Author Archives: Mason Shoma

I like music a lot, and one of the best places to find children’s songs is on children’s TV programs. There are a bunch in the afternoon. They are kind of like what Sesame Street is in America. There is a lot of singing, bright colors and characters, and lessons about how to be aContinue reading “Kids’ shows”

Why is that all the things that I find interesting are not safe for me to play with? Or maybe the question is why do I find things that are not safe for me to play with interesting? Either way, Mommy and Daddy used to keep my lotion in my diaper organizer, but then IContinue reading “Climbing and reaching”

Look at us! We are wearing the same color today. Now that calls for some big happy smiles!

All done? Okay, now I’m outta here.

I love eating so much! But it is hard to enjoy the meal when I know that it is going to end. The most upsetting words for me are “All gone” or sometimes “All done”. I do not like it when my meal is over. But Mommy and Daddy have figured out that even thoughContinue reading “All gone / All done”

I tried buri for the first time today. Buri is Japanese amberjack, or yellowtail tuna. I’ve had tuna before but this is a different tuna. It was pretty good. Not much different than the other tuna I had.

I am so strong! I can pull a wagon with a duck, rabbit, pig, sheep, and a big cow in it!

We went to hatsumode today. In Japan, people visit shrines in the new year to pray for good health and happiness in the new year. Also you can get omikuji (fortunes) and omamori (good luck charms). I fell asleep on the way there, but I still got my fortune: middle blessing. Not bad. We alsoContinue reading “Hatsumode (First shrine visit of the new year)”

Turn this part, then turn the top, and two turns here…and I’m done! Rubik’s cube solved!

I don’t like to toot my own horn, but I’m so pretty. At least that’s what I’ve been told. I wasn’t really sure “pretty” was the right word until today. My hair is so long that it sometimes gets into my eyes, so Daddy pinned it back with a hair clip. So pretty! Then justContinue reading “So pretty”

My fondness of my mobile has been off and on. Sometimes it is of great interest to me and other times I couldn’t care less about it. But now that it is used as a barrier, I find it to be both a fascination and an obstacle. When you take the time to just lookContinue reading “Mesmerizing mobile”

Ojisan (uncle) and Obasan (aunty, actually grand-aunty) came over to visit me on my own turf. I still cried a little bit at the beginning But after a while I warmed up to them and I was in a really good mood. Ojisan was able to hold me and play with me without me crying.Continue reading “Ojisan is back for more Mason”

While trying to entertain me and play with me, my relatives gave me a mandarine orange to hold, since they didn’t have a ball in the house. I impressed them with my hand-eye coordination and grip. I was able to hold the mandarine orange in one hand. Then I started gnawing at it because myContinue reading “Mandarine orange”

Ojisan was so happy to see me again! He was quite take with me from his last visit during the summer. But unfortunately, like I mentioned earlier, I’m going through my shy stage, known as hitomishiri (strange anxiety) in Japan. He so desperately wanted to hold me and play with me like he did 4Continue reading “Ojisan (uncle)”

Ojiichan and Obaachan bought a new chair for me for my visits to their house. It was a bit on the large side, but I’m sure I’ll grow into it quickly. The size of it made me feel very regal. I allowed me to look upon my royal subjects with an air of authority. IContinue reading “New chair”

I got my first otoshidama, which are new year’s cash gifts for kids. I was so happy and thankful. Mommy and Daddy said they will keep them safe for me, which is a good idea because I was about to try to eat them.

When we arrived at Ojiichan and Obaachan’s house, everyone was happy to see me. I was too, but I did not express it in the best way. I cried. A lot! At this age we babies are very shy toward people who we don’t see everyday. So when I say my ojisan (uncle), I criedContinue reading “Getting reacquainted”

We are headed over to Ojiichan and Obaachan’s house for New Year’s Day. It is a Japanese tradition to have a special celebratory meal on New Year’s day for good health and good fortune in the new year. Even though it is less than a 30-minute drive, I cried a lot in the car theContinue reading “Heading to Ojiichan and Obaachan’s house”