Tuesday, September 16, 2025
- 1 Hokuryu Town Himawari University September Lecture Opens
- 1.1 Opening Ceremony
- 1.1.1 General moderator: Naoki Kishi, Section Chief (Social Education Officer), Hokuryu Town Board of Education
- 1.1.2 Everyone read the Hokuryu Town Citizens' Charter and the Himawari University School Regulations.
- 1.1.3 The purpose of Hokuryu Town Himawari University: Mr. Naoki Kishi, Section Chief (Social Education Officer)
- 1.1 Opening Ceremony
- 2 Comedy parlor entertainment with no side effects
- 3 Youtube Video
- 4 More Photos
- 5 Related Articles and Websites
Hokuryu Town Himawari University September Lecture Opens
Opening Ceremony
General moderator: Naoki Kishi, Section Chief (Social Education Officer), Hokuryu Town Board of Education
Moderator:Thank you for attending today. We will now begin the September course of Himawari University. First, I would like to read the Town Charter, so please stand up.
Everyone read the Hokuryu Town Citizens' Charter and the Himawari University School Regulations.
Hokuryu Town Citizens' Charter(Established on July 1, 1974)
We are residents of Hokuryu Town, a town blessed with beautiful nature.
We have established this charter in order to love our hometown and create a town filled with hope.1. Love nature and create a beautiful town.
1. Let's follow the rules and create a bright town.
1. Let's respect hard work and create a prosperous town.
1. Let's help each other and create a warm town.
1. Let's improve education and create a thriving town.
Moderator:Now, class representative, please give your orders.
Class Representative:The instructor will be behind the curtain on the stage. Thank you for your attention and we will begin. Thank you for your cooperation!
The purpose of Hokuryu Town Himawari University: Mr. Naoki Kishi, Section Chief (Social Education Officer)
Himawari University aims to enable students to live vibrant and fulfilling lives even in old age, and is the goal of lifelong learning in an aging society. Through various courses and experiences, the university aims to enable each student to create their own purpose in life and participate in society. This year marks the 54th year of the university. This time, we invited a lecture entitled "Comedy and Parlor Entertainment with No Side Effects" to be held, with the hope that laughter will help students to regain the energy to live a healthy and vibrant life.
Comedy parlor entertainment with no side effects
Lecturer "Geisha Boys" appears
Moderator:Today's lecture is titled "Comedy parlor entertainment without side effects," and we have the Geisha Boys here. Based in Asahikawa City, they perform nostalgic melodies and talk while dressed as geisha. We hope that by laughing, you will be able to store up the energy to live a healthy and vibrant life. We're sure you're all looking forward to it, so let's get started. Thank you to all the Geisha Boys!
(The curtain rises, revealing two women dressed in glamorous geisha outfits. The audience bursts into laughter and cheers.)
Geisha Boys Profile
Asahikawa, Hokkaido's second largest city. In the cultural soil nurtured by its harsh natural environment and history of development, there exists a flower of art that shines with a unique brilliance. This is the performance unit "Geisha Boys." They are not just a sideshow or a troupe of unusual performing arts. They are important carriers of local culture, combining Showa-era nostalgia with a modern sensibility and weaving deep ties with the local community, bringing laughter and healing to people. Their activities do not seek national recognition, but rather demonstrate their true value in the specific geographical and social context of Asahikawa (reference: Gemini Deep Research).
- Unit Name:Geisha Boys
- Base of operations:Asahikawa City, Hokkaido
- Concept:Nostalgic songs and talk show in geisha costumes
- Members:Vine and Turtle
- Main activities:Singing shows at local events, welfare facility visits, parties, etc.
🔽 Contact details for appearance requests are listed
Geisha Boys - Tsuruyakko Ozashiki DiaryOn September 11th, I was invited to appear as a lecturer at the "Hokuryu Town Sunflower University Lecture" held at the Hokuryu Town Community Center! The person in charge was...
[♪ Chiyoko Shimakura – Life is full of variety]
(Singing about the subtleties of life, set to a nostalgic Showa-era melody)
Stylish talk and nostalgic Showa era pop songs
Tsuruno-san:"Good morning everyone! Were you surprised? You probably had no idea what kind of guy would show up. You certainly didn't expect something like this to show up. Are you okay this morning? You're starting to look cute, so that means you're getting used to it. Thank you."
Kamenyatsu-san:"Please clap your hands at your own pace, but not to the point where you get tired. We say it's 'comedy without side effects,' but if there are any side effects, we cannot take responsibility for them (laughs). Well, I guess we'll have to ask the person in charge this time to take responsibility."
Kamenyatsu-san:"Let me introduce myself again. We are scheduled to become national treasures of Japan on November 3rd of this year. I am Kameyakko, and this is Tsuruyakko."
Tsuruno-san:"Thank you very much."
Kamenyatsu-san:"I thought it was a woman, but it turns out it's a man. Now, let's get started with the performance."
Start with a traditional Japanese song!
[♪ Medley of Showa-era classics: Michiya Mihashi – Old Castle / Koichi Aoki – House on Kakinokizaka / Frank Nagai – Let's Meet in Yurakucho]
(The emotional rendition of hit songs from the 1950s filled the venue with a nostalgic atmosphere.)
