Blithely entering his 8th month through the Dokodemo-doa

Kaika with Doraemon balloon, November 12, 2003: click for larger image (64K)

Kaika entered his 8th month of life yesterday (Happy Birthday!), and to show his legions of fans out there that the previously posted “I’m gonna poo” shot is really an anomaly, here’s one that showcases his blithe, affable demeanor. Last week he went with Naoko to a newly opened local outpost of the Ito Yokado department store chain, and one of the staff gave him this Doraemon balloon. Doraemon is an animated cartoon about a cat-robot named, well, Doraemon, with some tools at his disposal. One of these is the “dokodemo-doa,” or “go anywhere door.” Open the door, say where you want to go, and you’ll be magically transported there.

Kaika, you received one of these doors as a present from your parents on your first birthday, 8 months ago. Use it everyday and go forth, wherever you want to, young man.

Like father, like son

Kaika, October 26, 2003: click for larger image (17K)

Kaika, October 26, 2003. Bessa R2, Konica Hexanon 50mm/2, Fuji Neopan 1600.

To his mother’s chagrin, Kaika has a habit of pursing his eyebrows in consternation just like Papa does.

Self-portrait while getting a shoeshine

Self-portrait, Yurakucho shoeshine, November 4, 2003: click for larger image (25K)

Yurakucho, November 4, 2003. Bessa R2, Konica Hexanon 50mm/2, Fuji Neopan 400 Presto.

For different reasons I’ve been often finding myself in Yurakucho station of late. On this particular occassion Naoko insisted I get a shoeshine for my weary Rockports that have now lasted longer than a year and half of almost daily use, and I snapped the above mirror shot while the nice man was working on my shoes. More Yurakucho images from the last month can be seen here.