1 On publication: Hirokuni Kitakiyo, former district representative director of Kitasorachi Agricultural Cooperative

On the occasion of the 50th anniversary of the Hokuryu-cho Sunflower Tourist Association

Looking back, the first Cherry Blossom Festival was held in Kompira Park in 1970, followed by the 22nd Cherry Blossom Festival in 1991, which was renamed Kompira Park Yamabiraki. In 1987, the 1st Sunflower Festival was held at the plaza in front of the Agricultural Cooperative Association, and in 1990, the 4th Sunflower Festival was held at the current Sunflower Village instead of the plaza in front of the Agricultural Cooperative Association, where it has been held to this day.

I joined the agricultural cooperative youth club and worked in the Sunflower Village rotary plowing business. I remember that at that time, members of the youth club gathered from all over the region to work on a joint tractor for the farmers' group. Young people were working together to make the town more prosperous.

Farmers actively cultivated sunflowers, and processed products such as nut oil were developed one after another and sold as souvenirs.

In 1999, the association was reorganized as the Sunflower Tourism Association, and its focus was shifted to sunflowers as a tourism resource. Since then, the Sunflower Village has been expanding, being featured on TV and radio, and gaining recognition as a tourist attraction.

As I have hastily recounted, the "sunflowers" that began in 1980 as a one-area per household campaign by the women's club of an agricultural cooperative have evolved over time to become the "Sunflower Village" of today.

I would like to express my deep respect and appreciation for the efforts and practices of the many kind-hearted people who have been involved in Himawari.

Although the number of tourists has decreased due to the new coronavirus, I would like to congratulate the Hokuryu Town Sunflower Tourism Association and sincerely hope for its development and future prosperity so that the town will be full of healing and vitality by promoting sunflowers once again.