14 Sunflower Tourism Ambassador and Hokuryu Hometown Ambassador

14 Sunflower Tourism Ambassadors

Sunflower Tourism Ambassadors are appointed by the town mayor to promote Hokuryu Town's distinctive sunflowers, sunflower rice, and other specialty products throughout Japan.

Kengo Kuma

Born in Yokohama in 1954. Graduated from the Graduate School of Architecture at the University of Tokyo. After working as a visiting scholar at Columbia University, he founded Kengo Kuma & Associates. Currently Professor of Architecture at the University of Tokyo. Proposes architecture that opens up a new relationship between nature, technology, and humans. He develops creative work that goes beyond the boundaries of common sense in all kinds of materials, from Japanese paper and stone to bamboo, soil, plastic, and shape-memory alloys.

He is one of Japan's leading architects, having designed the New National Stadium, which will be the main stadium for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, as well as the Takanawa Gateway Station on the Yamanote Line, the Suntory Museum of Art in Roppongi, and many other famous buildings.

In 1997, the Sunflower Symposium was held in Hokuryu-cho with STV announcer Toyoko Hashimoto, Terutaka Suzuki, Kengo Kuma, and others as panelists. At the symposium, Kengo Kuma said, "Hokuryu Town has a wonderful landscape. We should make the most of it in town planning.

In 2017, he became the Hokuryu-cho Tourism Ambassador. He then commissioned Kengo Kuma & Associates to formulate the basic plan for the Sunflower Village in 2020, and designed the Hokuryu Town Yawara Nursery School, which was built in 2020. He also proposed that a tree-lined avenue called "Ipponmichi" connecting Hekisui Shrine and Shinryu Shrine would create a new axis in the town, connecting history and nature.

Makoto Umehara

Born in Kochi City, Kochi Prefecture in 1950. Japanese graphic designer . Representative of Umehara Design Office. 2016 Mainichi Design Award, Special Prize. Visiting professor at Takehanno University of Art and Design.

After graduating from Osaka University of Economics, he joined the art department of RKC Productions (production of TV programs, commercials, and promotional videos, graphic design, and planning, setup, and management at various events in Kochi Prefecture).

In October 2017, he was appointed as Hokuryu-cho Tourism Ambassador. 2018 March, he presented the logo mark and hometown rice bag design for Hokuryu-cho's "Akarui Agricultural Method" which was worked on by Makoto Umehara and Terutaka Suzuki.

Terutaka Suzuki

Born in Nagoya, Aichi Prefecture in 1949. After graduating from the Faculty of Agriculture, Hokkaido University, he worked at Kobe City Hall and Yamanashi Prefectural Government before teaching at the National Institute for Research Advancement in 1995, Edogawa University from 2000, and Rissho University from 2017.

Continuing activities to enhance self-governance, cultural and economic strength under the theme of "Creating Sustainable Communities.

Regional Producer. Chief Producer of Regional Collaboration, Center for Regional Collaboration, Rissho University. Advisor to the town of Higashikawa, Hokkaido.

Professor Emeritus of Edogawa University. With the theme of "Thinking about the country from the region," he has been walking around Japan for nearly 40 years to bring diversity and innovation to regional autonomy and to enhance culture and economic power from the creation of local design. He has organized the Matsuya Ginza "Mitsubachi Bee Teacher Terutaka Suzuki Exhibition" (2012, Japan Design Committee) and comprehensively produced the Japan Heritage Hitoyoshi Kuma (Kumamoto Prefecture) in collaboration with architect Kengo Kuma and others.

The relationship between Mr. Suzuki and Hokuryu-cho began in 1996, when the Chamber of Commerce and Industry invited Mr. Suzuki, a NIRA researcher at the time, to give a "town development lecture" on the theme of tourism. The following year, a sunflower symposium was held as an event of the Sunflower Festival, inviting Terutaka Suzuki and Kengo Kuma as panelists.

In October 2017, he became the Hokuryu-cho Tourism Ambassador; in March 2018, Makoto Umehara and Terutaka Suzuki held the "Akarui Farming" logo mark and hometown rice bag design presentation for Hokuryu-cho"; and in August of the same year, the "Project to Revitalize Hokuryu-cho through Design" was held.

Hiroshi Mizobata.

Born in Kyoto in 1960, he graduated from the University of Tokyo Faculty of Law in 1985 and joined the Ministry of Home Affairs (now the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications).

After joining the Ministry of Home Affairs in 1987, he was transferred to the Hokkaido Government, where he visited all the municipalities in Hokkaido (212 municipalities at that time). He was impressed by the vast land, beautiful nature, and rich food culture of Hokkaido, and the high potential of each region in Japan.

