Thursday, March 25, 2021
On Wednesday, March 24th at 10:30 a.m., the award ceremony for the "2020 Kitashin Hometown Promotion Fund" sponsored by Kita Sorachi Shinkin Bank was held in the second floor conference room of the bank's head office (Fukagawa City).
At the awards ceremony, the Hekisui Support Association from Hokuryu Town received the Special Jury Award. Congratulations!
- 1 Kitashin Hometown Promotion Fund Award Ceremony for 2020
- 2 Greetings from Chairman Mitsuyoshi Hirokami
- 3 Award Ceremony
- 4 Greetings from the winners: Mama Aina (Numata Town) Representative Ueki Chizuru
- 5 Commemorative photo
- 6 A speech by Yasuo Yamamoto, Chairman of the Hekisui Mutual Support Association, and Susumu Asano, Secretary General
- 7 Other photos
- 8 Related articles
Kitashin Hometown Promotion Fund Award Ceremony for 2020
Hometown Promotion Fund
The Hometown Revitalization Fund is one of the local community contribution activities established by Kita Sorachi Shinkin Bank. It recognizes organizations and individuals who are working hard to improve local industrial technology, revitalize the region, and enhance culture, and is awarded to one city and six towns, including Horokanai Town in the Kamikawa region (Fukagawa City, Imoseusi Town, Numata Town, Horokanai Town, Chishibetsu Town, Uryu Town, and Hokuryu Town).
The Hometown Promotion Fund was established as a commemorative project for the 60th anniversary of the foundation, and this year marks the 11th time the awards have been presented. This year, nine organizations were awarded the prize.
General MC: Masahiro Hirayama, Secretariat
Greetings from Chairman Mitsuyoshi Hirokami
“Thank you very much for taking time out of your busy schedules to attend the Kitashin Hometown Revitalization Fund Award Ceremony today.
This fund was established to commemorate the 60th anniversary of the founding of the Bank, with the aim of supporting organizations working hard in the Bank's jurisdiction, and this year marks the 11th time it has been awarded. This year, there were two applications in the Industrial Technology category, six in the Hometown Revitalization category, and four in the Culture category.
The winners of the Industrial Technology Award were Daikokuya Confectionery and Sobanosamoto Co., Ltd.; the Hometown Revitalization Encouragement Award went to Amuryu Town Light Executive Committee, JA Kitasorachi Women's Division Tadoshi Branch Processing Division/Komame-kai, and Numata Town Direct Sales Group/Aina Mama; the Cultural Award went to Fukagawa City Ichii Battles Baseball Club, Fukagawa City Otoe Ilum Taiko, and Fuka Junior High School River School Brass Band; and the Jury Special Award went to Hekisui Support Association, as decided by the judging committee and by the bank's board of directors on March 22nd.
I hope that you will continue to work hard to help revitalize the local community. Our bank will also continue to work hard to respond to the efforts of everyone in the community. We appreciate your continued support and guidance. Congratulations today."
Award Ceremony
Grand Prize: Aina Mama, Numata Town Farmers' Direct Sales Group (Numata Town)
This group of women farmers is celebrating its 25th year. They contribute to the local community by interacting with consumers through agricultural product processing, product development, and event stalls.
Kitashin Industrial Technology Award
Daikokuya Confectionery Shop (Imoseushi Town)
In addition to products centered on traditional Japanese sweets, the Western-style sweets developed by the third generation owner, who returned to the area this year after completing his training in Tokyo, have been well-received as they use local ingredients.
Soba no Sakamoto Co., Ltd. (Horokanai Town)
While working as a buckwheat farmer, he built a flour mill within his own company to add value to his buckwheat. After milling, he established a method of aging and freezing the noodles to improve their flavor.
Kitashin Hometown Revitalization Award
Uryu Town Lights Executive Committee (Uryu Town)
The lantern making and lighting event was planned and carried out to enliven the winter season, when there are few events. By creating a fantastical atmosphere, it provides a cheerful topic of conversation for the residents.
