Big Dinner.

The huge international family gathers at Shige's house for a Monday night feast. My favorite part of this photo is his mother sitting at the table with her legs dangling into that amazing hole in the floor. It kind of looks like a publicity shot for a TV drama. What kind of drama I'm not sure, but a very original one indeed.

Mr. Yamada: the life of the party.

The other lives of the party.

Now & Then. I guess even Japanese whip out the childhood videos in front of guests. Dad, you're excused for all the embarassing things you've done to me--I suppose it's just universal to all parents.

Somehow an arm-wrestling tournament broke out. She may look innocent enough in the first photo, but here Shige's mother goes head-to-head with Nic. And wins. Wow.