"Hey, cous! How was your trip?" Eiji said to his cousin, Hiroshi, as they embraced each other.

     "Good," said Hiroshi.

     Hiroshi and his parents had left Tokyo for Ishikawa Prefecture, so that they could spend the weekend with their extended family members. Although they lived and worked in Tokyo, the Michios were originally from the other side of Japan, with a humble upbringing in contrast to what one might assume just by looking at their Tokyo mansion. On this day, the Michios visited Eiji’s parents at their family farm in Noto, a popular landmark amongst the locals and tourists known for its wet fields and a stunning view of the sea. As planned, the family members met at the rice farm before being escorted to the family home for the night. Hiroshi and Eiji made the most of their time together on the fields, as boys would do, with Eiji taking the time to show his cousin how to grow rice on the watery fields.

     "Can I give it a shot?" Hiroshi asked Eiji, as he observed his relatives harvest rice grains for their granary.

     "Sure! But, you’re going to need to wear some boots first," said Eiji.

Hence, Hiroshi was given a pair of boots by his uncle, who was eager to see his nephew in action. As a beginner, Hiroshi’s handiwork was a bit rough, but he got the job done to the best of his ability.

     By evening, the rice farm shut down for the night, and the Michios retreated to their traditional house to keep their guests company. While the night was still young, they engaged in the usual activities from family chats to watching television in the living room. Unlike his time in Tokyo, Hiroshi stayed up late for a movie with his cousin. Although Eiji’s parents didn’t mind just this once, Mr. Michio felt it was necessary to remind his son, Hiroshi, to get enough rest.

     "We have a big day tomorrow, so don’t stay up late," he said to both Hiroshi and Eiji.

     "Okay," the boys said to Mr. Michio.

By the next morning, Mr. Michio had planned to take his son across town, with his elder brother, Eiji’s father, lending him his wagon for the day. Mrs. Michio chose to spend the day with her in-laws instead, offering to help them with lunch preparations, so there was enough room for Eiji to join his uncle and cousin on their road trip.

     As a tourist destination, Ishikawa had no shortage of places to see, with the Michios choosing to drive west to Kawaimachi. They stopped by the Wajima morning market where Mr. Michio bought a few items for the Tokyo mansion, as well as fresh produce as lunch ingredients.

     "I didn’t forget anything, did I?" Mr. Michio wondered, as he carefully read through his wife’s shopping list to make sure that he didn’t leave anything out.

The Michios ended their shopping trip by buying four apples, two of which the boy would eat on the road.

     "Thanks, dad," said Hiroshi, as he stretched his hand to grab the nylon from his father.

     "Thanks, Uncle Masahiro," said Eiji, as he took his apple from Hiroshi.

     "We have time to kill. How about we drive around town before heading home?" Mr. Michio said to the boys.

     Hiroshi and Eiji couldn’t say "no" to such a plan, so they agreed.

     They drove further west till they made their way back onto the highway. But, before heading back to the rice farm, the Michios made a sudden stop.

     "Why are we here?" Hiroshi asked.

     "There is a local shine nearby. When I was younger, your grandfather used to take me here," Mr. Michio said. As he got off the wagon, he turned to the boys and said, "Come. Let’s pray together for good fortune."

     And so, the cousins joined him. Before offering their prayer, in accordance with Shinto rituals, Mr. Michio brought the boys into the chozuya for ablution. Eiji, being the older of the two boys, was already familiar with the procedure, with Hiroshi carefully observing and following his father’s instructions. Once they offered their prayers, the Michios resumed their journey.

     At last, the Michios made their way to the farm, with Hiroshi and Eiji offering to take the groceries to the house. Everyone played a role in lunch preparations, with Eiji’s parents insisting on doing most of the chores. In little over an hour, lunch was ready. Unlike what one would expect from a modern home, the Michios sat around a mini table with floor couches instead of seats, and everyone ate using chopsticks instead of the standard utensils. To Hiroshi, his time at Noto was a childhood memory in the making.

"It does look like Godzilla’s head!" Hiroshi said to Eiji, as he observed a map of the eastern region. He then turned to his father, and asked, "Dad, what places do they have there?"

     "The usual. Beaches, parks, shrines," said Mr. Michio. "Speaking of Godzilla, there is a rock that looks like him by the sea. Maybe we’ll stop by on our next visit."

     His father’s last state was a reminder that the family only had till the next morning to start heading home, and should start packing his things soon.