37th Hokuryu-cho Sunflower Festival Opening Ceremony 2023

Monday, July 24, 2023

The 37th Sunflower Festival Opening Ceremony was held on Saturday, July 22, 2023, from 10:00 a.m! This is the opening of the Hokuryu-cho Sunflower Festival, which will run for about a month until Sunday, August 20, 2023.

37th Hokuryu-cho Sunflower Festival Opening Ceremony 2023

❂ The opening ceremony was a great success, attended by many people!

37th Himawari Festival Opening Ceremony
37th Himawari Festival Opening Ceremony

Moderator: Keiko Tsugiki, Manager, Industry Division, Hokuryu Town Hall

Moderated by Keiko Tsugiki, Manager, Industry Division, Hokuryu Town Hall
Moderated by Keiko Tsugiki, Manager, Industry Division, Hokuryu Town Hall

Hokuryu drum performance

Prior to the Himawari no Sato opening ceremony, a brave performance by Hokuryu Taiko (Representative: Yuyo Nakamura). Two songs, "Himawari" and "Kawase no banquet".

Hokuryu drum performance
Hokuryu drum performance

The audience was moved by the powerful sound of the Hokuryu Taiko drums.

Everyone listening to the sound of Hokuryu Taiko drumming, moved by the sound of the drums.
Everyone listening to the sound of Hokuryu Taiko drumming, moved by the sound of the drums.

With the sound of the flute.

With the sound of the flute.
With the sound of the flute.

Opening Remarks: Yukio Takada, Chairman, Hokuryu-cho Sunflower Tourist Association

Mr. Yukio Takada, Chairman of the Hokuryu-cho Sunflower Tourist Association
Mr. Yukio Takada, Chairman of the Hokuryu-cho Sunflower Tourist Association

I would like to express my sincere thanks to the many people who helped prepare for this wonderful 37th opening ceremony."

Some wonderful flowers are already blooming. We would also like to express our sincere gratitude to those who have planted the seeds in consultation with the sun over a long period of time.

I would like to thank the Hokuryu Taiko drummers and the brass band of Hokuryu Junior High School for adding their talents to today's opening ceremony, as well as the many guests and visitors who came to the event. Thank you very much.

It will be a great opening ceremony. Thank you very much.

Many of the guests who visited here said, "Bravo! Bravo! I would like to make this opening address in the hope that the many guests who have come here will leave with a great sense of satisfaction. Thank you very much," said Chairman Takada in his strong words.

Congratulatory speech by guest of honor: Mayor Yutaka Sano

Hokuryu Town, Mayor Yutaka Sano
Hokuryu Town, Mayor Yutaka Sano

The Sunflower Village, which boasts the best sunflowers in Japan, is finally open. The 37th Hokuryu Town Sunflower Festival will be held in conjunction with the opening of the Sunflower Village.

I would like to express my sincere appreciation and gratitude to Mr. Yukio Takada, Chairman of the Hokuryu-cho Sunflower Tourist Association, as well as the heads of various organizations in the town, for coming today and making the opening ceremony such a grand event.

We were also just now treated to a brave performance by the Hokuryu Taiko drummers.

The same is true of sunflowers and the sound of Japanese drums, which give us energy, courage, and a bright and healthy heart. Thank you very much.

This is a month long Sunflower Festival. We hope that many people will visit the festival without any accidents and with due consideration for infection control measures.

After this, we will hear a performance by the brass band club of Hokuryu Junior High School. We hope that their wonderful performance will be a fitting opening to the Himawari Festival. Thank you very much for your cooperation," said Mayor Sano.

