{"id":67272,"date":"2025-12-12T09:36:42","date_gmt":"2025-12-12T00:36:42","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/portal.hokuryu.info\/?p=67272"},"modified":"2025-12-12T13:34:37","modified_gmt":"2025-12-12T04:34:37","slug":"%e5%90%b9%e9%9b%aa%e3%81%ae%e5%a4%9c%e3%80%81%e5%91%bd%e3%82%92%e9%81%8b%e3%81%b6%e3%83%8f%e3%83%b3%e3%83%89%e3%83%ab%e3%81%ab%e6%84%9f%e8%ac%9d%e3%80%82%e5%8c%97%e7%ab%9c%e7%94%baterra3%e5%9c%b0","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/portal.hokuryu.info\/en\/67272\/","title":{"rendered":"On a snowy night, I&#039;m grateful for the steering wheel that carries my life. Hokuryu Town&#039;s local public transportation &quot;Himawari&quot; connects me to a safe journey home"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>Friday, December 12, 2025<\/p>\n<div class=\"ep-box es-BpaperRight es-grid bgc-VPsky\"> On a snowstormy night in December, the inside of the local public transport &quot;Himawari&quot; headed from Takikawa Station to Hokuryu Town. With visibility obscured, the driver at the wheel exuded a strong sense of responsibility as he protected the lives of six people, including high school students. Human warmth and professional skills shine brightly in the harsh natural environment. This is a story of heartfelt gratitude and prayer for the &quot;guardians&quot; who support the safety of Hokuryu Town. <\/div>\n<h2>On a night of heavy snowstorms, I&#039;m grateful for the steering wheel that saves my life. The local public transportation &quot;Himawari&quot; connects me to a safe journey home<\/h2>\n<h3>The fear of the snowstorm and the relief inside the car<\/h3>\n<p>It was just after 7pm in December. The journey home from Takikawa Station to Hokuryu Town was a stark reminder of the harshness of Hokkaido&#039;s winter. There were six people on board the on-demand local public transport service, &quot;Himawari,&quot; most of them high school students who had likely finished their club activities or studies. Shortly after we set off, the world changed completely.<\/p>\n<p>A fierce snowstorm slammed into the windshield, casting a blanket of white light across the view. The headlights were blocked by the snow, making it difficult to see more than a few meters ahead. Outside the car was a frigid world, ravaged by the power of nature. However, inside this small vehicle, there was a strange sense of silence and security.<\/p>\n<h3>Respect for the professional &quot;guardians&quot;<\/h3>\n<p>The driver&#039;s back, gripping the wheel, seemed to harbor a quiet fighting spirit amidst the tension. The road conditions changed from moment to moment, sudden gusts of wind that took away visibility... He responded to each and every one of these with years of experience and a finely honed sense, and his professional skills kept the vehicle stable.<\/p>\n<p>The single red line on the navigation screen was not just a guidepost, but a lifeline guiding us safely home. In a situation where it would have been natural to feel scared, we were able to rest easy in our seats because we had absolute trust in the driver.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><a href=\"https:\/\/photos.google.com\/share\/AF1QipM6qvas5maeW5Hlp2dbc_auC4zdJUu_y181UKqWcVky7WpU1_Q0gqpk2H7CME_YLw\/photo\/AF1QipMgte7Qc3L6vAOoPNiE-AilA6p1QYuKSUz8Rq0?key=dVh5a2czSXhmSzk4bHp6Y011NWZiV1pSa1BodVZ3\" target=\"_blank\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/lh3.googleusercontent.com\/pw\/AP1GczN7Ci1NN3ZV3FLmH0abiBICvDwfTxiYcw1jYqRLuAfcBSqPokwlehswvSA5B51nSuI8LURrMb52CiGTHhuD20eji-v2c8W0ABNSdmJKFWvEi1Uo3X_LqfG4Sx1tt0ky_8Stz-Cy3PN7AHMmpPUpvrLC=w2000-h1125-s-no-gm?authuser=0\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1125\" alt=\"A blizzard pounding against the windshield!!!\" class=\"size-medium\" \/><\/a><figcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">A blizzard pounding against the windshield!!!