Yodogawa Fireworks!

Jotaro shows how, with the right accessories, one set of clothes can have many 'looks'.

Long socks give the soccer player look...

while this bib completes the cowboy look.

Jo playing on the carpet.


Yukiko found a new kids' play park that has recently been built nearby. It is really fun with lots of slides, rides, and even a running stream of water. Jo is too young to enjoy it now but that didn't stop us from taking Keiko and Yuka there to play.















We had another visit from Hiroko & Miku-chan.

Miku-Chan and Jotaro mug for the camera.


Jotaro sleeping.

Jotaro SPYING. It looks like he's sleeping doesn't he? But he's actually spying on you.

In this video you can see his sly little trick. He doesn't quite shut his eyes so he can still see what you're doing. But if you smile at him he loses his concentration and smiles back. How cute.


The next day, Yukiko and Jo went with Kazu, Hiroko and Miku to Fruit Flower Park in Kobe. It's a European styled theme park with a hotel, onsen, amusement park, and many gardens. They also have a wedding chapel which I've been to a few times.

Here's Yukiko & Jo, Hiroko & Miku at the entrance to the park.




A few of the gardens at Fruit Flower Park.








Unfortunately it started pouring with rain afterwards and they had to leave. The digital camera got wet too and stopped working. So we were down to our mobile phone cameras from here on out.

Jo helps me with my umbrella on a rainy day.




Jo, Miku and Yuki play.



Jo and Yuka

Jo in his car seat.



I got a rare night out with friends and went to a beer garden in Umeda. It was on the rooftop of the Hankyu building so it was very nice and cool. For a mere 3500 yen you get all you can eat and drink. The food isn't all that great but I guess it's more of a drinking spot than a gourmet's paradise. I went there with Craig, his girlfriend Miki and one of her work colleagues.



And finally, to get back to the name of this whole post, we all went to watch the Yodogawa fireworks in Umeda. This is an annual show with fireworks being launched from barges on the Yodogawa river. Yukiko's parents' new house is very close to the river so we went out there and had a nice dinner with Yukiko's entire family. Afterwards we went up to the roof of a nearby building and watched the show. I was very impressed with Jotaro. He wasn't scared at all and was watching the fireworks intently. They went on for about 40 minutes and Jotaro fell asleep for a while during the middle but he woke up in time for the finale. It was lots of fun.