Smiles abound in the Tanpopo Club activities (Hokuryu Town Social Welfare Council)

Tuesday, September 1, 2020

On Thursday, August 27th, the "Tanpopo Club" activities were held at the Hokuryu Town Commercial Revitalization Facility COCOWA multipurpose hall (10:00-14:00). 13 people participated freely that day.


Tanpopo Club

The Dandelion Club is a program that supports people who are able to function independently to stay healthy and live at home, and is run by the town in cooperation with the Hokuryu Town Social Welfare Council.

The event will be held twice a week from 10:00 to 14:00 in the Wa district of Hokuryu (Kokowa Multipurpose Hall, Thursdays) and the Hekisui district (Community Support Center, Wednesdays). Everyone must make their own way to the event.

Activities include health exercises, music, recreation, and consultations. There is no fee for use and anyone can participate freely, with no age restrictions.

Use of the DK ELDER SYSTEM, a comprehensive lifestyle improvement device

The program that everyone can enjoy uses the "DK ELDER SYSTEM," a comprehensive life function improvement device from Daiichi Kosho Co., Ltd. It is rented by the Social Welfare Council along with a large LCD screen.


The program includes exercises, quizzes, tourist guides, dancing, towel exercises, and more.

Program teacher Gobo: It's okay if you can't do it well! There's meaning in challenging yourself. Just move your body within the range that feels comfortable and have fun.


Greetings from instructor Masako Nakajima

"Thank you all for gathering here despite the heat. This heat has caused many cases of heatstroke. Please be sure to stay hydrated even at home. As for COVID-19 countermeasures, we should also take measures such as disinfecting and wearing masks, and also eat nutritious foods to boost our immune systems and build up our physical strength.

Well, I've entered a new program for today, so please enjoy! Let's get started!" he said, greeting everyone cheerfully.


Exercises for the Tanko-bushi Festival: Upper body and leg exercises



Brain exercises for everyone

1. Identifying the season from the seasonal words in haiku

・Seasonal words "cicadas," "rice harvest," and "locusts"...what season are they in?


2. Name the prefectural capital



3. Sing along to the children's song "Usagi Usagi"

Everyone sings together, filling in the blanks in the lyrics.


Hydration time

4. Hato Bus Tourist Guide

・"Otoko wa Tsurai yo Course" Katsushika Shibamata Tour Guide. It's fun, just like taking a bus tour!


・Bus tours led by bus guides


・Statue of Tora-san the Vagabond


・Katsushika Shibamata Taishakuten Sando Shopping Street


・Specialty "Kusa Dango"


5. Towel exercises

・"If you feel pain when moving your hands, please stop and do not force yourself," says Dr. Gobo.


6. Hanagasa Ondo

Everyone dances Bon Odori while singing Hanagasa Ondo!

Hydration time

A talk by Mirai Ohira, Public Health Nurse at the Hokuryu Town Hall Resident Affairs Division

"I will talk about preventing the spread of COVID-19.
There are two ways for coronavirus to spread: through droplets caused by sneezing or coughing, and through direct contact. Please be careful, as the virus can spread not only by bringing your hands to your mouth, but also by rubbing your nose or eyes with your hands.

Influenza is contagious in the same way as coronavirus. Washing your hands and gargling can help prevent not only coronavirus but also influenza, so please continue to do so. It is also important to wash your hands thoroughly with soap before eating.

It is said that washing your hands should take 30 seconds. The song "Donguri Korokoro" is about 30 seconds long, so singing it while washing your hands is a good guideline.

Also, when using alcohol disinfectant, a small amount will not be effective, so be sure to take a generous amount of alcohol disinfectant into the palm of your hand.

Above all, to prevent infection, it is important to avoid the three Cs: closed spaces, crowded places, and close contact. Maintain distance from others, wear a mask, wash your hands, disinfect, and avoid crowds as much as possible.

Regarding hydration, it is said that it takes about 20 minutes for water to enter the body and be absorbed. Therefore, you should hydrate not only during and after exercise, but also 20 minutes before exercising. Water will be absorbed into the body during exercise, preventing dehydration.

"There have not been any cases of COVID-19 infection in Hokuryu Town yet, so we will continue to work hard to prevent any new infections and bring the outbreak to an end. We ask for everyone's cooperation," said Public Health Nurse Ohira.

7. Darts Game

Everyone quickly got the hang of it and had a great time playing.


8. Brain training (using printouts)



・Try out two sheets of worksheets that cover numbers, calculations, reading and writing kanji, etc.


・Everyone, make sure to exercise your brain!!!


・Everyone, be serious and have fun!!!


The story of Masako Nakajima



"The Dandelion Club is a project run by Hokuryu Town, entrusted to the Hokuryu Town Social Welfare Council.

We record the program content and number of participants at each session, and if anyone has trouble in their daily lives, we connect them with a public health nurse from the town office. We respond thoroughly to help solve problems and issues in daily life.

In addition, once a month we hold a meeting with staff from the Hokuryu Town Hall Resident Affairs Division and myself and Sumiko Suzuki, who are contract employees of the Social Welfare Council.

The turning points in life come at ages 60, 65, and 70, when you will no longer be able to do the things you were able to do before. I think it is important to be aware of what you can do now and face yourself honestly.

I am grateful for this project because I always enjoy it. Exercising, getting your mind moving by playing quizzes, and chatting with others all help prevent dementia.

"I think the most important thing is that Hokuryu Town is a place where everyone can enjoy their retirement years," says Nakajima, speaking cheerfully and energetically.

For lunch, everyone bought a bento box at COCOWA and enjoyed lunch together. In the afternoon, volunteers gathered together and got engrossed in playing the Diamond Game!

"Tanpopo Club" activities will be held in the COCOWA multipurpose space!!!


Move your body with exercises, exercise your brain with quizzes, and have fun chatting with friends - this is the ultimate relaxation time, filled with boundless love, gratitude, and prayers...
　

Other photos

・See 93 smiling photos of Tanpopo Club activities here >>
　

Related articles

・Hokuryu Town Social Welfare Council: Introduction page here >>
　

◇ Photography and editing: Noboru Terauchi Interview and text: Ikuko Terauchi