As it says to the right, this is a blog from life in Japan and my ongoing attempt to figure out what is going on here.

This blog begins in February, 2004, almost two years after moving to Japan with my wife and daughter in 2002.  I'm just starting to grasp, let alone answer, the deeper questions about life and culture here.

I recently read the following:  "An uncle of mine took me through the woods one day and showed me sights I had never seen before, although I walked there often.  Because my uncle always talked about what he saw, he saw more and more and was able to share it with me."

Likewise I hope that by sharing my process and pictures I will see and understand Japan better.

My wife is Japanese and bilingual.  She's one of my best teachers when it comes to Japanese culture and life, but it's hard for us to speak in Japanese together.  We started out in English and changing that pattern has been a challenge.  Eight months after arriving in Japan we had twins, so we had a lot on our minds besides learning language and adjusting to life here.  We have three daughters now, with our oldest entering Japanese pre-school in Spring, 2004.

I think that's enough for now.  If you're interested in what you've read so far, please come back again.