...is an interesting look at why Japanese women aren't getting married - and therefore aren't having many children. Japan has an extraordinarily low birthrate, which (Blaine says) is mainly because Japanese women delay marriage or don't get married at all. (Solo parenting by choice is extraordinarily rare in Japan.)
Blaine's cheeky lede: "I have never met a Japanese man who did not want me to be his mommy."
Here's the video interview with the story's main character, Takako Takeyama. She's very direct about a subject that, in many cultures, would not be easy to talk about.
In today's paper, Blaine also has a story about how "globe-trotting" Japanese are staying home, to the horror of the travel industry.
Saturday, August 30, 2008
Friday, August 29, 2008
McCain's VP
Sarah Palin? Totally bizarro selection. Quickie analysis:
- If he wanted to pick a woman to peel off Hillary voters, he could have gone with Meg Whitman or Carly Fiorina - but maybe they are both pro-choice. Or he could have gone with Olympia Snowe or Kay Bailey Hutchison (though I read somewhere that Hutchison and McCain don't get along). But a 2-year, radically pro-life governor with a 5-month-old infant? I don't see HRC voters moving dramatically in that direction, unless they were already planning to vote for McCain.
- Even stranger, the people who seem most thrilled about the choice of Palin are those right-wing and anti-tax GOP men who, in the past, have tried hardest to destroy McCain: People like Karl Rove, Ralph Reed, Grover Norquist, and Christian conservatives like Richard Land and James Dobson, whom McCain once called "agents of intolerance." I think it says something about McCain's insecurity that, even now, when he's the nominee of the party, he has to suck up to people he clearly detests by choosing someone (alas, a woman) who is so clearly not ready for the job.
- All criticism aside, the selection of Palin does bring one huge benefit to the race: some fresh novelties and absurdies. Who knows when the wheels might come off?
Of course, I could be really, seriously wrong about all this, as I've been before.
- If he wanted to pick a woman to peel off Hillary voters, he could have gone with Meg Whitman or Carly Fiorina - but maybe they are both pro-choice. Or he could have gone with Olympia Snowe or Kay Bailey Hutchison (though I read somewhere that Hutchison and McCain don't get along). But a 2-year, radically pro-life governor with a 5-month-old infant? I don't see HRC voters moving dramatically in that direction, unless they were already planning to vote for McCain.
- Even stranger, the people who seem most thrilled about the choice of Palin are those right-wing and anti-tax GOP men who, in the past, have tried hardest to destroy McCain: People like Karl Rove, Ralph Reed, Grover Norquist, and Christian conservatives like Richard Land and James Dobson, whom McCain once called "agents of intolerance." I think it says something about McCain's insecurity that, even now, when he's the nominee of the party, he has to suck up to people he clearly detests by choosing someone (alas, a woman) who is so clearly not ready for the job.
- All criticism aside, the selection of Palin does bring one huge benefit to the race: some fresh novelties and absurdies. Who knows when the wheels might come off?
Of course, I could be really, seriously wrong about all this, as I've been before.
Obama's speech
Back of the envelope thoughts about Obama's speech:
- The family stuff, the patriotism bit, the McCain criticism were all fine. The domestic policy section and the ending were really terrific, and the MLK reference at the end was particularly moving.
- But the foreign affairs stuff was muddled. The line about McCain not following Osama to his cave was one of the very few tin notes in the speech.
- Biggest surprise: Obama was notably subdued and serious throughout the speech. We didn't see much of his big grin, and he didn't evoke the usual euphoria that's typical for nominees who've just had the most important night of their lives. (Michelle Obama was also similarly serious-faced.) Obama is smart and he's run an incredibly sharp campaign, so we have to assume this was all strategy - that even though his campaign set him up to speak to 80,000 people, he (and they) didn't want to ride too high in that crowd.
- Which makes the set even weirder. I mean, why the faux White House? Weird and fake and unnecessary at a moment when Obama was pushing authenticity.
- Then again, the speech was really strong and presented Obama as strong and presidential - so, in the end, that's the reason for the faux White House.
