Beloved Friends, Families and New Babies in Japan, Jan. 2007

Catching up with all the wonderful people we've come to know in Japan was a very important part of our trip back and our farewell too. Thank you everyone for being your lovely selves and for making time to see us in January!

Natsuki, Craig, Osamu and Lisa

Yoko (with a yet unnamed being in the belly), Zoe and Natsuki round the old bonfire.

Takumi made some delicious food as usual

A Winter Nabe party at Hisane's, food prepared with LOVE and YOUTH 愛と青春ね
by Motai, Miwa, Macchan, Jamie, Hisane and us

Seeing past students, Hiiragi and Kazuyo

We did the rounds of old host-families from the Rotary year in 1995. It had been about 3 years since we'd made it out to Honjo & Kodama, Craig's old stomping grounds out in the bush.

Under the kotastu with Kiyomi, Sayaka and Hagiwara Okaasan

Abe-san looking rather enlightened

Ihayazaka Okaasan

Ihayazaka Otoosan

Zoe's family, the Sanos

As we come into our third decade, more and more reunions with friends are popultaed with short people. Some of these short people can't even talk or hold their heads up. It was great to meet all the new babies, though I don't know how I'll remember everyone's names and ages in years to come as the short people slowly take over the planet.

Sai-chan, Himari, Satoshi, Makkun and Craig

Our hilarious neighbors from Urawa, Miyo and Kenji,
borrowed this baby Neo to pose for their next album cover.

Even old classmates from high school in Japan like Naoko
are so excited about babies that she needs to have two, Soya and Sakura.