[♪ Medley of Showa Era Classics: Yuriko Futaba – Mother on the Quay]
(Heartwarming Showa era classics performed one after another)
Fun interaction with the audience
Tsuruno-san:"Thank you. Everyone is so serious, so it's stressful. Are you starting to look cuter? Are you getting used to it? We've been performing in these outfits for about 25 years. We're performing these nostalgic songs from the Showa era."
Kamenyatsu-san:"The song belongs to the lyricist, the composer and the singer, but the speaking is done in my own style. It's just flowing."
Tsuruno-san:"Free-flowing water is like a hot spring (laughs). Well, it's pretty similar. Now, wherever I go, I get requests from everyone, is there anything? A song by Hashi Yukio? Yes, there is, so let's go!"
[♪ Request: Yukio Hashi Medley: Mexican Rock of Love / Always Dreaming]
(In response to a request, he performed a hit song by Hashi Yukio. The audience erupted in applause.)
[♪ Kiyoshi Hikawa Medley: Akiko of the Starry Sky / Kiyoshi's Zundoko Bushi]
(Then he powerfully sings a song by Kiyoshi Hikawa)
Tsuruno-san:"When asked, 'Are you a man or a woman?' Hikawa apparently replied, 'Yes, I'm a monster.' It's quite surprising."
Tsuruno-san:"We're enough monsters, aren't we? If Hikawa had just said, 'I want to become a woman,' everyone would have understood."
Kamenyatsu-san:"So, how about a song by Michiya Mitsuhashi next?"
[♪ Michiya Mitsuhashi Medley – : Melancholy Train / Old Castle / Stardust Town ]
(She softly sings Michiya Mitsuhashi's famous song)
A whirlwind of laughter and a moving finale
[♪ Harumi Miyako – Osaka Shigure / Takashi Hosokawa – Yagiri no Watashi ]
Kamenyatsu-san:"We actually appeared on NHK last year. It was a special edition of the program called 'NHK News Good Morning Hokkaido.' The NHK staff in Asahikawa took an interest in us, and they covered us closely for about two weeks. It was quite a challenge, as they almost followed us to our workplace."
Kamenyatsu-san:"They film for hours, but only a few minutes are broadcast. It's like Jonetsu Tairiku. My real name and age were all revealed (laughs)."
Tsuruno-san:"In the past, the private lives of entertainers were shrouded in mystery, but times have changed."
Kamenyatsu-san:"Now, let's get excited with this song."
(Performing a string of hit songs from the 1970s that won the Record of the Year Award)
[♪Sen Masao - Spring in the North]
(He performs a famous song about longing for home. The audience listens intently.)
[♪ Sakamoto Kyu – Ue o Muite Arukou]
(Singing world-famous songs with all his heart)
Tsuruno-san:"If it appears in our dreams, it may be a side effect. If we say things like, 'I want to forget, but I can't,' or 'I want to see it again,' then that's a real side effect (laughs)."
Kamenyatsu-san:"Well, it's almost time. The last song was created with the intention of getting everyone excited, and it's the song that has been sung the most at the Kohaku Uta Gassen. It's the song by Kitajima Saburo!"
[♪ Finale: Saburo Kitajima – Matsuri]
[♪Encore song: Hashizo Okawa and Heiji Zenigata]
(The heroic melody brings the excitement in the venue to a climax. The curtain falls on the spectacular stage amidst applause and smiles.)
Closing Remarks
Tsuruno-san:"Thank you all for your warm applause. I look forward to seeing you again someday!"
Kamenyatsu-san:"thank you very much!"
Moderator:"Thank you to all the Geisha Boys for the fun time! We hope to invite you again next year!"
With endless love, gratitude and prayers!
We would like to express our gratitude to the two members of Geisha Boys, an irreplaceable form of entertainment that brings laughter and healing to people's daily lives!
The duo "Tsurunyakko" and "Kameyakko" appeared dressed as geisha with white make-up, Japanese hairstyles and kimonos!
"Tsuru" (crane) and "kame" (turtle) are symbols of longevity and good fortune in Japanese culture. As their names suggest, the audience will instantly be transported from their everyday lives to a nostalgic world of the Showa era through their familiar Showa-era songs and engaging conversations.
During the talk, the two come down from the stage, get closer to the audience, and engage in a friendly conversation at the audience's eye level.
I was impressed by how they didn't just perform a one-sided show of singing, but valued two-way communication with the audience, transforming them from spectators into participants and creating a sense of unity.
"Are you thirsty? Have you used the restroom? It's okay if you go along the way."
The two kindly said, "Please don't force yourself to clap, just relax and enjoy yourself." You could feel their warm and considerate kindness as they cared about the audience, and it warmed my heart!!!
Participants smiled and said, "It was so much fun! It's nice to have such a casual and fun lecture even at Himawari University once in a while."
With boundless love, gratitude and prayers to the two members of "Geisha Boys," an irreplaceable entertainment that invites us into a nostalgic worldview of the Showa era reminiscent of the good old days and brings laughter and healing to people's daily lives!!!
Youtube Video
More Photos
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