Hokuryu Town Pioneer Commemoration Ceremony and Meritorious Service Awards Ceremony 2025 With gratitude to the great spirit of "Harmony is the most important thing"!

Wednesday, May 21, 2025

The Hokuryu Town Pioneer Commemoration Ceremony and Meritorious Service Award Ceremony were held solemnly on Friday, May 16th at 10:00 a.m. This year, 2025 (Reiwa 7), marks the 133rd anniversary of the founding of Hokuryu Town.

Hokuryu Town Pioneer Memorial Ceremony

As the strong spring winds blow through, the pioneer monument stands watching over the fields throughout town, as if bearing witness to the hardships of its predecessors.

Offerings to the gods

The offerings made include rice, rice cakes, sake, water, salt, fish, vegetables, fruit, seaweed, eggs, and sweets.

ritual prayer service (e.g. for the repose of a soul)

The chief priest of Daikoku Shrine (Fukagawa City), Mr. Onishi, played a flute and recited a prayer in a solemn manner.

reverentially offering a branch of the sacred tree

Tamagushi offerings were exchanged by about 20 important figures representing Hokuryu Town.

Mayor of Hokuryu Town, Yasuhiro Sasaki; Chairman of the Hokuryu Town Council, Shoichi Nakamura; Honorary Citizen of Hokuryu Town, Ryoji Kikura; Representative Director of JA Kitasorachi Hokuryu District, Minoru Nagai; Chairman of the Hokuryu Town Chamber of Commerce, Masahito Fujii; Chairman of the Hokuryu Town Land Improvement District, Hiroki Yoshioka; Vice-Chairman of the Hokuryu Town Council, Keiko Ozaki; Hokuryu Town Council Member, Minoru Sato; Nobuaki Teragaki; Kazuo Kimura; Masato Sawada; Manabu Okino; Representative Auditor of Hokuryu Town, Takashi Inoue; Award recipient, Yasunori Watanabe; Kenko Kawakami; Keiko Kikura

Awards Ceremony for Meritorious Achievers

The location was moved to the Hokuryu Town Senior Citizens Welfare Center, where a ceremony was held to honor those who have made distinguished service.

Those who have contributed to the promotion and development of Hokuryu Town or those who have been recognized for their outstanding achievements are awarded in accordance with the bylaws.

Opening remarks: The general emcee was Mr. Hajime Nanba, General Affairs Division Chief of the town hall.

Ceremonial Address: Yasuhiro Sasaki, Mayor of Hokuryu Town

“Thank you all for your hard work. Today’s Pioneer Commemoration Ceremony was originally scheduled for May 17th, but we have had to bring it forward to today, so we ask for your understanding.

I would like to take this opportunity to thank you all for taking time out of your busy schedules, both public and private, to attend the Hokuryu Town Pioneer Commemoration Ceremony and the Commendation Ceremony based on the Hokuryu Town Commendation Ordinance.

Today's Hokuryu Town marks 133 years since the first pioneering hoes were laid in 1892. During that time, many of our forefathers endured harsh natural conditions, overcame numerous disasters and other hardships, and poured their hearts and souls into the construction of what we know today, building the foundations for the prosperous Hokuryu Town we know today.

As part of the larger national movement towards regional revitalization, Kitaryū Town is currently making full use of policies and applying for various budgets.

We have been given a large budget. From now on, we will work together with you to implement the budget and promote the work of Hokuryu Town to realize your wishes and dreams.

I would like to sincerely ask for your cooperation.

Blessed with abundant nature and fertile land, Kitaryū Town was one of the first to establish a production base, and is now steadily moving forward as a production base for safe and secure food, with agriculture as its core industry, while implementing policies such as improving welfare and health care for residents, promoting education and culture, revitalizing tourism, and supporting child-rearing.

On this Pioneer Day, I would like to express my sincere respect and gratitude to the many forefathers who built the foundations of our hometown, Hokuryu Town, for their hard work, wisdom, and indomitable pioneering spirit. I would also like to express my deepest gratitude to all of you who are in attendance, as well as all the townspeople, for your efforts and cooperation.

