all things d@vidb
This is my cousin Shuichiro. Today he is 2 years old.
He’s amazing. He can even do ice-skating tricks. look!
みんな秀おにいちゃんのイナバウワーを見て笑うけど、ぼくは本当にすごいと思ったんだ。
がんばれ、ニイチャン！お誕生日おめでとう！
Everyone laughs at him when he does that, but I think hes great.
Go Shu!!! Happy Birthday!!!
So Rumi-chan in Tanegashima gave Noa a nice haircut (this was about 2 weeks ago). Look how cool he looks:
and the process
see how happy he is?
and the before shots: (this was us in Kiko’s house!)
you can almost see dagger, dagger 2 (aka twin dagger), tooth, misty, and the newly emerging “sean”.
off to sleep for me…
… 2007 in Tokyo! Welcome.
We were off to the beautiful island of Tanegashima again for New Years this year. I thought I had already posted this, but I guess not!
At any rate, we got to see Kiko’s family, and Noa got to play with his 3 cousins, Hina, Kana and Shuichiro. (aka his lover).
We also celebrated … something … I forget the name, but they put a heavy load on Noa’s back and made him step on rice. Um… ok..? weird.
Kana (the middle one) is all dressed up for her ceremony. Look how cute she is!
and finally a picture of me and her for good luck.
and one of all of us!
The proof is in hand.
There is no more denying it.
Please start sending dresses and pink stuff ghey stuff.
Noa has indeed caught the ghey at some un-identified time in the past.
GHEY… thy name is: Shuichiro. Noa’s cousin. Ghey incest.
Need more proof???
AHA!!
(this picture may or may not have been taken against both their will as daddy and mommy egged them on.)
Look – it’s Tanegashiman!
You know the Mighty Morphin Power Rangers, right!? They are based on a reoccurring series of 5-person -colour coded-group-fighting-team-show (sentai) that has been airing in Japan for the past 30 years. Every year or so the group, the group’s name and abilities change (which Mighty Morphin Power Rangers did by keeping the same group but adding “new vehicles and costumes” etc.) and get’s a new name. It is usually something “-man” or “-ranger.”
Someone thought it was a good idea to promote Tanegashima (Kiko’s island, remember?) and have “Tanegashi-man” a group of super heroes that run around the island. neat.
Speaking of neat…
A few more pictures of Noa spending time with Kiko’s family in Tanegashima for Golden Week. They love him, he loves them, it was super.
We are now back in Kagawa after a trip to Kiko’s island (Tanegashima) for Golden Week. Noa is fatterer, I am tired, Kiko got a haircut, and we had a great time!
Noa got to spend time with his cousins (Hina, Kana, and Shu), his Aunt (Mie) and Uncle (Takao), and his grandparents.
I would have more for you, but (as my last post stated!) I am hard at work on the new website. Expect good things soon. In the meantime, perhaps you can get as excited about this as I am.
(Our shoutbox is currently offline because I can’t seem to stop the spam. Give me a few days!) 
Hello!
Last week was a roller coaster. Lots of ups, and many more downs. Between my computer breaking, our Ipod Nano breaking, messing up a lot of translations, getting called on the messing up… the list goes on. Suffice it to say I was not pleased and I was kind of down.
On the other hand, I also had some very good things happen. Our MythTV box is back up and running (after a lot of work), I am still loving my job here in Chunan, and <drumroll>
I got the scholarship I applied for last year!!! 
Although I will be very sad to be leaving Chunan, from October of this year I will be attending Gakushuin University (known for the emperor’s family and politicians kids going there) through a very big government scholarship!! I am still in shock, but there are so many people I have to thank…. Kiko, Komuro-sensei, Arntzen-sensei, Ito-sensei, Jotaro, Ishikawa-sensei, Tracy, Shane, everyone else that helped me out with the application… THANK YOU!!
Like I said, it is going to be tough to leave Chunan, we really do love it here. But I am confident that this experience will help me move close to one day getting a job as a professor back in North America, so wish us luck!
Now since there were no pictures in our last post, Kiko has asked me to upload these family pictures we took in Tanegashima. I believe we promised to have them up earlier.. sorry! These are pictures from Noa’s omiyamairi, the blessing that Japanese children get after 30 days. We took family pictures after the ceremony.
We have also had quite a few visitors for Noa. Below are pictures with Liz (Jim’s girlfriend. In case you forgot, Jim is my good friend who bashed Noa’s head into the ceiling light.) Following that are many of my good friends here in Kagawa prefecture on the JET program, and finally Yoshiko Hirao. One of my most loyal and favourite students attending my town English classes. Enjoy!
Once again the people have spoke… and I have listened.
"We want to know more about Noa."
"What is he doing?" "What is he like?"
"We want more substance in your posts."
Ok. I get it. Here is a general idea of how Noa works.
Noa Kenichiro Bennett 
First things first, he is a very advanced baby. I am not joking. He has been able to hold his own neck up since he was born. He is very good at sucking things. He can sort of pick things up. He has developed a sense of security when you hold his hand. He can smile when he is happy.
Now I don’t know much about babies, but from what I have been told, these are all characteristics of a 2 to 3 month old baby. Way to go Noa!
Now, a little bit more about our time in Tanegashima.
Here is Noa has been able to meet his 3 cousins. Hina, Kana, and Shuichiro. They love him a lot and even 10 month old Shuichiro is very gentle around Noa.
The following are some pictures of Noa’s first plane ride, his time in Tanegashima, and spending time with his cousins.
This last picture is of Noa and Shu chillin’. (after Kiko made them lie down together.)
I was scouring the internet trying to find a few sites that I could link to for information, but no such luck. It looks like I’m in charge of explaining what we put Noa through.
Here goes.
In Japan, 32/33 days after the baby is born (depending on whether it is a boy or a girl), the child is taken to a shrine where an “ujigami” lives. An ujigami is a god that lives in a shrine and has the role of protecticing babies. (I made that last part up… but I think it’s true.)
So anyways, you dress the baby up in a a little white dress, slap on a baby kimono, and you are set. The child is taken to the shrine where a Priest waves a magic tree branch over him and he is blessed. It’s kind of like a christening without the water and with lots of magic. The shinto priest recites a prayer for the health of your baby and then -poof- it’s done.
Noa slept through most of it. The ceremony was only about 10 minutes long, and followed by family pictures. They were professionaly shot so when they are done I will send them up.
In the meantime, have a look at Noa in his hot baby dress.
