Friday, February 27, 2026
- 1 Congratulations! Ceremony and celebration for Yutaka Sano, an honorary citizen of Hokuryu Town | A bond of gratitude woven through half a century of dedication and the "spirit of harmony"
- 1.1 Chapter 1: Election as a unanimous vote of the townspeople - the joy and pride of 1,551 people
- 1.2 Chapter 2: More than half a century of dedication - A life lived with Hokuryu Town since the age of 18
- 1.3 Chapter 3: Humility and Gratitude - The Spirit of Harmony that Connects to the Future
- 1.4 Chapter 4: Family support and the extended family of the community
- 1.5 Chapter 5: Delicious food brings together smiles and conversation
- 1.6 Three cheers: Hokuryu Town Chamber of Commerce and Industry Chairman Masahito Fujii
- 1.7 Conclusion: Hokuryu Town shows the world a signpost for a peaceful society
- 1.8 Seeing off
- 2 YouTube videos
- 3 Other photos
- 4 Related Sites
Congratulations! Ceremony and celebration for Yutaka Sano, an honorary citizen of Hokuryu Town | A bond of gratitude woven through half a century of dedication and the "spirit of harmony"
On Sunday, February 22nd, when snow was still lingering, the ceremony to select former Mayor Yutaka Sano as an honorary citizen and celebration were held at Sunflower Park Hokuryu Onsen, with the venue filled with the warm spirit of Hokuryu Town.
The venue was filled with many townspeople and people involved who deeply admired Mr. Sano. It was more than just a ceremony; it was filled with deep affection and a "spirit of harmony," as if celebrating a large family. The "spirit of compassion" that Hokuryu Town has always cherished was embodied, and warmth permeated every corner of the space.
Chapter 1: Election as a unanimous vote of the townspeople - the joy and pride of 1,551 people
Greetings from Mayor Yasuhiro Sasaki, Representative of the Founders
"Congratulations to all of you who have been appointed honorary citizens of Hokuryu Town today.
I believe that each and every one of the 1,551 townspeople is very happy. While this is a celebration for Mr. Sano and the Sano family, we townspeople are the happiest of all. This is the birth of an honorary townsperson that we can all be truly proud of.
Last year, at the regular council meeting held on December 11, 2025, all council members agreed to this. The nomination of Mr. Sano as an honorary citizen was not a decision made from above, but rather came from spontaneous calls from various organizations and residents within the town who wanted to make him an honorary citizen.
Even junior high school students admired the former mayor and spoke highly of his achievements. This is proof of how much Mr. Sano was loved by the townspeople and how deeply he connected with them. It was such a joyous event that I don't think it's often that we receive so many endorsements from townspeople.
As you know, Mr. Sano has held many positions up to now. I have heard that he maintained close ties with the various organizations in which he held each position. After Mr. Sano left, whenever I attended town and village meetings, I was always greeted by people from all over Hokkaido, asking, "Mr. Sano, how are you doing?" and "I'd love to have another drink with you," which was a great help to me.
I believe that the greatest reason why Mr. Sano deserves to be an honorary townsperson is that what he has valued above all else in town administration is to "put the townspeople at the center," and that this is the result of his 12 years as mayor, in which he has thought hard about the townspeople. I truly believe that this compassion has now borne fruit in the best possible form, in the form of the "gratitude" he has received from the townspeople.
"Mr. Sano is still young, and I hope he will continue to be of great help in various fields. Congratulations on your success today. Thank you very much," Mayor Sasaki said with strength and kindness.
Awarded the title of honorary townsperson
Bouquet presentation: Sakuma Yoshida and Taishiro Sano
Chapter 2: More than half a century of dedication - A life lived with Hokuryu Town since the age of 18
Hokuryu Town Council Chairman Naokazu Nakamura spoke of Mr. Sano's extraordinary dedication over the years.
"At the fourth regular meeting in December last year, the Hokuryu Town Council unanimously approved the designation of Mr. Yutaka Sano as an honorary citizen. Once again, I would like to offer my congratulations and best wishes. I would also like to express my gratitude to the many people connected to Mr. Sano who were able to attend today's grand celebration.
Mr. Sano has served in various departments, served as the first deputy mayor since the system was changed, and then ran for mayor, winning his second and third terms unopposed, carrying the heavy responsibility of serving as mayor for three terms and 12 years. In recognition of his passion and hard work, as well as his brilliant achievements, such as receiving the Order of the Rising Sun, Gold and Silver Rays last year, he has been approved as an honorary town resident in both name and reality.
It has been 54 years since I started working at Hokuryu Town Hall at the age of 18. It is quite an achievement to have dedicated more than half of your life to Hokuryu Town. I would like to express my sincere gratitude for this long service.
Mr. Sano is the sixth honorary citizen of Hokuryu Town, and together with the fifth honorary citizen, Mr. Ryoji Kikura, we ask for your guidance and encouragement for the further development of Hokuryu Town. I would like to conclude my congratulatory speech by wishing the Sano family continued prosperity, as well as good health and happiness for all those in attendance, and the continued development of Hokuryu Town. Congratulations on your arrival today!' said Chairman Nakamura.
