Tuesday, March 17, 2026
- 1 The national government's "Regional Revitalization 2.0" initiative and the challenges faced by Hokuryu Town
- 2 Nurturing people: Sowing seeds for the future
- 2.1 1. Career Design Camp 2025 (September 1st-6th, 2025)
- 2.2 2. Workshop by handmade craft artists (September 14, 2025)
- 2.3 3. Commencement of trial operation of local public transportation (from October 1, 2025)
- 2.4 4. Himawari no Machi Craft Marche will be held (October 18th and 19th, 2025)
- 2.5 5. Hokuryu Town Logo Design Workshop (October 23, 2025)
- 2.6 6. Exhibiting at "Handmade in Japan Festival Winter 2026," Japan's largest craft event (January 17th and 18th, 2026)
- 2.7 7. Establishment of the Hokuryu Town Sunflower Community Development Cooperative (January 19, 2026)
- 2.8 8. Co-creation agreement with Jabaraiz Kitayama Hometown Tax Donation Program (January 28, 2026)
- 2.9 9. Community Development Forum 2026 to be held (February 15, 2026)
- 2.10 10. Presentation ceremony for the one-of-a-kind original picture book "Your Picture Book" (February 19, 2026)
- 3 The future of Himawari Holdings, shaped by numerous challenges.
- 4 YouTube videos
- 5 Other photos
- 6 Related Sites
The national government's "Regional Revitalization 2.0" initiative and the challenges faced by Hokuryu Town
In October 2024, the government drastically revised its previous regional revitalization policies and launched "Regional Revitalization 2.0." Grants were doubled from the previous 100 billion yen per year to 200 billion yen. Based on the philosophy that "regions are the main drivers of growth," the "New Regional Economic and Living Environment Creation Grant (Second Generation Grant)" was established.
Hokuryu Town in Hokkaido has been selected for a project worth approximately 1.91094 billion yen under this second-generation grant program, making it one of the largest projects in the country. The fact that a project of this scale has been launched in a town with a population of only 1,553 and an aging rate of 46.21% has surprised local government officials across the country.
Hokuryu Town has put forward the "Himawari Holdings" concept, which views the entire town as a single business entity. It has set forth seven pillars: promoting a compact town, a new public transportation network, nurturing human resources and organizations for town development, collaborative education and childcare, brand establishment and promotion, creating exchange and relationship populations, and forming a digital community, and will promote policies in an integrated manner with the participation of all town residents, from children to the elderly.
The words of Mayor Yasuhiro Sasaki are symbolic: "Young children are saying, 'We want a place where we can play even in winter.' Women in their prime working years are asking, 'Can we make a business out of the things we make with our hearts?' And the elders who have protected Himawari no Sato for 40 years are asking tough questions like, 'What are we going to do now?'" This attitude of trying to respond to the voices of all generations is the origin of this grand plan.
Here,Hokuryu Public Relations Magazine, September IssueFrom the projects featured in the "Regional Revitalization Topics" section since "[Title of the book]", we have selected and introduced 10 events that were covered by the Hokuryu Town Portal.
Nurturing people: Sowing seeds for the future
1. Career Design Camp 2025 (September 1st-6th, 2025)
A six-day program was held in Hokuryu Town where university students and young professionals from urban areas stayed to experience life and work in the town. The life story of Mayor Yasuhiro Sasaki, who transitioned from president of a construction company to mayor, served as the greatest "career design material" for the participants.
After 38 years and nine terms as a town councilor, why did he choose the path of becoming mayor? By confronting this question, the participants had the opportunity to re-examine the true meaning of "work." The six days, filled with both tears and smiles, became an invaluable time for both the townspeople and the participants.
2. Workshop by handmade craft artists (September 14, 2025)
In collaboration with Creema, Japan's largest handmade marketplace, workshops on tsumami zaiku (traditional Japanese fabric flower making) and rag weaving were held. Professional artists active throughout Japan served as instructors, and it was impressive to see the townspeople working intently on their creations. The warmth of handcrafted work connects people. Here you can find a value that cannot be measured by efficiency or rationality alone.
3. Commencement of trial operation of local public transportation (from October 1, 2025)
Kitaryu Town has begun trial operations of a new local public transportation system. Its nickname is "Himawaru." In a town with a vast area but limited public transportation, residents now have a means of transport. This step, which supports daily life such as shopping, going to the hospital, and going to school, embodies the "maintaining and improving essential services for daily life" that is emphasized in Regional Revitalization 2.0.
