December 1, 2025 (Monday) Kurosenkoku, the "phantom black soybean" that once went extinct in the 1970s due to the difficulty of cultivation. Based on 50 seeds discovered in 2001, farmers in Hokuryu Town, Hokkaido, have begun their challenge. The leader is Chairman Yukio Takada […]
On March 19, 2026 (Thursday), farmers in Hokuryu Town, Hokkaido, declared in 1990 that they would become a "town that produces safe food to protect the lives and health of the people." Based on the philosophy that "food is life," they have implemented measures such as pesticide reduction, complete traceability, and a tripartite approach to agriculture. […]
March 19, 2026 (Thursday) In 1979, a sunflower field seen in the former Yugoslavia changed the fate of Hokuryu Town. The story began with a "one-are planting per household" movement by 422 farming households, and has since faced numerous challenges including heavy rains, bird damage, and tornadoes. […]
Thursday, March 19, 2026
Thursday, March 19, 2026 View this post on Instagram Post shared by Hokuryu Town Sunflower Tourism Association 🌻 (@sunflower_hokuryu)
On March 19, 2026 (Thursday), the Hokkaido Shimbun Co., Ltd. (Sapporo City) published an article on its website, [Hokkaido Shimbun Digital], "[Largest Increase Rate - Hokuryu Town: 389.4% Increase] Special Local Allocation Tax Increases by 10.6% to 17.5 Billion Yen in the Sorachi Region in FY2025 […]"
On March 18, 2026 (Wednesday), an article titled "A New Famous Restaurant Opens in Hokuryu: 'Ryusai' Fills a Lacking Area, Capturing Customers' Stomachs with Japanese and Chinese Cuisine" (dated March 17) was published on the Hokkaido Shimbun Digital website, operated by the Hokkaido Shimbun Co., Ltd. (Sapporo City). […]
On March 17, 2026 (Tuesday), Hokuryu Town in Hokkaido was selected for a grant project worth approximately 1.9 billion yen, one of the largest in the nation, under the national "Regional Revitalization 2.0" program. This small town of 1,553 people will transform the entire town into a single business entity called "Himawari Ho..."
March 17, 2026 (Tuesday) March 17th marks the beginning of the spring equinox... a special morning where gratitude for the departing winter and prayers for the coming spring intersect. From early morning, a powerful morning sun appeared in the sky where soft, fluffy snowflakes had been falling...
Tuesday, March 17, 2026 ◇
