Monday, December 22, 2025
- 1 Everyone's Square "Omusubi" Christmas Party 🎄 100 Smiles and a Giant Cake! A Handmade Love Story
- 1.1 reception
- 1.2 Freshly handmade items set on each table
- 1.3 Handmade decorations and the warm hands of those who support them
- 1.4 Enthusiastic Kendama and fun games
- 1.5 "We want you to eat them freshly fried" - the love poured into these 120 churros
- 1.6 The venue erupted in excitement! A huge surprise cake from Daikokuya Confectionery (Imoseushicho)
- 1.7 A group photo with the giant tree that everyone decorated in the background
- 1.8 Winter in Hokuryu Town is so warm
- 2 YouTube video (Thumbnails are created using Gemini3)
- 3 Other photos
- 4 Related articles
Everyone's Square "Omusubi" Christmas Party 🎄 100 Smiles and a Giant Cake! A Handmade Love Story
Outside the window was a snow-covered landscape. However, the moment we opened the doors to the venue, we were greeted by a sweet aroma and the warmth of smiles, like the spring sunshine. On Saturday, December 20th, the "Everyone's Square Rice Ball Christmas Party" was held at the Hokuryu Town Senior Citizens Welfare Center. Over 100 townspeople gathered. This year, in addition to the fun of "playing," the venue was filled with the joy of "eating" and the warmth of "making."
This event is jointly held by the Hokuryu Town Social Welfare Council, the Children's and Living Support Division, and the Childcare Support Center.
reception
Freshly handmade items set on each table
There were lots of things prepared, including cute boards with the group name, handmade name stickers from the group members (participants), origami Christmas decorations, coloring paper for ornaments to stick on the giant Christmas tree, bingo game paper, colored pencils, scissors, wet tissues, paper cake plates, forks, and more.
Handmade decorations and the warm hands of those who support them
The party began with an introduction of the staff and helpers who had supported the day behind the scenes. Looking around the venue, the walls were covered in decorations and a variety of adorable accessories. All of these were handmade, one by one, by the staff and many others, all of whom had thought of the happy faces of the children.
The smiling staff greet you with a "Welcome!", while the slightly embarrassed Gorilla appears. Just being there warms your heart, as it is filled with the passionate desire to "make someone happy."
Enthusiastic Kendama and fun games
Kendama performance
Techniques demonstrated included candle, medium plate, small plate, large plate, Moshikame, baseball, and mawashi tomeken.
The excitement in the venue rose immediately with an impressive performance by the opening group, the Kendama Club. The adults also gave a round of applause to the children who performed their tricks with serious expressions on their faces.
Treasure Hunt Adventure
Next was the "Welfare Center Treasure Hunt," where children embarked on a great adventure, searching for handmade origami (5 types) hidden throughout the building (hall, lobby, and library). Cheerful voices of "Found it!" echoed through the hallway. The group that found all 5 types of origami received a big bag as a gift!
Addicted to coloring Christmas tree ornaments
Let's all decorate the Christmas tree!
Candy fishing game
A blue sheet is spread on the stage, and colorful handmade fish and vegetables swim on it, which are then pulled up with a fishing rod equipped with a magnet. The color names of the candy boxes (yellow, green, orange) are written on the back. Each candy box contains three flavors of potato chips (seaweed salt, consommé, salt)!!! Go for your favorite potato chip flavor!
The gift boxes come in three different potato chip flavors (salt, seaweed salt, and consommé) for each color!!!
Bingo game
Each person writes a random number between 1 and 24 on their bingo card. Check the numbers that are read out loud and if they line up perfectly, you get bingo! Those who get bingo get to choose their favorite candy and get it! Everyone is excited to see what kind of candy they'll win!
Kendama Performance Part 2: Advanced
Skills include flying on an airplane, traveling around the world, traveling around Europe, and downspiking.
The final finale is a down spike!
The two were in perfect sync and synchronized!!! The audience erupted in applause!
*Down spike (Tenchuusha) is a technique in which a ball is thrown up and the hole in the tip of the sword is aligned with the hole in the ball as it falls, stopping it.
"We want you to eat them freshly fried" - the love poured into these 120 churros
As lunchtime approached, an indescribable aroma began to fill the air around the venue.
Yumiko Takebayashi, the owner of Rich Kobo, was working hard in the kitchen. "I want everyone to eat something warm and delicious." With that single thought in mind, she continued to fry an astounding 120 churros on the spot.
The golden fried churros are sprinkled with Kurosengoku kinako, a specialty of Hokuryu Town. Crispy on the outside and chewy on the inside, one bite and the aroma of the kinako fills your mouth, along with the warmth of Takebayashi's motherly love.
It was a happy sight, with children and adults alike smiling as they stuffed their faces with the treats.
The venue erupted in excitement! A huge surprise cake from Daikokuya Confectionery (Imoseushicho)
It was a fun time for dinner. A whole strawberry cake from Seiko Mart was brought to each table, filling the venue with a sweet atmosphere.
However, the real surprise was yet to come. "What's that?!" "Amazing! It's huge!" A murmur and cheers erupted in the venue.
What appeared was a gigantic, special Christmas cake for 100 people, the likes of which had never been seen before! This was a special surprise created by Daikokuya Confectionery, a confectionery shop that Hokuryu Town is proud of, for this occasion.
Two whole cakes sit on top of a large square cake base, creating a big Christmas cake covered in bright red strawberries and pure white, snow-like fresh cream!
An overwhelming presence and beauty that will catch the eyes of 100 people.
The sight of the children gathering around the cake with sparkling eyes is like being in a dream. "We all share and eat the same thing."
In that simple act, there was magic in deepening the bonds (omusubi) of the community.
A group photo with the giant tree that everyone decorated in the background
Winter in Hokuryu Town is so warm
Handmade decorations, freshly fried churros, and a huge cake everyone gathered around... I'm sure the children will remember more than just the fun memories of this day.
A definite memory of love: "Someone did their best for me."
The winters in Hokuryu are harsh, but the people's hearts are endlessly warm and sweet. May this warmth be a ray of light that will illuminate the future of our children.
We will be putting our boundless love, gratitude and prayers into this heartfelt Christmas party at "Everyone's Square Omusubi," which we will all create together with love!
YouTube videos(Thumbnails are taken from Gemini3)
Other photos
Related articles
◇ 🖋️ Content planning, article writing, photo selection, and video creation: Ikuko Terauchi
Photography, editing, and website management: Noboru Terauchi
