a better singer. So we went to a karaoke box with our daughters where the machine scored our songs.
The match was one hour. My wife and I sang three of our best songs with all our might.
The best score yesterday was 96, set by Tomo-chan, our five-year-old daughter. The song title was "Anpanman no Mahchi (Anpanman's March)"
♪Anpanman's March
- August 30
What It Takes to Be a Househusband
Since my wife stayed out overnight, I took my three children to the nursery on my way to work this morning.
While I was picking up clothes for the girls, my baby boy, Yuta, threw a pair of slippers outside the house. So I went out to pick them up. Then my daughters started to play tag. While I was telling them off, Yuta started to play with a pill-bug in the garden. I lifted him up and took him back in the living room, then I saw my daughters throwing their clothes at each other.
While I was helping my daughter, Haru-chan, with her backpack, Yuta started to scribble something on my trousers with a pink pincil.
Finally I managed to put them in my car. Right after I changed Yuta's diapers, though, he started to pee, wetting the car seat.
- September 9
Ms. Hungy & Mr. Hungry
My family and I went to a ramen shop for lunch the day before yesterday. Two minutes after we ordered, Haru-chan said in a loud voice,
"Our ramen hasn't come yet ― what's taking so long?"
In the afternoon, we ate cake at a cafe.
My wife picked up some cream with her spoon and gave it to our baby boy, Yuta.
I picked up a bigger piece of cream and looked at Yuta so I could give it to him when he finished my wife's cream.
He spotted my cream, opened his mouth, put my wife's piece back onto her spoon and ate my cream.
- September 11
Watermelon Guardian
(Haru-chan is my three-year-old daughter)
Three days ago ―
Haru-chan: "Grandpa, how many watermelons are there in the field?"
Grandpa: "Well, four."
Haru-chan: "I see."
The day before yesterday ―
Haru-chan: "Grandpa, how many watermelons are there in the field?"
Grandpa: "Three. No, I mean, four. "
Haru-chan: "Did you say three?"
Grandpa: "No, I meant, four."
Last night ―
Haru-chan: "Grandpa, how many watermelons are there in the field?"
Grandpa: "Four. "
Haru-chan: "Good."
- September 14
Environmentally Friendly Girl
I bought a new towel the day before yesterday. When I put some liquid soap on the towel and tried to use it in the bathroom last night, Tomo-chan said to me,
"Daddy, use the old one first."
- September 17
Yusei
My former student, Yusei, came to my high school today for the first time in five years.
Yusei is one of the students I have never forgotten.
I once grabbed the collar of his shirt and dragged him out of the classroom to tell him off after he glared at me in the classroom.
I also visited his house to inform his parents of his bad behavior in school.
But then I learned from his parents that he was volunteering at the hospital to show elderly patients how to make origami.
He was buying origami books with his allowance to improve his origami skills.
"He is gentle at heart," his mother said in tears.
Then and there, I learned that you can't judge a person based only on their academic record or everyday behavior.
The next day, I told all the students in the class that I was very proud to have a student who was enthusiastic about teaching origami to the elderly people.
After school, Yusei cleaned the veranda, which students hated to clean, smiling all the while.
I appreciated it, and sent him an origami book at his house later that day.
Yusei would never keep eye contant with me all through school, except for one occasion.
On the graduation day, my eyes happened to meet his eyes.
I smiled at him.
He then gave me a gentle and beautiful smile back, and bowed a little.
He is now studying to be a doctor at university.
"You're off today, because the school festival was Sunday, aren't you?" Yusei asked.
"That's right. Hold on ― then why did you come to school when there are so few teachers?" I asked.
"I thought you would be at school."
"How did you know?"
"I know you," he said, giving me that charming smile once again.
- September 28
Little Dietician
My three-year-old daughter, Haru-chan, kept asking me questions during dinner last night.
"Daddy, how many pieces of onion have you eaten?"
"I guess three or four."
"Good. What about shrimps?"
"Uh, four?"
"Uh-uh, too many shrimps. Hold on! Isn't that your second glass of your plum whiskey?"
- October 9
You Mean, Iro Empitsu (colored pencils)
My five-year-old daughter, Tomo-chan, has acquired an impeccable pronunciation of her mother tongue, Japanese. Last evening, though, I found an exception;
Tomo-chan: "Papa, ero empitsu totte. Are, midori to pinku no ero empitsu ga naiyan. Papa, atarashi ero empitsu kattekiteyo!"
("Daddy, get me some erotic pencils. Gee, there are no green and pink erotic pencils. Daddy, buy me a new set of erotic pencils!")
