Gomen, everybody

So we've singularly failed to update our blog regularly over the past few months. Sorry. However, here's a big batch of our recent photos for your enjoyment. Coming up: our trip to China in August.

This is a "traditional" sports game. The boys on the bottom are a horse, and the boys in the swimming caps are samurai. Go figure. 

Ken-chan. As you can see, our students are very, very serious 

Fiona's students' "sports day". Skipping is big here - the kids practiced every morning for two weeks 

Sam performing at the Hakusan talent show. He came second :) 

Some really crazy girls with our friend Katie at the Design Festa, Tokyo 

Fiona beginning her international modelling career at the Design Festa in Tokyo. The bag was made by our Irish friend Bridin 

Fiona and her star pupil Chihiro in our house for lunch. She painted the shirt she's wearing! 

Magome, a beautifully preserved town in southern Nagano prefecture. You can walk on the ancient Nakasendo to other similarly old towns 

The Kumano Kodo, ancient pilgrimage path through southern Mie prefecture 

Incense sticks at a temple 

Carp kites celebrating Boys' Day at the beach in Kumano, deep south Mie prefecture 

Us under the cherry blossoms, Kuwana - we were at a traditional "hanami" (cherry-blossom viewing, alcohol drinking) picnic 

Cherry blossoms at Ueno, home of the ninjas 

Famous sumo dude doing his dance before the umpire (Ise Sumo Tournament) 

Sam & Pearl at Inuyama Castle 

Snow monkey near Nagano - this is a hot spring pool where they bathe. If anyone's seen Baraka they should recognise this place 

Mikka and Hikaru showing Fiona the evil demon of early February. You drive it away by throwing soy beans at it out the back door 

View from our back window in winter 

Fiona and Karly dressed for Tea Ceremony