<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<figure class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><a href=\"https:\/\/photos.google.com\/share\/AF1QipM6qvas5maeW5Hlp2dbc_auC4zdJUu_y181UKqWcVky7WpU1_Q0gqpk2H7CME_YLw\/photo\/AF1QipNBPwrR9mjpgktBqz-1xnufohHkkuQA955pKY4?key=dVh5a2czSXhmSzk4bHp6Y011NWZiV1pSa1BodVZ3\" target=\"_blank\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/lh3.googleusercontent.com\/pw\/AP1GczMlFDZ2YlV4vev9PgPuUPXGFjLerTNvSTrPFQODBXAo60pnCKMyIsu69wjF_oV7BZJyNFPDHbvu9OxVqRPojIexFLQxu75bWzElKmcsSnwmBclcNtRHREM2vzfzAohMgMpBTXAAYl4XiFc7t0BTRk_z=w2000-h1125-s-no-gm?authuser=0\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1125\" alt=\"The single red line shown by the navigation system is a lifeline that leads people safely home!\" class=\"size-medium\" \/><\/a><figcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">The single red line shown by the navigation system is a lifeline that leads people safely home!<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<figure class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><a href=\"https:\/\/photos.google.com\/share\/AF1QipM6qvas5maeW5Hlp2dbc_auC4zdJUu_y181UKqWcVky7WpU1_Q0gqpk2H7CME_YLw\/photo\/AF1QipOfIcGxWesFJxRtueuiWuf7mEii1YwcWpL2WMc?key=dVh5a2czSXhmSzk4bHp6Y011NWZiV1pSa1BodVZ3\" target=\"_blank\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/lh3.googleusercontent.com\/pw\/AP1GczN4y7R2GHCgT6szzZvZGdTwxNyf2_OuhDqsHyR5KN_Cqfx8l4iK2WuFtwwvldx00MAWtzg1_j7hAPQ9RmszG2rmU4k2Q-FERpp3uWncvN--Pt6Uql8yHlPdrIom1eurNpWlWg08fpBm14TqTNqkjnDr=w2000-h1125-s-no-gm?authuser=0\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1125\" alt=\"Streetlight illuminated signpost\" class=\"size-medium\" \/><\/a><figcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Streetlight illuminated signpost<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<figure class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><a href=\"https:\/\/photos.google.com\/share\/AF1QipM6qvas5maeW5Hlp2dbc_auC4zdJUu_y181UKqWcVky7WpU1_Q0gqpk2H7CME_YLw\/photo\/AF1QipMgzHxp-Ws3waVmI0I24Q7drtqV5YpCj8v791M?key=dVh5a2czSXhmSzk4bHp6Y011NWZiV1pSa1BodVZ3\" target=\"_blank\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/lh3.googleusercontent.com\/pw\/AP1GczPmRfqaZvaADaihkE1XJZlTowAF_Ewf6Yt8EKEvAtnXvPAxL9r6HXtr7OoONcVlrcw3XV5UVBMtia3NYzltHSiOLk-KerSLjWCm7HNFNlBbVNauoXgMUEOfSCxUTg5djMJPJgcdlfM200ASTN1DKc_c=w2000-h1125-s-no-gm?authuser=0\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1125\" alt=\"With heartfelt gratitude to the drivers of Hokuryu Town Demand Transportation, who are helping to protect lives!\" class=\"size-medium\" \/><\/a><figcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">With heartfelt gratitude to the drivers of Hokuryu Town Demand Transportation, who are helping to protect lives!<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<h3>Carrying the local treasure, &quot;high school students&quot;<\/h3>\n<p>The four high school students on board the bus represent the future of Hokuryu Town. Delivering them safely to the warm homes of their parents in the midst of bad weather is more than just a transportation service; it is also an act of love, protecting and raising children together as a community.<\/p>\n<p>The driver&#039;s fatigue must have been beyond imagination. After a nerve-wracking drive on snowy roads, I can only imagine the sense of relief he must have felt when he arrived safely in Hokuryu Town.<\/p>\n<h3>With love, gratitude and prayers<\/h3>\n<p>It was a night that once again brought home to me the warmth of people and the dignity of work that supports society. The &quot;freedom of movement&quot; that we take for granted is protected by the dedicated work of people like this.<\/p>\n<p>Thank you very much to the drivers. Your steering wheel is protecting someone&#039;s precious life and the smiles of their family today.<\/p>\n<p>We sincerely pray for the safety and health of all those who protect our winter roads during this snowy season, and for all those who operate public transportation systems and transport lives.<\/p>\n<h2>YouTube videos<\/h2>\n<div class=\"youtube\"><iframe title=\"My GoPro Videos\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/svl2L4fYrwM?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/div>\n<h2>Other photos<\/h2>\n<div class=\"img-move\"><img decoding=\"async\" style=\"vertical-align: middle;\" src=\"https:\/\/ehokkaido.