Issue #20 Winter 2008-9

Family
Once again we had a lot of fun in the States. In 2008 we celebrated our 10th wedding anniversary, on the boat in Chicago; thanx to Jackie Carlson for helping with that. We had a special guest as David's coworker/friend in Japan, Tony Silva came on board for the party. What a weird experience to see him in Chicago, after only knowing him in Japan. Tony's a west side of Chicago boy. It was sad that Ray and Marion Kayano could not attend, due to health. The family wishes them good luck. For their 10th anniversary David gave Sadako a ruby necklace.

The family made a junket to Wisconsin Falls, where they went to the local history museum featuring an exhibit by a local talent who created Betty Boop. Asia had a great time visiting the shrine of one of her heroes. Perhaps the family will return to Wisconsin Falls in 2010, for the 80th anniversary of Betty; the historical society plans a gala event. There was also a trip to an alpaca farm, a tour of a period home of the old aristocracy, and the quaint small old-town atmosphere of the town itself. Sadako really enjoyed the drive through the countryside.

The family took a break at the Oriental hotel in Kobe in February; the anniversary of Sadako & David’s first date. On that date the couple sneaked onto a tour cruise ship, which later made them to decide to get married on a ship. This time our hotel room was just above the dock and the same tour cruiser from 12 years ago.

We sold the Honda in February, after keeping the car for 5 years, as planned. Now that Asia can easily move around by herself, and the fact that our condo is 2 minutes from the train station, we no longer need a car. Also, no more auto-related fees.

In April Sadako got a job at Ikea. It was the first job she’s had since before Asia was born.

David & friend, Ron Read took a walk across the length of Osaka. Osaka is about half the size of Chicago, and the city hike took 7 hours.

After a lot of thought the family decided to get a pet dog. They wanted a pound dog, and went to the locally famous ARC refuge center. The family picked out a mutt, but later found that it is a now rare Japanese hunting dog, called a Kai, or tiger dog. The dog’s name is equally unlikely - Jerry. Jerry is gentle with children and friends while inside; but turns into a near feral beast when being walked. He is quite intelligent; he’s already stolen and hidden various food items, after getting to them by opening doors and drawers.

In June David celebrated his birthday at a Mexican restaurant in downtown Osaka. The party of 43 included a vast range of people he has met and associated with while living in Japan. The DeBakkers from Detroit, who came to the wedding in Chicago, also showed up. In that same month David finished his TESOL certificate, or ½ of a full masters. He will complete his masters in Education Technology in 2010.

Asia Miho became 6-years old in September. Where did the time go.

In October the family got a new iMac computer. Let's hope they can be more productive in 2009.

The November election was celebrated by the whole family. Mr. Obama is biracial just like Asia Miho. His election brings a promise of hope and change from the long mean, sloppy and dishonest run of Reaganism. David's decision to move to Japan was a personal response to the decreasing employment opportunities brought on by the Reagan years. Japan's NHK TV televised the celebration of the election at a local Osaka bar; David made it on Japanese TV for the second time.

The family ended the year with a fancy brunch at the Osaka Hilton hotel, seasonal department storefront displays, the annual German winter festival, and the breathtaking light display at the Osaka Aquarium.

David finally finished work on his first textbook; one half a masters degree and a textbook in his 50th year is a good year's work.

This January they retired to Sadako's countryside childhood home for new years celebrations and rice cake making. On January 19 David will celebrate 18 years in Japan.

Asia Miho
Regional travel, international travel, swimming, hiking, camping, strawberry picking, museums, going to the movies and making them, White Sox game, English and Japanese reading, first-time pen pals, 2008 for a full year for Asia.

Asia Miho is finishing kindergarten in March 2009. She is the second tallest (3'8", or 119 cm) and second fastest runner in her school. In Japan, kindergarten is 3 years. Next is primary school, where she has 3 possibilities: The national university primary school (it takes an interview and a lottery to get in), and 2 local public schools; one is "good", but a 20 minute walk, the other is "OK", but only 300 meters from our condo.

Other highlights include camping in the Nara countryside. Camping with a group of children and chaperones has become an annual event for Asia.

Her YouTube video showing her hitting foam baseballs was the #9 most watched video in the Sports in Asia category the day it was uploaded to the Internet.

Asia has started to read and write. She can read Japanese children's books by herself, and English books with the help of father. She has read the 194-page Dick and Jane 3-book reader twice.

The tooth fairy visited our home 3 times in 2008. Asia lost one of her teeth at the White Sox game in September, and got a quarter.

On February 14 Asia tied a bow for the first time.

Friends
We want to congratulate Shirley Calderini, Ron & Jackie's daughter on the birth of their first daughter, Emmaline, on 18 December 2008. Shirley's dream has come true.

