Friday, February 14, 2025
On Wednesday, February 12th, from 3pm, the Hokuryu Town Council held a "Council Report Session & Council Cafe" in the multipurpose space of COCOWA, the Hokuryu Town Commercial Revitalization Facility. Approximately 20 townspeople and council members participated, and the discussion was lively and fun, with a friendly atmosphere.
- 1 Hokuryu Town Council Reporting Session & Council Cafe
- 2 opening
- 3 Hokuryu Town Council Reporting Session
- 4 Parliamentary Cafe and Opinion Exchange Meeting
- 5 Thank you message from Mr. Nobuaki Teragaki
- 6 Keiko Ozaki, Vice-chair and General Commentator
- 7 Impressions from participating townspeople
- 8 Youtube Video
- 9 image
- 10 Related Articles
Hokuryu Town Council Reporting Session & Council Cafe
Sweets and flowers on the table
As a first attempt, a "Parliamentary Cafe" style was introduced, creating a space where townspeople and council members could casually communicate with each other in a relaxed atmosphere over coffee, tea, and snacks.
Moderator: Mr. Nobuaki Teragaki
opening
Chairman Shoichi Nakamura's opening remarks
"According to the Hokuryu Town Council Basic Ordinance, we will hold an assembly report meeting once a year. Starting this time, for the first time, we will provide drinks and snacks and have adopted a new style called 'Assembly Cafe,'" said Chairman Nakamura. The meeting started with a talk about the shortage of assembly members, assembly member remuneration, and the use of regional promotion coupons.
Hokuryu Town Council Reporting Session
The purpose of the assembly report meeting is to report on assembly activities to the townspeople, hear a variety of opinions from them, communicate with them, and actively work towards citizen participation in town development.
Parliamentary report by Councilman Kazuo Kimura
Introduction of various committee activities and members of each committee
- The report included a one-year report on assembly activities, as well as information on the investigations of each committee, various opinions, implementation details, inspections, project budgets, and the Hokuryu Town support system.
- Standing Committee on General Affairs and Industry (7 members), Committee on Assembly Management (4 members), Special Committee on Public Relations (5 members), Special Committee on Town Planning and Other Investigative Matters (8 members), Special Committee on Disaster Preparedness (8 members), Audit Committee (1 member), General Council (8 members), Special Committee on the Future of Agriculture in Hokuriku Town (8 members)
Parliamentary Cafe and Opinion Exchange Meeting
This exchange of opinions was held in a meeting format with emphasis on discussion, with participants split into two groups. The person speaking held a small stuffed toy called "Talking Object (TO)" in their hand. When they finished speaking, they passed the "TO" to the next person and took turns to continue the discussion.
Three themes are set, and each group will discuss each theme for about 20 minutes (each person will have about 3 minutes) (talking time), after which a representative from each group will summarize and present their opinions, and everyone will share the contents of their discussion (share time).
Prior to the talking time for each topic, the members of parliament gave explanations.
1. About local public transportation: Councilman Manabu Okino
In March 2022, the Sorachi Chuo Bus Kitaryū Takikawa Line was discontinued, and in April the town bus Kitaryū Meiseiushi Line was launched to provide access to the Takikawa Fukagawa area.
There were four buses departing from Hokuryu and three returning from Imoseushi, and there were scheduled and reserved buses. There was also an explanation of bus fares and student commuter pass fares. There was also an explanation of the number of users and fares of shared taxis and school buses for travelling within the town.
Talking Time
Share Time
Group A
- I want a direct flight to Fukagawa City Hospital.
- Currently, parents are responsible for transporting their high school students to and from club activities and part-time jobs.
- The lack of public transport is also likely affecting tourist access to Himawari no Sato.
Group B
- Currently, the waiting time at the Imobeushi bus stop is a pain. I want a bus that allows my children to get to school smoothly.
- How about a morning bus that goes directly to the school without any stopovers?
- Taxis are inconvenient because they have restrictions on the hours and days you can use them.
- Why not consider ride-sharing for the elderly, which can be used mainly for going to hospitals but also for shopping etc.?
- The introduction of ride sharing requires insurance arrangements, so could the town provide support and create a volunteer group?
2. Regarding school and other complex facilities: Councilwoman Yoshiko Hayashi
The basic philosophy of school education in Hokuryu Town is "to strive to improve the school educational environment and aim to create a school that is in harmony with the community, so that children can develop the life skills they need to achieve their dreams and goals, and soar into the future while respecting individuality and diversity."
Kitaryū Town is currently working on developing a school complex centered on compulsory education from elementary to junior high school, with the aim of opening in fiscal year 2029.
