Category Archives: roles

Sleep, perchance to…

Posted on September 3, 2014 by

One of the biggest differences since we moved into a house is the sleeping arrangements. When our oldest daughter was a baby, we were living in an apartment with a traditional Japanese straw mat (tatami) room and no bed. So … Continue reading →

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Paternity leave: It’s a whole new ballgame

Posted on April 4, 2014 by

Paternity leave just got a big mention in US media this past week, thanks to baseball. New York Mets second baseman Daniel Murphy took three days leave for the birth of his son in Florida. Radio talk show personality Mike … Continue reading →

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“Men should work, women should stay home”

Posted on July 23, 2010 by

I sat outside the passport center building with my daughter in her stroller and showed both her passports. “Now you’re officially both American and Japanese,” I told her (of course, she had no idea what I was saying; she just … Continue reading →

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Toy Boy?

Posted on July 12, 2010 by

This past weekend, my wife and I stopped by at a nearby “home showcase.” Basically, the idea is that a number of construction companies build a model house in the same area, and then you can visit all the big … Continue reading →

Posted in baby toys, day care, family outings, roles | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 7 Comments

The Tanakas, “tenkin,” and “o-mutsu-koukan”

Posted on May 27, 2010 by

A few weeks ago (before all the hospital melodrama), I took my daughter to a nearby supermarket…which had a “baby care room” on the second floor, next to the roof parking lot. We had been invited by a Japanese couple … Continue reading →

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Leave Starts

Posted on April 1, 2010 by

It’s official. Today I have become the first male worker ever at a Japanese National College of Technology to take Child Care Leave. I have been granted official leave from April 1, 2010 to March 31, 2011. The term in … Continue reading →

Posted in parenting, Paternity leave, roles | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Hina Matsuri

Posted on March 9, 2010 by

Last Wednesday (March 3) was the Hina-matsuri in Japan. Hina-matsuri (usually translated as “Doll’s Festival,” sometimes “Girl’s Festival”) is celebrated by setting up a display of dolls in the house by families that have female children. Since our daughter is … Continue reading →

Posted in festivals, parenting, roles | Tagged , , , , , | 1 Comment