- October 19
Eleven Years
I went to Hokkaido with my students on the school trip this week.
On the fourth day we went to Lake Onuma, which I had visited 11 years before on a different school trip.
When I was walking toward the gift shop, a forest road caught my eyes. Then I suddenly and vividly remembered walking on the same road back then.
Then I also remembered what I was 11 years ago ―
I remembered that I couldn't make it in a part-time job interview of a convenience store, probably because my eyebrows hadn't fully recovered.
That I was hired by my high school, which didn't judge someone based on their appearance.
That the period of employment was three years, that I was fearful of possible recurrence of my disease, and that my savings were no more than 50 thousand yen or so.
Walking in the little forest back then, never did I dream of a life with a wife and kids like an angel.
On my way back to the bus, I bought three melon-flavored chocolates for my kids. My wife is against me giving them chocolates, so she will scold me for that.
It snowed one month earlier than usual in Hokkaido this year. Mt. Komagatake was breathtakingly beautiful with shiney snow on its top.
Mt. Komagatake
- October 21
Real Cookie Monster
My children and I went to a park yesterday. As they ate little for breakfast, I decided to buy some chocolates at a convenience store. I bought three chocolates. I gave them to my daughters, and to my baby son Yuta, thinking that he wouldn't need any help to eat it.
When we got to the park, I opened the car door to find that the lower half of Yuta's face had turned brown with chocolate.
- November 5
Boss
Last night, I cooked champon vegetable noodles for my family. While I was stirring it, a drop of hot stew fell on Haru-chan's arm.
We started to eat, and she talked to me.
"Daddy, it was hot. You dropped the stew onto my arm, remember?"
"Oops, sorry."
" 'Oops, sorry?' ― I need to have a word with you after dinner."
- November 7
I Love Rice
My one-year-old son, Yuta, eats a lot. He set a new record during last dinner.
Yuta: "(Putting out his rice bowl) Da."
Mother: "Hold on, Yuta. You have already eaten two bowls of rice. Wouldn't it be better to stop there? You don't want to be a sumo wrestler, do you?"
Father: "Right. I hear that if you are fat in your childhood, chances are you'll be fat too when you grow up."
Me: "Really?"
Daughters: "Oh, really?"
Wife: "Oh no."
Yuta: "(Putting out his rice bowl) Da."
- November 11
It's Automatic, Son
My family and I went to a hot spring yesterday.
Leaving the cashier, I noticed a locker door left open.
Just then, my one-year-old boy, Yuta, walked up to the locker and closed it.
"Atta boy! I'm proud of you." I patted his head and held him.
When we were about to leave the building, he returned to the entrance gate.
He then held an automatic door and started to pull it to close.
- November 12
Trap?
When I went to a classroom to teach English today, I found a biscuit on the teacher's desk. I asked whose biscuit it was.
"It's for you. A souvenir," said a student.
I was glad and said, "The passing grade of the grammar quiz today is three, not four."
The students jumped up and shouted in glee. One student then said,
"Let's put a biscuit on the teacher's desk every day!"
- November 18
Sisters
My five-year-old daughter Tomo-chan and three-year-old daughter Haru-chan are always at it, and I wonder if they will ever get along.
This might have been a needless worry.
Last night, Haru-chan was playing with her toys, half-naked, after taking a bath. It was a little chilly yesterday, so my father told her to stop playing with the toys and put on her pajamas.
She wouldn't listen, and kept on playing. He told her again, and she replied, "Don't call me a moron! You moron!"
That does it, I thought, and I picked her up onto my shoulder, walked outside the house, and left her alone and shut the door.
She started banging the door, crying for her life.
She shouldn't have disrespected someone who cared about her health.
I was going to wait there till she said she was sorry.
When I turned back, Tomo-chan was there. She held on to my arm, started to cry and pleaded with me,
"Daddy! Please forgive Haru-chan!"
I answered,
"No, she needs to learn something."
But she wouldn't stop.
"No, but Haru-chan! She is, she is... Oh! Please!"
- November 20
Birthday Gift
It's my daughter Tomo-chan's birthday today. She turned six.
Last night, her younger sister, Haru-chan, walked up to me and said,
"Daddy, buy Tomo-chan pretty clothes with this, please."
She then gave me a one-yen coin.
- November 25
Winter Has Come
It was a little chilly in the morning yesterday, so I took a short nap with my son Yuta on my belly. I put a blanket on him and patted his back, trying to make him sleep. Then I felt like calling his name.
"Yuta," I said.
About ten seconds later, he slowly raised his hand. Then he put the hand back under the blanket very quickly.