4. Himawari no Machi Craft Marche will be held (October 18th and 19th, 2025)
Thanks to a collaboration between Creema and Hokuryu Town, the first-ever craft market was held in Japan's largest sunflower village. Craftspeople from all over the country gathered, and for two days, the large hall on the second floor of the Hokuryu Town Community Center was enveloped in a warm world of handcrafted goods. This was an attempt to showcase the charm of Hokuryu Town beyond just sunflower season in a new way.
5. Hokuryu Town Logo Design Workshop (October 23, 2025)
A workshop was held online for elementary school fourth graders and junior high school students, connecting them with professional creators. The challenge was to "design the logo for Hokuryu Town with their own hands." The sight of the children seriously engaged in the design process is a reflection of the town's future. This small town has created a space where professional skills and children's sensibilities meet. This embodies the "creating a region chosen by young people" that Regional Revitalization 2.0 advocates in its purest form.
6. Exhibiting at "Handmade in Japan Festival Winter 2026," Japan's largest craft event (January 17th and 18th, 2026)
Kitaryu Town exhibited at Japan's largest creators' festival, held at Tokyo Big Sight. A town with a population of 1,553 people participated in a nationwide event that attracted tens of thousands of visitors. It was a completely new challenge that combined handmade culture with regional revitalization.
7. Establishment of the Hokuryu Town Sunflower Community Development Cooperative (January 19, 2026)
A cooperative has been established where diverse businesses in the region collaborate to jointly secure and train human resources. This system addresses the worsening shortage of personnel, including care workers and drivers, by having the entire town support each other rather than individual businesses tackling the problem alone. It's a moment when the spirit of "harmony" has taken shape as a formal system.
8. Co-creation agreement with Jabaraiz Kitayama Hometown Tax Donation Program (January 28, 2026)
A new development in the hometown tax donation system has begun through co-creation agreements with external companies. It's not just an exchange of return gifts, but an attitude of "creating together." It's the establishment of a new relationship where regions and companies work hand in hand as equal partners.
9. Community Development Forum 2026 to be held (February 15, 2026)
A forum was held where townspeople gathered to discuss the future of Hokuryu Town. It was not just a progress report on the Local Revitalization 2.0 grant project, but also a place for townspeople to frankly discuss "how they want to shape their town." This is a two-way relationship where the voices of the townspeople influence the administration, rather than a one-way street from the administration to the townspeople.
10. Presentation ceremony for the one-of-a-kind original picture book "Your Picture Book" (February 19, 2026)
To celebrate the arrival of a new life in Hokuryu Town, the entire town welcomed the baby with a presentation ceremony. Each child received a one-of-a-kind original picture book. The book, engraved with the child's name, conveys the message, "You were born into this town because you were wanted." This ceremony embodies Hokuryu Town's philosophy of cherishing each and every life, a philosophy that lies behind the town's declining population.
The future of Himawari Holdings, shaped by numerous challenges.
Looking back at each individual topic, a common spirit emerges: the "spirit of harmony" and "spirit of consideration" that the residents of Hokuryu Town have unconsciously practiced.
The warmth with which young people are welcomed at career design camps. Their earnest engagement in craftsmanship during hands-on workshops. The respect shown by professionals as they collaborate with children to design logos. The joy of delivering picture books to newborn babies...
Population: 1,553 (as of March 1, 2026). It boasts one of the highest amounts in the nation to receive the "New Local Economy and Living Environment Creation Grant Program: approximately 1.9 billion yen." The numbers alone might be surprising. However, the true strength of Hokuryu Town lies elsewhere. It's the way each and every resident embodies the image of a sunflower, raising its face towards the sun and blooming in harmony with its neighbors. That is the core of this town's regional revitalization.
In 2029, the "Exciting Future Creation Center (tentative name)" is scheduled to open in Himawari no Sato. It will be a place where all generations, from 0 to 100 years old, can take on challenges. The story of Hokuryu Town has only just begun.
YouTube videos
Other photos
Related Sites
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![A new restaurant, "Ryusai," opens in Hokuryu, filling a previously vacant area with Japanese and Chinese cuisine to capture hearts and stomachs. [Hokkaido Shimbun Digital]](https://portal.hokuryu.info/wp/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/2026-03-18-4.43.11-375x281.jpg)