- And I guess the success of the speech can be measured partly in the totally hypocritical reax from the NYT's David Brooks, who complained on the NewsHour that Obama didn't have enough high-flying rhetoric... and this from Brooks, who's obsessed with Obama's fancy-schmancy Hyde Park connections and pushed Biden as the VP, but now doesn't want to give Obama any credit for, well, anything. (And what is this totally kookoo Brooks column?
Now for McCain's veep choice. Alaska's Palin would be a bonkers choice vs. Biden. The networks say it isn't Pawlenty or Romney (Gail Collins will be disappointed.). So, Lieberman? We'll know soon anyway, but Lieberman would be decisively annoying.
- The family stuff, the patriotism bit, the McCain criticism were all fine. The domestic policy section and the ending were really terrific, and the MLK reference at the end was particularly moving.
- But the foreign affairs stuff was muddled. The line about McCain not following Osama to his cave was one of the very few tin notes in the speech.
- Biggest surprise: Obama was notably subdued and serious throughout the speech. We didn't see much of his big grin, and he didn't evoke the usual euphoria that's typical for nominees who've just had the most important night of their lives. (Michelle Obama was also similarly serious-faced.) Obama is smart and he's run an incredibly sharp campaign, so we have to assume this was all strategy - that even though his campaign set him up to speak to 80,000 people, he (and they) didn't want to ride too high in that crowd.
- Which makes the set even weirder. I mean, why the faux White House? Weird and fake and unnecessary at a moment when Obama was pushing authenticity.
- Then again, the speech was really strong and presented Obama as strong and presidential - so, in the end, that's the reason for the faux White House.
- And I guess the success of the speech can be measured partly in the totally hypocritical reax from the NYT's David Brooks, who complained on the NewsHour that Obama didn't have enough high-flying rhetoric... and this from Brooks, who's obsessed with Obama's fancy-schmancy Hyde Park connections and pushed Biden as the VP, but now doesn't want to give Obama any credit for, well, anything. (And what is this totally kookoo Brooks column?
Now for McCain's veep choice. Alaska's Palin would be a bonkers choice vs. Biden. The networks say it isn't Pawlenty or Romney (Gail Collins will be disappointed.). So, Lieberman? We'll know soon anyway, but Lieberman would be decisively annoying.
Monday, August 25, 2008
Harajuku girls and boys
Tokyo is famous for its Harajuku girls - young women who dress up in elaborate costumes and walk around the Harajuku neighborhood. When we were in Yoyogi Park (which is near Harajuku) this weekend, we saw some Harajuku girls - and boys - parading in front of tourists like exotic creatures at the zoo.
Here are a few of the fashion curiosities.
The sweet punker crowd?
Sort of like Bjork at the Oscars many years ago.
Looks like a do-it-yourself concoction of pink and green and faux fur. This girl, like many others in Harajuku (including those you see in the background of this photo), is pulling a small suitcase where she can stash normal clothes to wear as she rides the train to and from home.
Here are a few of the fashion curiosities.
The sweet punker crowd?
Sort of like Bjork at the Oscars many years ago.
Looks like a do-it-yourself concoction of pink and green and faux fur. This girl, like many others in Harajuku (including those you see in the background of this photo), is pulling a small suitcase where she can stash normal clothes to wear as she rides the train to and from home.
Sunday, August 24, 2008
Dance festival
We went to Yoyogi Park today with our friends Rena Singer and John Murphy (of the Wall St. Journal) and their children to see a festival where, it turned out, dozens of Japanese-style dance teams performed.
It was a big scene with lots of costumes.
This group looked like a flock of flamingos.
We also saw this bubble guy, who used a ribbon and a bubble solution made of (we were told) dishwashing liquid, mineral water, and a gel used for animal bowel problems. (click pic for a better look at the bubble)
The kids were a little subdued - and periodically fascinated.
It was a big scene with lots of costumes.
This group looked like a flock of flamingos.
We also saw this bubble guy, who used a ribbon and a bubble solution made of (we were told) dishwashing liquid, mineral water, and a gel used for animal bowel problems. (click pic for a better look at the bubble)
The kids were a little subdued - and periodically fascinated.
