Mayor Yasuhiro Sasaki explores the charms of Hokuryu Town [May 2024]

Tuesday, May 7, 2024

On Wednesday, May 1st, Mayor Yasuhiro Sasaki conducted his May inspection of Hokuryu Town.

Mayor Yasuhiro Sasaki's inspection of Hokuryu Town [May]

Mayor Sasaki's monthly town inspections are conducted by the town manager himself, who drove the town's official car, and this time he toured the town thoroughly for two hours.

The tour took in Konpira Park, where cherry blossoms are in full bloom, Yamaken Co., Ltd. recreation facility, Farm Tomorrow (President Doi Kenichi), which grows organic tomatoes, the cherry blossom-lined road near the park golf course, Mibaushi Shrine (where the ground-breaking ceremony had already taken place), Honoka Agricultural Cooperative (unfortunately it was a holiday), and finally ended with him washing his official car.

Konpira Park

At Konpira Park, where the cherry blossoms are in full bloom, work was underway to clean up twigs and dead leaves.

"We are working hard to clean up and pick up dead branches and leaves so that everyone who camps can have a comfortable time.

"The work is very hard, but we have fun chatting with our colleagues while we work, so it's a really enjoyable time!" were the kind words of those who manage the park.

Taking a commemorative photo with Mayor Sasaki

"Wow, I'm so happy to meet you, Mayor!" she said with a big smile.

Commemorative photo with Mayor Sasaki

A light truck full of twigs

Exchange of opinions with campers

Just then, a camper from Rusutsu was preparing his tent, so Mayor Sasaki called out to him, "How do you like this campsite?"

"It's a very comfortable campsite, I love it!" said a camper.

Exchange of opinions with park managers

"Are there any problems within the park?" asked Mayor Sasaki.

"The toilets (located within the park grounds) have been upgraded to flush toilets, which is great, but I would like them to consider improving the unisex areas."

We also had a lively conversation with the manager, Mr. Hiromitsu Kando...

Rest area in the park

Inside the facility (rest area toilets cannot be used)

Residents visiting the cherry blossom viewing area

Yamaken Resort Facilities Co., Ltd.

Scenery during the cherry blossom season

Well-maintained garden

A view of the majestic snow-capped Mount Edai

Organic tomato cultivation: Agricultural production corporation Farm Tomorrow Ltd. (President Kenichi Doi)

The organically grown tomatoes (Farm Tomorrow brand) are packed in-house and sold widely in department stores and mass retailers in Hokkaido, the Tokyo metropolitan area, and Kansai.

President Kenichi Doi preparing the compost

The event will be lively and will cover a variety of topics, including Doi's management methods, advertising recruitment methods, the nature of hometown tax donations, and changing values.

Along the way, we met a big deer at Sunflower Village!

Cherry blossom-lined road near the park golf course

Fields undergoing plowing

Official car wash

After a two-hour tour of the town, Mayor Sasaki personally washes the official car.

After clearing the mud from the fields, we were done! Thank you for your hard work!

Mayor Sasaki's tour of Hokuryu Town, where he admires the magnificent natural scenery and listens carefully to the silent voices of the townspeople who love Hokuryu Town and work hard to bring them to the town administration, is filled with boundless love, gratitude, and prayer.

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Other photos

Photos (107 photos) from Mayor Sasaki Yasuhiro's Hokuryu Town Inspection 2024 are here >>

◇ Interview and text: Ikuko Terauchi (Photography and editing assistance: Noboru Terauchi)