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/2021-12-06-11.41.12.png\" \/> <a href=\"https:\/\/photos.app.goo.gl\/aKjNTS1BxrStJJ6s6\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Photos (68 photos) of Hokuryu Town Regional Public Transportation On-Demand (starting January 10, R7) are here &gt;&gt;<\/a><\/div>\n<h2>Related articles<\/h2>\n\n        <div class=\"site-blogcard-premium\">\n            <div class=\"bc-label-custom\">Related articles<\/div>\n            <div class=\"bc-flex-container\">\n                <div class=\"bc-main-text\">\n                    <div class=\"bc-title-link-box\">\n                        <a href=\"https:\/\/portal.hokuryu.info\/en\/43226\/\" target=\"_blank\">https:\/\/portal.hokuryu.info\/43226<\/a>\n                    <\/div>\n                    <div class=\"bc-excerpt-box\">Unable to retrieve page information.<\/div>\n                <\/div>\n                <div class=\"bc-thumbnail-box\">\n                    <a href=\"https:\/\/portal.hokuryu.info\/en\/43226\/\" target=\"_blank\">\n                        <div class=\"bc-img-zoom-wrap\">\n                            <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/portal.hokuryu.info\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/20230802DSC06445_1.jpg\" alt=\"https:\/\/portal.hokuryu.info\/43226\">\n                        <\/div>\n                    <\/a>\n                <\/div>\n            <\/div>\n        <\/div>\n\u3000\u3000<br \/>\n\u25c7 <a href=\"https:\/\/portal.hokuryu.info\/en\/62509\/\">\ud83d\udd8b\ufe0f Content planning, article writing, photo selection, and video creation: Ikuko Terauchi<img decoding=\"async\" style=\"vertical-align: middle;\" src=\"https:\/\/ehokkaido.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/2021-12-06-11.41.12.png\" \/> Photography, editing, and website management: Noboru Terauchi<\/a><\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>2025\u5e7412\u670812\u65e5\uff08\u91d1\uff09 12\u6708\u3001\u5439\u96ea\u306e\u591c\u3001\u6edd\u5ddd\u99c5\u304b\u3089\u5317\u7adc\u753a\u3078\u5411\u304b\u3046\u5730\u57df\u516c\u5171\u4ea4\u901a\u300c\u3072\u307e\u308f\u308b\u300d\u306e\u8eca\u5185\u3002\u8996\u754c\u304c\u596a\u308f\u308c\u308b\u4e2d\u3001\u30cf\u30f3\u30c9\u30eb\u3092\u63e1\u308b\u904b\u8ee2\u624b\u3055\u3093\u306e\u80cc\u4e2d\u306b\u306f\u3001\u9ad8\u6821\u751f\u3092\u542b\u30806\u540d\u306e\u547d\u3092\u5b88\u308b\u5f37\u3044\u8cac\u4efb\u611f\u304c\u6ef2\u3093 [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":67284,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[4,112],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-67272","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-cover-story","category-local_revitalization_2"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/portal.hokuryu.info\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/67272","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/portal.hokuryu.info\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/portal.hokuryu.info\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/portal.hokuryu.info\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/portal.hokuryu.info\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=67272"}],"version-history":[{"count":8,"href":"https:\/\/portal.hokuryu.info\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/67272\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":67389,"href":"https:\/\/portal.hokuryu.info\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/67272\/revisions\/67389"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/portal.hokuryu.info\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/67284"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/portal.hokuryu.info\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=67272"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/portal.hokuryu.info\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=67272"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/portal.hokuryu.info\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=67272"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}