Saturday, August 23, 2008
Back to business
Must blog again, must blog again, must blog again!
It's been difficult to restart Jessica in Tokyo after our vacation. My excuses: Jet lag, sleepiness, editing and work, two energetic and demanding kids who want to be back at school - but aren't. And I've become slightly fixated with the TV show Grey's Anatomy, which I'd never seen until a month ago, when I bought the first season on our Apple TV. (I'm generally a snob about TV and like to tell friends that I ignore network shows until they are about five years old, but I'm baring my momentary weakness here.)
Anyhow, I think my procrastination -- which often attacks in times of transition -- has run its course and I'm ready to get back into our normal Japanese life. Lucinda starts school on Monday. Arno starts school on Wednesday - with a full day on Friday.
Then I'll really make progress on my to-do list this fall: pitching more stories to magazines, helping to plan the Book Fair at Nishimachi, keeping up with the blog, and possibly starting an editing business with a friend. More on all of that later.
For now, welcome back to my blog!
It's been difficult to restart Jessica in Tokyo after our vacation. My excuses: Jet lag, sleepiness, editing and work, two energetic and demanding kids who want to be back at school - but aren't. And I've become slightly fixated with the TV show Grey's Anatomy, which I'd never seen until a month ago, when I bought the first season on our Apple TV. (I'm generally a snob about TV and like to tell friends that I ignore network shows until they are about five years old, but I'm baring my momentary weakness here.)
Anyhow, I think my procrastination -- which often attacks in times of transition -- has run its course and I'm ready to get back into our normal Japanese life. Lucinda starts school on Monday. Arno starts school on Wednesday - with a full day on Friday.
Then I'll really make progress on my to-do list this fall: pitching more stories to magazines, helping to plan the Book Fair at Nishimachi, keeping up with the blog, and possibly starting an editing business with a friend. More on all of that later.
For now, welcome back to my blog!
Tuesday, August 5, 2008
Still on vacation!
My blog has been on hiatus, obv, for the past few weeks. We were in Denver for three weeks hanging out with my family, and now Blaine and I and the children are in Seattle for a few weeks to see friends.
And, wow, is it lovely in Seattle! Sunny but cool and so green. We stopped by our house today (which is rented) and I drank in the greenness of the backyard and our many healthy plants. Then we went to the annual Night Out block party with dozens of neighbors.
Our neighborhood has to be among the city's most diverse: longtime residents, lots of young families of every ethnicity, and middle-aged couples with children in high school. When our Tokyo sojourn is finished, I imagine we'll be perfectly happy to move back and restart life here.
I'll be back in Tokyo this Sunday while Blaine and the children will stay in Seattle for another week - and will return just before Lucinda's school starts again.
And, wow, is it lovely in Seattle! Sunny but cool and so green. We stopped by our house today (which is rented) and I drank in the greenness of the backyard and our many healthy plants. Then we went to the annual Night Out block party with dozens of neighbors.
Our neighborhood has to be among the city's most diverse: longtime residents, lots of young families of every ethnicity, and middle-aged couples with children in high school. When our Tokyo sojourn is finished, I imagine we'll be perfectly happy to move back and restart life here.
I'll be back in Tokyo this Sunday while Blaine and the children will stay in Seattle for another week - and will return just before Lucinda's school starts again.
Friday, July 18, 2008
Blaine's latest
Never fear, Washington Post! While Blaine's family is on vacation, Blaine is not slacking off!
Just in the past week, Blaine wrote stories about...
Tokyo's governor calls America "selfish"
The impact of the slowing global economy
Japan's "killer" work ethic - which actually kills people
North Korea kills a South Korean tourist
What a hard-working correspondent!
Just in the past week, Blaine wrote stories about...
Tokyo's governor calls America "selfish"
The impact of the slowing global economy
Japan's "killer" work ethic - which actually kills people
North Korea kills a South Korean tourist
What a hard-working correspondent!
