2024 Sapporo Hokuryu Festival, bringing together the hearts of Hokuryu Town natives and townspeople

Wednesday, July 3, 2024

The 2024 Sapporo Hokuryu Festival was grandly held on June 30 (Sun.) from 6:00 p.m. at the Sapporo Sunplaza (Sapporo City) 2nd floor "Tamaha-no-Ma".

2024 Sapporo Hokuryu Festival

Sapporo Hokuryukai

The Sapporo Hokuryu-kai is a social gathering of people from Hokuryu-cho. It started as a meeting for people who moved from Hokuryu-cho to the Sapporo area to exchange information and deepen exchanges.

A total of 49 people, including 21 council members and town hall employees from the town of Hokuryu, as well as members of this committee, attended the event.

opening of a meeting

The general moderator was Kenji Miyawaki, Auditor.

Chairman's Message: Takashi Takebayashi, Chairman

Good evening, everyone!
At the just concluded General Meeting, I was asked to assume the role of Chairman. Although I am not the right person for the job, I was strongly recommended by President Konishi and my seniors, so I accepted the position.

I have not been a member of this association for very long, but I will continue to serve with your support and cooperation.

It had been four years since the last get-together of this association, which was held last November due to the Corona disaster.

This year we were able to hold our annual meeting and reception as usual. We know that some of our members have not seen each other for a long time, and we are very grateful to see their healthy faces.

Today, more than 20 people from our hometown, Hokuryu Town, joined us. We are grateful that so many of you came from so far away on a Sunday. I am also very moved. Thank you very much.

As you are all aware, the town mayor has changed this year.

Former Mayor Sano, who is also in attendance today, served three terms of 12 years in office, and during his term of office, he worked hard for his hometown, Hokuryu Town, in a very difficult situation with Corona and a continuing decline in population.

He has done unprecedented work in building a new commercial facility, constructing a daycare center, a sunflower oil reclamation project, and many other accomplishments. I would like to express my sincere gratitude to him for protecting and developing our hometown. Thank you very much.

In addition, Mr. Sasaki has been appointed as the new mayor of the town. As you are probably aware, Mr. Sasaki's family owned Sasaki Kengyo, which has now been merged into Hokuso Kensetsu. He became a councilor at the young age of 30 and served as the town council chairman from 2006 to last year. He knows the actual situation and issues in Hokuryu Town from top to bottom.

I am heartened to hear that such a person will take the leadership of Hokuryu Town. I hope that he will take good care of his health and will be able to demonstrate his ability.

Chairperson Nakamura took office last November. Mr. Nakamura is also a master soba maker. And Mr. Okuda will assume the position of deputy mayor as of tomorrow. We hope that all of you in Hokuryu Town who attended the meeting will be active in your respective capacities.

Since its establishment in 1968, the Sapporo Hokuryu-kai has made various efforts to promote friendship among Hokuryu-machi residents and to support their hometown.

Although I am getting older, I would like to continue such activities in the future. However, we would also like to invite new people to join our association. If there is anyone in Sapporo who is from Hokuryu Town, please contact us or contact the secretariat and we would like to introduce you to them.

The Auditors have put a lot of thought into today's meeting, and although our time is limited, I hope you will enjoy it and deepen our friendship. Once again, I would like to thank you all for your support, and I would like to open the meeting with a few words. I look forward to working with you today. Thank you very much," said Chairman Takebayashi.

Introduction of Guest of Honor: Participants from Hokuryu Town

Guest Speech: Yasuhiro Sasaki, Mayor of Hokuryu Town

I became the seventh mayor of the town on February 22 this year. I would like to move forward while keeping an eye on the solid policy path of the former mayor, Mr. Sano.

I would also like to congratulate Chairman Takebayashi for starting today. As is to be expected from a person who cares so much about so many things, thank you very much for your compliments to Mr. Sano, myself, and Mr. Nakamura, which were very detailed. I could feel that your thoughts and feelings were for the Hokuryu hometown.

