January 1, 2025 (Holiday)
New Year's Greetings from Chairman of the Hokuryu Town Council, Shoichi Nakamura
Message
We would like to extend our heartfelt congratulations to all the townspeople, and trust that you and your families are in good health and wellbeing as we welcome the New Year of Reiwa 7.
Last year, starting on New Year's Day, a large-scale earthquake occurred in the Noto region, followed by heavy rain disasters in September. Numerous damages were also reported nationwide, including earthquakes, strong winds, and heavy rain caused by linear rain bands. Once again, we would like to express our condolences and sympathies to all those in the affected areas. Our town has been spared from any major natural disasters. In November, a disaster prevention storage warehouse was completed, and we are ready to respond in the event of an emergency.
In agriculture, a shortage of rice stocks has made it difficult to meet the demand for hometown tax donations, and by summer rice was gone from the rice section. Last year's crop conditions were "slightly good," but the scarcity caused the unit price of rice to soar. However, rice is necessary for producers to reproduce, and the long-standing low price is thought to have been one of the reasons for the lack of agricultural successors. Furthermore, there are reports of cheap single-grain rice being imported, which seems to go against the current situation at a time when calls are being made to improve self-sufficiency. Our town needs to discuss with JA how to secure rice, which is the main product for precious hometown tax donations.
In April, the Fukagawa Hokuryu Line operated by Sorachi Chuo Bus was discontinued, and the route that had been operating as a connecting line to Oiwake bus stop for two years to serve the Takikawa area was changed to operate to Imoseushi. The route now connects to Chuo Bus and JR for the Takikawa and Fukagawa areas, but there are still issues to be addressed. It is necessary to comprehensively develop local public transportation, such as shared taxis on local routes including school buses.
Although the assembly was called a "vacant assembly," we were able to fill the quorum with two new members and a former member running in a by-election early in the new year. I would like to express my gratitude once again to everyone who has worked hard in various ways. The lack of candidates for assembly members is a nationwide issue. Some have pointed out that salaries should be increased, but I do not think that is the only factor. In the future, we intend to carry out assembly activities that make everyone want to become an assembly member. We would appreciate your opinions, requests, and guidance regarding the assembly. Our town has many more problems and issues to deal with. All of the assembly members will continue to hold thorough discussions and make earnest efforts to create a town that each and every resident is happy to live in.
In closing, I would like to offer my heartfelt wishes for good health and prosperity to all the townspeople as I conclude my New Year's greetings.
A word from each member of parliament
- Vice-chair Keiko Ozaki: I hope that you all have a prosperous new year.
- Councilman Manabu Okino: This is my second year as a councilman. I will continue to work hard.
- Yoshiko Hayashi: I will continue to work hard every day.
- Nobuaki Teragaki, a member of the Diet: The two of them are drinking together, and the mountains are blooming.
- Councilman Minoru Sato: I will work hard in my council activities to help develop the town.
- Kazuo Kimura, Council Member: We will promote town development that will enhance the locational conditions of Hokuryu Town.
- Masato Sawada: Parliament is fun. I'm looking forward to the power of young people.
A word from the Diet Secretariat
- Jun Takahashi, Secretary General: Please send us your opinions to the assembly. Thank you for your continued support this year.
- Secretary Natsuki Fujita: Thank you for your guidance this year as well.
＜Excerpt from "Hokuryu Public Relations" January 2025 issue, No. 713＞
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