U.S. visit
Lucinda, Arno and I are back in the United States on vacation, visiting my parents in Denver. Blaine will arrive next weekend. The trip over with the children wasn't easy: 2 hr bus trip to Narita, 2 hours waiting at Narita, 9 hours to San Francisco, luggage customs and a quick wait in SF, and then 2 hours to Denver. A very long day that repeated itself.
I hoped that the kids might sleep on the long plane ride; it is, after all, a night flight. But Arno fell asleep literally as the plane was making its final approach to S.F. and I had to carry him off like a sack of apples. Fortunately, they both slept on the way to Denver because I have no idea how I would have entertained them. (I don't sleep much on planes in any case.)
Lucinda handed the jet lag like a champ: the first night in Denver, she slept for 15 hours! The same night, Arno slept for 4 hours, woke up at 1:30 a.m. and refused to rest until he passed out at noon. Finally, on day 3, he fell asleep at 5 p.m. and slept till 7 a.m. - and then we were back in business.
We're in Denver for 3 weeks, probably the most time I've spent here in nearly 20 years. We're doing lots of swimming, some shopping, lots of playing in grandparents' backyards, and I've signed the children up for various summer camps. I'm also actively trying to relax rules that I'd set up in Tokyo to make life there easier; here, Arno can wear his Superman pajamas to his summer camp if he wants to (I'd banned them from preschool because he wanted to wear them every day).
Lucinda and Arno are quite happy about life at the moment and curiously seem more mature and independent than they did even a few weeks ago in Tokyo. I'm not sure if it's because they're just older or because they've learned to handle themselves in new situations as we've lived in Japan. In either case, it's a very welcome development.
I hoped that the kids might sleep on the long plane ride; it is, after all, a night flight. But Arno fell asleep literally as the plane was making its final approach to S.F. and I had to carry him off like a sack of apples. Fortunately, they both slept on the way to Denver because I have no idea how I would have entertained them. (I don't sleep much on planes in any case.)
Lucinda handed the jet lag like a champ: the first night in Denver, she slept for 15 hours! The same night, Arno slept for 4 hours, woke up at 1:30 a.m. and refused to rest until he passed out at noon. Finally, on day 3, he fell asleep at 5 p.m. and slept till 7 a.m. - and then we were back in business.
We're in Denver for 3 weeks, probably the most time I've spent here in nearly 20 years. We're doing lots of swimming, some shopping, lots of playing in grandparents' backyards, and I've signed the children up for various summer camps. I'm also actively trying to relax rules that I'd set up in Tokyo to make life there easier; here, Arno can wear his Superman pajamas to his summer camp if he wants to (I'd banned them from preschool because he wanted to wear them every day).
Lucinda and Arno are quite happy about life at the moment and curiously seem more mature and independent than they did even a few weeks ago in Tokyo. I'm not sure if it's because they're just older or because they've learned to handle themselves in new situations as we've lived in Japan. In either case, it's a very welcome development.
Monday, July 7, 2008
Wishing on July 7
There are "wishing trees" popping up on market streets in Tokyo to celebrate Tanabata, "the evening of the seventh" on July 7, or 7/7.
Wikipedia tells me that the Japanese festival was inspired by a Chinese story. In Japan, though, it's celebrated by writing wishes on colorful paper and hanging the papers on bamboo trees with ribbon.
We were having an ice cream cone recently when we saw this Tanabata tree.
An older man in work clothes, who was carrying a big can of Sapporo and was clearly a little drunk (but quiet) saw Lucinda and Arno and handed them some paper and a fat black pen so they could participate.
Here's Arno's wish:
And Lucinda's wish. (She's thinking of Kaila, her Seattle friend, whom she'll see in a few weeks.)
Wikipedia tells me that the Japanese festival was inspired by a Chinese story. In Japan, though, it's celebrated by writing wishes on colorful paper and hanging the papers on bamboo trees with ribbon.
We were having an ice cream cone recently when we saw this Tanabata tree.
An older man in work clothes, who was carrying a big can of Sapporo and was clearly a little drunk (but quiet) saw Lucinda and Arno and handed them some paper and a fat black pen so they could participate.
Here's Arno's wish:
And Lucinda's wish. (She's thinking of Kaila, her Seattle friend, whom she'll see in a few weeks.)
