After successfully completing my father's third memorial service at home, I headed to Ishikari with relatives who had gathered from various parts of Hokkaido. We stayed at a ryokan by the Ishikari River, reminiscing about my late father while enjoying a dinner party. It was my first time seeing the Ishikari River up close, and I was able to admire the beautiful sunset over the Sea of Japan from the window. At 6 p.m., we gathered in the banquet hall with a large kamidana (household Shinto altar) and were greeted with a table full of seafood dishes. There was also plenty of alcohol to go around. The sight of a huge simmered flounder and giant button shrimp sashimi was overwhelming, with an abundance of dishes that seemed impossible to finish. The presence of a whole smoked salmon and a huge ham made us laugh. Before we knew it, empty beer bottles were piling up. Despite suffering from a hangover until the afternoon, I decided to join in the drinking later on. As the outside world gradually darkened, the Ishikari River turned into a world of blue. The ikura (salmon roe) rice bowl at the end was delicious. It was a bright, cheerful, and harmonious third memorial service. I wonder if my father was watching over us from above. Will I have a hangover tomorrow? The ryokan operates on a system where guests are responsible for raising and lowering their own futon, and you need to bring your own toiletries as they are not provided. For more details, please refer to my blog [こころまの「ま」] https://ameblo.jp/39lohas/entry-12368559596.html