This is a story about an international couple raising and home educating three young boys on a small island in Japan, half living in buses, engaged in organic, self-sufficient farming in the middle of a mountain forest while dealing with climate, cultural, and personal challenges. These pages are about pretty much anything and everything all guided by our family motto, Taking Chances, Making Changes, Being Happy. Thank you very much for joining us on our ongoing crazy adventure.

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Home - Story - November 2015
Connected Bikes

November 2015 - This month was the Minamitane Furusato Matsuri. This is one of the most popular events in town and you can pretty much meet everybody at this thing. During the middle of the month, me and Shai went bike riding literally together using the tow bar. Then we watched another incredible rocket launch from the Tanegashima Space Center.

Picture - Me and Shai connected and ready to ride.
Furusato Matsuri

November 3, 2015 - We began today with a trip to the rock beach close to the house. Then we went to the Furusato Matsuri, town festival, for a couple of hours. Then we made a nice barbecue later in the day.

Picture - Rock Beach - We went to the rock beach close to the house.
Picture - Minamitane Town - We are hanging out together at the festival 1.
Picture - Minamitane Town - We are hanging out together at the festival 2.
Picture - Minamitane Town - Shai is enjoying making shitake mushrooms 1.
Picture - Minamitane Town - Shai is enjoying making shitake mushrooms 2.
Picture - Home - Shai holding a really huge group of bananas.
Picture - Home - We made a nice barbecue later in the afternoon 1.
Picture - Home - We made a nice barbecue later in the afternoon 2.
Going Bananas

November 8, 2015 - A nice bunch of bananas picked from the farm.

Picture - Home - A nice bunch of bananas picked from the farm.
November 8, 2015 - Facebook Post - BANANA HARVEST - This was actually our first banana harvest since moving to the island. Many more to come. SHITAKE MUSHROOMS - Shai is making a lot of shitake mushrooms in this piece of wood all for the equivalent of a couple of bucks in American money.
Beautiful Flower

November 11, 2015 - This beautiful flower was growing in the farm. No idea what this is though.

Picture - Home - A beautiful flower growing in the farm.
Flea Market

November 12, 2015 - This is a poster to a flea market which we did not go to. lol.

Picture - Minamitane Town - A poster to a flea market.
Bike Tow Bar

November 15, 2015 - Me and Shai went bike riding together with our bikes connected with a Gator tow bar. This is a fantastic way to see the island together. Certainly got a lot of strange looks from the locals.

Picture - Me and Shai showing off the connected bikes.

Then we went to the beach and made some new friends from Korea. He actually knew us from our sites and all the pictures. Really cool to be recognized from folks from other countries.

Picture - Home - Me and Shai showing the bikes connected together.
Picture - Home - Getting ready to ride.
Picture - Home - A nice picture of only the bikes.
Picture - Maenohama Beach - We enjoyed talking with new friends from Korea 1.
Picture - Maenohama Beach - We enjoyed talking with new friends from Korea 1.
Picture - Rock Beach - Us hanging out together.
Picture - Rock Beach - A nice sunset behind Yakushima today.
Nanairo Observatory

November 16, 2015 - Today we put the Gator tow bar on the Haro mountain bikes and went for a ride to nanairo observatory, which means seven colors in Japanese. This place overlooks the coast, Maenohama beach, and the Japanese countryside. Then we went to the rock beach.

Picture - Nanairo Observatory - Me and Shai wearing our bike helmets.
Picture - Nanairo Observatory - A beautiful view of the Japanese countryside.
Picture - Nanairo Observatory - A beautiful view of the coastline.
Picture - Minamitane Town - Me and Shai went to the rock beach.
Kadokura Cape

November 17, 2015 - Today was another nice day on the bikes using the Gator tow bar. This time we rode our Haro mountain bikes to Kadokura Cape, a famous view and tourist destination on the island.

Picture - Kadokura Cape - Me and Shai parked at Kadokura Cape.
Picture - Kadokura Cape - A nice picture of our very cool Haro mountain bikes.
Picture - Kadokura Cape - A beautiful view of the coastline.
Picture - Home - A delicious bowl of basil sauce.
Beautiful Sunset

November 20, 2015 - Today the sunset behind Yakushima was really beautiful.

Picture - Rock Beach - A beautiful sunset view behind Yakushima 1.
Picture - Rock Beach - A beautiful sunset view behind Yakushima 2.
Crazy Kid

November 21, 2015 - Shai covered his hands and face with charcoal for some reason.

Picture - Home - Shai covered his hands and face with charcoal.
Rocket Launch

November 24, 2015 - Another incredible rocket launch. Today we went to Hase Park to watch the launch of the first commercial satellite from Japan.

Picture - Honaca Africa performing at the park.

Japan launched a commercial satellite with an H-IIA rocket, carrying the Canadian communications spacecraft Telstar 12V, into orbit. The rocket departed from Tanegashima Space Center within a 104 minute
launch window, with a T-0 of 15:50 local time (06:50 UTC) following a delay caused by a boat entering the range.

We watched the usual fantastic pre launch entertainment.

Picture - Hase Park - Honaca Africa got up on stage and rocked the place with their African style of music.
Picture - Hase Park - Yukichan is in the middle of this picture obviously really getting into the rhythm.
Picture - Hase Park - Yukichan got off of the stage to perform a traditional dance from Africa.
Picture - Hase Park - Pretty sure these girls were doing some kind of Tahitian dance moves.
Picture - Hase Park - A nice close up of the girls and their well developed abs.
Picture - Hase Park - This guy put on a traditional taiko style Japanese performance.
Picture - Hase Park - Yup only in Japan. This guy seemed pretty drunk and sleeping in the playground with a can of nodogoshi. lol.
Picture - Hase Park - Shai on the playground apparatus.
Picture - Hase Park - Us waiting for the launch.
Picture - Hase Park - A picture of the pre launch area.
Picture - Minamitane Town - Getting the internet installed at the other house today.
Rocket Launch Sequence

November 24, 2015 - The rocket launch sequence of pictures. These pictures were all taken within the time frame of a minute. The best launch picture, in my opinion, is shown next to the links.

Picture - Rocket launch sequence picture #3.

Picture - Hase Park - Rocket launch picture 1.
Picture - Hase Park - Rocket launch picture 2.
Picture - Hase Park - Rocket launch picture 3.
Picture - Hase Park - Rocket launch picture 4.
Picture - Hase Park - Rocket launch picture 5.
Picture - Hase Park - Rocket launch picture 6.
November 24, 2015 - Facebook Post - LAUNCH DELAY - The rocket launch was delayed because of someone fishing in the restricted zone. lol.
Thanksgiving Turkey

November 25, 2015 - The very expensive and small turkey ordered online for Thanksgiving.

Picture - Home - The small turkey for Thanksgiving.
Happy Thanksgiving

November 26, 2015 - This was actually our second Thanksgiving on the island, and as usual, Akiko made all of the traditional food items.

Picture - Home - Shai completed another of his Lego projects 1.
Picture - Home - Shai completed another of his Lego projects 2.
Picture - Home - The turkey with a few basil leaves and cranberry sauce.
Picture - Home - The turkey with a few basil leaves.
Picture - Home - The entire Thanksgiving meal.
Picture - Home - The nice wine and cider for the holiday.
Picture - Home - Us hanging out together for the holiday 1.
Picture - Home - Us hanging out together for the holiday 2.
Picture - Home - The dessert pies ready to eat.