This is Hiroto, Nia's 3rd cousin from Shiga-ken. He's three years old. The bandages on his leg are covering some blisters. Word has it that he was enthralled with Nia to the point that he wanted to do everything she did and go everywhere she went. Real chums, they are.
What a classic shot. Hiromi and Nia are joined by Hiromi's great-cousin, Tomoko, in Kawaramachi, Kyoto. The store behind them is a traditional Japanese paper craft shop.
These were taken just moments after Hiromi and Nia arrived in Nihon back in June. Hiromi's sister, Izumi (to Nia's left) picked them up at Kansai Airport in Osaka.