Mayor Sasaki Yasuhiro explores the charms of Kitaryū Town [March 2025] He visits Honoka Agricultural Cooperative to encourage their "A little experience of the daily life of agricultural women" event!

Monday, March 24, 2025

Mayor Sasaki's March exploration of Kitaryū Town's attractions includes a visit to encourage the "A little taste of the everyday life of agricultural women" event, organised by Yamagami Miharu, an employee of Honoka Agricultural Cooperative Corporation!

Visit to encourage the "Event to experience the daily life of agricultural women"

Miharu Yamagami (25 years old), a female farmer who moved to Hokuryu Town, Hokkaido for four years, held the "A Little Bit of a Female Farmer's Daily Life" event on March 22nd (Sat) and 23rd (Sun) with the full cooperation of the Honoka Agricultural Cooperative.

As a result of the recruitment, Jin Yuki (55 years old) from Sapporo participated. For two days, he enjoyed winter farming experiences with farmers and delicious mochi-pounding experiences.

Day 1: March 22 (Saturday) Snow melting agent spraying

On the first day, the participants got on a tractor and experienced spraying snow-melting agent. At first, they sat in the passenger seat and got to experience actual driving.

Mayor Sasaki talks with new farmer Fuji Daisuke (28 years old, from Aichi Prefecture), who started farming this month and was working on spreading snow-melting agent.

Day 2 - March 23 (Sun) Mochi-pounding experience

On the second day, we had the opportunity to experience pounding rice cakes together with the members of the Honoka Agricultural Cooperative at the Mibowu Regional Agricultural Training Center. We thoroughly enjoyed the taste of the freshly pounded, chewy rice cakes.

The veteran mom prepares the ingredients efficiently and perfectly!

Honoka's veteran mothers all worked together to efficiently and perfectly prepare the ingredients! As expected!

Kurosengoku soybean flour, seaweed

Zenzai

Curry soup

Pounding rice cakes

The inside of the building is filled with the distinctive smell of rice being cooked! The cooked rice is then placed into the mortar!

Yasuhiro Sasaki Mayor

Mayor Sasaki pounded the pestle himself with vigor, and cheers of "Wow, that's so cool!" rose up from those around him!

Yuki Jin's challenge!

Jin Yuki, who also participated, tried his hand at mochi pounding!

Various mochi arrangements!

There are many variations on mochi, such as Kurosengoku kinako mochi, norimaki mochi, mitarashi dango, zenzai, and mochi curry soup!

Kurosengoku Kinako Mochi

Seaweed-wrapped rice cake

Zenzai

Curry soup with mochi

Mayor Sasaki also took part in making the rice cakes by rolling the freshly made rice cakes into balls.

It's delicious!

Freshly pounded rice cakes are soft and absolutely delicious!!!

Message from Masashi Yuki

"I was able to participate in this event thanks to an introduction from an acquaintance in Hokuryu Town.

It was a very enjoyable experience. I am interested in agriculture, so I hope to work in it in the future.

I am currently working in sales as an office worker. I am approaching retirement age, so I would like to do something I like in my second life. I have always felt the importance of agriculture, which provides us with "food."

I had always been a businessman, so I had no motivation to start farming and thought it would be difficult. But after receiving this introduction, I feel like I've come a little closer to the possibility of farming.

Everyone was so nice to me at this event, and it was a really fun experience. I think that these kinds of activities will become more and more popular, as young people are also interested in them.

Thank you for the fun experience!" said Yuki.

With boundless love, gratitude and prayers, this "A Little Bit of the Daily Life of Farming Women Event" was a wonderful opportunity to experience farming in the lush natural surroundings of Hokuryu Town, and to interact with the warm and kind people of Hokuryu Town who support and nurture that agriculture.

Youtube Video

More Photos

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