Monday, July 26, 2021
The 24th Wanpaku Summer Festival was held on Thursday, July 22nd from 1:00 PM. Young fish were released into the river at Edaibetsu River Park in Hokuryu Town, and an awareness event and game tournament for the Zero Water Accidents Campaign was held at the B&G Marine Center in Hokuryu Town.
- 1 24th Wanpaku Summer Festival 2021
- 2 Release of young fish
- 3 Water Accident Prevention Campaign: B&G Marine Center
- 4 Water Accident Prevention Campaign: Life Jacket Floating Experience & How to Use a Throwback
- 5 Let's have fun and blow away the coronavirus and the heat!
- 6 Prizes and participation awards
- 7 Other photos
- 8 Related articles
24th Wanpaku Summer Festival 2021
Purpose of the event
Organizer's purpose
The purpose of the project is to "give children who rarely play outside an opportunity to become familiar with nature and teach them that beautiful nature can be a treasure for themselves. Also, a river rich in fish is a clean river, and with the destruction of the natural environment currently progressing, we want to at least restore the former beauty of the rivers close to us" (see flyer).
Organizer
・Edaibetsu River Children's Waterside Council
supervisor
・Hokuryu Town Chamber of Commerce and Industry Youth Division
Sponsor
Hokuryu Town, Hokuryu Town Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Hokuryu Lions Club, Sorachi General Subprefectural Bureau Sapporo Construction Management Department, Hokkaido Civil Engineering Association, Hokuryu Town Board of Education, Mizudori Network Hokuryu, JA Kitasorachi Hokuryu Branch, Hokuryu Town Activities Organization, Hokuryu B&G Marine Center
Approximately 30 people, mostly elementary school students, participated.
It is held every year on Marine Day, and this year marks the 24th time it has been held.
The participants were approximately 30 elementary school students (1st to 6th grade), including those taking part in an elderly people and children interaction project (Hokuryu Town Board of Education). Small children also participated, accompanied by their parents.
After releasing the young fish, we took a bus to the B&G Marine Center, changed into our swimsuits and headed to the pool. Then, we had fun playing the long-awaited underwater games tournament.
Release of young fish
Unusually low water volume in the Edaibetsu River
This year, there has been little rainfall, and the water level of the Edaibetsu River has decreased. The water level has dropped, revealing the riverbed.
"Usually, there is a lot of rain during the Wanpaku Summer Festival, and we often worry about whether it will be held or not. However, this year it has been the opposite, with little rain and so little water in the river that we were surprised to see the riverbed. This is the first year we've seen something like this!" said Daisuke Fujita, head of the Hokuryu Town Chamber of Commerce and Industry Youth Division.
10,000 young yamame trout released into the sea
The fry to be released are approximately 10,000 yamame fry that have hatched and grown to about 15 to 20 cm in length.
Staff had released around 9,500 fish in advance, and on the day of the event, the children released around 500 of them.
Moving the yamame trout from the moving vehicle to the plastic pool
The young fish are placed in a prepared plastic pool, then scooped up with a net and placed in a bucket. Carefully carrying the bucket back to the river, the fish are then gently released into the river.
A plastic pool filled with young yamame trout

Transfer the yamame trout to a bucket
Gently releasing yamame trout into the river
The released young fish will travel down the Edaibetsu River and Ishikari River and then out into the Sea of Japan. They will gain a variety of experiences in the underwater world, grow into fine adults, and return to the rivers where they were born.
It is filled with the children's heartfelt prayers that "Please grow up healthy and come back to your hometown"!!!
Water Accident Prevention Campaign: B&G Marine Center
Travel by bus to B&G Marine Center
After the release, we boarded a bus and headed to the B&G Marine Center.
Gather at the poolside
The children had their temperature taken and were disinfected, then changed into their swimsuits and headed to the pool.
Greetings from Daisuke Fujita, Director of the Youth Division of the Hokuryu Town Chamber of Commerce and Industry
"We usually go to the river, but this time let's all have fun playing in the pool. Please be careful: if you feel unwell, please tell one of the guys nearby immediately. If you get thirsty, please drink the water we have distributed to you. Let's have fun today."
Water Accident Prevention Campaign: Life Jacket Floating Experience & How to Use a Throwback
As part of the Zero Water Accidents Campaign awareness campaign, former youth division chief Kiyohiko Fujinobu (a certified aqua instructor) provided instruction.
The program was conducted in a clear and thorough manner, including an experience of floating in a life jacket, floating on one's back, and a talk on how to use a "throw bag" to rescue people.
Children sitting by the pool listening to the explanation
Life jacket usage instructions
Instructions for using the lifeguard
How to use Throwback
Put on a life jacket and experience floating
Let's have fun and blow away the coronavirus and the heat!
Treasure Hunt Game
The children dive into the water to find plastic bottles with a winning mark on the back of the lid, aiming for bottles that have sunk to the bottom of the pool.
Plastic bottle of water
Plastic bottles at the bottom of the pool
A plastic bottle filled with water is thrown into Plue, who splashes to the bottom of the pool!
Look for the plastic bottle with the winning mark!
If you get a plastic bottle with a winning mark, you will receive a prize.
Tug-of-war race with swim rings
You move underwater on swim rings of various shapes and compete to reach the goal the fastest.
Floats of various shapes
Work together as a team!
Each team consists of three people: one pulling the rope, one riding on the inflatable ring, and one pushing the ring from behind. Rings shaped like crocodiles, dolphins, airplanes, etc. are used, and depending on the shape, some are easier to ride and some are more difficult, requiring a good sense of balance.
Along the way, you may lose your balance and fall into the water, but with good teamwork you can move smoothly and smoothly through the water. It's a fun and exciting game!
Water mat running
A game in which you run across a 20m mat floating on the water.
Find your balance!
Most children have difficulty adjusting their balance and fall after just a few steps, unable to move forward.
Finish the race smoothly like a little ninja!
Meanwhile, a third-grade elementary school boy successfully completed the race to the finish line! He managed to complete it 4 or 5 times. Amazing!!!
Aquaball (water ball) play
An activity where you walk on water inside a transparent, inflated vinyl ball.
Fill the Aqua Ball with air using a blower
Rolling on the water
The water flow on the surface of the water causes the aqua ball to move left and right, up and down, and your body rolls along with the movement of the ball.
Experience the unpredictable movement of the ball and enjoy the soft sensation of floating on the water.
The children enjoyed playing freely in the water with aqua balls and swim rings.
As they got splashed with water, they cheered and smiled, saying "It feels so good!"
Our fun time at the pool passed by quickly and it was time to end.
it was fun!
lastly,
"Everyone had fun!" Fujinobu Kiyohiko called out to everyone.
Everyone's energetic voices rang out, "Hi!"
The children received lots of sweets as prizes for the games and for participating, and left with very satisfied smiles on their faces!
Prizes and participation awards
The children's energy blew away the coronavirus and the heat, making it a valuable experience and a super fun time.
We would like to express our sincere gratitude to the members of the Hokuryu Town Chamber of Commerce and Industry Youth Division and all those involved in preparing the Wanpaku Summer Festival 2021 for the children, for their deep love and consideration for the children.
thank you very much!!!
Other photos
・Photos (120 photos) from the 24th Wanpaku Summer Festival 2021 are here >>
◇ Photography and editing: Noboru Terauchi Interview and text: Ikuko Terauchi
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