Magic: the Gathering, the infamous trading-card game, 
has finally started  to catch on here.  After some of
the boys in our English classes brought some of the
cards to class, I dug out the big box Uncle Josh sent
over several years ago, and Makoto was soon playing
with his friend Yuji.  At left, Makoto checks out the
Clone card.

  In April, Yumi's cousin Hiroko was married in Osaka.  
We broke local custom and all attended the wedding as
a family.  Makoto was asked to  serve as ring bearer,
and can be seen at left leading the bride and groom
down the aisle.

  A new school year at Makoto's kindergarten started in
April, and Yumi and the cameraman went to Opening Day.
Below, Yumi, next to parents of two of Makoto's friends,
watches as the children settle into their new classroom.