Mayor Sasaki Yasuhiro explores the charms of Hokuryu Town [April 2025] He visits Eirakuen Special Nursing Home to encourage the town!

Friday, April 11, 2025

On Wednesday, April 9th, Mayor Yasuhiro Sasaki conducted an April search for the attractions of Hokuryu Town.

Karaoke Contest (Heishui Karaoke Club)

Mayor Sasaki visited Eirakuen Special Nursing Home (Director Jun Takahashi) to encourage the karaoke competition held at the home. Four members of the Hekisui Karaoke Club (Representative Kumiko Asano) performed beautiful songs for the residents.

This time, we were joined by Masayuki Takatsuki (22 years old), a new member of the Hokuryu Town Regional Revitalization Cooperation Team who was appointed on Tuesday, April 1st, and was introduced to everyone. While studying at the Faculty of Information Media at Hokkaido Information University, Takatsuki was active as a member of the Hokuryu Town projection mapping production team! Thank you very much.

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At Eirakuen Special Nursing Home for the Elderly (Director Jun Takahashi)
At Eirakuen Special Nursing Home for the Elderly (Director Jun Takahashi)

Greetings from Mayor Yasuhiro Sasaki

Greetings from Mayor Sasaki
Greetings from Mayor Sasaki

"I visit Eirakuen about once a month, walking around the rooms and seeing everyone's faces and talking to them.

Today, Asano-san will be the MC and the members of the Hekisui Karaoke Club will be performing songs, so I came to listen to everyone's songs.

We also visited to introduce and encourage Director Atsushi Takahashi, who took up his position on April 1st, and the hard-working staff members.

The young man I would like to introduce to you today is Masayuki Takatsuki, who came to Hokuryu from Sapporo on April 1st as a member of the Hokuryu Town Regional Revitalization Cooperation Team. He is a lively and very kind 22-year-old who has come to Hokuryu Town to revitalize the town.

Greetings from Masayuki Takatsuki

Greetings from Masayuki Takatsuki
Greetings from Masayuki Takatsuki

"Hello everyone! Everyone calls me 'Masa-kun'.

As a member of the Hokuryu Town Regional Revitalization Cooperation Team, my main job is to spread awareness of Hokuryu Town through social media and other online platforms. I look forward to working with you."

Everyone cheered, "Do your best!"

Jun Takahashi, Director

"Thank you very much for your warm encouragement to Takatsuki-san! I am Takahashi, who took over as director in April. I will leave it to Asano-san to continue the proceedings from here on out," said Director Takahashi.

Greetings from Director Jun Takahashi
Greetings from Director Jun Takahashi

Moderator: Susumu Asano (resident of Hekisui)

The event will be hosted by Susumu Asano
The event will be hosted by Susumu Asano

"At the karaoke competition held on January 31st, four members of the Himawari Karaoke Club sang. Today we will introduce songs by four members of the Heisei Karaoke Club."

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1. Hideki Matsuura's "Freezing Rain" by Akio Kayama

Asano-san"Mr. Matsuura used to work as an employee at Hekisui Post Office, but now he has retired and is enjoying the rest of his life by growing vegetables in his fields."

Hideki Matsuura
Hideki Matsuura

Asano-san"I worked as the director of this facility 17 years ago. It's been 17 years already, but does anyone know me? (Several people raise their hands and say yes!) I live in the town, so I would be happy if you would say hello."

Users listening attentively
Users listening attentively

2. Fumiko Kawashima's "Noto Peninsula" by Sayuri Ishikawa

Asano-san"Mr. Kawashima is in the Furusaku area of Hekisui."

Fumiko Kawashima
Fumiko Kawashima

3. Osamu Sunagawa's "Crossing the Pass" by Kohei Fukuda

Sunagawa"I turned 80 at the end of last year. I look forward to working with you."

Osamu Sunagawa
Osamu Sunagawa

Asano-san"This year marks the 40th anniversary of the opening of this facility in April 1986. At the time, it started with 50 beds.

At the time, I was working in the Resident Affairs Division of the town hall, and in order to recruit users for this facility, I visited all the town's residents aged 65 and over with pamphlets about the facility and explained it to them. Thanks to this, four months later, on August 1st, 50 people had gathered and the facility was full. The facility currently has 80 beds.

Four years later, in 1990, the number of beds was increased to 92. However, due to a shortage of staff and other factors, the hospital is not currently at full capacity. Today, about 70 people have taken part in this event, which I am very grateful for.

Reminiscing about the founding days...
Reminiscing about the founding days...

4. A user suddenly joined us: Okawa Eisaku of "Sazanka no Yado"

A user suddenly joined!
A user suddenly joined!

The audience cheered and applauded with lots of waving.

Cheer and get excited!
Cheer and get excited!

5. "Tottori Sand Dunes" by Mie Iwakura and Kaori Mizumori

Mie Iwakura
Mie Iwakura

Mayor Sasaki and Takatsuki clap along and watch with amusement.

I listened intently, keeping the beat...
I listened intently, keeping the beat...

6. Hideki Matsuura's "Detour" by Gouki Kotokaze

Hideki Matsuura
Hideki Matsuura

7. Fumiko Kawashima's "Life is a Naniwabushi" by Tomoe Kimura

Get into the rhythm...
Get into the rhythm...

8. Mie Iwakura's "Yuuzuki Okesa" by Yoshimi Tendo

My heart is moved by the nostalgic melody
My heart is moved by the nostalgic melody

9. Osamu Sunagawa's "Nambu Cicada Shigure" by Kohei Fukuda

The sound penetrates the heart and sways...
The sound penetrates the heart and sways...

Asano-san"I hope to practice more in the future, get better and better, and make it possible for everyone to enjoy themselves. I would like to end by wishing you all good health and happiness. Thank you!"

During the karaoke performance, the staff at Eirakuen were constantly checking on the users, paying close attention to the details, and keeping a watchful eye on the users' feelings throughout, dealing with various issues with care and kindness.

Director Takahashi watches quietly from behind
Director Takahashi watches quietly from behind
Take my hand and follow the rhythm...
Take my hand and follow the rhythm...
We provide compassionate and gentle care...
We provide compassionate and gentle care...
Good for the camera!
Good for the camera!
Mayor Sasaki speaks...
Mayor Sasaki speaks...

Facility Tour

After this, Mayor Yasuhiro Sasaki and Masayuki Takatsuki were given a tour of the facility by Director Jun Takahashi.

Mayor Sasaki spoke to each and every user in a kind and polite manner, exchanging words with them. Everyone was smiling and looked very happy to be there.

Kindly greet...
Kindly greet...
We shook hands with happy smiles...
We shook hands with happy smiles...
With fond memories of our conversation...
With fond memories of our conversation...
With our energetic 101-year-old user!
With our energetic 101-year-old user!
Facility patrol
Facility patrol
Thank you for this precious moment!
Thank you for this precious moment!
Eirakuen Special Nursing Home for the Elderly Guide Map
Eirakuen Special Nursing Home for the Elderly Guide Map
With heartfelt gratitude to Eirakuen, a place filled with kindness and compassion...
With heartfelt gratitude to Eirakuen, a place filled with kindness and compassion...

With boundless love, gratitude, and prayers, we hope to gently embrace the hearts of our users, providing a warm and soothing experience at Eirakuen...

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This is an article about Mayor Sasaki Yasuhiro's search for the charms of his town.
 
Photography, editing, and website management: Noboru Terauchi Writer: Ikuko Terauchi

Explore the charms of Hokuryu TownLatest 8 articles