Thursday, March 12, 2026
- 1 A sustainable form of social education created by building bridges between generations - Hokuryu Town's "spirit of harmony" to the world
- 2 Related Sites
A sustainable form of social education created by building bridges between generations - Hokuryu Town's "spirit of harmony" to the world
Presentation at the Regional Lifelong Learning Activities Practice Exchange Seminar
The "Regional Lifelong Learning Activities Practical Exchange Seminar" sponsored by the Hokkaido Prefectural Lifelong Learning Promotion Center and the Hokkaido Council of Social Education Directors was held over two days, on Thursday, February 26th and Friday, February 27th, at the Hokkaido Citizens' Activity Center building "Kaderu 2.7" in Sapporo.
Speaking on stage as a representative of the Sorachi region in front of approximately 200 educators and community development stakeholders from across the prefecture was Naoki Kishi, social education officer at the Hokuryu Town Board of Education.
The title of Kishi's lecture was "A sustainable form of social education created by building bridges between generations." He talked about how the small town of Hokuryu fosters intergenerational exchange in daily life and builds a sustainable society that will connect to the future.
Creating a sustainable social education system through intergenerational bridges: Presentation PDF (excerpt)
The "Hokuryu Mirai Youth" project mentioned in this presentation is a project that Kishi himself came up with after hearing requests from children.
Starting in 2022, a registration system will be introduced for junior high school students and above. By encouraging students of junior high school age and above to participate in existing programs, the aim is to increase participants' self-esteem through connections with the local community and different generations, as well as to provide a place where they can develop an interest in the local area and develop a love for the town.
A sustainable form of social education created by building bridges between generations: Hokuryu Future Youth's interaction project connecting children and the elderly Naoki Kishi, Hokuryu Town Board of EducationHokuryu Town's unique features that set it apart from other areas
Efforts to revitalize local communities and promote lifelong learning are being undertaken all over the country, but the distinctive feature of Hokuryu Town that emerged from Mr. Kishi's presentation was that it did not pursue the "system efficiency" or "economic rationality" seen in other regions.
At the heart of social education in Hokuryu Town is the spirit of harmony and compassion that each and every citizen unconsciously cherishes.
Hope for a sustainable society that resonates with the world
Mr. Kishi's lecture was not just a report of success stories from local governments.
In today's world, where the pursuit of freedom and rationality has led to loneliness, the practices of Hokuryu Town offer a clear answer: true richness lies in the warm bonds between people.
- An attitude that values the richness of time spent with colleagues, rather than results or efficiency.
- Appreciating the small moments in everyday life, rather than special events, and caring for each other
- The joy of co-creation, transcending generational boundaries to create something
All of these things were born from the farming spirit and reverence for nature that the people of Hokuryu have cultivated over their long history.
From Hokuryu to the world, the spirit of harmony and compassion will continue to serve as a lighthouse gently shining on people's hearts, building a bridge to a peaceful and warm future.
Related Sites
Photography, editing, and website management: Noboru Terauchi◇
!["I-min" (Sapporo City) will be opening on March 12th! With a wide variety of Kurosengoku soybean products on sale, it's like an antenna shop! [Kurosengoku Business Cooperative Association]](https://portal.hokuryu.info/wp/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/2026-03-12-6.03.19-375x251.jpg)
