Monday, August 31, 2020
On August 27 (Thu), the Hokuryu-cho Council of Social Welfare (Chairman Hitoshi Takebayashi) held a recreational craft activity "making sunflower decorations" at the Social Welfare Center as part of its "Cosmos Club Activities.
Cosmos Club
Lifestyle Support" and "Care Prevention" for those who need support 1 and 2.
The Cosmos Club is a project of the Hokuryu-cho Council of Social Welfare. The club provides "lifestyle support" and "care prevention" activities for those who have been assessed as requiring support 1 or 2 by the nursing care certification.
Specific activities include health checks, lifestyle counseling, bathing services (assisted by home helpers), daily movement training (vocal exercises, singing, exercises, walking training), and shopping tours in town (once a month: Cocowa, Minorikchi Hokuryu, Tsuchida Shoten, Hokuryu Hot Springs Shops, etc.).
Under the guidance of an occupational therapist from Fukagawa City Hospital, the program also provides biannual physical fitness tests and other services necessary for independent living.
Activities every Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday at the Welfare Center
Currently, the Cosmos Club has 22 members, divided into four groups, with a variety of tasks being carried out. The club meets every Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday at the Fukushi Center.
The fee is 795 yen per visit (including bus transportation, lunch, and bathing fee).
Making sunflower decorations
This time, the Cosmos Club's craft and recreation activity, "making sunflower decorations". A variety of unique creations were on display!

Megumi Murai, home helper (care worker)
I was disappointed that I could not visit the sunflower field that I was looking forward to seeing because the Sunflower Village was closed this year.
So, we created handmade sunflower decorations and "Let's make the one and only sunflower in the world bloom! as the theme, and each participant created two pieces of artwork.
Using cardboard, masking tape, beans, seeds, and other familiar items, we completed a very nice sunflower.
The idea for the work came from my daughter, who received some waste cardboard die-cut from Hokuryu Corrugated Board Co., Ltd. as material for her free research project during summer vacation.
The excess was just in the shape of a petal, so I imagined a sunflower.
Image of sunflowers with cardboard scraps

Make up petals with masking tape
The petals are arranged with various patterns of masking tape.

The materials are ingeniously made from cardboard.
The circular shape of the foundation was hollowed out of cardboard, and the carpet core was cut into thin strips and used as the center divider.
Prepared by hand by all helpers
Ideas, cutting and other preparations were prepared with the help of our helpers.
Beans such as toramame, black soybeans, azuki beans, pumpkin seeds, ginkgo nuts, etc.
Beans were collected from old, inedible sources, such as tora beans, black soybeans, azuki beans, pumpkin seeds, and ginkgo nuts.

At first, I was thinking of using sunflower seeds, but since they were disinfected seeds, I decided not to use them because they would be dangerous if they should happen to get into my mouth during the work.
It is a detailed work, but everyone seemed to be enjoying the process while thinking hard about it. Each piece has its own individuality.
We are making preparations for this year's festival. If the festival is not held, we are thinking of having a limited time exhibition in the museum," said Ms. Megumi Murai.
The next craft work is being prepared!

Helpers.
They were helping everyone with their detailed work, saying, "It's the only sunflower in the world, isn't it beautiful? while helping everyone with their detailed work.
Users and their works
The participants were satisfied with their work, saying, "Each one was a lot of work, but it was fun!

We would like to express our infinite love, gratitude, and prayers for the one-of-a-kind, irreplaceable, and wonderful sunflowers that bear the passion of the people of the Cosmos Club for the sunflowers of Hokuryu Town.

More Photos
interpoint (interword separation)Click here for 63 photos of sunflower ornament making and cosmos club activities >>
Related Articles
interpoint (interword separation)Hokuryu-cho Council of Social Welfare: Click here for the introduction page >>
◇ Photography and Editing: Noboru Terauchi Reporting and Writing: Ikuko Terauchi
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