Briefings on the Hokuryu-cho Sunflower Village Basic Plan were held at two locations in the town, and the townspeople listened attentively.

Wednesday, August 4, 2021

In Hokuryu Town, the "Sunflower Village Basic Plan and Briefing Session for Town Residents" was held on Wednesday, July 28, from 4:00 p.m. at the "Hekisui Ikigai Center" and from 6:00 p.m. at the "Community Center Main Hall.

Sunflower Village Basic Plan and Briefing Session for Town Residents

About 15 town residents attended and listened attentively in the main hall of the community center.

Message from Mayor Yutaka Sano

I would like to thank everyone for taking time out of your busy schedules to join us.

It has been hot, with temperatures exceeding 30 degrees Celsius every day. I am sure everyone is very tired. Yesterday, it was 35.5 degrees at 3:00 p.m., and today it was 35.3 degrees at 2:00 p.m. I have not experienced such a heat wave exceeding 35 degrees.

In addition, there have been many days with no rainfall, which is a concern for the growth of crops. On July 5 and 6, it rained from Imosegyu-cho to Hokuryu-bashi Bridge, but once we entered Hokuryu-cho, it started to drizzle and only 1mm of rain fell in two days. I have been in the town office for about 50 years, and I have never experienced such a year without rain.

The field crops of wheat, buckwheat, and soybeans are in a difficult situation due to lack of water.

On the other hand, in the paddy rice field, ears are ready, flowers are blooming, and ripening has begun. However, we are concerned about the effects of the high temperatures.

Although the corona outbreak has been going on for a year and a half, there have been no cases of infection in the town of Hokuryu. I would like to express my sincere gratitude to the town residents for their high level of awareness and their efforts in taking measures against coronas. Also, all scheduled new corona vaccinations were completed yesterday for all residents, including those between the ages of 12 and 16 years old.

We have planted flowers and have wonderful sunflowers blooming in Sunflower Village this year. However, we have cancelled the Sunflower Festival and all events at the tourist center.

The sunflowers are low in height due to lack of rain, but very beautiful sunflowers are blooming. The main sunflower field was planted to bloom on August 3 and 4, but it is already about 80% in bloom today, and we expect it to be in full bloom this Saturday and Sunday. During the four-day weekend from July 22 to July 23, many tourists visited the village and enjoyed the sunflowers.

The roadside station, Sunflower Park Hokuryu Onsen, was crowded with visitors. The Internet portal site of the town of Hokuryu also reported that there were more than double the number of visitors this year compared to last year.

We will make every effort to fully prepare for next year's Sunflower Festival.

Today is the town meeting to explain the Sunflower Village Basic Plan to the townspeople. The meeting was originally scheduled to take place in March, but we apologize for the timing of the meeting due to coronary infection control measures.

The person in charge will explain fully. We would also like to receive the opinions of many of you and move forward with the future development plan of Himawari-no-sato. Thank you very much for your cooperation," said Mayor Sano in his polite greeting.

Explanation of Sunflower Village Basic Plan

Mr. Hajime Namba, Manager of the Industrial Division of the Hokuryu Town Hall, gave a presentation.

Outline of the Basic Plan for Sunflower Village in Hokuryu Town

1. planning, background and objectives

2. the current state of tourism in Hokuryu Town

(1) Situation in the province
(2) Number of visitors and overnight guests to Hokuryu Town
(3) Number of visitors and overnight guests by season in Hokuryu Town
(4) Number of visitors to the Himawari Festival
(5) Characteristics of Himawari Festival visitors

3. Issues for Hokuryu Town Tourism

(1) Year-round tourism
(2) Development of specialties, souvenirs, etc.
(3) Information dissemination
(4) Discover and refine tourist resources other than sunflowers
(5) Securing financial resources
(6) Maintenance of Sunflower Village

4. the ideal of the town of Hokuryu

(Platonic) ideal (of how things ought to be, e.g. human rights)

Hokuryu Tourism Promotion and Agriculture:Creating a sustainable town where tourists are healed in a safe and secure agricultural town and townspeople are proud and economically active.

Sunflower Village:Creating a landscape where information can be disseminated to the world about the "Sunflower Village," a symbol of the town of Hokuryu, with its bright agricultural sunflowers.

5. Tourism Promotion Structure of Hokuryu Town

Townspeople:Town residents are expected to deepen their understanding of the nature, history and culture of Hokuryu Town, rediscover for themselves the charms of tourism in Hokuryu Town, and become involved in tourism in Hokuryu Town with even greater attachment to and pride in their hometown.

Tourism-related organizations:We will strengthen cooperation among organizations, as well as coordinate and collaborate with the town's residents and administration to develop effective promotional activities to attract visitors, spread understanding of tourism to the town's residents, and improve hospitality.