Each of the people being honored here today has made great contributions through their many years of dedicated work in the areas of service to the general public, education, and the industry and economy.

We would like to introduce some of the achievements of the four people who will be receiving this award.

• First of all,
  Mr. Yasunori Watanabe(General Town Merit), for a long period of 16 years over four terms from November 2007 to November 2023, as Kitaryū Town Fairness Committee member, he reviewed and judged requests for measures regarding employee salaries, working hours, conditions, etc., in accordance with the Local Public Service Act, and made efforts to make fair judgments.
  In addition, since November 2013, he has served as the Chairman of the Fairness Committee for 10 years, and has contributed greatly to the running of the association. Thank you very much.
  　
• next,
  Mr. Healthy Kawakami(General Town Merit Award) served as a member of the Hokuryu Town Fixed Asset Assessment Review Committee for four terms, a period of 10 years and two months, from July 2005 to September 2015, and contributed greatly to the promotion of equal and fair tax administration. In addition, he served as the chairman of the Fixed Asset Assessment Review Committee for four years and eight months from January 2011, contributing greatly to the accomplishments of the association.
  　
• next,
  Ms. Keiko Okura(Meritorious Contributions to Education) For his dedicated efforts in promoting lifelong learning for the townspeople as a social education committee member of Kitaryū Town for a long period of 12 years and six terms from August 2007 to July 2019, he demonstrated his skills as a driving force behind social education administration and made great efforts to resolve local issues, especially by reflecting the wishes of local residents.
  In addition, from August 2015, he served as the chairman of the Social Education Committee for one term of two years, and contributed greatly to the running of the association. Thank you very much.
  　
• next,
  Mr. Hirokuni Kita(Industrial and Economic Merit Award) since assuming the position of Agricultural Commissioner in May 2004, he has actively worked diligently in his duties for a long period of 19 years and two months, and promoted the consolidation and consolidation of farmland in Hokuryu Town. He also made great efforts in training and securing agricultural leaders, and was actively involved in training successors.
  Furthermore, from May 2004, he served as a director of the Kitasorachi Agricultural Cooperative Association's Hokuryu District for nine years, and from May 2013, he served as the district representative director for 10 years and seven months, making a tremendous contribution to the promotion of agriculture not only in his town, but throughout Kitasorachi. Thank you very much.
  　

This concludes my introduction to some of the achievements of each of the individuals being honored today, and I would like to express my heartfelt gratitude for their many years of hard work.

"I would like to conclude my speech by wishing all of you in attendance today good health, happiness, and success in your endeavors. May 16, 2025, Mayor of Hokuryu, Sasaki Yasuhiro Congratulations on your graduation today," said Mayor Sasaki.

commendation

• Mr. Yasunori Watanabe (General Town Merit Award)
• Mr. Kenko Kawakami (General Town Merit Award)
• Ms. Keiko Kikura (Educational Merit Award)
• Mr. Hirokuni Kitakiyo (Contributions to the Industrial Economy)

Congratulatory speech: Mr. Shoichi Nakamura, Chairman of the Hokuryu Town Council

"Today, many people involved in the settlement of Hokuryu Town have gathered to attend the ceremony marking the 133rd year since the town was established in 1893. Although the wind was strong, the ceremony was held under clear skies and with a divine ceremony conducted by Chief Priest Onishi of Daikoku Shrine in Fukagawa. We offered prayers for the gratitude of our ancestors and for eternal peace in the future, and I offer my heartfelt congratulations and joy for the grandiose holding of the ceremony.

Well, this year the weather has been unstable, causing great concern as we carry out agricultural work, but temperatures have begun to rise and it is beginning to feel like summer days even in Hokkaido.

There have been many very windy days, which is a cause for concern, but thanks to everyone's efforts, rice planting, which is our main industry, has already begun a few days ago. I believe that planting will soon be in full swing across the entire town.

