for Nana and Alice . . . and Misa too

finally finished watching the Iwai Shunji film, Hana and Alice late last night. i am glad i finally made it thru the whole movie on the 3rd try. i did find out if you are having problems falling asleep trying watching a foreign film with subtitles while laying down. the movie is a little over 2 hours long and not a lot of action but it is a wonderful movie about . . . Hana and Alice. it's on Netflix. check it out. there are a few very touching scenes and quite a few funny ones. i think my favorite scene is when Alice is at an audition for a cover photo for a magazine and is asked if she has any special talents. she says ballet. i think it is on youtube. if i can, i will add it later. now it is time to go to the gym.

i took this little ballerina photo a couple of years ago but can't find the original. i think it was in in color. i scanned in this black and white photo.

___________________________ 8pm

and here is Misa again. i found these photos today while talking with the nice clerk at the camera shop. he says he thinks my Canon dslr is fine. anyways, back to Misa and her "pose".

on my last visit to Suma (near Kobe, Japan) to see Daigo and Misa we went to the beach. for some reason, for some cute reason every time you asked Misa to pose she would bend her right leg in and kind of twist her hip (and of course give the "peace sign"). very cute. i think i have it on video to somewhere.

Misa posing

one more pose before leaving the beach area

and one more pose by a Suma manhole

and why are manholes round?

close to home and Suma too

a lazy weekend but productive one. not much exercise but i will start again tomorrow. finally got a little more organized. finally thru away some "things" "stuff" "this and that" that needed to be thrown away. and i still have more to do as well as taking a box or two of "stuff" to Good Will. i have too many photos. it is fun going thru them (not easy throwing them out) but time consuming. luckily i have time now. been watching some football and did you see Federer's shot? shinjerarenai! unbelievable! here are some images from my day at the beach in Suma a couple of weeks ago and also some recent local color.

Ai by Ai Otsuka

i really like this little video/slice of Life/song. it reminds me of a lazy late Summer day (weekend) with 大切な人 taisetsuna hito (people special to one's Life). and of course, Japan. when will i return. aki? ai means love and it is also the singer's first name. she is also the singer of Renai Shashin (photogrpahs of love) and i think that song is somewhere in my blog (Aug. 11th) along with the reference to one of my favorite movies, Tada, Kimi o Aishiteru.

Misa and Daigo

another fun but long but interesting but tiring day. more tomorrow but here are a few highlights from our trip to Suma which included some time at the beach and curry-nabe.

arriving at Suma Beach



Misa and Daigo on the sand at Suma Beach after picking up seashells



Daigo and his Shinkansen puzzle... yoku dekita



Misa the model taking the photographer`s photo

Daigo-kun and Misa-chan

Daigo in his special yochien (kindergarten) uniform. Misa just being cute as always. i went to Suma this morning and will return to Minoo on tuesday. today was Daigo`s "first day of kindegarten" ceremony. i didn`t get to see the ceremony but he kept his uniform on for me to see when i arrived at his home. Tsutomu-san (Daigo and Misa`s father) picked me up at the subway station just after noon. Akemi (mother) and the kids were waiting at home. more later on the rest of the day, Akashi Park, Uonotana Street and Akashiyaki, curry nabe and of course more photos of the kids and maybe a sakura or two.

Daigo posing for a few more photos for me and his Papa ( for his Tottori relatives).

last days for the cherry blossoms at Akashi Koen.

Daigo and Misa on Uontana Street

Misa and Tony in the car after a long walk to, thru and back around the big park in Akashi. and after walking to and down and back up again the famous shotengai (shopping street). it is amazing how far she can walk and never complains. and most of the time, she and Daigo were holding my hand(s).

ahh, Kyoto in Autumn

Suma on thursday. Kyoto on friday. Misa and Daigo on thursday. momiji and more on friday. delicious homecooked meals on thursday and one waiting for me at home when i returned from my Kyoto adventure on friday night. plus cake.

now it is a sunny saturday morning. we all decided to sleep in today and take it easy in the morning. not sure what the afternoon holds. i know i want one more walk to Minoo Waterfall. i hope to hear my last "street live" at Senri-chuo on sunday afternoon.