静香:12月8日に日本に無事到着しました。母が一緒に飛行機に乗ってくれなかったら、私一人での旅行は無理だと思いました。

Chris: So, on Dec. 7th, Saya, Shizuka, and her mother went back to Japan for the New Year holiday. I followed after finishing my exams on the 17th. It was a good trip, and Saya will take a few months to work herself through the spoiling she got at the hands of her grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins, and other sundry relatives.

静香:やっと父に慣れてきた時に撮ったものです。

Chris: This is one of Saya's favorite things to do. Of course, if I tried this in the house... You can't tell in this picture, but that sink on the left comes up to my knees.

静香:これは朝陽（さや）にとって笑うという意味です。それにしても凄い顔をしています（笑）

Chris: This is one of our worst pictures of Saya, but we want the world to know, our child looks like this when she is really happy. God save her.

静香:お爺ちゃんにユニクロで買ってもらったコート。

Chris: And one of her many new coats. The girl has more coats than I do. Really, she does. But this one is especially nice. As always, thanks Grandma and Grandpa Natsuume!

静香:朝陽（さや）の新しいおもちゃです。既に日本だけで2つのおもちゃを持っている幸運な子供です。

Chris: Oh, and the toys. She not only has three boxes of toys here in the states, she now has two boxes of toys in Japan as well. How many kids you know have toys on two continents?

静香:鎌倉の宝戒寺にて。

Chris: The garden of the Houkaiji Temple in Kamakura, where we went for the day. We also went to Hachimangu, but we didn't get any great pictures. Two days before New Year is a horrible time to go to the shrines, because they are getting all prepared for the post-New Year rush: All Japanese people start the new year by visiting a shrine. Hachimangu is one of the most famous ones in Japan - the grounds were already covered with construction for new lines, etc.

静香:鎌倉の宝戒寺にて。

Chris: Houkaiji again. Behind us is a graveyard. Among other short trips this time in Japan, we took Saya to the Natsuume tomb (a different graveyard than this one) and showed her where her Great grandfather and Grand-aunt are. Was a very pretty cemetery, and Saya tried to eat a few rocks. Good times.

静香:お爺ちゃんから買ってもらったハーモニカの音が出せるようになりました。

Chris: Yes. She is playing harmonica. Not only does the girl have an ear for music, she has solid redneck roots. Next, a banjo and a washboard.

In all seriousness, she does seem to like to play with things that make noise. She has a little plastic piano and some pan flutes, and has a good time with both.

静香:実家近所の公園で。せっかくブランコや滑り台があったのに、朝陽（さや）は足元の土いじりに熱中していました。

Chris: The little park near Shizuka's family home. Here, also, Saya tried to eat dirt and rocks. I'm thinking to just let her eat some and decide she doesn't like it. But maybe I am afraid she *will* like it....

静香:御すし屋さんのカウンターに登っておじさんに遊んで貰いました。

Chris: And good times at Yoshino Sushi, where the Natsuume family has eaten almost 30 years. That's Mr. Sato, the sushi master, who discovered that Saya likes Natto-maki, sushi made with fermented soybeans (no fish).