  New father Ryan Surdick is tired of being told his son is cute
— because it's always linked to the issue of race  by Ryan
Surdick  For foreign residents, having a child in Japan can be a
daunting prospect. Going to the hospital and trying to figure
out what the doctor is saying in complex Japanese medical terms
is just one of myriad trials.  However, as Kenji is my
firstborn, I had nothing to compare this with — which, on
reflection, is probably just as well. Now that the dust has
settled, raising a child in Japan is pretty much as one might
expect: busy, fun — and challenging at times. I’ve become an
expert at changing diapers (30 seconds start to finish!), saying
“No!” five times in a row, and have spent what seems like hours
pointing at my face and saying “Dadadadadada.” All in all, I
assume it’s not so different from having a child in one’s native
country.  One difference I have noticed, however, is the way
people react towards my son, based on the fact that he is half-
Japanese. Many people have heard s