One by one…

　As a security guard working from home—and in an office-based role, at that—I hardly ever go out. But when several errands pile up—like picking up dry cleaning or casting an early vote in the Yokohama mayoral election—I end up doing patrols outside.

　I headed toward the Minami Ward Office, making sure the dry cleaner’s was open as usual. After casting my early vote according to the usual procedure, I relied on my old memories to find my way to the fishing tackle shop in Nakamura-cho—I was there to stock up on bait for my goby fishing trip ten days from now. Walking down the Nakamura River, I found the shop right away.“Hmm, I’m pretty sure there used to be bright red fishing bait and a vividly dyed banner out front when I came here before,” I thought, feeling a bit puzzled, as I slipped inside through the half-open sliding door. “Hello~” I called out in a slightly higher-pitched dB than usual. A woman who looked to be about 75 came out from the back, so I told her what I needed.

　“I’m so sorry, but we don’t sell fishing bait anymore,” she replied apologetically. It’s been a while since the store next to Y High School stopped selling fishing bait, too. According to the owner of the fishing tackle shop, there used to be one other place, but it seems that one has gone out of business as well. Going to a fishing tackle shop and asking for “a sake cupful of Aoi-isome” might be a custom that’s completely fallen out of use by now…