In 1990, he was transferred to the Oita Prefectural Government, where he served as the Manager of the Planning and Coordination Division of the General Planning Office, Director of the Finance Division of the General Affairs Department, Counselor and Director of the Cultural Promotion Division of the General Planning Office, and Deputy Director of the Planning Department (in charge of World Cup and University). He was also responsible for the invitation of the 2002 FIFA World Cup matches and the establishment of Ritsumeikan Asia Pacific University.

He was inspired by then Oita Governor Hiramatsu's "One Village, One Movement" philosophy, and contributed to the promotion of decentralization and regional development by "creating world-class human resources and products from Oita".

He also became the president of Oita Trinita, and retired from public service in 2006 to devote himself to the company's business. He was instrumental in Oita Trinita's J-League championship and other team breakthroughs.

Appointed as Director General of the Japan Tourism Agency as of January 4, 2010, and appointed as Hokuryu-cho Tourism Ambassador at the 2nd Regional Development Seminar held by Mr. Hiroshi Mizobata, Regional Power Creation Advisor, Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications, on August 18, 2010 In April 2016, he was appointed as the second Osaka Tourism Bureau Director General.

Hisashi Sonehara

Born in Nagano, Japan in 1961. After graduating from Meiji University, he worked as a freelancer before becoming a management consultant. After the bursting of the bubble economy, he felt threatened by the management guidance provided by banks and other institutions, and moved to Yamanashi Prefecture in 1995. In 2001, he established the NPO "Egao Tsunagete.

He has worked with young people working in the city to cultivate abandoned fields and terraced rice paddies in Hokuto City, Yamanashi Prefecture, and has revived terraced rice paddies. He is an advisor to the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications on the creation of regional power.

In July 2015, he spoke as a lecturer at the "1st Regional Development Seminar" as an advisor for the creation of regional power. Under Mr. Sonehara's coordination, he and the Nisshin Oillio Group established the "Hokuryu Town Sunflower Oil Revitalization Council" with the idea of developing local specialties, attracting tourists, and creating jobs by making use of sunflowers. This led to the creation of "Brilliant Sunflower Oil.

Hokuryu Hometown Ambassador

Masayuki Tanigaki

D. "Economics", Chairman of the Board, Marche Corporation, Osaka, Japan

Since October 2018, we have purchased 15 tons of Sunflower Rice and sold it at 21 stores in Kansai. We are currently planning "Operation Baked Omusubi" and will further expand Sunflower Rice throughout Japan. Agriculture in Hokuryu Town is "Bright
Agricultural Method". Let's work together to brighten the dining table in Japan!

mountain mouse

Maashii & Maashii

Hello, Yamaguchi Prefecture resident, fisherman, musician, and Yamaguchi hometown ambassador! I'm Maashii & Maachan, the lucky siblings Mountain Mouse from Suo Oshima-cho, Yamaguchi Prefecture!

In August 2017, we received a connection with Hokuryu-cho and have been sharing the charm of Bon Odori, sunflowers, and the exciting energy of the people of Hokuryu-cho while performing live in Yamaguchi Prefecture!

I was wearing a sunflower hat at a nursery school gig and the children asked, "Why are you wearing a sunflower hat?" I was wearing a sunflower hat at a nursery school live concert. When I told them, "In Hokuryu-cho, Hokkaido, there is a place with the largest number of sunflowers in Japan, and as far as the eye can see, there are sunflowers all over the 365-degree area," their eyes sparkled like sunflowers and they were very interested!

I hope to continue to convey the charm of Hokuryu-cho from Yamaguchi Prefecture to children and various hometown lovers, and to build a bridge of sunflowers between Suo-Oshima-cho, Yamaguchi Prefecture and Hokuryu-cho, Hokkaido, where people are happy and full of smiles!

Thank you thank you thank you, long live the chain of happiness!

Mutsumi Hananotane

Singer and lyricist, lives in Chigurra City, Hokkaido

I love it! Hokuryu Town!"

The first time I saw sunflowers at Sunflower Village, I was very impressed by the magnificent view of sunflowers! And I believe that it is the "power of people" who have been involved in the process of creating the spectacular sunflowers over the years that brings smiles to the faces of those who see them!

We will continue to distribute sunflower hanantanae for everyone in Japan to enjoy in order to promote Hokuryu Town!

Sunflowers are the flowers of smiles! I hope they will be in full bloom in many places throughout Japan!