Monday, February 2, 2026
- 1 Wa Neighborhood Association and Yawara Genki Club: General meeting and New Year's party held
- 1.1 New name "Yawara Genki Club": A new start full of smiles
- 1.2 Sharing the joy: Celebrating 77th birthdays and welcoming new members
- 1.3 Mutsuki Conversations: Warm words from Chairman Kanayama
- 1.4 The thrilling "pull-the-string game": A circle of smiles formed by luck and fate
- 1.5 Smiling group photo
- 1.6 Conclusion: With love, gratitude and prayers
- 2 YouTube videos
- 3 Other photos
- 4 Related articles
Wa Neighborhood Association and Yawara Genki Club: General meeting and New Year's party held
On Monday, January 26th, it was a calm evening despite the snow covering the landscape. The general meeting and New Year's party of the Yawara Genki Club, formerly the Wa Neighborhood Association Senior Citizens Club, was held in grand style at Sunflower Park Hokuryu Onsen.
The 34 members gathered at the venue. It was a wonderful moment, filled with the excitement of taking a new step after the name change and the warm, harmonious atmosphere that is unique to the Wa Neighborhood Association.
New name "Yawara Genki Club": A new start full of smiles
The biggest topic at this general meeting was the change of the club's name. The club is made up of 61 members from 41 households, all aged 65 or over, and its goal is to "promote friendship and harmony among members and build enjoyable relationships through cooperation."
In keeping with the changing times, the club has been renamed "Yawara Genki Club" through a revision of its regulations. From "Senior Citizens Club" to "Genki Club." When words change, attitudes change too. It's a wonderful name that embodies everyone's desire to stay youthful forever and be a shining light in the community.
The general meeting was chaired by Chairman Nobuyuki Kanayama, and all of the following agenda items were unanimously approved.
- Issue 1:2025 Business Report and Settlement of Accounts
- Issue 2:2026 Business Plan
- Issue 3:Increase in officers (Mr. Hashimoto appointed as General Affairs and Accounting Director)
- Issue 4:Partial revision of the terms and conditions (change to new name)
Sharing the joy: Celebrating 77th birthdays and welcoming new members
At the milestone of the general meeting, happy news was shared. Three new members joined the group and were welcomed with warm applause. The breath of fresh air is a great joy for the revitalization of the association.
Furthermore, congratulatory gifts were presented to four people who celebrated turning 77 (Kiju) this year. These seniors who have supported the community for so many years were given heartfelt applause to show their respect and gratitude.
Mutsuki Conversations: Warm words from Chairman Kanayama
The New Year's party following the general meeting began with a thoughtful speech and a toast from Chairman Nobuyuki Kanayama.
"The name of this club has also been changed to 'Yawara Genki Club.' As the name suggests, we would like to work hard together with everyone this year as well," declared Chairman Kanayama with great energy.
What was particularly impressive was the story about "Mutsuki," another name for January/New Year's.
"Mutsuki is a somber month. I hope that today you will have a fun time reminiscing about fond memories and sharing recent happy and entertaining stories about your recent activities. Now, let's toast to everyone's health and happiness, and to the Yawara Genki Club!!!" said Chairman Kanayama.
The whole venue was filled with a warm feeling of happiness as the guests were greeted with "delicious food," "delicious drinks," and above all, the words "a happy town," which made them forget the cold outside.
The thrilling "pull-the-string game": A circle of smiles formed by luck and fate
As the party was in full swing, an attraction was the "Pulling the Stick Game (Pulling the String Game)." This wasn't just a simple lottery game. There were various prizes tied to the ends of multiple strings, and it was a thrilling test of luck, as you didn't know what you'd win until you pulled it.
Participants drew sticks to determine their turn and chose the string of destiny. As the eyes of the audience focused on one point, there were two "big prizes" with gold envelopes attached!
The dramatic turn of events, with only one "jackpot" remaining until the very end, brought the excitement in the venue to a climax. At the end, everyone played a "rock-paper-scissors" match, and the moment the goddess of victory smiled, thunderous cheers and smiles erupted.
Smiling group photo
Conclusion: With love, gratitude and prayers
As the new name "Yawara Genki Club" suggests, it was a wonderful New Year's party filled with the energy of everyone, regardless of their age, and the kindness and consideration shown to each other.
This spirit of "Yawara" is the foundation that supports Hokuryu Town, and it is the "spiritual lifeline (infrastructure)" that we should share with the world.
With boundless love, gratitude and prayers, we hope that the Yawara Genki Club, where bright and energetic people can continue to share their hearts for many years to come, will continue to be a place where people can continue to share their hearts for many years to come!
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