Mr. Konishi, the previous chairman, was the head of the development administration and national agency, and he firmly put the whole family in place. And Mr. Takebayashi, as the director of the Agricultural Administration Department, he exercised leadership at a time when the country was at its most difficult. Two very important people have taken over, and I would like to offer my cooperation in various ways.

We will be able to report later on Hokuryu Town regarding agriculture, tourism, and commerce and industry.

Hokuryu Town is a small but shining town. The population of Hokuryu Town used to be 6,443, but as of June 1, it is now 1,612. This is not limited to Hokuryu Town, but we would like to make a solid town that shines even though it is small.

The weather has been beautiful for the past week or so, and the daily life in Hokuryu has been very busy. on June 27 and 28, all the townspeople of Hokuryu weeded the Sunflower Village. This is a wonderful gesture by the townspeople.

On Friday the 28th, the Hokuryu Fire Drill was held, and the young men and women of our town showed us how energetic and hard they work for disaster prevention. The 60 young men and women who participated in the exercise showed their enthusiasm and strength to protect our town.

Today marks the end of the half of this year. Tomorrow, July 1, the other half will begin. Finally, it is the season of sunflowers in Hokuryu Town. We do not know how many years it will be in the future, but if you would be so kind as to come out to our hometown again, the town would be happy to prepare for it. Thank you in advance for your cooperation.

There have been some personnel changes, and Deputy Mayor Takahashi has done a great job. As the new deputy mayor, Okuda, I would like to look firmly forward to the future and work to create a town that meets everyone's expectations, with all town hall employees and residents looking in the same direction.

Let me say thank you and thank you from me for your continued support. Thank you for inviting me here today."

Toast: Mr. Yutaka Sano, former mayor of Hokuryu Town

Congratulations on today's Sapporo Hokuryu Festival.

I would like to thank Chairman Takebayashi, who is the new chairman of the board, for his compliments. After all, I would like to express my gratitude and appreciation for the warm-hearted and generous support for my hometown Hokuryu-cho under Chairman Konishi of the Hokuryu-kai for the past 18 years.

I have been a member of the Sapporo Hokuryukai for 8 years as assistant mayor and 12 years as mayor, for a total of 20 years participating in Sapporo Hokuryukai events. There were times when I took a short break in Corona, but I would like to thank you all for your support. Today, I would like to express my thanks and appreciation for your participation.

I would like to come around to your table again later to thank you all.

Now, I would like to make a toast.
Cheers to the good health of all those present and to the endless growth of the Sapporo Hokuryukai!" said Mr. Sano.

banquet

cooking

• Assorted Sashimi
• Steamed oil flounder
• Wok-fried squid and vegetables with oyster sauce
• Grilled tender pork
• rice seasoned with scallop
• citron sherbet

After a series of congenial exchanges!

Introduction of Hokuryu Town Agriculture, Tourism and Commerce Association

Minoru Nagai, JA Kitasorachi, Hokuryu District Representative Director

I would like to talk about the situation of crops in Hokuryu Town.
This March, as usual, was snowy. According to the Japan Meteorological Agency, spring was supposed to be warmer, but low temperatures persisted and farm work was difficult.

Rice planting began in mid-May and is progressing smoothly, blessed with high weather. The second half of the year was marked by low temperatures, which has continued until now. The rice planting is slightly behind the normal year.

Field crops are progressing relatively well. The first shipment of "Himawari Watermelon", a specialty product, was shipped on June 7, and the first shipment of "Himawari Melon" was shipped and auctioned on June 16, with Mayor Sasaki attending the first auction.

This year's Himawari watermelons and Himawari melons both have larger balls and higher sugar content due to the large difference in temperature. We hope you will have a chance to purchase our very tasty watermelons and melons this year," said Mr. Nagai, Hokuryu District Representative Director.

