Tuesday, October 28, 2025
- 1 Warm cheers echoing through the clear autumn sky
- 2 "You are the stars today."
- 3 A competitive program filled with smiles and compassion
- 3.1 1. Warm-up exercises: loosen up your mind and body
- 3.2 2. Dice Relay: Luck and Smiles Intersect
- 3.3 3. Towel Ball Relay: A time for harmony
- 3.4 Carrying a baby on behalf of parents participating as athletes
- 3.5 4. Obstacle Course: The moment when everyday life turns into a smile
- 3.6 Take a break and drink
- 3.7 5. Rock-Paper-Scissors Relay: Bonds formed by feet
- 3.8 Raising children together in the community
- 3.9 6. Tama-Issue: Uniting Hearts
- 4 A smiling closing ceremony, questionnaires to fill out, sweets to give away, and bread to sell
- 5 Commemorative photo with a smile
- 6 Rich time nurtured by the "spirit of harmony"
- 7 Youtube Video
- 8 More Photos
- 9 Related Articles
Warm cheers echoing through the clear autumn sky
On Saturday, October 25th, the Hokuryu Town Senior Citizens Welfare Center was filled with smiles from people of all ages. The Hokuryu Town Social Welfare Council (Chairman: Takeshi Yamamoto) hosted the "Autumn Sports Day" rice ball event.
After dividing into two teams, Red and White, at the reception, participants gathered at the venue one by one and the opening ceremony began.
"You are the stars today."
The host, Masayoshi Abe, head of the Hokuryu Town Social Welfare Council, delivered the warm opening speech, saying, "Whether you win or lose, you are all the main characters."
Enjoy the event in a way that suits your physical strength and avoids injury. These words encompass everything that is important about this sports day.
The treasure lies not in the outcome of the competition, but in the time spent together laughing together. The "spirit of harmony" that Hokuryu has nurtured is alive and well in every corner of the sports day.
After taking commemorative photos, the competition finally begins.
A competitive program filled with smiles and compassion
The program is filled with creative competitions that will put a smile on everyone's faces.
1. Warm-up exercises: loosen up your mind and body
The first program item was warm-up exercises for everyone. As the familiar radio calisthenics music began, both children and adults naturally began to move. In the slightly chilly autumn air, everyone loosened up their bodies and prepared their minds and bodies.
2. Dice Relay: Luck and Smiles Intersect
The second program was "Dice Relay." Participants were divided into red and white teams, and they rolled a large dice. They went around the cone with the number that came up, and touched the next person to take their turn.
"If you can't run, you can walk." With such kind words, the participants headed towards the finish line at their own pace. They were happy or sad depending on the number on the dice, but they all had smiles on their faces the whole time.
3. Towel Ball Relay: A time for harmony
Next up was the "Towel Ball Passing Relay," a team game played while seated on chairs. Each pair holds both ends of a towel and tries to pass the ball to the next pair without dropping it. How many balls can you pass within the time limit? It's a competition that tests not only speed but also consideration for the person next to you, truly embodying the spirit of harmony.
Carrying a baby on behalf of parents participating as athletes
4. Obstacle Course: The moment when everyday life turns into a smile
Program number 4 is an individual obstacle course. Participants can choose to run or walk. Everyday activities become fun obstacles.
Small hands, big concentration "Putting beans on a plate"
First, we play "mame-ukashi," which involves picking up black stones (go stones) with chopsticks and transferring them to the next plate. Of course, we don't forget to be considerate of small children. "Elementary school students and younger, and nursery school friends, can use spoons." Adults use chopsticks skillfully, while children carefully carry the stones with spoons. Here too, it is important to participate in any way possible, without forcing yourself.
A nostalgic yet new "clothes drying rack"
The next challenge is "drying the laundry." They take their clothes and pants out of the net and hang them on hangers, then hang out bath towels. They also snap their shoes with clothespins. These simple everyday actions bring smiles to people of all ages.
Aiming for "fishing"
The last activity was "fishing." Participants had to use a magnetic fishing rod to reel in fish with clips attached. Once they had caught two fish, they reached the goal. Every time they caught one, they received warm applause from the crowd.
Take a break and drink
All participants, both adults and children, worked together to put away the game equipment in preparation for the next game!!!
5. Rock-Paper-Scissors Relay: Bonds formed by feet
The team competition resumed, this time seated on chairs. The participants lined up in a horizontal row and used their feet to pass a ring made of newspaper to the person next to them as a baton. They could not use their hands. The feet of people of different generations skillfully linked together to pass the ring of bond.
Raising children together in the community
Meanwhile, it was a heartwarming moment to see local children rocking the baby on the bracket and the whole community watching over him.
6. Tama-Issue: Uniting Hearts
The final event is the classic sports day event, "Tama-Toss." Each team puts a red and white ball into a basket. Red to red, white to white. It's a moment when the hearts of all the team come together as they try to see how many they can get into within the time limit.
A smiling closing ceremony, questionnaires to fill out, sweets to give away, and bread to sell
After all the competitions are completed, the closing ceremony begins. After the results are announced, participants are given participation prizes (various sweets) in exchange for their questionnaires. It's a warm finale that leaves everyone who worked hard smiling.
Bread sales by Rich Kobo (NPO Bright Farming)
After the sports day, bread was sold in the cafeteria, and the participants enjoyed a pleasant time sharing memories of the day.
Commemorative photo with a smile
Rich time nurtured by the "spirit of harmony"
Hokuryu Town's Autumn Sports Day is not just a day for physical activity. It is a place where differences in age and physical ability are embraced with consideration, and where everyone can shine as the main character.
The many voices of laughter that echoed throughout the town that day are the very embodiment of the "spirit of harmony" that supports Hokuryu. The warmth of this town, which chooses harmony over division and coexistence over competition, will surely inspire a warm ray of hope in the hearts of people all over the world, making them think, "We want to create a society like this too."
An autumn sport that adults and children can enjoy together with one heart!
With boundless love, gratitude, and prayers, we offer our heartfelt thanks to the "Autumn Sports Day" at "Everyone's Square," where harmony and coexistence in the community resonate and spread...
Youtube Video
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◇ ◇ 🖋️ Content planning, article writing, photo selection, and video creation: Ikuko Terauchi
Photography, editing, and website management: Noboru Terauchi 
