Monday, April 27, 2026
- 1 One connection leads to another—a mysterious connection with Hokuryu Town
- 2 "There are so many treasures at Hokuryu!" — The view from the principal's office
- 3 "Shinryu Elementary School is full of treasures!" — Passion for sharing
- 4 Transition to compulsory education schools—nine precious years
- 5 A new spring assignment—every day is filled with joy.
- 6 In conclusion—the wish embodied in the name "Yumiyo"
- 7 Newsletter from the Principal's Office of Shinryu Elementary School
- 8 Related articles
One connection leads to another—a mysterious connection with Hokuryu Town
"My father (whose last name is Kumamoto) is from this area. He used to say 'Yawara' (meaning 'harmony') back then," Principal Hamamoto said shyly.
The principal, who was born and raised in Takikawa City and has previously worked at schools in various parts of Sorachi, including Iwamizawa City, Shintotsukawa Town, Kuriyama Town, and Sunagawa City, has now been assigned to the northern Sorachi region for the first time.
When it was decided that he would be assigned to Shinryu Elementary School, the first thing he did was open the Hokuryu Town Portal. "When it was decided that I would be in Hokuryu, a lot of things came up here first, you know. Like, there are shops like this, and events like this are happening," he said with a smile.
My connection with Superintendent Yoshiki Tanaka is also a remarkable coincidence. More than 20 years ago, when I was working at Akabira Junior High School, Superintendent Tanaka, who had just been appointed vice-principal, was full of enthusiasm, saying, "Let's do something to improve the school, let's make it a good school," and he led the young staff in their 30s and 40s.
After a long and winding journey, we are once again in the same Hokuryu area, discussing the future of education. The wonder and warmth of human connection permeated Principal Hamamoto's words.
"There are so many treasures at Hokuryu!" — The view from the principal's office
It had only been three weeks since he took up his post. Yet, what flowed from Principal Hamamoto's mouth one after another was love and amazement for the children of Hokuryu.
Children who don't press buttons
Every morning, the principal, who greeted the children at the crosswalk in front of the school gate with a flag, noticed something strange. Even though there were children on the other side, they were reluctant to press the crosswalk button.
"They usually start pushing after a while, though..."
I found this strange, so I asked the parents, and the answer I received was:
"We wait while cars are passing. It's a manner that's ingrained in people who grew up in Hokuryu."
No one taught them. The children of Hokuryu Town naturally picked it up by watching the adults do it. Principal Hamamoto said
"Right now, I'm always thinking about myself, and there are a lot of things I do prioritizing myself, so I was really surprised by the children's behavior."
He spoke quietly, and told us that he was deeply moved by the "spirit of harmony" that flows at the heart of this town.
The principal's newsletter included Principal Hamamoto's sincere words: "Our role is to understand the character of our town, to understand each and every child, and to help them build their future."
Kendama and the adults who give it a start
In the entrance hall, there are kendama (a traditional Japanese cup-and-ball game) lined up for children to play with freely during their lunch break.
Naoki Kishi, a social education specialist at the Board of Education, has been running a kendama club every Tuesday for four years (see:Hokuryu Town Portal Category・Hokuryu Kendama Club Instagram）。
Seeing Ms. Kishi standing there watching over the children as they go to school in the mornings, the children naturally become attached to her.
The principal watches over the children with a warm gaze as they call out, "Kissy, Kissy!"
"This town really has a great deal of social education. It's such a tiny town, yet they're taking on all sorts of challenges," said Principal Hamamoto, who had just taken up his post, expressing his amazement at the resilience of Hokuryu Town.
I was impressed by the rice served in school lunches.
"I was surprised by how delicious the rice in the school lunch was," the principal said with a smile. His surprise at the exceptional taste of rice from Kita-Sorachi is surely the first step towards appreciating the rich land of Hokuryu.
"Shinryu Elementary School is full of treasures!" — Passion for sharing
When his previous school, Sunagawa Kitako Elementary School, closed, Principal Hamamoto used Facebook to deliver information to graduates scattered across the country and collaborated with multiple media outlets, including NHK, to preserve the memory of the school's closure.
"I believe that disseminating information is extremely important for education going forward,"—her words were backed by a conviction based on her own experiences.
NHK was invited to the first-grade students' lunch event, and when parents were also invited, half of them showed up. I was struck by the principal's happy face as he said, "I'm sure it will be fun for them to hear that their children or grandchildren are on TV."
I want to redesign the Shinryu Elementary School website, start an Instagram account, and so on—the list of things I want to do just keeps coming to me.
"Shinryu Elementary School is full of treasures," said Principal Hamamoto with a gentle smile. "Please feel free to come and interview us anytime," he added warmly.
