coming home, to Tochio

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.





I am sorry my hometown has been losing population.
Very few people were walking along "gangi,"shopping arcade.



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--