Flip

GYODA, Japan -- (Dec. 30, 2008) Uncle Toshiya (Tomoe's youngest younger brother) flips Ken in the living room of their home in Gyoda City, Japan.

Train to grandma's house

SOMEWHERE IN JAPAN (Dec. 30, 2008) -- Kou rides a train with Uncle Jun (Tomoe's older younger brother). Kou was super excited during the ride and could be heard throughout the train. A very un-Japanese thing to do.

Anything can be a toy

EBISU, Japan -- (Dec. 30, 2008) Kou jumps up to touch the buttons as Kai watches as the two wait for a train to grandmothers house in Gyoda, Japan. The "object" of the game was to touch as many lights as possible by jumping. So much for actually buying a drink.

Eatin' jelly

TOKYO -- (12/29/2008) Ken shows off the Jelly preserves stuck on his face during breakfast at the New Sanno Hotel in Tokyo on Dec. 29, 2009. We stayed at this military-owned hotel in Tokyo because its cheap and allows us easy access to other places in Tokyo. We planned on going to Ueno Zoo in Tokyo later that morning.

breakfast

Touring Tokyo

TOKYO'S UENO PARK -- (12/29/2008) -- Tomoe, and the three Ks -- Kai, Kou and Ken -- pose outside of an Asian-architecture inspired building (it might be a port-a-john) in Tokyo's Ueno Park. We were to go to the zoo that's at Ueno Park called get this -- The Ueno Zoo -- but it was closed on Mondays. Whooda thunk!

TOKYO'S UENO DISTRICT (12/29/2008) -- Kai and Kou enjoy some authentic Soba in a soba restaurant near Ueno Train Station in Tokyo. Soba is basically noodles made from buckwheat and dipped in a sauce.

TOKYO'S UENO District (12/29/2008) -- Ken tries his hand at chopsticks at the Soba restaurant. He's in his "I want to do it myself!" or "Jebun de" stage of development. Which of course makes for loads of fun for the boys and girls.

TOKYO'S YAMANOTE TRAIN LINE (12/29/2008) -- Ken puts the choke hold on Kou right in front of their mother on the Yamanote Line. Mom was clueless to the "sleeper hold" as she was a little tired.

TOKYO'S SHINAGAWA AQUARIUM (12/29/2008) -- The three Ks -- Kai, Ken and Kou watch a shark bottom feed or sleep in a fish tank at the Shinagawa Aquarium Park in Shinagawa district of Tokyo. This was our plan B since Ueno Zoo (our plan A) was closed. The boys sure did get a kick out of the sharks though. Like minds....think a like. Ken especially liked the sharks that had the big chainsaw looking bill on them. Really strange to see. The dolphin show at this aquarium was really good too.

TOKYO'S Shinagawa District -- (12/29/2008) Ken stirs his lemonade as Tomoe sets her coffee down in anticipation of a spill. Too slow...Kou just to her right spilled his lemonade about two minutes after this picture was taken. The restaurant guy had a smile on as he wiped up the lemonade but a "if your @#$%@ kid wasn't on the table maybe this wouldn't happen" look. He didn't offer and we didn't ask for a free refill. Touche!

Ueno Park Cars

TOKYO'S UENO District -- (Dec. 29, 2008)