Board Game Tournament [Minna no Hiroba Omusubi] A "Circle of Smiles" and Heartfelt Exchange Across Generations

Wednesday, February 18, 2026

Board Game Tournament [Minna no Hiroba Omusubi] A "Circle of Smiles" and Heartfelt Exchange Across Generations

It's February and Hokuryu Town is still covered in white snow, but when you open the doors to the community center, the place is filled with the warmth of spring and the sounds of laughter.

On Valentine's Day, Saturday, February 14th, a board game experience event was held at Minna no Hiroba Omusubi, hosted by the Hokuryu Town Social Welfare Council.

The venue is set up with tables and chairs for each group, and various games are available, including board games (about 100 types), Go, health mahjong, Othello, etc. There is also a kids' play corner in the center of the venue, where babies and toddlers can play safely.

First, at the reception, write your nickname on a paper nameplate and attach it to your chest. Then choose your favorite game and head to your favorite table!

The instructor who will be going around to each table to explain the game is board game enthusiast Yumi Komatsu, also known as "Yumineko" from "Nobinobi Board Games."

"If there's anything you don't understand, just call me Yumineko. I'll do my best to come and help you."

The gentle, friendly voice of the instructor, Yumineko, filled the hall. With her words as a signal, everyone shed their titles and ages and returned to being "playmates."

What are board games?

Board games, which have their origins in ancient civilizations, have evolved into a wide range of genres, including strategy, negotiation, and cooperation, with their greatest appeal being the "intense face-to-face communication" and "educational value." In this digital age, the global market is predicted to expand to approximately 4.7 trillion yen by 2030, and even in Japan, while the overall toy market is sluggish, the "games" sector continues to grow, and the value of analog is being reevaluated, with its use in education and welfare settings increasing.

【source】
🧸 Trends in the Japanese market: Japan Toy Association "Domestic toy market size in 2023"

Analog connects hearts

The tables at the venue were lined with a variety of colorful board games, including card games from around the world, balance games, and brain games.

The approximately 100 games are roughly divided into "easy," "normal," and "difficult" categories based on their content, and the game boxes indicate the target age and the required time.

Rather than through a digital screen, players roll dice, flip cards, and read each other's facial expressions. This is where the richness of "physical communication" lies, something that modern society has somewhat forgotten.

"How do I do this?"
"Oh, wow! You're good at this!"

Children meeting for the first time and elderly friends lean forward around a single board. They teach each other the rules, laugh when they fail, and high-five when they succeed. In front of the "common language" of games, it seems as if the barriers between generations do not exist.

The wishes contained in "Omusubi"

The nickname for this event, "Omusubi," contains the warm wish to "connect" people.

It's not just a place to kill time. Here, all participants write their nicknames on their name tags and call each other by their pet names. By lowering the barrier of honorifics like "Mr./Ms." and calling each other "Macchan" and "Yumineko," people can feel much closer to each other.

In one corner of the venue, seniors were seen handling mahjong tiles with expert dexterity. Even in the midst of a serious game, there was a calm atmosphere backed by long-standing relationships of trust. At a nearby table, small children were trying their hand at a building block-like game, their eyes shining.

People of different generations share their own "fun" in the same space. This scene is a manifestation of the "spirit of harmony" that Hokuryu Town has always cherished.

Between games, participants take breaks at the restaurant and engage in casual conversation.

"Have fun."
"thank you"

Such simple exchanges of words nourish the soul and give us energy for tomorrow.

"Work Convenience Store 2.0" creates a future of mutual support

On the same day, work was being carried out for the "Social Welfare Council Work Convenience Store 2.0" in another room within the building.

This warm place is supported by Hokuryu Town's unique "Social Welfare Council Job Convenience Store 2.0" system and the "compassion" of the people who gather there.

Someone creates a space for someone else, bringing their special skills to the table and making it fun. There is no boundary between those who provide the service and those who receive it; everyone there is a co-creator of this happy space.

A playful spirit creates the seeds of world peace

Winning isn't the only goal. What's important is to respect your opponent, follow the rules, and enjoy the time together.

The "imagination to be considerate of others" that is cultivated through board games will eventually lead to kindness that encompasses the entire society.
The small "circle of smiles" that was born at the Hokuryu Town Community Center may well be a prototype of the "peaceful community" that people all over the world are longing for.

A playful spirit and a spirit of harmony. "Minna no Hiroba Omusubi" is a flower of warm friendship that blooms in the winter of a snowy country, and is filled with boundless love, gratitude, and prayers.

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🖋️ Content planning, article writing, photo selection, and video creation: Ikuko Terauchi Photography, editing, and website management: Noboru Terauchi

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