Family Life We Chose Our Newborn Stroller Based on Whether It Fits in the Car Trunk
We were looking for a stroller for our newborn. At first we were leaning toward a model from Brand A, but once trunk-loading ease became our deciding factor, our pick changed.
Family Life We Considered a Catalog Gift for Our Birth Thank-You Gifts, but Passed on It
When choosing thank-you gifts for people who gave us baby gifts, a catalog gift was on the shortlist. We ended up not going with it, so here's how we made that call.
Family Life What Having a Fourth Child Taught Me About Japan's Childbirth and Childcare Benefits
Our fourth child was just born. Here's what I found out about the lump-sum childbirth allowance, how the 'third child and beyond' count works for the child allowance, and Tokyo's Baby First program.
Family Life When My Daughter Starts Worrying About Unwanted Hair, I Looked Into Kai's 'Nadesori'
Kai's new-concept razor 'Nadesori' has been getting a lot of buzz. Since my daughter will eventually reach that age, I looked into how it works, along with reviews and things to watch out for before buying one.
Family Life I Pre-Ordered the お買いものパンダ Hobonichi Whiteboard Calendar 2027 for Next Year
I pre-ordered the Rakuten-exclusive お買いものパンダ edition of the Hobonichi Whiteboard Calendar 2027. Along with a look at the discounted 2026 version you can start using right now, here's a rundown of this write-and-erase, full-surface whiteboard calendar.
Family Life How AI Helped Me Get Four Kids Through Their Summer Jiyu Kenkyu Projects
Every summer, finding jiyu kenkyu topics for all four of my kids has been a struggle. Here's my hands-on experience trying Gakken Kids Net's new AI service, plus a few things I learned to watch out for along the way.
Family Life How to Choose an Electronic Dictionary for Elementary Schoolers: Comparison Points and Our Family's Decision
When choosing an electronic dictionary as a study tool for your child, how should you weigh grade level, content volume, and price? Here's a rundown of the points we actually compared when picking a digital dictionary for elementary school.
3D Printing & DIY 3D Printing Projects with My Kids: What's Worked for Our Family
Turns out my family owns a 3D printer. This time I want to share how I've turned that hobby into projects with my kids — from choosing the right design tool for the job, to the builds that were a hit, to using it for kanji learning. Here's a rundown of what's worked well for us.
3D Printing & DIY Before Buying a 3D Printer, I Tried Outsourcing the Printing First
I've actually gotten interested in 3D printing lately. Before buying a printer, I tried designing parts myself and outsourcing the actual printing. Here's that experience and a sense of the costs involved.
3D Printing & DIY What I Learned Choosing 3D Printer Filament (PLA vs. PETG vs. TPU)
Since starting 3D printing with a Bambu Lab A1 mini, I've picked up real-world lessons on when to use PLA, PETG, or TPU, plus the 0.2mm nozzle and how to store filament properly.
3D Printing & DIY What Is Gridfinity? Getting Started with 3D-Printed Desk Storage
A record of how I used Gridfinity, an open-source storage standard, together with my home 3D printer, the Bambu Lab A1 mini, to organize my desk drawer and my kids' study supplies. Here's a rundown of how the system works and how to get started.
3D Printing & DIY How I Picked the Bambu Lab A1 mini: Process, Size, and Solo vs. Combo
I actually started a new hobby a while back: 3D printing. This first post covers how I decided on the Bambu Lab A1 mini — the process type, the size, solo unit or combo set, and even the timing of the purchase.
Family Life Why I Opened a Rakuten Bank Account in My Child's Name
I opened a bank account in my child's name at Rakuten Bank. Here's what I learned about how few online banks actually offer minor accounts, and why keeping the money separate turned out to be worth it.
Family Life How 'Time-Blocking' Our Weeknights Finally Made Our Dual-Income Household Run Smoothly
Weekday evenings had turned into a bit of a tightrope walk between housework and childcare, so I tried splitting the time into fixed blocks. Here's what I noticed after putting it into practice — the benefits and a few things to watch out for.