[Sunflower Watermelon Cultivation - Live TV Broadcast] Live broadcast on STV's "Dosanko Wide"! The "Hokuryu Town Sunflower Festival" featuring 2 million sunflowers in full bloom is here!

Thursday, August 14, 2025

The Hokuryu Sunflower Festival was featured during Fukunaga's live broadcast week on STV's "Dosanko Wide"! With 2 million sunflowers as a backdrop, announcer Shunsuke Fukunaga introduced the new local delicacy, "Sunflower Keema Curry," and the local specialty, "Sunflower Watermelon." Even with a sudden downpour, the live broadcast was full of smiles and energy, bringing you a fun-filled broadcast.

Live broadcast on STV's "Dosanko Wide"! The "Hokuryu Town Sunflower Festival" featuring 2 million sunflowers in full bloom is here!

"Dosanko Wide" is broadcast on STV Sapporo Television. On the final day of the popular segment "Fukunaga Live Week," where announcer Shunsuke Fukunaga steps out of the studio to introduce the charms of summer, the fifth installment featured "Hokuryu Town, where 2 million sunflowers bloom!"

The town's charms were introduced in a variety of ways, from the sunflower village in full bloom to local gourmet food making its first appearance this year.

Fukunaga's Instagram image:

A smiling report from Sunflower Village!

At Himawari no Sato, Hokuryu Town's local heroes, AgriFighter North Dragon, also appeared to welcome announcer Fukunaga. However, just as the live broadcast was about to begin at 5 p.m., a sudden heavy rain shower hit, and the planned filming in the jumbo maze had to be canceled at the last minute.

Despite this, announcer Fukunaga and the staff continued the live broadcast with smiles on their faces!

ひまわりの里を背景に!
With the sunflower village in the background!
突然の大雨の中での生中継!
Live broadcast during sudden heavy rain!

Rain or shine! Enjoy delicious gourmet food

The tour then moved to the tourist center, where we first introduced the "Sunflower Keema Curry" sold at "Akarui Shoten." Nakamura Hiroyo from Akarui Shoten explained its appeal.

中村さんと高田さんがスタンバイ!
Nakamura and Takada are on standby!

This keema curry is made with "Yumepirika" rice grown in Hokuryu Town, colored yellow with turmeric, and topped with plenty of sunflower seeds, making it a visually appealing dish.

ひまわりキーマーカレーの説明をする中村裕代さん
Nakamura Hiroyo explaining about sunflower keema curry

Next, Akimitsu Takada, chairman of the Sunflower Watermelon Producers Association, served up the town's specialty, a small yellow watermelon called "Sunflower Watermelon," highlighting its sweetness and juiciness.

ひまわりすいかを説明する高田秋光さん
Akimitsu Takada explaining about sunflower watermelon

In addition, the program also introduced the Hokuryu Watermelon Smoothie and Hokuryu Macaroons sold at the restaurant Himawari, making the broadcast packed with the delicious charms of Hokuryu Town.

ひまわりキーマーカレー、ひまわりすいか、ひまわりすいかスムージー
Sunflower keema curry, sunflower watermelon, sunflower watermelon smoothie

Thank you! A fun time filled with smiles

Popular announcer Shunsuke Fukunaga, known for his catchphrase "I love you," was even more friendly and approachable than he appears on television. He had a bright smile throughout the event, engaging in lively conversation with many Hokuryu town residents, creating a lively atmosphere on set.

With boundless love, gratitude, and prayers, we would like to express our sincere gratitude to announcer Fukunaga and all the staff of STV's "Dosanko Wide" who have fully conveyed the charm of Hokuryu Town.

みんなで記念撮影!
Let's take a commemorative photo together!

With boundless love, gratitude, and prayers, I would like to express my sincere gratitude to announcer Fukunaga and the staff of STV's "Dosanko Wide," who have done such a great job of promoting the charms of Hokuryu Town.

STV・福永中継ウィーク第5弾!200万本咲き誇る 北竜町ひまわりまつり
STV Fukunaga Broadcast Week Part 5! Hokuryu Town Sunflower Festival with 2 million blooming sunflowers

Other photos

Related articles

Related articles
On Friday, July 18, 2025, the harvest season for the local specialty "Sunflower Watermelon" reached its peak in Hokuryu Town, Hokkaido. Akiko Takada...
Related articles
On Monday, June 16, 2025, the first shipment of "Sunflower Watermelon," a specialty product of Hokuryu Town, was made on Wednesday, June 11, and it was delivered to Sapporo...
Related articles
Wednesday, May 14, 2025 Monday, May 12, 2025 At Takada Farm Co., Ltd., "pruning" of sunflower watermelons...
Related articles
Monday, April 7, 2025 Thursday, April 3, 2025, at the farm of Takada Co., Ltd. (Representative Director: Takada Shunki), yellow mini-fruits...
Related articles
April 1, 2025 (Tuesday) March 27 (Thursday), at Takada Akimitsu Farm, inside the greenhouse after snow removal work...
Related articles
Friday, March 14, 2025 On Tuesday, March 11, at Takada Akimitsu Farm, a producer of Hokuryu sunflower watermelons...
Related articles
March 10, 2025 (Monday) This year, the Hokuryu Sunflower Watermelon Producers' Cooperative will cover the annual tasks involved in watermelon cultivation leading up to shipment...
Related articles
February 21, 2025 (Friday) On February 18 (Tuesday), at the mayor's office in Hokuryu Town Hall, the Himawari Watermelon Producers' Association, Taka...
 
Related articles
June 16, 2025 (Monday) The internet site [Kita-Sorachi Shimbun], operated by Kita-Sorachi Shimbun Co., Ltd. (Fukagawa City)...
Related articles
On June 13, 2025 (Friday), the internet site [NHK Hokkaido WEB] operated by NHK (Tokyo) will publish...
Related articles
June 12, 2025 (Thursday) Hokkaido Shimbun Co., Ltd. (Sapporo City) operates the internet site [Hokkaido Shimbun De...
Related articles
On Monday, April 7, 2025, the internet site [Kita-Sorachi Shimbun], operated by Kita-Sorachi Shimbun Co., Ltd. (Fukagawa City), published...
Related articles
April 4, 2025 (Friday) Hokkaido Shimbun Co., Ltd. (Sapporo City) operates the internet site [Hokkaido Shimbun Digital...
  
🖋️ Content planning, article writing, photo selection, and video creation: Ikuko Terauchi Photography, editing, and website management: Noboru Terauchi