Monday, July 24, 2023
The opening ceremony for the 37th Sunflower Festival will be held on Saturday, July 22nd, 2023 at 10:00 AM! This marks the start of the Hokuryu Sunflower Festival, which will run for approximately one month until Sunday, August 20th.
- 1 37th Hokuryu Sunflower Festival Opening Ceremony 2023
- 1.1 Moderator: Keiko Tsuzuki, Director of the Industry Division, Hokuryu Town Hall
- 1.2 Hokuryu Taiko Drum Performance
- 1.3 Opening remarks: Yukio Takada, Chairman of the Hokuryu Town Sunflower Tourism Association
- 1.4 Guest congratulatory speech: Mayor Yutaka Sano
- 1.5 Introduction of the guests
- 1.6 Performance by the Hokuryu Junior High School Brass Band
- 1.7 Mochi throwing
- 2 The words on the jumbo maze read "World Peace"
- 3 Hokuryu Voluntary Association
- 4 Sunflower Village Guide Map
- 5 Dragon float "Hokuryumaru"
- 6 Sightseeing car "Himawari"
- 7 Sunflower face insert
- 8 Other photos
- 9 Related pages
37th Hokuryu Sunflower Festival Opening Ceremony 2023
❂ The opening ceremony was a great success with many people in attendance!
Moderator: Keiko Tsuzuki, Director of the Industry Division, Hokuryu Town Hall
Hokuryu Taiko Drum Performance
Prior to the opening ceremony of Sunflower Village, the brave Hokuryu Taiko (represented by Nakamura Hiroyo) performed two songs: "Sunflower" and "Kawase no Utage."
Everyone was captivated by the powerful and courageous sound of the Hokuryu Taiko drums.
Along with the sound of the flute...
Opening remarks: Yukio Takada, Chairman of the Hokuryu Town Sunflower Tourism Association

"I would like to express my heartfelt gratitude to the many people who helped prepare for this wonderful 37th Open Ceremony.
Beautiful flowers are already blooming. I would like to express my sincere gratitude to those who have been sowing the seeds in consultation with the sun for many years.
I would like to express my sincere gratitude to the members of the Hokuryu Taiko drumming group and the Hokuryu Junior High School brass band for adding a touch of elegance to today's opening ceremony, as well as to all the distinguished guests and visitors who came out to the event. Thank you very much.
I think it will be a wonderful opening ceremony. Thank you very much.
"I hope that all the guests who came here will leave feeling very satisfied and saying 'Bravo! Bravo!' I would like to conclude my opening remarks. Thank you very much," said Chairman Takada in a powerful opening remark.
Guest congratulatory speech: Mayor Yutaka Sano
"The number one sunflower village in Japan is finally opening. This also marks the start of the 37th Hokuryu Town Sunflower Festival.
We would like to express our sincere gratitude to Mr. Yukio Takada, Chairman of the Hokuryu Town Sunflower Tourism Association, and the heads of various organizations in the town for attending today and making this grand opening ceremony possible.
We have just enjoyed a heroic performance by the Hokuryu Taiko group.
Sunflowers and the sound of Japanese drums are the same, giving us energy, courage, and a bright and healthy mind. Thank you.
The Sunflower Festival will run for about a month. We hope that many people will come and visit without any accidents and with sufficient consideration given to infection prevention measures.
"After this, we will have a performance by the Hokuryu Junior High School brass band. I hope that this wonderful performance will be a fitting opening for the Sunflower Festival. Thank you for your support," said Mayor Sano in his opening remarks.
Introduction of the guests
❂ 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 Kawata, Chairman of the Hokuryu Town Voluntary Association; and Ms. Domae, Chairperson of the Sunflower Committee at Hokuryu Junior High School.
Performance by the Hokuryu Junior High School Brass Band
❂ The songs performed are "Story" and "My Neighbor Totoro"
Mochi throwing
❂ A rice cake throwing event was held to pray for the success of the Hokuryu Town Sunflower Festival.
❂ Developing the Sunflower Festival and sharing the joy of celebration!!!
The words on the jumbo maze read "World Peace"
Hokuryu Voluntary Association
❂ Operated by the Hokuryu Voluntary Association and the Hokuryu Town Senior Citizens Club
Thank you for your cooperation!
Those who donate will receive gifts such as Hokuryu sunflower seeds, postcards, and memo paper.
Sunflower Village Guide Map
❂ A cute guide map has arrived!
Dragon float "Hokuryumaru"
❂ Sunlight and the Hokuryu Maru
Sightseeing car "Himawari"
❂ Mr. and Mrs. Shuji and Hisayo Ito
Sunflower face insert
❂ Hokuryu Town Regional Revitalization Promotion Project Secretariat Staff: Hiromi Nishimichi (CEO, Denko Co., Ltd., Osaka Prefecture), Atsushi Teramae (CEO, Ugounes Co., Ltd., Tokyo Prefecture)
We send our boundless love, gratitude, and prayers to the sunflowers lovingly cultivated by the people of Hokuryu, to the sunflower village they have lovingly maintained, and to the Hokuryu Sunflower Festival, which is held with the hope of world peace in mind.
Other photos
Related pages
| The 37th Sunflower Festival (Hokuryu Town, Hokkaido) will be held! Saturday, July 22, 2023 - Sunday, August 20, 2023 |
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❂ Duration: 30 days ❂ Area: Approximately 23 hectares ❂ Number of trees: 2 million ❂ Best time to see: Early August  |
◇ Interview and text: Ikuko Terauchi (Photography and editing assistance: Noboru Terauchi)
