In the background of these cheerful events in Japan, the international circumstances were about to blow up, like stepping an outrageous landmine, so to speak.
In the fall 1939, the previous year, in Europe, German Military invaded Poland, and right after that the UK and France declared war on Germany, which led to a European War.
Again, in June 1940, the Soviet Union started blunt actions of territorial expansion, such as the annexation of the three Baltic countries. In the same month, Italy participated in the war to help Germany, and the battle between Germany and the Soviet Union was escalated.

* Japan World Exposition
* The 12th Olympic Games in Tokyo

In Japan, while the Cabinets changed again and again like a chameleon over several years, party politics disappeared from the Diet because the Imperial Rule Assistance Association was organized in October 1940, and the national unity government was established. This made the government's control over the people's lives stronger and stronger. It was also this year that the rationing system was adapted to rice, wheat, salt, matches, milk, and so forth.
Lantern parades were held all over Japan during that time.

The next year,
in October, the cabinet of Hideki Tojo was formed,
in November, the imperial council was held,
and in December, Japanese Army attacked Pearl Harbor in Hawaii and landed on the Malay Peninsula, which led to the Pacific War.
Together with the European War, the battle fields were in Asia and Europe, but most of the countries all over the world were involved in the two wars, which moved rapidly toward the 2nd World War.

2. Blessed with a child

Kuma's younger sister married into the Maruyama family in Kinokawa, but died after giving birth to Yoriko, the first baby.
As a result of discussions among the relatives, the Kyozo couple adopted the girl baby as a gift from Heaven.
After one year, it was discovered that Kuma was pregnant.
What? Kuma? Isn't she a barren woman? No one could believe it right away.
Actually she had not had a period for a while. She craved sour food and choked during eating.
"I am a little strange, omahama," she said.
She confessed to him thinking what "might possibly be". Kyozo had a big smile on his face, but quickly returned to thinking "never".
He said.
"Let's go to a doctor just to make sure. It would be bad if you have an illness."

They visited the usual obstetrician at Shingu Hospital. The doctor's diagnosis was "very good luck". He confidently swept the doubt away.
"Congratulations, Kyozo! Kuma is 3 months pregnant. She will give birth to your treasure around May of next year in Kigen 2600.

About one month before Kuma's delivery the doctor put a stethoscope to her stomach fixing his ears, and said half jokingly.
"Maybe a boy."

On a fine day in May on Children's Day, three carp-shaped streamers were fluttering in the wind; a large black one for the father, a red carp for the mother, and a new happy blue baby carp.
A man is looking up with a smile of satisfaction and Yoriko, almost 2 years old, is romping beside him.
Just as the doctor predicted, a boy was born healthy and strong. It was the best and nicest happening in the eight years since Kyozo came back from the Arafura Sea. He was 40 years old and Kuma was 32.

- - - - -
"Yoriko drew out a new life for us, for sure. She is an angel."
They kneeled in prayer.
The baby was named "Kyota". He was born in May 1940, on the day the doctor predicted.
Kyozo stopped smoking.
"You don't need to do so."
But Kyozo never accepted Kuma's claim.

Their son Kyota was an irritable child. He had a convulsive fit. Examining him, the home doctor said, probably both with a sense of comfort and flattery, "This baby boy is surely wise and good. Promising."
After half a year, the little boy became his father's pet, adding to his sister Yoriko. Before that time the cross-legged knees of papa had been the sister's monopoly, but then one of the knees was for Kyota.
If Kuma said "It's dangerous" even as a joke, papa Kyozo knitted his eyebrows.
It was Kyozo's greatest happiness to see his son sucking his mother's breast with satisfaction. He rubbed the baby's cheek with his pine-cone hand and was pleased with himself.

The baby's irritability was cured by moxibustion rather than by medicine.
Mama Kuma, carrying the baby on her back, often went to Nachi by train, then walked to the moxibustion practitioner at Hamanomiya along the sea. She did not mind that long distance. The moxa received there was also helpful to the boy. He wept every time the lit moxas were applied, but the effect was perfect.
When he was able to walk, daddy gave him a ride on his shoulders, and sang the folk song of the South Seas in a hoarse voice that reached up to the sky. The song is the one he sang while dancing with the local people in New Guinea Island, joining the village festival.

Japan started the Pacific War in the year after Kyota's birth. It was going to be hard, living side by side with the growth of the three children.
Kyozo, the father, could not be conscripted as a soldier due to the after-effects of overwork in the Arafura Sea.
As for other next means to help the country, he volunteered to work in the Yamada Coal Mine in Fukuoka prefecture at the beginning of 1943 just after the second son was born.
It was at the time throughout the world, both the East and the West, that the situation took an unfavorable turn for the Three Axis Powers.