16 Tourism Promotion Volunteers, etc. 1

16 Tourism Promotion Volunteers, etc. 1

Ryutopia Association

In 1987, the "Ryutopia Association" was formed, a group that brought together people from across professions, not just agricultural or commercial, to consider town development. The name was a play on the dragon of Hokuryu Town and the ideal utopia. The following year (1988), in celebration of the Year of the Dragon, Senshi held a dragon-making conference at Mother and Child House on April 6th to create a dragon that would fit the town's image. Participants included: Yasuhiro Sasaki, Masahiro Murakami, Tsutomu Sakamoto, Takeshi Nibo, Tadahiko Komatsu, and Shosuke Komatsu from the "Youth Commerce and Industry Division" and "Ryutopia Division," Masato Sawada and Takayuki Kawamoto from the "Agricultural Cooperative Division," Katsumi Kitajima and Hidetoshi Yasuura from the "Youth Organization Liaison Council," and Kazuyuki Kosaka and Kenji Yoshioka from the "Hometown Youth Council." The purpose of the conference was to create a dragon with the help of young people and to make it an event that would represent the town, in keeping with the Year of the Dragon and the Year of the Hokuryu, and to ask for everyone's help.

Everyone agreed to this. This was the beginning of the creation of a network of youth organizations, and they all worked together to revitalize the local area. They discussed coordinating and holding various events, such as a snow festival and a homemade sled competition. The Hokuryu Town youth organizations then united and decided to build a dragon. This was a historic event.

On April 30th, the "Dragon-making Executive Committee" was held at the Chamber of Commerce and Industry Building. The attendees on the day were Tsutomu Sakamoto, Masahiro Murakami, Kimio Makino, Yoshiyuki Hashimoto, Takeshi Niibo, Junji Miyawaki, Kazuo Yoshimoto, Yasuo Sato, Kazunori Miura, Makoto Koshigoe, Yoshiaki Arima, Tadahiko Komatsu, Masahito Toi, Shosuke Komatsu, Yasuhiro Sasaki, Yukitaka Chiyozaki, Shigehiro Matsuura, Katsumi Kitajima, Yasuyuki Nishiyama, Shigeyuki Nakayama, Hidetoshi Yasuura, Minoru Sato, Shunji Hatajima, and Masae Kawamoto.

The dragon making project began on May 17th, the town's pioneering anniversary, and took place over a two-month period from July to July. Under the guidance of Akitoshi Tsuji, more than 400 people contributed, completing the blue and white dragons. Funding was provided by the townspeople, who donated 500 yen per dragon scale, with the names of those who contributed written on the back of each scale.

Young people practice the dragon dance and perform it at town events (Sunflower Festival, Town Sports Meet, Town Bon Odori).

Ryutopia's biggest project was the creation of a "giant maze." In 1990, they built a maze at Sunflower Village, and used the entrance fees to fund their activities, including the cost of soil improvement measures to prevent damage from continuous cropping. They also helped create the World Sunflower Gate at Hokuryu Junior High School and subsidized the recording of sunflower cultivation around the world. They also supported lectures, concerts, and cultural organizations.

To commemorate the 100th anniversary of the founding of Hokuryu Town, a "Dragon Float" was produced. The float and house were made by Nakamura Tadaaki, a skilled craftsman in the town, and the dragon that will be placed on the float was made by Tsuji Akitoshi and Yoshimoto Kazuo, who worked hard for about four months to create it. This float was then used to welcome the town to the "National Dragon Summit" held in Hokuryu Town on July 25th. This float is an asset and a symbol of the town, adding a touch of elegance to various events.

In 2004, Hakuryu was loaned to the Medical University of Hokkaido at the 13th Yosakoi Soran Festival, and three members from Hokuryu Taiko participated as supporters, achieving second place. This prompted Ryutopia to request that Medical University of Hokkaido make a friendly appearance at the Sunflower Festival, and they have enlivened the festival every year.