It is no exaggeration to say that Mr. Sano's journey is the history of Hokuryu Town itself. Agriculture, commerce, industry, and the lives of the townspeople. His honest attitude of keeping an eye on all of these, listening to them and working hard together with them, has built an unshakable trust.
Chapter 3: Humility and Gratitude - The Spirit of Harmony that Connects to the Future
After receiving the title of honorary citizen and a beautiful bouquet of flowers from his grandchildren, Mr. Sano expressed deep gratitude and humility in his speech of thanks.
"I would like to express my sincere gratitude to all of you for attending in such large numbers, despite it being the middle day of a long weekend and a busy time as spring farming begins.
I am extremely honored to be attending this celebration, which combines the award I received in July of last year with my appointment as an honorary citizen. I am also deeply honored to have received such gracious congratulatory remarks from Mayor Sasaki and Chairman Nakamura.
With the consent of the heads of various local organizations, I was appointed an honorary citizen of Hokuryu Town at the regular town council meeting last December.
As an honorary citizen of Hokuryu Town, I know better than anyone that I am not worthy of this award, but as not everyone can receive it, I have gladly accepted.
I have received this award only thanks to the support and cooperation of my seniors, colleagues, and the many townspeople. I would like to express my deepest gratitude. I will be a senior citizen in just one month, and together with my senior and honorary townsperson, Mr. Ryoji Kikura, I would like to do whatever I can to contribute to the development of Hokuryu Town.
"We would like to ask for your continued support, guidance, and encouragement. Thank you very much for coming today," said Mr. Sano. His powerful and warm words deeply moved the audience, who gave him a hearty round of applause.
Chapter 4: Family support and the extended family of the community
Minoru Nagai, representative director of the Hokuryu district of Kitasorachi Agricultural Cooperative, led the toast at the banquet and shared a heartwarming story about his relationship with Mr. Sano.
"I heard from my father that from the time Mr. Sano worked in the Industry Division, he had a good personality, excellent communication skills, and was a hard worker who devoted himself to agricultural policy. Apparently, even over drinks, people would say, 'Mr. Sano could be the future mayor.'
I myself have received a lot of guidance and encouragement from Mayor Sano since I was in my 30s, even when I participated in events related to sunflower rice. I was very impressed by how Mayor Sano treated me like a father.
"You mentioned that you will soon be entering the late-stage elderly age of 75, so we hope you will use the experience and breadth of knowledge you have cultivated to provide guidance to us. We would like to see our generation liven up Hokuryu Town, so we would appreciate your guidance and encouragement."
Mr. Nagai then directed his words to Mr. Sano's wife, who had continued to support him behind the scenes.
"His wife, Tomoko, has supported Sano Yutaka for many years, more than 50 years now. I would like to express my deepest respect for that."
"Now, let us propose a toast to the continued growth of the Sano family and to the good health of all those in attendance. Congratulations! Cheers!!!"
Great achievements that could not be achieved alone can be realized with the warm support of family and the strong family ties of the community. The enthusiasm and smiles at the celebration vividly reflected the beauty of Hokuryu's pride and joy, a "society where people care for each other and support each other."
Chapter 5: Delicious food brings together smiles and conversation
After the ceremony, the long-awaited celebration began. Delicious dishes showcasing the bounty of Hokuryu Town were lined up, bringing even more smiles to the faces of the attendees.
Food
"Eating delicious food together is the most powerful magic that unites hearts," and just as this saying goes, the expressions of the people gathered around the table and chatted were filled with joy. They shared drinks and exclaimed, "It's delicious!" There was a genuine connection between people, transcending the boundaries of position and age.
At another table, people were enjoying carefully prepared food and sharing their memories of time with Sano.
Connecting hearts through food. This casual, yet extremely enriching moment was a sight that convinced me that it is this that strengthens the bonds of the Hokuryu community more than anything else.
Three cheers: Hokuryu Town Chamber of Commerce and Industry Chairman Masahito Fujii
Conclusion: Hokuryu Town shows the world a signpost for a peaceful society
The ceremony and celebration for Yutaka Sano to be named an honorary citizen of Hokuryu Town was not only a chance to honor a great contributor, but also a sacred ritual to reaffirm the "spirit of harmony" shared by the entire town of Hokuryu.
Rather than boasting about their authority or positions, people are considerate of others and express gratitude to one another. They are grateful for the blessings of nature and share smiles around the dinner table. This unpretentious, everyday life in Hokuryu is surely a microcosm of the peaceful society the world should strive for.
Congratulations to Mayor Sano of Buzen Town and his wife, Tomoko. The deep love and gratitude that the two of you have woven together will surely be passed down forever as a source of pride for Hokuryu Town.
Seeing off
<Commemorative photo>
In today's society, where conflict and division are endless, we offer our boundless love, gratitude, and prayers to the Honorary Citizen Celebration for Yutaka Sano, who lights a flame of hope in the hearts of people all over the world.
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