A review committee was established and met a total of five times between February and December 2024. A draft plan was compiled through surveys of townspeople, resident meetings, and interviews with elementary and junior high school teachers.
Public comments on the draft of Hokuryu Town's Basic Policy for School Education and Basic Plan for Complex Facilities are being collected from Monday, February 10th to Friday, February 28th, 2025.
Talking Time
Share Time
Group A
- Where will the division of the nine-year system be drawn? I feel that school management and classroom layout will change depending on whether it is "6-3" or "4-3-2."
- I want a place for young mothers and their children to stay. Currently, it is difficult for them to stay for long due to parking space at the nursery school.
- Currently, children go from school to after-school care and then home. After-school care only covers up to third grade, so children in the fourth grade and above go back and forth between school and home. It would be good if there was a system in place to look after them for about two hours until their parents return home, like a volunteer in the town.
- It would be good to have a place where children can come together with local residents. It would be good to have a place where local residents can help with their studies, play shogi with children, and talk to them, regardless of their age or grade level.
Group B
- One of the plans for utilizing the former junior high school site is to use it as a campground.
- It would be nice to have a place where children and adults can interact.
reference information
3. Regarding the misappropriation of parking fees at Himawari no Sato: Councilman Masato Sawada
About four years ago, a consultant proposed the future of Himawari no Sato as a nationally subsidized project, and a committee including townspeople has been considering the matter.
A grand plan for the future of Hokuryu Town. With an eye on the town's future, regional revitalization measures are needed in light of the town's declining population.
We have been holding open discussions on ways to increase tourism by focusing on sunflowers. We will gather various opinions and have them reflected in the town's policies. Tourism promotion is being discussed, but no concrete decisions have been made.
Talking Time
Share Time
Group A
- There seems to be an issue with collecting parking fees. A one-coin fee (500 yen) would be good to reduce collection time. What about campervans? If an admission fee is charged, wouldn't there need to be special benefits for visitors?
Group B
- The annual operating costs for Himawari no Sato are about 30 million yen. Discussions have begun on ways to increase revenue, even if only slightly.
- Maybe we should look for a more beautiful sunflower variety than the current one?
- The Sunflower Festival takes place in the hot summer months, so how about increasing the number of resting areas by cutting the undergrowth in shady forests?
Comments from Tsutomu Sakamoto (former president of the Hokuryu Town Sunflower Tourism Association and former member of the Hokuryu Town Council)
"I am pleased that this Parliamentary Report was held in the form of a 'Parliamentary Cafe', which turned out to be a very fascinating conference. We are living in an era of great change, and the government is facing unprecedented financial difficulties, and I believe that Parliamentarians are facing many hardships.
"The plan for the school facilities is also wonderful. I think it will require a huge budget. The biggest issue we need to address now is for our town to survive, and for all the townspeople to come together and tackle various issues," said Tsutomu Sakamoto.
Thank you message from Mr. Nobuaki Teragaki
"We would like to thank all the townspeople for their participation over such a long period of time.
In 2025, we held our first ever "Legislator Cafe" to report on our members. Since this was a completely new attempt, we proceeded with some hesitation.
Finally, I would like to close this meeting by asking for some more words," said Councilman Nobuaki Teragaki.
Keiko Ozaki, Vice-chair and General Commentator
"I think it was great that we were able to exchange opinions in this way in an atmosphere where everyone felt comfortable sharing their opinions.
The composition of the assembly is also arranged by everyone, including various committees and the Kita Sorachi Partial Affairs Association. Regular meetings are held four times a year. Each person manages to do their own work. I think our job is to listen to everyone's opinions, make adjustments, and give them form.
"We each have our own personalities and areas of expertise. I think we can receive and respond to a variety of opinions in a variety of ways. Please feel free to contact us. Thank you very much," said Vice Chairperson Keiko Ozaki.
Impressions from participating townspeople
"It was great that this 'Parliamentary Cafe' was held in a relaxed atmosphere where people could easily express their opinions. It's great to have an atmosphere like that!" said one of the townspeople who participated, smiling.
At the Hokuryu Town Council Report & Council Cafe, we listen to the various voices of the townspeople and work together to create a town full of vitality and smiles!
With boundless love, gratitude and prayers, we wish the "Assembly Cafe" a place for townspeople to talk and exchange opinions freely in a friendly, harmonious and relaxed atmosphere.
Youtube Video
image
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◇ Reporting and writing by Ikuko Terauchi (Photography and editorial assistance by Noboru Terauchi)
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