Tokyo Marathon

I volunteered to work at the Tokyo Marathon thinking that would be an easier way to participate than actually running. At the info session I was a bit shocked and worried though as this was the first ever Tokyo International Marathon and instead of growing into a big marathon by starting with 1000 people or so (as most big marathons did), Tokyo decided to start out with 30000 participants right off the bat! And 13000 vollies to help out. What a great way for Japan to show the world what they are capable of!

I was at the start area at 530 am ready to help out in my dorky uniform (they even wanted us to tie ballons to ourselves so people could find us). My ballons unfortunately got loose somehow and promptly flew away! :)

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Since all announcements were only being made in Japanese and English signage was practically nonexistent, I targeted the foreigners and helped them out - good thing as a lot of them were visiting and very lost. As I was the only Enlgish speaking guide, I was kept pretty busy! It was pouring rain and cold but everyone seemed to be enjoying themselves. I think next year I might enter the 10km run and join the fun!

As you can tell from the pictures, one of my jobs was not making the English signage - perhaps I can help out with that next year! Check out the salaryman with the suit on - he even had the financial newspaper with him! :)

I won the Costco Photo Contest

I got word last week that I won 3rd prize in the Costco staff photo contest. Perfect timing as I was lost whether to buy a new SLR digital camera or a pocket sized camera as our camera is getting pretty worn out. I won a new 6megapixel Caio EXZ60 camera so now I can relax and look for an SLR to buy!

The picture that won is the one of Tokyo Tower. The other picture is my new camera!

Baby Machines

Japan is at the beginning of a population crisis. The fertility rate is so low that the population is actually starting to decline. Not a good thing to happen as the baby boomers begin to retire. Internatioanlly this is not a unique problem, Cnada shares the problem and has decided to concentrate on immigration to combat the problem. Japan on the other hand seems somewhat stubborn about addressing the problem: the often employed ignore the problem and hopefully it will go away strategy doesnt seem to be working.
Yesterday, the Minister for the Health and Labour Ministry, recently appointed by the new Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, referred to women as simply machines for making babies! Shocking but even more shocking is I cant find reference to this in today's English media!
Ahhh. What an interesting place to live.
:)

Hello all. Yuki and I have the rare opportunity to spend the day together today as she finally got a Sunday off. She only has a couple more weeks to work before she starts hee maternity leave, something she is really looking forward to.

Here is a picture of the baby in the tummy. Yuki is really starting to show right now but she looks great.

Life in Rararand

Well, yesterday marked the official 2 moth countdown till the 50% increase in our family size. Yuki is starting to show more by the day now and she is very much looking forward to her upcoming mat leave in 2 weeks. I am busy with school and my studies.

We are checking out the blog scene to see if this might be easier to publish that a homepage. I figure the upcoming baby arrival will place demands on me to keep grandma and all informed in foreign places so I need to find something quick and easy to update.

That is all for now, until I figure out more about these things!

Jeff and Yuki (and Sumire)