Administration:Hokuryu Town will promote tourism promotion measures with the cooperation of the town's residents, tourism-related organizations, the national government and Hokkaido, and will strive to support tourism projects undertaken voluntarily by various entities.

Sunflower Village to the World

Design concept: wooden structure highlighting the sunflowers of Hokuryu Town.

Overall layout plan

Observatory that serves as a symbolic tree

Tourist Center: Large wooden roof welcoming people

Tourist Center: Interior View

Tourist Information Center: Bright and open tourist information center

Tourist Information Center: Interior view

Turf Square: A grassy hill with a continuous bustling atmosphere

street furniture

Trailer House: Reference Architecture

Schedule: 10-year schedule from 2020

exchange of opinions

A lively question and answer session ensued.

I think that a more detailed explanation of the economic effects on Hokuryu Town, such as tax payments to hometowns, would help to deepen the understanding of the plan.

We would like to ask for your thoughts on countermeasures against continuous crop damage in the Sunflower Village.

Since agriculture is the key industry in Hokuryu Town, we would like to see the construction of agriculture-related facilities first and foremost, followed by plans for tourism-related facilities.

Yutaka Sano, Mayor of the town

In a recent broadcast of Nippon Television's "Hirunandesu" on July 2 (Fri.), "Hokuryu-cho Himawari no Sato" was ranked fifth among the top 10 places in Japan chosen as "summer scenes in Japan that I want to see at least once".

1st:Farm Tomita, Hokkaido,2nd place:Aomori Nebuta Festival (Aomori Prefecture),3rd place:Gion Festival (Kyoto Prefecture),4th placeSumida River Fireworks Festival (Tokyo),5th:Hokuryu-cho Himawari no Sato (Hokkaido), ,6th:Nagaoka Festival Grand Fireworks Festival (Niigata Prefecture),7th:Omagari Fireworks (Akita Prefecture),8th:Kyoto Gozan Okuribi (Kyoto Prefecture),9th:Awa Odori (Tokushima Prefecture),10th:Sendai Tanabata Festival (Miyagi Prefecture)

Hokuryu Town Portal

HIRUNANDEI NTV] Hokuryu-cho Sunflower Village ranked 5th in the "Top 10 Summer Spots to See in Japan! Top 10 Japanese Summer Festivals

Friday, July 9, 2021, Nippon Television Network Corporation (NTV) "Hirunandes! aired on July 2 (Fri., 11:55-13:55), "Places and Generations ...

We are honestly surprised that Hokuryu-cho Sunflower Village in Hokkaido has been ranked fifth among these famous tourist destinations in Japan, which proves that we have received a higher evaluation from all over the country than we had thought.

Some of the participants today have been involved in the creation of the Sunflower Village from its initial start-up period. I believe that the long history of the Sunflower Village since 1989, and the many accomplishments that have been accumulated over the years, have made the Sunflower Village of Hokuryu Town what it is today.

With the passage of 35 years since its establishment, each of these places has become decrepit and, in many ways, has reached a point where it needs to be reworked.

The population has been declining and various other negative effects are occurring. When we think about Hokuryu Town 10 to 20 years from now, we need to once again improve the Sunflower Village, and a new plan for the Sunflower Village has just begun.

Fortunately, world-renowned architect Kengo Kuma has been visiting Hokuryu-cho for the past 25 years and has given us his endorsement of the Sunflower Village, saying, "The landscape of the Sunflower Village is wonderful. He has also been very pleased to be involved in the new design of Himawari-no-sato. With the help of Mr. Kengo Kuma, we will carefully proceed with the development of the Hokuryu-cho Sunflower Village.

The overall amount of 1.4 billion yen is indeed an enormous amount of money, but we would like you to understand that we will proceed gradually and carefully over the next 10 years, planning by year and keeping an eye on social conditions.

Of course, the issue of agricultural facilities is also important, and we are currently studying the future of the elementary and junior high schools. In addition, we are considering the development of Sunflower Village while taking financial considerations into account in the midst of many hard projects, such as the renovation of the community center, etc. We hope you will understand the total picture," said Mayor Sano.

Toshimasa Takahashi, Vice Mayor

At the briefing at the Hekisui Ikigai Center this time, there were questions and answers about maintenance and management during the winter months. These will be properly addressed in the future basic design, and we will make sure that our maintenance and management efforts are well set forth.

We will continue to respond to and clear up each and every one of the positive feedback we have received from everyone today as we move forward properly. Thank you for your continued support," said Deputy Mayor Takahashi.

The village of sunflowers in Hokuryu Town is a place where the passion and deep love of the people of Hokuryu Town is hidden,
To the wonderful sunflowers, full of vigorous energy and happy power,
With endless love, gratitude and prayers.

More Photos

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◇ Photography and Editing: Noboru Terauchi Reporting and Writing: Ikuko Terauchi