Springtime news from Hokuryu Town - The vibrant life of butterbur sprouts

Wednesday, April 15, 2026

In the melting snowfields of Hokuryu Town, Hokkaido, tiny, pale green creatures are peeking out here and there.

One of the first wild vegetables to announce the arrival of spring is the butterbur sprout.

From the soil of early spring, when the air still carries a chill, soft green buds gently emerge. Their appearance is somehow endearing, and it warms the heart.

The unique bittersweetness and refreshing aroma of butterbur sprouts—it's the very breath of the earth awakening from its long winter slumber.

This is the moment when the land of Hokuryu Town finally opens its doors to spring. Undeterred by the weight of the snow, the sprouts emerge, pushing aside the frozen ground—a testament to the resilience of life.

Butterbur sprouts gently convey to us the energy that plants possess when they awaken.

A moment that makes you feel the joy of spring, when your posture straightens up and your heart is filled with bright, energetic energy!

Against the backdrop of majestic mountain ranges, we offer our boundless love, gratitude, and prayers to the vibrant life sprouting from the earth—the "butterbur sprouts," a wild vegetable that heralds spring.

◇ noboru & ikuko