Sunday, July 6, 2008
The Tooth Fairy
It's been a big month for Lucinda. She turned 6. She learned to swim. And today she lost a tooth!
Through sources I cannot reveal, I'm told she left the following note (along with her tooth, of course) under her pillow:
"Dear tooth Farea. I wont to see you. Pleas Tace a piccher av your self and Rite bak. By Lucinda (then she signed her name as she writes it in Japanese) PS I wont to no wy you clect teeth. Can I cip my tooth?"
The tooth fairy responded thusly:
Dear Lucinda,
Thank you for your note! I like getting notes from kids. And thank you for showing me your tooth. Congratulations!
You asked me to take a picture of myself - but fairies are magic and cannot be photographed. I hope you understand.
You asked why I collect teeth. I do that to show children that losing your baby teeth is an important part of growing up and something you will always remember. In this case, I am happy to leave your tooth with you to keep. I'll be back when you lose the next one!
(signed) The T.F.
P.S. Please keep brushing your beautiful teeth - in the morning and at bedtime!
Friday, July 4, 2008
Train fashion
I haven't done justice this year to the fashion thing in Tokyo, mainly because I often feel self-conscious about asking people if I can photograph them - even if they are wearing the most outrageous outfits and clearly want to be noticed.
Anyway, I recently saw these four young women on a train when I was coming back from Costco. When I took out my camera and asked if I could take a photo, they jumped into a pose!
I'm going to try to get more fashion-detail stuff in later posts, but these women do represent a lot of what we see on the streets, like the shag haircuts, thigh-high black knee socks or tights with white shoes, yellow baby-doll dresses and high heels with almost everything.
And it seems like almost every woman in Tokyo carries a designer bag; Louis Vuitton does 40 percent of its business here - and even this woman has one.
Here's another trend in Tokyo: jeweled fingernails, to go with jewel-covered cell phones. (click pic to really see the jewels)
More fashion to come...
Anyway, I recently saw these four young women on a train when I was coming back from Costco. When I took out my camera and asked if I could take a photo, they jumped into a pose!
I'm going to try to get more fashion-detail stuff in later posts, but these women do represent a lot of what we see on the streets, like the shag haircuts, thigh-high black knee socks or tights with white shoes, yellow baby-doll dresses and high heels with almost everything.
And it seems like almost every woman in Tokyo carries a designer bag; Louis Vuitton does 40 percent of its business here - and even this woman has one.
Here's another trend in Tokyo: jeweled fingernails, to go with jewel-covered cell phones. (click pic to really see the jewels)
More fashion to come...
Thursday, July 3, 2008
Summer night
The weather in Tokyo lately has been delightful. I'd been warned about the rainy seasion from mid-June to mid-July: that it would rain most days with a blustery wind that would soak us and shred our umbrellas.
Instead, we've had a string of lovely, cool-enough days with some rain, but not too much rain. And we're really enjoying it. The other night, we went swimming at the Tokyo American Club, took the bus home, ate soba and tempura at a century-old noodle restaurant, and walked home through Azabu Juban in 70-degree pleasantness.
Flower pots
Tokyo is a concrete city. Except for parks and planters outside buildings, almost anything Earthlike is covered by a road, sidewalk, house, apartment building, or something else that is flat and paved.
But people try really, really hard to bring a little green into the picture - mainly with flower pots. Some of the pots are old and cracked but sometimes everything is very deliberately and artfully done - like outdoor ikebana. I've even seen planters used for growing strawberries, zucchini, and tomatoes.
I hope it's not too many pictures, but I liked finding this citified greenery. (Click a pic if you want a better view.)
These are houses we pass on the way to Lucinda's or Arno's school.
A restaurant on a busy street.
The front steps of an apartment building.
A wall overlooking a parking lot next to a few tiny homes. (My favorite photo.)
Outside the post office in the Azabu Juban neighborhood near our house.
A flower shop sets the mood.
These tiny stone planters were for sale outside a stone-masonry store.
