May 5th. 1840 - Oh such joy has us overwhelmed! For my son Kemachi kun to be born on Tango-No-Seku is the highest honour I could have hoped for. I have placed the bamboo in the garden and have to it attached the finest carp kite and the most ugly devil. These figures will ward off evil and show my respect for my dear son. He is already eating well. My wife has fed him kashiwa mochi, as is tradition. Now he will have every chance to come up after me as a great politician, loyal to Nippon, "source of the sun," as I am.

Myself, I am Kemuru Kemachi san, the father of little Nomari kun. I will be writing in this lifebook until 1845, as then little Nomari will be able to take over. I work as a Politician in Yokohama, but unless things change...