In 1991 (Heisei 3), when the cherry blossoms were over, I visited my hometown with my wife, after a long neglect to call. It is located in Miwasaki, Shingu City, Wakayama Prefecture, east of the southern tip of Kii Peninsula.

At 3:00 p.m., our couple left the apartment in Urayasu City, Chiba Prefecture. This time we stopped going by car, and instead decided to board the Sunflower cruise ferry.
So, we headed to Ariake Wharf of Tokyo Bay, and after getting on, went straight to the cabin. The ferry sailed overnight along the Pacific coast and entered the Sea of Kumano.
Around that time, the sky began to be dimly light far over the horizon, and then finally the sun rose from the sea, while our ferry proceeding to Katsuura Port.

You can now see the dark green mountain range of Kishu, the coast of Miwasaki of my hometown, two familiar small islets, and Sano on the west side, where the chimney of Tomoegawa Paper Mills looks small.
While enchanted with the scenery around the inner bay, the Sunflower sailed into Katsuura Port in Ukui of Nachi-Katsuura Town.

At a stop right there, took a bus bound for Shingu. After 20-minute ride, we got off in front of Miwasaki Port.
The graveyard of the ancestors are about 15 minutes away. Walk along a country road with rice fields on both sides. You can see Shingu Commercial High School far on the left side. Koyo Junior High School, my alma mater, is closer to us. Is it the time when the class is already started?

The appearance of my parents' tomb has not changed. When was the last time this graveyard in town was moved here? It moved to a better place than the ghostly and eerie place before. Hachiman Shrine can be seen to the east. There is a stream running nearby. It makes me remember my school-boy days. My father was working to cultivate a small rice field along the stream at that time. It was a mercy for both my younger brother Minoru and me Shigeru as the cold bath for boys after hard work helping father in mid summer. Now a residential area around the graveyard.

After visiting the grave, we walked to my mother's house along the Miwasaki coast to the east for about 30 minutes.
It is 10 a.m. The Omaeya Inn (大前屋旅館) directly across the street is quite old now. In the past, it was a regular lodging for business travelers to Sano Plant of Tomoegawa Paper Company, but since the factory was downscaled, what about the customers?

Whether it's because of spring sorrow or because of the occasional homecoming, I feel sentimental, comparing the present scenery of my hometown with what I remember as memories during my young days. Where did the past Miwasaki go away? Is my memory telling a lie?
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The sea I used to jump straight into in swimming trunks along the beach near my house, and the shallow shore of gravel and stones, are now far beyond. The reclaimed land to the coast spreads all over the place. The eastern half is for a chip factory site and the western half is Kuroshio Park.

My mother likes Kuroshio Park now. She hurt her leg when collided with a child's bicycle, so now she covers the part with a hand-pushed pram and heads south. Even with her cursing feet, it is enough for 10 minutes to reach the east entrance of the park.
It's mostly a playground for children. Slides, swings, jungle gyms. There is also playground equipment in the shape of a lion, an elephant, a giraffe and a tiger. From there, head west along a narrow path surrounded by shuro, hamacotton, azalea trees and beautiful flowers and flowers, and you are at the exit on the west side to Sano Town.
Pushing the pram while walking has become my mother's daily routine. She is familiar with the children and seems to be looking forward to greeting to them and chatting with young mothers.