We also congratulate Sadako's childhood friend, Hirono Sakai who had her second baby in March. She gave birth to a baby boy. They named him Ryunosuke. Sadako's other friend, Toki Yamauchi got married in October. Congratulations to her, too.

David's old doubles partner, Chun-ren Lim was offered a post by a big company back in his native Penang, Indonesia. His new apartment there has a tennis court. He has recently married and has a wife and new son. We congratulate him and wish him good luck.

Tennis
In his mens singles club, Finalist Tennis, David finished in 2nd place, the same as the previous year. Once again Ryuji Takahashi, David's old nemesis won the Finalist Cup Point Race. Despite that it was a disappointing tennis season. For the first time in 6 years David was too busy to play a tournament outside of club round robin tournaments. David finished with 2 club tournament victories and a 58-26 .690 record, second only to the gaudy 46-18 .719 record he had in 2002.

Work
Sadako's dream came true when she was hired part-time to work at the new Ikea in Osaka. Be careful what you wish for; she has found Ikea to be unorganized, with methods depending on the person doing the task; and a very long commute.

For David work is still steady. He works the same 4 jobs, and occasionally 5. Now that he has completed the certificate portion of his masters degree (that's ½ of a masters) in education technology, he hopes to eliminate one lesser job and replace it with a better one; or get more work at one of his better jobs.

Japan
Japan elected another prime minister in 2008. Taro Aso replaced the unpopular Fukuda, who replaced the even more unpopular Abe The media, not knowing what Mr. Aso's policies are, nor what, if any effect they might have on Japan, focussed on his clothing style for which he is popular, and is inability to read Japanese language as well as a public official should.

Japan is still in a recession with no end in sight.

The Japanese word for 2008 was "change", likely not because of the new prime minister, but because of the election of Mr. Obama. The word for 2007 was "fake".

•Japanese newspaper headlines
Back by popular demand
The best are at the end of the list

Teacher slaps whole class of elementary school students in face

Japan's Prime Minister Abe says diarrhea ruined premiership (D&S Newsletter Editor: Bush’s B.S. Ruined Presidency)

Doll stuffed in slain mom's stomach
A 43-year-old woman allegedly killed by her 18-year old son had her stomach cut open and a doll stuffed inside

Man given 18-yr prison term for raping women on trains, in station

Beauty parlor operator molests woman, tells her it will help her lose weight

Boss of #1 College busted for groping female teacher

Woman whose newborn son was murdered by robber jumps to death from overpass

Elderly woman dies after being turned away by 11 hospitals

Knife-wielding teacher robs schoolboys of their briefs

U.S. soldier points gun at Japanese woman through military facility fence

Elementary School Vice principal held for stealing 300 panties

Senior Yamaguchi prefecture cop reprimanded for fondling woman

Karate teacher uses below the black belt skills to master schoolgirl seduction

Youth says he pushed man from railway platform to 'get into prison'

Schoolboy seeks damages for being named most disliked person in class by teacher

Japanese woman caught living in man's closet

Japanese Man Kills 7 with Truck, Knife

Surrogate baby stuck in India due to Japanese parents' divorce

Japan's females are longest living in world - Reuters

Will Japan become a society of "half-breeds"?
(1 of 10 big city girls are marrying White guys)

Policeman held for posting nude photos of children on Internet site

Japan's new crime gang: the elderly

Woman turned away by 7 hospitals dies 3 days after giving birth

Death of woman turned away by 8 hospitals highlights pitiful state of Japan's obstetric care

Japanese man petitions to marry comic-book character, saying he feels more at ease in the "two-dimensional world."

Japanese teacher punished for horsing around, after leaving her classes more than 150 times so she could take horse-riding lesson

Crimes by elderly hit record high in Japan
Last year 48,605 elderly people were arrested or investigated for crimes

Man torched wedding venue to delay choice between wife and new bride

Acts of violence committed by school students hits record 52,756

2 teens held over beating cop, stealing his gun, cuffs
They wrestled him to the ground, put him in a full-nelson and stole his gun and cuffs

9-year-old girl stabbed to death by grandmother

Detective copied porn seized as evidence, took it home to watch

Fear of outing drives cross-dressing druggie sadist into deadly night-long orgy of torture

Naked Japan Air Force major nabbed with women's underwear while shopping

Woman cross-dresses as yakuza, fools blackmail victim and partner

Soccer coach who made kids run nude laps commits suicide

Winnie the Pooh Arrested for Armed Robbery
Tokyo police arrested a 20 year-old man who attacked & robbed 2 people because they had the nerve to stare at his Winnie-the-Pooh costume

Chimp Steals Gun From Zookeeper In Japan