Wednesday, September 4, 2024
On Tuesday, September 3, from 10:00 a.m., Mayor Yasuhiro Sasaki conducted the September inspection tour of Hokuryu Town.
Sparkling Young People: Makoto Kitajima and Takuya Ikegawa
This month, Mayor Sasaki started a new section, "Sparkling Young People," in which he supports newcomers (newly employed) and other young people who are the future of Hokuryu Town!
First, we visited Makoto Kitajima, 46, who joined the Hokuryu Town Promotion Corporation on August 1 (Thu.) of this year at COCOWA, a commercial revitalization facility in Hokuryu Town.
And Takuya Ikegawa, 41, who transferred to the Hokuryu Town Chamber of Commerce and Industry as a business advisor on Monday, April 1 this year at the Hokuryu Town Chamber of Commerce and Industry, which is adjacent to the Cocowa facility!
Makoto Kitajima (Hokuryu Town Promotion Corporation)
On Thursday, August 1, he joined the Hokuryu Town Promotion Corporation, Inc. He is in charge of both Hokuryu Onsen and Kokowa. Previously, he worked for Hokuren Shoji Co., Ltd. in Sapporo for about 20 years in the supermarket business.
I want to be able to contribute to the town of Hokuryu.
This time, we had the opportunity to meet with Mayor Sasaki.
Until then, I had always worked in a supermarket by myself. I am from Hokuryu-cho and both my parents and family live in Hokuryu-cho, but it was difficult for me to spend time with my family.
I was over 40 years old and was thinking about working in my hometown of Hokuryu-cho, where I could live with my family if possible, when I received this offer, so I made up my mind.
Mayor Sasaki and I have been in the same neighborhood association since I was a child, and he has treated me like family.
I thought it would be difficult to change jobs at my age, but I originally worked in the supermarket industry, so I think my job description at "Cocova" will be fine.
On the other hand, I am new to the business of Hokuryu Onsen, so it will be tough, but I hope to learn the job as soon as possible and eventually be able to contribute to Hokuryu Town.
I am from Hokuryu Town, but I left Hokuryu in high school and do not know much about it, but I love my birthplace, Hokuryu Town.
SUP Instructor
As a hobby, I am a certified "SUP" instructor and can teach you if you wish. I enjoy sap most of the time on my days off.
In the suburbs, sap experiences can be had at various locations (lakes, rivers, oceans, etc.) such as the sea in Rumoi, the Sunagawa waterfront area and Oasis Park, the auto campground in Ashibetsu, and the springs in Furano.
Unlike boats and sailboats, saps allow you to float freely on the surface of the water and feel the flow of the water and the breeze of the wind.
It has become a popular sport among young people, but many people want to play but don't know how, so I hope that many people in Hokuryu Town will become familiar with the sap sport.
In many ways, the timing of everything was right, so without hesitation, I decided to work in Hokuryu Town, saying that I would be happy to help.
Encouraging words from Mayor Sasaki
I hope you will do your best to make Cocowa and Hokuryu Onsen more vibrant and developed by planning various projects in the future.
Many of the local townspeople know Makoto Kitajima and say, "Makoto-kun is here, let's go shopping! Let's go to the hot springs!" I am sure that the conversation will be "Let's go shopping!
Makoto's daughter will be going to college next year, so I regret that I will only have six months to spend with her. I feel that I should have come back to Hokuryu Town earlier.
I hope that you will become a pillar of the town in the future. I hope that you will actively communicate on your own, make friends, and spread your connections outside of town. I have high expectations for you!
Takuya Ikegawa (Hokuryu Town Chamber of Commerce and Industry)
Since Monday, April 1 of this year, he has been working for the Hokuryu Town Chamber of Commerce and Industry as a business advisor. He previously worked for the Numata Town Chamber of Commerce and Industry. He has been with the Chamber of Commerce and Industry for 8 years, and this is his first transfer to Hokuryu Town.
Have contact with the townspeople
I used to work in sales in Sapporo. However, it was a place with a large number of people, but I was not a very good communicator.
On the other hand, I was interested in small towns and wanted to get involved with the townspeople through the town's Chamber of Commerce and Industry, so I switched to the Chamber of Commerce and Industry.
Hokuryu Town is a vibrant town
Everyone in Hokuryu Town is warm and welcoming, and many people love to drink. I have the strong impression that everyone is enjoying themselves. The Chamber of Commerce and Industry is also a very pleasant and cheerful place to live.
I have two sons, a first grader in junior high school and a second grader in elementary school, and I enjoy relaxing and playing with them on my days off. When I took my sons to Sunflower Village, they were very impressed and enjoyed taking many pictures together.
I myself remember visiting Sunflower Village when I was in elementary school, and the sunflowers seemed so tall.
I have found in a few months that Hokuryu Town is a vibrant town, and I hope to get used to it and get involved in events as soon as possible. I look forward to working with you all.
Encouraging words from Mayor Sasaki
Mr. Ikegawa's role is that of an advisor. He advises merchants and traders on various aspects of management and other matters.
In this small town with a dwindling number of commercial and industrial businesses, population decline is inevitable. Even in such a situation, I hope that Mr. Ikegawa will play a central role in making this a town where everyone is engaged in fun and pleasant activities.
I would like to see more and more ideas for kitchen cars, beer parties, and other festivities that can be enjoyed by all residents of the town. I hope that the surrounding youth clubs will support them, and that the entire Chamber of Commerce and Industry will become more lively.
Mr. Ikegawa is a refreshing young man and I look forward to his future!
The bright young people of Hokuryu Town who will be responsible for the future of the town!
Mayor Yasuhiro Sasaki will support and cheer on each and every one of these aspiring young people who love Hokuryu to the best of their ability!
With boundless love, gratitude, and prayers, I hope that the small sparkle of each of these young people will resonate and resonate with each other, becoming the great harmony of light in Hokuryu Town and making it shine brighter and brighter.
With boundless love, gratitude, and prayers for the great harmony of light that resonates from the smallest sparkle.
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◇ Reporting and writing by Ikuko Terauchi (Photography and editorial assistance by Noboru Terauchi) 
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