Yukio Takada, Chairman, Sunflower Tourism Association

This is my second year as chairman of the Hokuryu Town Sunflower Tourist Association.
The 38th Hokuryu-cho Sunflower Festival will be held from July 20 to August 18. 2 million sunflowers are waiting for you. We hope you will come and see the cheerful sunflowers.

As Mayor Sasaki mentioned earlier, the weeding of the Sunflower Village was completed on Friday, and 2 million sunflowers are waiting for you, facing east and south.

On the back of the poster, there is a lot of information about traffic and other matters.

Last year we had 208,000 visitors in one month. We sincerely look forward to your visit. Please do not hesitate to visit us," said Chairman Takata.

Hokuryu Town Council, Councilor Manabu Okino

I am also a member of Congress and vice president of the Chamber of Commerce. I would like to introduce the situation of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

The former Hokuren Shop has been withdrawn and the commercial facility Cocowa is now under construction, with the renovated Chamber of Commerce and Industry office located in the same building. The facility includes a hall and exchange facilities.

Seasonal Cuisine Kawajin" and "Snack Kirara", which had been in business until now, have closed.

However, plans are underway for the Community Development Cooperation Volunteers to open a business after Kawajin-san. The Chamber of Commerce and Industry will do its best to keep the lights on and continue the business.

We, including the Chamber of Commerce and seven companies in the construction industry, will continue to do our best to serve the town in good spirits.

We hope that everyone will come to visit Hokuryu Town during the Sunflower Festival and purchase souvenirs from Hokuryu Town on their way home.

I am the second generation of my predecessor, "Okino Sushi", which was established in 1974. When I was 23 years old, I returned to Hokuryu Town and opened the restaurant under the name "Ajijidokoro Yahachi.

During the Sunflower Festival, the store in the tourist center sells soft-serve ice cream exclusively for the Sunflower Festival. We hope you will take a bite or two and taste it. Please do so," said Councilor Okino.

Special entertainment

Karaoke Boast: Facilitated by Mr. Sotoharu Hirabayashi and Mr. Yoichi Fujita

2. mental gymnastics: facilitated by Mr. Isamu Okita

Clap your hands at the "no" part of the lyrics to the folk song "Kurodabushi". Furthermore, sing the song without the "no" part.

Bingo Game: Facilitated by Mr. Masaaki Nozawa and Mr. Isamu Okita

Drawing for Special Prize: Ms. Ritsuko Nishimura, Mr. Isamu Okita

Present from Hokuryu-cho to Sapporo Hokuryu-kai

Present from Sapporo Hokuryu-kai to Hokuryu-cho

Toast: Mr. Naokazu Nakamura, Chairman, Hokuryu Town Council

Congratulations on the successful general meeting of the Sapporo Hokuryu-kai today.
Last year, we had seven members, which was less than the maximum number. Thanks to the various TV broadcasts and other events, we were able to have eight members in January's supplementary election.

The situation has changed from negative to positive, with two female council members and 25% of the total number of council members being women, which is above the national average.

I would also like to thank Mr. Sano for his hard work over the past 12 years. Now he will be succeeded by Mayor Sasaki. It will be difficult in the midst of a declining population, but I will do my best while drawing on my wisdom in a variety of matters.

Councilor Sawada also made a comeback, and new Councilor Hayashi is the wife of the head priest of Zenrinji Temple. Both of them could not join us today, but thank you for your cooperation.

We hope you will come to the Sunflower Festival, and I would like to make a toast to our next meeting on November 3, and sincerely hope that we can meet again in good health. Cheers!" said Chairperson Nakamura.

The soul of the town of Hokuryu, a precious spirit that has been passed down through the years since the establishment of the Sapporo Hokuryu Kai 62 years ago.

We express our unlimited love, gratitude, and prayers to the Sapporo Hokuryu-kai, who love, watch over, and support Hokuryu-cho.

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