Bronze Statue of Woman by Minoru Nitta, owned by Noboru Sugio, donated to Hokuryu Town. Installed in the lobby of Sunflower Park Hokuryu Hot Springs!

Tuesday, April 19, 2022

On April 18 (Mon.), a bronze statue of a woman by Minoru Nitta (1957), owned by Noboru Sugio, a native of Hokuryu Town, was donated and installed in the lobby of Sunflower Park Hokuryu Hot Springs.

At the lobby of Sunflower Park Hokuryu Hot Springs

Portrait of a Woman" by Minoru Nitta, 1957

From the right

From left

Minoru Nitta

Sculptor Born in Miyagi Prefecture in 1909. After graduating from Asahikawa Normal School, studied at Tokyo Art School. He has exhibited at the Contemporary Art Exhibition of Japan and the Japan International Art Exhibition. He has close ties to Asahikawa City, and many of his works are exhibited in the city. (Japanese only)Reference: Hokkaido Bijutsu Net Annex)

Nitta's works on display in Hokkaido (some of them)

(in Japanese history)Reference: Hokkaido Digital Sculpture Museum)

Noboru Sugio, a native of Hokuryu Town

The following is a summary of the interviews and various online sources. Sources of information are listed in the latter part of this section.

70 years of friendship with Ryoji Kikura

Noboru Sugio, 87, the donor, is a native of Mitani, Hokuryu-cho. His father, Masao Sugio, was a farmer in Hokuryu-cho and served as an officer of the Hokuryu-cho Agricultural Cooperative. The family later moved to Asahikawa City.

Noboru Sugio is a senior of Mr. Ryoji Kikura (former president of JA Kitasorachi) from Hokuryu High School. Mr. Kikura was always fond of Mr. Sugio and received warm guidance and support from him in his work with the agricultural cooperative, and they continue to have a relationship to this day.

The late Kozo Igarashi, Mayor of Asahikawa City, donated a statue of a woman.

Noboru Sugio worked as secretary to the late Asahikawa Mayor Kozo Igarashi during his tenure at Asahikawa City Hall, retiring at the age of 37 and taking over the public bathhouse opened by his father in 1957. After rebuilding, he opened Asahi Kosenyu Hachijo Pleasure, a public bath and sauna facility. While serving as president of the public bathhouse, he also served as president of the Asahikawa Bathhouse Association and chairman of the Hachijo Stalhin Street Association.

The bronze statue "Lady" was given to Noboru Sugio as a parting gift by then Asahikawa Mayor Hirozo Igarashi when he retired from his post as secretary-general. Mayor Igarashi personally commissioned sculptor Minoru Nitta (passed away in 1989) to create the bronze statue, which was displayed in his home.

Women's Image: Asahi Kosenyu Hachijo Pleasure to Hokuryu Onsen

When Mr. Sugio opened the bathhouse, he aimed to create a bathhouse inspired by sculptures and installed bronze statues in the building. Minoru Nitta's "Woman Statue" was placed at the entrance to the bathhouse. Although the bathhouse gained popularity, the recent trend away from public bathhouses and the Corona bubble drove it out of business, and at the end of August 2020, the Asahi Kosenyu Hachijo Pleasure public bathhouse closed its doors after 65 years in business.

When Mr. Sugio's family discussed the possibility of donating the bronze statue to the town of Hokuryu upon the closing of Asahi Kosenyu Hachijo Pleasure, the family readily agreed. The family readily agreed, and after informing Mayor Sano of their intention to donate the statue, it was installed in the lobby of the Sunflower Park Hokuryu Hot Springs.

commemorative photograph

Mr. Yutaka Sano, Mayor of Hokuryu Town, and Mr. Ryoji Kikura

Mayor Yutaka Sano, Manager Tetsuya Takahata, Sunflower Park Hokuryu Onsen

Donation catalog "Statue of Woman

Mr. Kozo Igarashi

Born in Asahikawa in 1926, passed away in 2013 at the age of 87. 37 years old, he was elected mayor of Asahikawa, and during his 3 terms of 12 years in office, he realized the opening of "Heiwadori Shopping Park" (1972) and "Asahikawa Zoo" (1967).

In national politics, he was elected to the House of Representatives in 1980, became Minister of Construction in the Hosokawa Cabinet in 1993, and became Chief Cabinet Secretary in the Murayama Cabinet in 1994. He was awarded the Order of the Sacred Treasure, First Class, and was made an honorary citizen of Asahikawa City. (Japanese only)Citation: Wikipedia)

Sunflower Park Hokuryu Onsen

Installed in front of the entrance to the bathroom

Rest Corner

Entrance to Himeyu & Tonoyu

Works on display at the entrance of the hot spring

Hokuryu Town Portal

Donation of ink painting "Ascending Dragon" by Yoshio Ayabe, a Matsuri Doraku-shi teacher, to Hokuryu-cho [Enjoy! Happy Life of a Senior Couple].

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The bronze statue of "Fujinzou", which is a symbol of Mr. Sugio's passion for his hometown, Hokuryu-cho, is filled with endless love, gratitude, and prayers.

More Photos

Click here for 38 photos of the bronze statue "Woman" by Minoru Nitta in the collection of Noboru Sugio >>

Reference Site

Monthly Hokkaido Economy

A comprehensive monthly magazine celebrating its 55th year in publication. The monthly Hokkaido Keizai is sold at major bookstores, convenience stores, and kiosks in Asahikawa and the northern Hokkaido region.
▶ Article of Hachijo Pleasure Asahi Kosenyu under the goodwill down >>

Saffron Ramblings

Deep, yet cheap essays about the city, its people, and its cuisine from a man who was born and raised in this town.
▶ Asahi Kosenyu and Hachijo Pleasure" article >>

common stonechat (Saxicola torquata)

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Jururu Net

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Sunflower Park Hokuryu Onsen