Tuesday, January 21, 2025
The Hokuryu Town Physical Disability Welfare Association General Meeting and New Year's Party were held at the Hokuryu Town Senior Citizens Welfare Center from 11:00 a.m. on Thursday, January 16, 2025.
Hokuryu Town Physical Disability Welfare Association General Meeting & New Year's Party 2025
The event was attended by a total of eight people, including Chairman Yamashita Yoshiharu and Vice Chairman Motobu Iwao of the Hokuryu Town Physical Disability Welfare Association, as well as members and secretariat staff.
Mayor Yasuhiro Sasaki and Resident Affairs Section Chief Naohiro Hosokawa also attended the New Year's party and gave speeches.
MC: Michito Nakamura, Secretary General, Hokuryu Town Social Welfare Council (Fukuoka)
Opening speech at the general meeting: Chairman Yoshiharu Yamashita
"Good morning. Last year, I experienced a series of misfortunes among my relatives and family members, and I was in mourning, unable to go out even if I wanted to.
Even though the new year had arrived, I felt very lonely because I was unable to say "Happy New Year" to anyone or go out.
The same goes for people with physical disabilities; I think it would be good for them to understand the position they are in, get out and walk, and enjoy life.
In Hokuryu Town, there are 99 people who have a disability certificate. Among them are people who cannot move and elderly people. In a town with a population of just under 1,600, 99 people are physically disabled, and if non-physical disabilities are included, the total number of people is over 100.
It's the same with machines and cars; when they break down, they get fixed. People can break down too. There's nothing to be ashamed of about having a physical disability; it's just that they have a different physical condition than a healthy person. That doesn't mean they can't do the same things as everyone else, but they can do some things. It's just that there are some areas where they can't do them.
As you all know, as the town's population has declined, so too have these organizations.
There is a saying that "two can do anything," and so even though we are a small organization in a small town, we want to work with the mindset that we can all live happily and enjoyably together.
"I would like to ask everyone to express any opinions they may have at the general meeting," said Chairman Yamashita.
Chairman of the General Meeting: Yoshiharu Yamashita, Chairman and Explanation of Agenda: Michihito Nakamura, Secretary General
- FY2024 Business Report and Income and Expenditure Statement / Audit Report
- FY2025 Business Plan (Draft) and Income and Expenditure Budget (Draft)
- others
new year party
Opening remarks: Chairman Yoshiharu Yamashita
"In the new year, I think about what I want to do and what I want to achieve, in line with my goals and hopes. It's a hopeful thought.
Every day, the news reports that terrible things are happening all over the world. Even if we are having fun in our hometowns, humans are animals. I have heard many times from important people that "Humans are animals, so they will do what animals are supposed to do." Therefore, it seems that the fighting will not end.
I live a happy life, making plans and hoping for many things within my country, my neighborhood, and my own town, but I think things that I never even considered happen.
When you think about it, I think it's because we're all human beings that we can solve these problems. On the other hand, there are completely different things happening, like forest fires in the US, and I feel like we need to be interested in those too. When the environment changes on Earth, all sorts of things happen. When you look at it that way, you realize that my town is also changing in all sorts of ways.
One recent example is the construction of a disaster prevention warehouse behind the town hall, which previously did not exist.
Many people say that Hokuryu is a good place, despite the earthquakes that have occurred all over the country. However, neighboring towns and villages have said that Hokuryu is a town that has suffered more disasters than theirs. This is because, throughout Hokuryu's history, it has experienced almost every disaster, including floods, earthquakes, and tornadoes. The biggest challenge right now is the COVID-19 pandemic. And the future population decline.
This is a phenomenon where goods are disappearing as the population declines. In the neighboring town of Uryu, the supermarket has disappeared, so elderly people are now coming to the supermarket "Cocoa" in Hokuryu by two buses to do their shopping.
This is how the world is changing, and how towns are run is changing. How we respond to this current situation will be a challenge for the future. The most important thing is that even if many things decrease, it is very important to continue.
It is very easy to destroy things, but once they are destroyed, it is difficult to put them back together. Therefore, the important thing is how to continue them.
As you may know, this is the activity of a group called the "Dacho Club" in Hokuryu Town. They carried out various activities in a corner of the sunflower field with the aim of making visitors happy, but they ended up disbanding. This brought to light the issue of finding a successor. After much effort, they finally found a successor and are now able to continue the group.
I hope that Hokuryu Town will continue to develop its town by cherishing the good things it has to offer.
The most important thing is to create a town that is easy for the residents to live in.
Among them, the physically disabled people are all working hard with the mindset of "Although we are physically disabled, we will do the same things as normal people."
"Let's all have fun together in the future! Thank you very much," said Chairman Yamashita in his greeting.
Greetings from Mayor Yasuhiro Sasaki
"Thank you for your continued support this year!
We sincerely hope that through our activities for people with physical disabilities, you will have a healthy year.
Mr. Yamashita is a senior member of parliament, so I have heard that he is well-informed about various aspects and is working on various things.
I'm a little disappointed that today's New Year's party has turned out this way. I was hoping to have an opportunity to talk with everyone, and to discuss things like, "What do you think about this? What is the town thinking?", but it's not possible today.
I would like to have various discussions with Chairman Yamashita, Vice Chairman of the headquarters, and Director Nakamura, and I would like you to make sure that they are conveyed.
I am currently preparing the town budget, and after reviewing this association's budget, it has been giving me a lot of thought.
As Mr. Yamashita always says, I have heard that the Sorachi Association will propose a new issue. If I go with him, we can talk together in the car, and perhaps we can resolve one of the many issues at stake. Please let me participate in such an event. I think that by doing so, we can accomplish many things, little by little, one step at a time.
I would really like to hear from you about anything, so please feel free to talk to me.
As the year begins, we have 1,593 members. I remember each and every one of your faces clearly. I remember them firmly in my heart. I would like to work together with you to move forward in many areas, towards new smiles, so I ask for your continued support.
I hope you will reach out to me and use this as my New Year's and general meeting greeting. I look forward to your continued support this year."
Introducing Mr. Naohiro Hosokawa, Chief of the Hokuryu Town Residents Division
"Thank you for your continued support this year."
Takeaway lunches, drinks, snacks, toilet paper
Due to unforeseen circumstances, the traditional New Year's party dinner and games were cancelled and instead everyone was served take-out lunches. The lunches were handmade by Yahachi, a restaurant in Hokuryu Town.
In this age of global revolution, we send our boundless love, gratitude, and prayers to the Hokuryu Town Welfare Association for the Physically Disabled, which accepts disabilities as they are, joins hands and supports each other, and lives bright and healthy lives...
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◇ Interview and text: Ikuko Terauchi (Photography and editing assistance: Noboru Terauchi)
