9 today, well, the other day.

Cian is now 9. This is the cause for much rejoicing, as he can now legally work at the local Eneos petrol station and his parents don't have to pay for his upkeep anymore.
Not true.
But if you are reading this Prime Minister Abe, it is an idea worth considering. Think of the boost it would give to the Japanese economy.
Anyway, Cian turned 9 last Saturday and there were the usual celebrations:


A flyover.


 Big parade.


 Spectacular fireworks.

 
 And the traditional Japanese tanjoubi sacrifice to the Wicker Man.

No, not really.
Even by our own low key standards we didn't do much to mark the occasion. Sanae had to go to school (they are slowly and insidiously reintroducing Saturday classes. At the moment they are 'voluntary' in the particularly Japanese meaning of the word: the local Board of Education issues an edict commanding the teachers to 'volunteer' to teach classes on a Saturday. Should they be feeling less than charitable about 'volunteering' their free time at the weekend, they will be forced to enroll in some 'retraining course' over the summer holidays. That's how the system works here). Cian went to his swimming classes in the morning and then spent pretty much the rest of the day constructing a giant Lego civil works project involving trains, freight yards, oil storage facilities and what, at one stage, I took to be the Death Star but actually turned out to be a grain silo. We did go for kaiten sushi in the evening so the day wasn't without some merit, but there was no party, no cake, no candles, and no singing happy birthday.
Just the way Cian liked it.