Transition to compulsory education schools—nine precious years
In 2029 (Reiwa 11), Shinryu Elementary School will embark on a new chapter as a compulsory education school in a newly constructed building. The school will provide consistent support to children for nine years, from elementary to junior high school. Principal Hamamoto, who took office at this historic turning point, is currently collaborating with other principals of compulsory education schools to discuss "how to nurture children over these nine years."
"How can we cultivate a love for our hometown...?" Those words, spoken quietly yet powerfully, left a lasting impression on people's hearts.
Principal Hamamoto's wish, "Even if you leave Hokuryu, I want you to spread your wings and go out into the world with pride in having grown up in this town," was directed straight towards that goal.
A new spring assignment—every day is filled with joy.
Even amidst the hectic days of starting her new position, the principal's expression remains bright and cheerful, as she says, "Every day is filled with exciting and inspiring experiences."
"I'm so glad I came to this wonderful town"—those words said it all.
In conclusion—the wish embodied in the name "Yumiyo"
I quietly read the name Hamamoto Yumiyo again in my heart.
We will attract (possess) a wonderful future (unseen) with our own hands and pass it on to the next era (generation).
It's as if this name was specifically prepared for Kitaryu Town in this era.
In the principal's office in April, the warm spring sunlight streamed in.
Principal Hamamoto's warm smile and deep affection for the children gave me the feeling that the future of this town would be gently illuminated—it was an unforgettable moment filled with such a sense of anticipation.
Newsletter from the Principal's Office of Shinryu Elementary School
Newsletter from the Principal's Office of Shinryu Elementary School
Organization, service regulations, training, educational situation, school news, etc. ④
080427 Written by the PrincipalThanks for the "Let's give it a try"!
In my last letter...UD FontWhen I spoke to them about it, they immediately incorporated it into their letters and materials, which conveyed to me the message, "I was listening to what you had to say." I am grateful to the teachers who, even if they felt that "it's just a font and it won't make a difference" or "it doesn't concern my class," took action by thinking, "If that's what you say, I'll try changing it. It won't be much trouble."
（Note: UD fontWhat is a universal design font? (A font designed to be easily readable by anyone.)
From calling someone by their first name to adding "-san"Seeing the teacher trying to make changes makes me want to support them.
For personal goals,Words that are mindful of achieving educational goalsSome classrooms had rows of these. You could almost see the homeroom teachers who had taken the principal's wishes to heart and were carefully engaging with the children.
In some schools, policies are implemented top-down, such as directives from the board of education or management policies from the principal. This is said to have disadvantages, such as an increase in people who wait for instructions, difficulty in reflecting opinions from the field, and a tendency for dissatisfaction to escalate.
Teachers will undoubtedly have their own opinions on the "child development" that Hokuryu Town aims for. However, this small town is trying to change, starting with education.We are now beginning to take on the time-consuming field of education, hoping that it will eventually bear great fruit.I feel a sense of awe at that.
I am determined to manage this town's elementary school in a way that will bring the town's aspirations to fruition.
The Gentle Child of the Northern Dragon
Every morning, I observed the children going to school from outside and noticed that they were slow to press the button at the pedestrian crossing signal. At first, I thought, "Maybe they're taking their time to check left and right."
However, a local resident who was helping to keep watch explained to me, "It's common courtesy for people who grew up in Hokuryu to wait and not press the button while a car is passing." Indeed, when a car is approaching, no one presses the button.
Prioritize the smooth flow of traffic over your own desire to cross the pedestrian crossing.Townspeople's characteristicsI was shocked.
"Nobody taught me that. Everyone just does it naturally," I heard from someone else.Kindness flows at the heart of this townI learned that.
We school staff are "outsiders" who will be gone after a few years. However, once we decide to work here, we dedicate ourselves wholeheartedly to the children of this town. To do that, it's essential to become integrated into the community.
No matter how right it may be, if you are striving in incompatible directions, it will be painful for both of you. Facing children means nurturing future talent, and as a result,Creating the future of the townThat's the point.
Review your routines based on your own methods and experience.Our role is to understand the character of the town, understand each and every child, and help them build their future.is.
It's not just teachers who teach classes. There are also administrative staff, accounting staff, etc.From all perspectives involved with schoolsThey focus on the children, get to know the town, and steadily move forward with what they can do.
The idea of striving for "average" in education is a thing of the high-growth era. Now is the time for embracing diversity and nurturing individual strengths. We need to observe each person carefully, share their strengths and what they want to improve,Towards each individual goalPlease let them go.
Related articles
Sunagawa Kitako Elementary School
Hokuryu Town Board of Education
Photography, editing, and website management: Noboru Terauchi◇
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