The 43rd New Year's Day Marathon 2026: Running in the snow with prayers for the bonds of the new year, prayers for "good harvest, road safety, no accidents, and safety at home."

January 1, 2025 ㊗️

New Year's Bonds Begin with Prayers in the Snow: The 43rd New Year's Day Marathon 2026

• Prayer:Good harvest, traffic safety, no accidents, and safety at home
• Co-organized by:Hokuryu Town Sports Association, JA Kitasorachi Hokuryu Branch
• Sponsored by:Hokuryu Town Board of Education, Sunflower Park Hokuryu Onsen
• Sponsor:Hokuryu Town Traffic Safety Association, Hokuryu Town Fire Department Support Association, Kurosengoku Business Cooperative Association
• Secretariat:JA Kitasorachi Hokuryu Branch

January 1, 2026 (Reiwa 8). On the morning marking the dawn of a new year, a soft flurry of snow fell across the sky of Hokuryu Town, shrouded in pure silence. The temperature was 10 degrees below zero. Despite the freezing cold, which left fingertips numb, at 6:30 a.m., the townspeople began to gather at Shinryu Shrine one after another.

"Happy new year".
The greetings exchanged melt into the winter sky like white breath. The 43rd New Year's Day Marathon is more than just a sporting event. It is a deeply alive spirit of prayer, where the people who live on this land offer their gratitude to a great, invisible power and pray for each other's safety.

Sincere prayers for bountiful harvests and the safety of the region

Before the marathon, everyone first paid their respects at the shrine. They lined up in front of the main hall, bowed twice, clapped twice, and bowed once. The sound of clapping echoed in the cool, clear air, and sobered our hearts. This year's prayers were for "good harvests, traffic safety, no accidents, and safety at home." For Hokuryu, an agricultural town, gratitude to the earth and prayers for a bountiful harvest are proof of a heart that cherishes life itself.

Continuing our gratitude to the earth: Greetings from JA Kitasorachi's Minoru Nagai, Representative Director of the Hokuryu District

After the visit, Regional Representative Director Minoru Nagai gave a powerful yet warm New Year's greeting. He thanked everyone for the hardships they endured last year due to the weather, and spoke of their "sincere determination" as producers to provide a stable supply of food, even amidst the turbulent times of the global situation and rising prices.

"Last year was affected by high temperatures, but overall we are grateful for the good harvest. This year is the Year of the Horse. I hope that this will be a year in which everyone will run through the year with energy and make great strides, just like a swift horse. I sincerely hope that everyone will be healthy and happy."

New Connections and Co-creation: Greetings from Mami Uemura, Member of the Hokkaido Prefectural Assembly

This year, despite the bitterly cold, snowy weather early in the morning on New Year's Day, Hokkaido Prefectural Assembly Member Mami Uemura came all the way to Hokuryu Town to participate for the first time and gave us heartwarming encouragement. Thank you so much. We are truly grateful.

"Happy New Year everyone.

I am very pleased to be able to take a step forward together with the people of Hokuryu Town to start 2026 and take part in this very memorable event.

I hope that this year will bring you good health and lots of smiles. I hope that farmers will continue to be successful. I also hope that Hokuryu Town will bring you lots of delicious food.

I will be participating in the New Year's Day Marathon, praying that everyone will be happy this year. Thank you for your support!

These words from Councilman Uemura were imbued with a deep desire to work together with the community, and resonated with his hopes for a future in which Hokuryu's delicious food will bring smiles to even more people's faces.

A passionate toast that has continued for 43 years: The sacred sake ceremony and the thoughts of Chairman Hikaru Tanimoto

Sacred sake was served to soothe the chilled bodies, and a toast was given by Hikaru Tanimoto, chairman of the Hokuryu Town Sports Association.

"Happy New Year everyone.

The New Year's Day Marathon, which is celebrating its 43rd year this year, began when I was in the second grade of elementary school. The reason this event has continued for so long is because of the passionate participation of all the people who come to participate.

We hope to continue this event together with you all, and we hope you will join us again next year.

Now, let's raise a toast with four wishes: bountiful harvests, safe travels, good health, and safety for our families!!!"

This tournament began when Chairman Tanimoto was in the second grade of elementary school. It has been supported for 43 long years by the townspeople's passionate spirit and their love for their families and friends.

Running through the snowy roads, the first step of hope

After the toast, the participants all set off on the snowy roads at their own individual pace. Their energetic footsteps seemed to blow away the cold. This was the very spirit of Hokuryu Town, which is unafraid of difficulties and is positively striving to carve out a new future.

At the end of the event, JA Kitasorachi presented the participants with heartfelt souvenirs (Hokuryu-cho-grown Yumepirika rice and Kurosengoku soybean flour). Gathering together, praying together, running together. We believe that the warm bonds that exist in these "ordinary activities" are the sparks of the "spirit of harmony" that will bring world peace.

We hope that the new year will be a bright one filled with health, smiles, and fruitfulness for everyone.

"Bingwu" is a year overflowing with passion and energy, and as we gallop through the New Year with grace and vigor like a horse galloping across the grassland, we send our boundless love, gratitude, and prayers...

YouTube videos

Other photos

Photos (40 photos) from the 43rd New Year's Day Marathon 2026 are here >>

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🖋️ Content planning, article writing, photo selection, and video creation: Ikuko Terauchi Photography, editing, and website management: Noboru Terauchi

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