I was born and brought up in Tochio.
Tochio-shi was merged into Nagaoka City a few years ago.
Tochio-machi became Tochio City 54 years ago.
I was in the 6th grade at elementary school then.
I remember joining a street parade celebrating
the municipality. I miss Tochio City.
![](https://blogimg.goo.ne.jp/user_image/72/bb/d0270083db9f35fad7ddd269f6e059f0.jpg)
![](https://blogimg.goo.ne.jp/user_image/23/d0/72d205e819db147106da3cfce967a60b.jpg)
I am sorry my hometown has been losing population.
Very few people were walking along "gangi,"shopping arcade.
![](https://blogimg.goo.ne.jp/user_image/7b/91/4f0142d4fc098face312497d455b7f8c.jpg)
After the Shinto ritual for 30th anniversary of my father's death,
we visited my parents' graveyard with a Shinto priest.
He performed a ceremony of ritual purification there.
The graveyard is on the hill.
It was a lovely day and I enjoyed a beautiful country scenery.
I am sure my parents like this place. My father was born here.
at the foot of the hill--
![](https://blogimg.goo.ne.jp/user_image/7b/ae/342ee626c1f3e616b90506e6c14ea1c6.jpg)
![](https://blogimg.goo.ne.jp/user_image/25/4d/35c49ccd5005869ac59eb213101c7b55.jpg)
![](https://blogimg.goo.ne.jp/user_image/41/f3/30c7b883eff2c058160987f0c5bf0957.jpg)
![](https://blogimg.goo.ne.jp/user_image/7a/bb/2256fa9fde7fd3aa7953b31545e685fb.jpg)
![](https://blogimg.goo.ne.jp/user_image/2c/dc/220e18ced362e2635159bd532f0085ff.jpg)
Tochio-shi was merged into Nagaoka City a few years ago.
Tochio-machi became Tochio City 54 years ago.
I was in the 6th grade at elementary school then.
I remember joining a street parade celebrating
the municipality. I miss Tochio City.
![](https://blogimg.goo.ne.jp/user_image/72/bb/d0270083db9f35fad7ddd269f6e059f0.jpg)
![](https://blogimg.goo.ne.jp/user_image/23/d0/72d205e819db147106da3cfce967a60b.jpg)
I am sorry my hometown has been losing population.
Very few people were walking along "gangi,"shopping arcade.
![](https://blogimg.goo.ne.jp/user_image/7b/91/4f0142d4fc098face312497d455b7f8c.jpg)
After the Shinto ritual for 30th anniversary of my father's death,
we visited my parents' graveyard with a Shinto priest.
He performed a ceremony of ritual purification there.
The graveyard is on the hill.
It was a lovely day and I enjoyed a beautiful country scenery.
I am sure my parents like this place. My father was born here.
at the foot of the hill--
![](https://blogimg.goo.ne.jp/user_image/7b/ae/342ee626c1f3e616b90506e6c14ea1c6.jpg)
![](https://blogimg.goo.ne.jp/user_image/25/4d/35c49ccd5005869ac59eb213101c7b55.jpg)
![](https://blogimg.goo.ne.jp/user_image/41/f3/30c7b883eff2c058160987f0c5bf0957.jpg)
![](https://blogimg.goo.ne.jp/user_image/7a/bb/2256fa9fde7fd3aa7953b31545e685fb.jpg)
![](https://blogimg.goo.ne.jp/user_image/2c/dc/220e18ced362e2635159bd532f0085ff.jpg)