Introduction of Guests of Honor

❂ Mr. Yasuhiro Sasaki, Chairman of the Hokuryu Town Council, Mr. Masahito Fujii, Chairman of the Hokuryu Town Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Mr. Hirokuni Kitakiyo, Representative Director of JA Kitasorachi Hokuryu District, Mr. Junichi Fukase, Chairman of the Hokuryu Land Improvement District, Mr. Koji Kawada, Chairman of the Hokuryu Town Voluntary Association, Mr. Domae, Chairman of the Sunflower Committee at Hokuryu Middle School

Introduction of Guests of Honor
Introduction of Guests of Honor

Performance by the brass band club of Hokuryu Junior High School

❂ The two songs performed are "Story" and "My Neighbor Totoro".

Performance by the brass band club of Hokuryu Junior High School
Performance by the brass band club of Hokuryu Junior High School
Performance by the brass band club of Hokuryu Junior High School
Performance by the brass band club of Hokuryu Junior High School

pounding mochi rice in a circle

❂ Mochimaki (rice cake throwing) to wish for the development of the "Hokuryu-cho Himawari Festival".

Red and white rice cakes flying in the sky
Red and white rice cakes flying in the sky

❂ Sharing the joy of the development and celebration of the Sunflower Festival!

Sharing the joy of the development and celebration of the Sunflower Festival!
Sharing the joy of the development and celebration of the Sunflower Festival!

The words on the jumbo maze are "World Peace.

The words on the jumbo maze are "World Peace.
The words on the jumbo maze are "World Peace.

Hokuryu Voluntary Association

❂ Managed by the Hokuryu Voluntary Association and the Hokuryu Town Senior Citizens Club

Hokuryu Voluntary Association
Hokuryu Voluntary Association

Thank you for your cooperation!

Thank you for your cooperation!
Thank you for your cooperation!

Those who donate money will receive "Hokuryu-cho sunflower seeds," postcards, notepaper, etc.

Sunflower Seeds and Postcards from Hokuryu-cho
Sunflower Seeds and Postcards from Hokuryu-cho

Himawari no Sato Guide Map

❂ A cute guide map is here to show you around!

Himawari no Sato Guide Map
Himawari no Sato Guide Map

Dragon float "Hokuryu Maru

Dragon float "Hokuryu Maru
Dragon float "Hokuryu Maru

❂ Sunlight and the Hokuryu Maru

Sunlight and Hokuryu Maru
Sunlight and Hokuryu Maru

Ferris wheel "Himawari-go" (sightseeing car)

Mr. and Mrs. Shuji and Hisayo Ito ❂ Mr. and Mrs. Shuji and Hisayo Ito

The sightseeing car "Himawari-go" Mr. and Mrs. Ito
The sightseeing car "Himawari-go" Mr. and Mrs. Ito
Around the Sunflower Village
Around the Sunflower Village

Sunflower face frame

❂ HIROMI NISHIMICHI (Denko Corporation, Representative Director, Osaka Prefecture), Atsushi TERAMAE (Ugowness Corporation, Representative Director, Tokyo) ❂ Hokuryu-cho Local Development Promotion Project, Secretariat Staff

Sunflower face insert: Hokuryu Town Regional Revitalization Promotion Project Office staff: Saido and Teramae
Sunflower face-framing: Hokuryu-cho local development promotion project, secretariat staff: Hiromi Nishimichi (Denko Corporation, Representative Director, Osaka Prefecture), Atsushi Teramae (Ugowness Corporation, Representative Director, Tokyo Prefecture)
 
We express our unlimited love, gratitude, and prayers for the sunflowers that the residents of Hokuryu Town have lovingly nurtured, the Sunflower Village that has been lovingly maintained, and the Hokuryu Town Sunflower Festival, which is held with the wish for world peace in mind.

With prayers for world peace.
With prayers for world peace.

More Photos

Related Pages

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Saturday, July 22 - Sunday, August 20, 2023
❂ Days: 30 days ❂ Area: approx. 23 ha ❂ Number of trees: 2 million ❂ Best time to visit: early August

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◇ Reporting and writing by Ikuko Terauchi (Photography and editorial assistance by Noboru Terauchi)

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