It's hard to believe that it's been two years since Anthony started preschool, but with the Japanese school year beginning in April, he's just started his third year, comparable to kindergarten in The States.

Among the new kids – all three years old – are a few little siblings of Anthony's classmates, including Monet's little sister, May, who just turned three and so is perhaps one of the youngest.

Nikon D200 + Nikkor 85mm f/1.4 — ¹/400 sec, f/4.5, ISO 320 — full exif & map — nearby photos
May is Proud of Her Welcome “Medal”

May was featured on my blog a year ago as the Two-Year Old Using Chopsticks, while Monet has been featured several times (here, here, and here).

Here's a snap of May's captivating eyes from six months ago...

Nikon D200 + Nikkor 70-200mm f/2.8 @ 200 mm — ¹/200 sec, f/8, ISO 640 — full exif & map — nearby photos
A Babier May
with captivating gaze

Also included among the little siblings was Taro, younger brother of Anthony's classmate, Yoko.

Nikon D200 + Nikkor 85mm f/1.4 — ¹/350 sec, f/4.5, ISO 320 — full exif & map — nearby photos
Posing Can be Tough for a Kid

Nikon D200 + Nikkor 85mm f/1.4 — ¹/640 sec, f/3.2, ISO 320 — full exif & map — nearby photos
This is More Fun

Taro's daddy is cool, and was featured on the Camera Geeks at the Bazaar post, and on the Yoko-chan's Daddy, Unplugged post. I know that Anthony really gets along well with Yoko-chan, so I'm surprised that I can't find any posts with her. )-:

Here's a picture of Taro and Monet from a year and a half ago (half his life ago) while Riding a Mini Steam Locomotive. Both look supremely adorable.

Nikon D200 + Nikkor 18-200mm f/3.5-5.6 VR @ 105 mm — ¹/800 sec, f/5.3, ISO 320 — full exif & map — nearby photos
Sweetness Incarnate

I'm really bummed, though, that the ceremony had ended early, and so when I arrived on time to pick up Anthony, most people had already gone, including little Marina-chan (little sister of Hinano-chan, Anthony's classmate), whom I knew would be dressed in a kimono as she was at the end of this post when she was two. I would have loved to see her.

Just as with Yoko-chan's mommy above, many of the moms were dressed in kimono, which I always like (such as this wall of kimono from last month).

Nikon D200 + Nikkor 85mm f/1.4 — ¹/160 sec, f/5, ISO 320 — full exif & map — nearby photos
Kimono Detail

Whether in a kimono or western clothes, all the new kids were dressed up nicely, but that certainly didn't stop them from playing...

Nikon D200 + Nikkor 85mm f/1.4 — ¹/320 sec, f/4, ISO 320 — full exif & map — nearby photos
Dressed for Success

As I was taking photos, I couldn't help but appreciate this budding photographer's enjoyment of his hobby, despite some apparent “technical issues” with the camera...

Nikon D200 + Nikkor 85mm f/1.4 — ¹/180 sec, f/5, ISO 320 — full exif & map — nearby photos
Say Cheese