The brilliance of youth revived! With gratitude for the treasured memories of my youth, "On the Hill Where the Sunflowers Bloom"!

Monday, October 21, 2024

Two days ago, I suddenly received a heart-wrenching and moving message in the comments of the Youtube video "On a Hill Where Sunflowers Bloom (Creative Song by H25 Graduates of Hokuryu Junior High School)".

　@Ladybug-q5g
2 days ago (October 19, 2024)

It is sad. Whenever I have a bad or painful time, I come here to listen to it.
We can never live this time, this era, this youth again, but it is a lifetime memory that we will never forget forever.

When you are in the workforce, you are often hurt by unreasonableness, and there is no one to make things as black and white as when you were a student. Still, we have no choice but to move forward. You can't go back, you can't stop.

Let's live through tomorrow. In this unreasonable world.
And you'll come back to hear it. This song.

　
The video on Youtube is a creative song "Sunflowers in Bloom on a Hill" uploaded 10 years ago (2014). It was created by the 25 graduates of Hokuryu Junior High School (25 students) under the guidance of their music teacher Midori Kasajima (24 years old).

I come here to listen to this song when I'm going through something painful and sad.
In this irrational world, let us live through tomorrow without stopping by remembering the precious days of our youth." This is the kind of message that I would like to share with you. I sincerely appreciate this message. Thank you very much.

These thoughtful comments brought back memories of unforgettable days of youth, and the passion of youth began to shine through once again.

All memories of youth, both joyful and sad, are treasures.

I sincerely hope and pray that the junior high school students of those days will meet again at Himawari no Sato someday, and with the memories of their youth, talk about their new youth to come, and let the smiling flowers called sunflowers bloom again.

On a Hill Where the Sunflowers Bloom (original chorus composed by Hokuryu Junior High School Class of 2013) - Portal of Hokuryu Town (Hokkaido) - The Sunflower Village that boasts the best sunflowers in Japan

We will bring you the "now" of this vibrant and shining town with a population of 2,100 and an aging population rate of 40%. The town of Hokuryu, where families are as bright and harmonious as sunflowers...

◇ Photography and Editing: Noboru Terauchi Reporting and Writing: Ikuko Terauchi