Mayor Yutaka Sano's opening message at the beginning of FY 2020: "Make the town rich in spirit and shining with the happiness of the townspeople as the first priority.

Thursday, April 2, 2020

On April 1 (Wed.), at the beginning of the 2040 fiscal year, awards for 30 years and 20 years of continuous service by Hokuryu Town employees, issuance of letters of resignation, and a message from the Mayor were held at the Hokuryu Town Council chambers.

Instruction by Mayor Yutaka Sano

For us town employees, today is the start of the 2020 fiscal year.

Long-service awards for employees

And now, in accordance with the staff award regulations, we have just presented the long-service awards. Ms. Yayoi Kawamoto has been with us for 30 years, and Mr. Katsuyoshi Takahashi, Ms. Keiko Banda, Mr. Masakazu Tamura, Ms. Ryoko Kuratani, and Ms. Rie Oikawa for 20 years.

I would like to express my sincere appreciation for your long and diligent service to this day as a town employee. I would like to express my deep respect and sincere gratitude to you. I look forward to your continued efforts in the future.

phraseology

We also handed out the letters of appointment to those who were transferred, promoted, or newly appointed as Hokuryu Town employees as of April 1, as well as to those who were appointed as fiscal year appointees.

As Hokuryu Town employees, we hope that you will take responsibility and be aware of your responsibilities, and work hard to create a town in which the citizens play a leading role. In particular, I would like all of you newly hired employees to do your best to become accustomed to your workplaces as soon as possible and to become familiar with and trusted by the citizens of the town.

Mr. Noshirokawa, who has been dispatched by the Hokkaido Government, will be supporting us mainly with sunflower oil. Mr. and Mrs. Terauchi, a community support worker, will be assisting us in Hokuryu Town this year for the 11th year. Mr. Sakuraba, a JA alumnus who is also a community support worker, will be assisting us with agricultural support measures. In addition, as a member of the Regional Development Cooperation Volunteers, Mr. Hiraba will be a great help in the town development of Hokuryu Town. Thank you very much for your cooperation.

tax payment at home

This fiscal year, Furusato tax payments totaled 550 million yen in value and 40,500 in number. We have received a lot of donations from all over Japan. What makes us most happy is that we have received many postcards and e-mails from people saying, "Sunflower rice from Hokuryu-cho is really delicious!　Once you try it, you can't stop! Once you try it, you can't stop!

Under the new system of Furusato tax payment from last year, it has been legislated that the return ratio should be less than 30%. Even though the return ratio has been reduced from 50% to 30%, we have received more support from many people than ever before.

I believe this is due above all to the efforts of the Hokuryu-cho producers who have been producing safe, secure, and delicious rice for many years.

Zero traffic fatalities target of 5,000 days

Zero traffic fatalities is also continuing at 4,717 days as of today. Our goal of 5,000 days is January 9 next year. I would like to solemnly celebrate that day with all of you. I hope that all of you will make further efforts to promote traffic safety.

new strains of coronavirus

Now, regarding the new coronavirus, the global spread of infection continues. The Tokyo Olympics and Paralympics have been postponed until next year. Due to the spread of the virus, people and goods are unable to cross borders, and we are witnessing how serious the situation has become. People cannot travel, cannot go on business trips, cannot go to work or study abroad. They are unable to order foreign goods, they are unable to receive them, they are unable to procure parts, and they are having difficulty finding competent human resources. It is a very worrisome situation to see what kind of times we will face, but we hope for an early end to this situation.

Creating a town that is rich in spirit and shines brightly

Hokuryu Town is now attracting attention from all over the country as a town of sunflowers that protect the lives and health of the people. Even though the population is small, it is necessary to create a town where residents are full of vitality, rich in spirit, and shine brightly. I would like to do my utmost, together with all the staff members, to realize this goal.

The happiness of the town's residents is our first priority.

This is the start of a new year in my third term as Mayor. I will continue to execute the town government with the happiness of the town's residents as my first priority. I hope that all of our employees will take good care of their health, value human relations within their workplaces, and work together as one. I would like to ask for your continued support," said Mayor Sano.

At the start of the new fiscal year 2020, we express our unbounded love, gratitude, and prayers for the town of Hokuryu, a town overflowing with vitality, rich in spirit, and shining brightly, where the entire town is working together as one.

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