I spotted this rooftop garden from the third floor balcony at Starbucks in Azabu Juban. Here's the building...
...and this is the rooftop closeup.
We'll be back in Seattle for vacation in a few weeks; for now, this is our green.
But people try really, really hard to bring a little green into the picture - mainly with flower pots. Some of the pots are old and cracked but sometimes everything is very deliberately and artfully done - like outdoor ikebana. I've even seen planters used for growing strawberries, zucchini, and tomatoes.
I hope it's not too many pictures, but I liked finding this citified greenery. (Click a pic if you want a better view.)
These are houses we pass on the way to Lucinda's or Arno's school.
A restaurant on a busy street.
The front steps of an apartment building.
A wall overlooking a parking lot next to a few tiny homes. (My favorite photo.)
Outside the post office in the Azabu Juban neighborhood near our house.
A flower shop sets the mood.
These tiny stone planters were for sale outside a stone-masonry store.
I spotted this rooftop garden from the third floor balcony at Starbucks in Azabu Juban. Here's the building...
...and this is the rooftop closeup.
We'll be back in Seattle for vacation in a few weeks; for now, this is our green.
Tuesday, July 1, 2008
Blaine's latest...
Blaine had three more Condi and N Korea-related stories over the weekend. His job is a heap of hard work.
US sends shipment of wheat
SecState fails to solveS Korean protests about US beef.
and
N Korea blows up cooling tower.
US sends shipment of wheat
SecState fails to solveS Korean protests about US beef.
and
N Korea blows up cooling tower.
Arno's suggestion
Arno said the following at dinner tonight: "I think we should have another baby. Babies are cute. If it's a girl, we could call her Rose. If it's a boy, we should call him Superhero S."
Me: "So, his nickname would be Supe?"
Arno: "No, just Superman S."
Some discussion.
Arno: "Or we could call him Astroman."
Blaine: "His nickname could be Ass."
Lucinda: "I think we should call the baby Stinky Cheese."
Arno: "I want you to call me Astroman."
We are NOT, by the way, having any more children. We told the kids that we're happy with two.
Me: "So, his nickname would be Supe?"
Arno: "No, just Superman S."
Some discussion.
Arno: "Or we could call him Astroman."
Blaine: "His nickname could be Ass."
Lucinda: "I think we should call the baby Stinky Cheese."
Arno: "I want you to call me Astroman."
We are NOT, by the way, having any more children. We told the kids that we're happy with two.
Friday, June 27, 2008
Trailing spouse: Condi Rice edition
Blaine is in Kyoto covering Condi Rice's trip to Japan and (tomorrow) to South Korea in advance of the Group of Eight summit here in early July.
His first story, about the removal of N Korea from the US list of terror-supporting nations, is in the front page on Friday's Washington Post. He'll travel to Seoul with the Secretary of State tomorrow for 24 hours. Blaine does not love covering these sorts of big news events as much as I do, but I keep telling him it's pretty cool nonetheless.
If he gets a private audience w/the SecState, I want him to ask Rice about Barack Obama. Maybe he could get her to say something interesting? She is so controlled (though well-spoken) in her pronouncements, but maybe he could drag some US political news out of the event.
His first story, about the removal of N Korea from the US list of terror-supporting nations, is in the front page on Friday's Washington Post. He'll travel to Seoul with the Secretary of State tomorrow for 24 hours. Blaine does not love covering these sorts of big news events as much as I do, but I keep telling him it's pretty cool nonetheless.
If he gets a private audience w/the SecState, I want him to ask Rice about Barack Obama. Maybe he could get her to say something interesting? She is so controlled (though well-spoken) in her pronouncements, but maybe he could drag some US political news out of the event.
Thursday, June 26, 2008
Blaine's latest...
... is a funny story about fancy, electricity-guzzling Japanese toilets!
This story has all sorts of nice timing: just before the G-8 summit in Hokkaido, Japan, when there will be international pressure to talk energy conservation, and with such high global oil prices. And who can resist a potty story?
In case you haven't seen one of these up close, here's one of our bottom-washing seat-warmers.
And the fantastic control panel, with translation by our real-estate management company. The graphics are everything.
