No Need Explanation; It Shows!

When do we feel happy the most? Eating out? Singing aloud? Getting married? NO, no, no. It's more SIMPLE. The secret I learned from Meita was that the happiest moment comes right after we...YAWN!





Yes, Meita. You look HAPPY!

(above; eos 60d, ef50mm f/1.4 usm, f/1.4, 1/200. iso100)

Melancholy Age!

I gotta admit that even little kids, like Mizuki 3 and Maia 2, need to think deep about something important for them. Mizuki will be going to kindergarten from this coming April with his big brother. Maia just became the big sister to Meita (6 weeks old). But I'm excited about what's coming to their future because kids are full of unlimited potentials and talents to develop. For us parent, we must encourage them to achieve what they want to be.

(This isn't always the way how Maia goes a slide, but why now?)

(above; eos 60d, ef50mm f/1.4 usm, f/1.4, 1/400. iso100)

Baby Payton

Baby Payton has come to the Earth last month to her wonderful parents, Taka and Chihiro. She was so sweet while I was shooting her photographs and the parents. Interesting thing is that due dates of Payton and my newborn Meita were only a day a part, but Meita was born about 2 weeks earlier than his due date, and Payton came out couple of days after her due date. It's great to see her and her parents are being so strong and healthy. Thank you, Taka and Chihiro, for giving me this opportunity to capture your moment of life!

Well, I can tell you that it's not EASY being so CUTE!!!

Happy Valentine's Day!

Valentine's Day..., I have but some good and not so good memories on this day. In Japan, girls give chocolate to their favorite boys. On the other hand, in the U.S., boys are the ones who entertain girls. People care how many chocolate candies they give or get, but I believe (or rather to make myself believe, who cares!) how big the present means to me is what I care.

In our home, we give chocolate to each other, from my wife to me, me to her, us to kids, and kids to us with sweet words of "love you!" Well, it's a wonderful day, isn't it?

(This I got from the Primary kids at Church yesterday. Thank you. Guess who ate this!)

Snow, Snower, Snowest!!!

My wife told me last night that it would snow and be covered this morning. Guess what my reaction was? Liar, since it might snow a little bit in Osaka, Japan where we live, I doubt it would be covered by snow. Well, the rest of the photographs I shot will tell you the truth.

(above; eos 60d, ef50mm f/1.4 usm, f/1.4, 1/320. iso125)

This is totally rare to see that much snow at where we are. The slider was all covered by snow which my kids cleared it out by being human-snowplow. (Their pants got wet, of course.) Kids were excited, and I was EXCITED as well.

For Those Who Are NOT 1st Born!

I love to see these photographs because they reflect the perfect relationship between the 1st and 2nd kids. They are only 15 months apart. This means when Mizuki was born, Masatsugu was still baby. So they grew pretty much together as babies to boys. But since Mizuki has seen how his big brother behaves, he became a quick learner. Mizuki started to talk when he was only 12 months old and by the time when he was 15 months, he was pretty much able to make conversation with us like making sentences and jokes. He actually does anything better and faster than Masatsugu.

I have 6 brothers and 2 sisters in my family, and I'm a 2nd boy (born 3rd). I was, like Mizuki, became a quick learner by watching my older siblings. I won't say I can do anything better than they can, though, I was fortunate to have them as my EXPERIMENT in my early age.

So for those who are NOT 1st born in your family, you are lucky. Don't be discouraged because you don't have as many pictures, new clothes, congrats at birth as your older brother/sister has, . You were and will be always the 2nd kid in your family, but you are the BEST No.2!

(above; eos 60d, ef50mm f/1.4 usm, f/1.4, 1/2000. iso100)

Meita: Baby Blessing

It was a beautiful Sunday today, the perfect day to give a baby blessing to Meita. One of my 8 siblings (I know it's a lot) and my parents were able to join us this celebration. The meaning of our 4th baby's name, Meita, is ; the name has to start with the letter "M", the letter or Chinese character mean "the blessing", and we love the Pixar movie, "Cars". It sounds like "Mater", who is the best friend to Lightning McQueen in the movie.

Anyway, I've been so fortunate that it was my 4th time to perform Baby Blessing to my kids. Was I nervous? Of course I was. But it was my privilege to do so cause I was his Dadda and love it much!

(eos 60d, ef50mm f/1.4 usm, f/1.4, 1/160. iso200)

Great, Greater, Greatest!

Who can imagine that Mayumi and I have been married for over 6 years now? It seems like yesterday when we got married in Hawaii and started our life together at tiny apartment with the bank beds. Since then, we have moved 6 times and lived in Hawaii, Dallas, and Osaka, Japan, given births to "fantastic 4" kids, and spent tons of great time and not so few bad time, too (of course, every couple has some kind of issues between then). But one thing I'm pretty sure is that it's been great that she's been with me, and the truth testifies that we will be together forever. How blessed I am for the knowledge that families can be together forever.

And she was the one encouraged me to become a photographer, and I'm really grateful for her inspiration.

I love you, Mayumi. Our kids love you, too. You've been such a wonderful wife and mom.