As with many Harvest Moon games, the only basic tool that you are not given at
the start of the game is a Fishing Rod. This will be a gift from one of the
residents. In Island of Happiness, it is Taro who will provide you with your
first Fishing Rod, but only if you have been diligent in speaking to him daily
and giving him gifts that please him.

A ‘Most Favourite Item’ in Island of Happiness will elicit a very specific
response in the form of a musical note, what I term ‘with music’ in my
Guides. When you give Taro any coloured wild grass, he will respond ‘with
music’. Like many older characters in Harvest Moon games, his actual words
may not express enthusiasm, as he politely will tell you: ‘For me? You
didn’t have to.’

This type of response usually is a positive one, however and if you had any
doubts in this case that it is a ‘Most Favourite Item’, the musical note that
is displayed with the response makes it a certainty.

It takes a week of daily gifts to Taro to initiate the event that will place
the Basic Fishing Rod in your character’s hands. The first day of the game
where you will have control of your character is Tuesday, 3 Spring. If you
give Taro a piece of wild grass each day from the 3rd of Spring, the Fishing
Rod Event should trigger on Tuesday, 10 Spring.

In Island of Happiness, as previously stated, the introduction of any new
option or character is an event that usually occurs upon awakening. The top
screen of the DS will display a title and the event itself will be experienced
on the lower screen. The Fishing Rod event is entitled: ‘A Nice Catch’ but
it differs from many of the other early morning events in that you actually
must walk outside at 6.00 a.m. to experience the event. Ete