This story has all sorts of nice timing: just before the G-8 summit in Hokkaido, Japan, when there will be international pressure to talk energy conservation, and with such high global oil prices. And who can resist a potty story?
In case you haven't seen one of these up close, here's one of our bottom-washing seat-warmers.
And the fantastic control panel, with translation by our real-estate management company. The graphics are everything.
Tuesday, June 24, 2008
Mt. Takao
I'm going to blog about Blaine's trip with the kids, Blaise, Adrienne and their children to Mt. Takao because I've got the photos and Adrienne is giving me the details. (She'll post about the trip on her blog, too.) How great to get the kids into the woods for some fresh air and greenery.
They went on the Keio line from Shinjuku station. 45 mins or so. Lucinda agreed to put a barrette in her hair to get her bangs out of her face.
They climbed on some stones, walked up some steps...
... took the cable car up the mountain where, at the top, they found a 100-yen mechanized train to climb on.
At the top, a lovely temple and this outbuilding. Nice red lantern.
A big Buddha caught Eliot's attention.
Blaine enjoyed hanging out with Blaise.
These tall cedar trees are very soothing; I'll have to go along next time. Arno and Lucinda are really glad to see Anselm and Eliot - their Seattle cousins. (I can tell that it's going to be tough times when Anselm and his family fly home.)
Then lunch: thick noodle soup and tempura. Yum!
They went on the Keio line from Shinjuku station. 45 mins or so. Lucinda agreed to put a barrette in her hair to get her bangs out of her face.
They climbed on some stones, walked up some steps...
... took the cable car up the mountain where, at the top, they found a 100-yen mechanized train to climb on.
At the top, a lovely temple and this outbuilding. Nice red lantern.
A big Buddha caught Eliot's attention.
Blaine enjoyed hanging out with Blaise.
These tall cedar trees are very soothing; I'll have to go along next time. Arno and Lucinda are really glad to see Anselm and Eliot - their Seattle cousins. (I can tell that it's going to be tough times when Anselm and his family fly home.)
Then lunch: thick noodle soup and tempura. Yum!
Visitors!
We have our first non-family visitors, our friends Blaise, Adrienne, Anselm and Eliot from Seattle. I'm frankly envious of their freedom here: the freedom to travel and experience Japan as a vacation and not as a place to live and work and go to school.
But there is a side benefit. They are nudging us out of our routine. Blaine went with them today to take the kids to Mt. Takao, a short mountain that's about an hour's train ride from central Tokyo. (I was working at my magazine.) There's a cable car that takes you up to the top and some steps that Arno whined about but then conquered. They played hide and seek and had ice cream and met me at Shinjuku station with chocolate smears on their shirts. They were happy.
Another benefit of Adrienne's visit, for me, is that we're having some interesting chats about parenting. It's vastly helpful to see other parents in action, if only to show options for what we do.
I'm realizing that summer is a challenge for Lucinda, especially, because she misses the structure of regular school days, and it's a challenge for me because I like my school-hour freedom to do what I want, to read, to swim, to look around Tokyo. End result: she makes lots of demands, I end up saying "no" a lot, and we get annoyed with her more often. With parenting, you always have to find a new solution to a new problem.
But there is a side benefit. They are nudging us out of our routine. Blaine went with them today to take the kids to Mt. Takao, a short mountain that's about an hour's train ride from central Tokyo. (I was working at my magazine.) There's a cable car that takes you up to the top and some steps that Arno whined about but then conquered. They played hide and seek and had ice cream and met me at Shinjuku station with chocolate smears on their shirts. They were happy.
Another benefit of Adrienne's visit, for me, is that we're having some interesting chats about parenting. It's vastly helpful to see other parents in action, if only to show options for what we do.
I'm realizing that summer is a challenge for Lucinda, especially, because she misses the structure of regular school days, and it's a challenge for me because I like my school-hour freedom to do what I want, to read, to swim, to look around Tokyo. End result: she makes lots of demands, I end up saying "no" a lot, and we get annoyed with her more often. With parenting, you always have to find a new solution to a new problem.
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