The largest event of the "Homura Sorachi Grand Gathering 2.7 Million Koku Yuibankai" was held in Hokuryu Town at the Senior Citizens Welfare Center on April 24th, 1993. Planned and produced by Tsutomu Sakamoto, the event was attended by Hokkaido Governor Takahiro Yokomichi, Sorachi Subprefecture Chief Hosokawa, and local town Mayor Yamamoto, and was attended by over 200 members of local revitalization groups from the 27 cities, towns, and villages within the Sorachi region.

The lectures were given by Ryoji Kikura, president of the agricultural cooperative, on the topic of "Food and Agriculture in the Global Age," and by Akiko Yamanaka, professor at Hokkai-Gakuen University, on the topic of "Expectations for the Sorachi Region, a Countryside Overflowing with Natural Treasures."

At the Kaimu Reporting Session, each local revitalization group in the area reported on their activities. Ryutopia reported on the Sunflower Festival and Ryutopia's activities, and a social gathering was held with Governor Yokomichi. The entertainment (dream-dashi section) included a dragon dance and skit by Ryutopia, a performance by Warabiza-za (Akita Prefecture), and a Yosakoi Soran dance by Hokumon Shinkin Bank.

Hokuryu Town Chamber of Commerce and Industry Youth Division

Founded in 1966, in 2008 sunflower-themed designs were installed in various stores and public facilities. In 1991, the organization hosted a "Beer Party" at the 5th Sunflower Festival Flower Festa, which it still holds today. In 1988, it held the Snow Festival, and in 1997, it began holding the event at the town-run ski resort in conjunction with the town residents' ski tournament, which was renamed the "Sunflower Snow Festa" and continues to this day.

In 1998, the Edaibetsu River juvenile fish release project, "The River is Our Friend! Naughty Summer Festival," was held, and efforts are being made to preserve the natural environment. In 2005, a trout measuring 1 meter in length was spotted in the Shodo River.

In 2013, he joined Team North Dragon and has been involved in running North Dragon together with the agricultural cooperative youth division and agricultural cooperative office staff.

JA Kitasorachi Agricultural Cooperative Youth Division Hokuryu Branch

In 1990, the youth group of the agricultural cooperative plowed and sowed seeds in the Himawari no Sato area. They also hold events such as mochi pounding and mochi throwing at the Sunflower Festival. They also mow the grass around the tourist center and parking lot.

Collaboration between the Chamber of Commerce and Industry Youth Division and the Agricultural Cooperative Youth Division

When agriculture is busy, North Dragon's activities are handled by the Chamber of Commerce Youth Division and town hall staff, creating a movement in which young people from the agricultural and commercial sectors work together to liven up and revitalize the town.

Hokuryu Town Chamber of Commerce and Industry Women's Division

Founded in 1965, the organization has been promoting environmental beautification, mainly in urban areas, by setting up flower pots, setting up stalls at the Bon Odori Festival during the Sunflower Festival, and holding a sunflower market.

When Sayoko Fujii was the head of the women's division at the Chamber of Commerce, she came up with a series of ideas and created "Sunflower Goods." Brooches, aprons, T-shirts, drawstring bags, and more were all handmade. She even printed towels and sold them.

Hokuryu Town Construction Industry Association

Founded in 1977, the park has been hosting the "Sunflower Festival" since the 18th Sunflower Festival in 2004, with activities such as mini games, goldfish scooping, yo-yo fishing, and lotteries, with half of the proceeds donated to the Japanese Red Cross. In March 2005, the "Hokuryu Sunflower Interchange" opened with the opening of a high-standard road, and sunflower seeds have been planted in the parking area.

Hokuryu Town Skills Association

Founded in 1969, the organization has been producing and donating handmade wooden benches since 2004, creating the straw-thatched hut Pankan-tei in 2008, and creating a triple waterwheel in 2009, as well as painting the tourist information center.