- December 2
Twice as Noisy
Yesterday my daughters and I went to Kumamoto prefecture to watch a shorinji kempo competition (a type of Japanese martial arts). On our way back home, we bought a toy bear which repeats what you say seconds later.
Soon after I put batteries into the toy, my daughters started to play;
Tomo-chan: "Hello there!"
Bear: "... Hello, there!"
Tomo-chan: "Oh, my! This cute bear does repeat after me!"
Haru-chan: "Oh, oh! Let me do it!"
Bear: "Oh, my! This cute bear does repeat after me!"
Haru-chan: "That's not what I said, Bear."
Bear: Oh, oh! Let me do it!"
Tomo&Haru: "AHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!"
Bear: "Oh, my! This cute bear does repeat after me! That's not what I said, Bear."
Grandmother: "Girls, stop it and put away your other toys first."
Bear: "AHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!"
Tomo-chan: "But, this bear is a lot of fun!"
Grandfather: "If you aren't watching TV, turn it off."
Bear: "Girls, stop it and put away your other toys first."
Tomo-chan: "AHAHAHAHAHA! He repeated grandma!"
- December 4
I'm Sorry
Last night, my family and I took a bath. My baby son, Yuta, likes to play with a toy fishing rod. While he was swinging it in a wild way, it hit his sister's eye. She started to cry. I knew he was too young to understand any words, but I needed to scold him.
"Yuta, listen to me. The bathroom is a little cramped with you three. It could be dangerous to swing it in such a wild way ..."
He looked me in the eye while listening to me. He then turned to his sister, gently patting her arm.
- December 10
Order
I want to do some housework, but I drive to work and have to leave my house at 5:30 a.m. so as not to be involved in the traffic jam. I go home late at night, so all I can do for my family now is cook breakfast. I make rice balls on Monday, Wednesday and Friday, and spaghetti, on the other three weekdays.
My mother cares about my health, and seems to be saying in front of my children that I shouldn't cook early in the morning.
Last night, my daughter Haru-chan walked up to me in the evening and said,
"Daddy, grandma said you shouldn't cook early in the morning."
"But, I want to do something for my family."
"No, you don't need to. She was saying you should stop cooking spaghetti."
"Should I?"
"Yep."
She was about to leave, then she came back and advised me something.
"Daddy?"
"What?"
"You can cook me udon noodle instead."
- December 21
Is Anybody There?
My one-year-old son, Yuta, is getting taller and taller. He has started to get out of the bathtub all by himself.
Last night he got out of the bathtub and went to the bathroom door. He looked up at the handle of the door, but he was still too short to reach.
He stood there and thought for a while, and then knocked the door.
- December 23
Done?
Haru-chan: "Daddy, I'll massage your shoulders for you. How many times should I do it?"
Me: "Thanks. Then, 100 times, please."
Haru-chan: "One hundred. Gatcha. One, two, three ... thirty-nine, sixty. Sixty-one, sixty-two ..."
Tomo-chan: "Fourty!"
Haru-chan: "Forty-one, forty-two, forty-five, for-"
Tomo-chan: "Forty-three!"
Haru-chan: "Forty-three, forty-four... forty-eight, forty-nine, one hundred! Done!"
- December 25
Christmas Lovers
I teach English in a Japanese high school. If my students fail to pass a vocab or grammar quiz in my class, then they have to stay behind after school and keep retaking the quiz until they pass it.
I had about 15 students after school yesterday, and by the time I did the fourth round, all the students, except for two boys, had passed and gone home.
The last two boys looked devastated. This is probably because they never thought that they'd be the last ones to leave.
Then the fifth make-up test finished and...
I checked their quizzes. They had both passed.
"Now you can leave," I said.
Shortly afterwards, as I was on my way to the teachers' room, I saw the two boys hugging each other.
- December 25
English Conversation
"In car?" My wife said to me.
"What?" I said.
"In car?" She repeated.
I was thinking for a while until I realized that she wanted to ask me 'where the Christmas gifts' in English instead of Japanese, since our children were around; they don't understand English.
"You mean, the Chistmas gifts? They're in MY car. You're supposed to say 'your car' or 'the car' or something. It sounded a bit weird. I mean, the noun 'car' is a countable noun, and you've got to add an article 'the' or ―"
"― In car?"
"Yep. Where should I put the gifts tonight? Beside the pillows or on the dining table?"
"Fast."
"Ah ― WHERE, SHOULD I, PUT, THEM?"
"Tsuginoma (the guest room)."
"All right, tsuginoma it is. Hold on. That's Japanese."
"Tsuginoma."
"In English please. Kids are all ears."
"― next room."
(She translated tsuginoma literally into English)
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