It has been said that there has been a shortage of rice since last year, and prices have been rising sharply.

The government is releasing its stockpiles of rice, so it's hard to see any effect. There are also various issues with exporting rice from Japan. I feel there are many things to be worried about.

There are many concerns about the future, but as farmers, we, the residents of Hokuryu, will continue to deliver Hokuryu rice to consumers who love it, including through hometown tax donations.

To achieve this, we sincerely hope for a bumper harvest this autumn based on basic cultivation management.

Today, I would like to express my sincere gratitude to Mr. Watanabe and Mr. Kawakami for their outstanding contributions to general coordination, Mr. Huangkura for their outstanding contributions to education, and Mr. Kita Kiyoshi for their outstanding contributions to industry and economy, who have all made tremendous efforts in the development of our town over many years, for their professional contributions over such a long period of time.

You all are involved in countless local activities, including serving as fire brigades, children's supporters, land improvement district officers, and Agricultural Fair Mutual Aid Standards, as well as local safety patrols.

It is in this context that he has been recognized with this award, and we would like to express our gratitude for his wide range of achievements.

I hope you are all in good health, and I hope you will continue to work hard for Kitaryū Town in various ways.

In closing, this year marks Regional Revitalization 2.0, and we have applied for and will be receiving a large amount of grant funding.

"I hope that the appropriate and effective use of this grant will help our town to continue to develop, and I would like to return my congratulations by praying for the health and success of all of you in attendance today, as well as all of our townspeople. Congratulations today," said Chairman Nakamura.

Recipients' thank you speech: Representative of the recipients, Hirokuni Kitakiyo

"Today, on this glorious day marking the anniversary of the development of Hokuryu Town, I have just received the Distinguished Service Award. I am extremely grateful and cannot express my gratitude enough.

I also received a congratulatory message from Chairman Nakamura. Mayor Sasaki gave me words of praise that I couldn't have expected. After turning 60, it's rare to receive praise from people, so I'm very happy about it.

Looking back, as I mentioned before, I have served as the Kitasorachi Agricultural Cooperative Hokuryu District Director since April 2004 for 19 years and 8 months. I have also been involved in agriculture for 19 years and 2 months, so looking back, I can say that I have been completely immersed in agriculture for just under 20 years.

During this time, the agricultural situation was really difficult, and there was a time when the price of rice was 11,000 to 12,000 yen. In this situation, we have been working hard to address the issue of how to continue.

In 2004, the Sunflower Rice Producers Association was established, and in 2005, with the town's special support, we renovated the rose facility and installed a 600-channel color sorter to ensure consistent quality. In 2006, we obtained the JAS agricultural product publication standard, and made efforts to properly communicate traceability to consumers.

These long-term efforts led to us receiving the Japan Agriculture Award Grand Prize in the group organization category in 2017. I have wonderful memories of the big celebration we had at the NHK Hall with the women's division, producers, and executives.

We believe this is the result of the support of related organizations, as well as the efforts of each and every producer who has inherited the passion and history of their predecessors to "produce safe and secure rice that consumers want."

Furthermore, as producers, we are truly honored that our products have received high praise from across the country as a return gift for our town's hometown tax donations.

Looking back, I would like to express my deepest gratitude to the many people whose guidance and cooperation enabled me to dedicate myself to the tasks that were assigned to me.

We will keep in mind the kind words we have received from you all and will continue to work hard to be of service to you in some way.

"Thank you very much for today," Kita Kiyoshi said politely and with gratitude.

commemorative photograph

Since Yoshiue Shoichiro, leader of the pioneering immigrant group, first put his hoe down on the land of Hokuryu, the indomitable pioneering spirit has been passed down over the course of 133 years as the group has faced and overcome great hardships.

With boundless love, gratitude and prayers for the great spirit of harmony shown by Yoshiue Shoichiro, which is still being passed down to the people of Hokuryu today, based on Prince Shotoku's spirit of "harmony is the most important thing" and Ninomiya Sontoku's teaching of "the essence of humanity is harmony."

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