JA Kitasorachi Women's Division, Tadoshi Branch, Processing Division, Komame-kai (Fukagawa City)
The group began operations in 2001. They manufacture and sell processed products using agricultural produce from Kita-Sorachi, with the aim of promoting local agricultural products and revitalizing the Tadoshi area.
Numata Town Direct Sales Group, Aina Mama (Numata Town)
This group of women farmers is celebrating its 25th year. They contribute to the local community by interacting with consumers through agricultural product processing, product development, and event stalls.
Kitashin Cultural Category Award
Fukagawa City Ichii Battles Baseball Club (Fukagawa City)
This youth baseball club is aimed at local elementary school students. They practice on the Ichimi Elementary School grounds on weekdays and participate in tournaments sponsored by various federations on weekends and holidays.
Fukagawa City Otoe Irum Taiko (Fukagawa City)
The group has been active for 40 years since its inception, and is responsible for preserving and passing on the taiko culture of the Otoe area, participating in local festivals and events.
Fukagawa Junior High School Brass Band (Fukagawa City)
In November, the group won the Grand Prize, awarded to the top 12 teams out of 36 groups, in the Junior High School A division of the 26th National Japan Wind Ensemble Competition.
Special Jury Award: Hekisui Support Association (Hokuryu Town)
As part of Hokuryu Town's efforts to support elderly people and those living alone, we are working to create a safe and secure community in the Hekisui area through activities such as watching over and calling out to residents, Go clubs, and beautification activities.
Certificate of commendation: Kitashin Hometown Promotion Fund Jury Special Award, 2020
Hekisui Mutual Support Hall
"You have been recognized for your significant contributions to the development and promotion of the region in your awards from the Kitashin Hometown Promotion Fund. Therefore, we hereby commend you in recognition of your achievements."
March 24, 2021 Kita Sorachi Shinkin Bank Chairman Mitsuyoshi Hirokami
Greetings from the winners: Mama Aina (Numata Town) Representative Ueki Chizuru
A greeting from Chizuru Ueki, representative of Numata Town Direct Sales Group Aina Mama (Numata Town), winner of the Grand Prize and Hometown Revitalization Category Award.
"I would like to express my sincere gratitude to Kita Sorachi Shinkin Bank for the activities of the Promotion Fund and for their efforts in contributing to the development of the region.
We, Aina Mama, are a group of female farmers who are celebrating the milestone of 25 years since our founding. Looking back on our activities so far, we are renewing our determination to pass on our efforts to produce and process safe agricultural products, including our activities and product development, to the next generation of agriculture.
I applied for this position because I thought it would be a chance for people to learn about our 25 years of activities and one of the few opportunities to convey the joy and rewards of farming.
I am filled with gratitude to the local consumers who have supported me, the related organizations who have given me guidance, my trustworthy colleagues, and my family who have always understood and supported me.
"We will all take this award as encouragement to further our studies and continue to work hard. Thank you very much for coming today," said Representative Chizuru Ueki in her greeting.
Commemorative photo
A speech by Yasuo Yamamoto, Chairman of the Hekisui Mutual Support Association, and Susumu Asano, Secretary General
Afterwards, the award was announced to Deputy Mayor Takahashi Toshimasa at Hokuryu Town Hall.
Message from Yasuo Yamamoto, Chairman of the Hekisui Mutual Support Association
"We opened on April 2, 2016, and this award comes just five years later. We are extremely grateful to the local community for their support, and although we're not sure how much recognition we receive from the community, we hope to use this opportunity to continue to grow and continue on our path."
A speech by Secretary General Susumu Asano
"The Hekisui Mutual Support Association was founded with 36 members and currently has 41 members. When we were founded, we explained about the association at various gatherings, including the Japanese Red Cross Society, local hobby clubs, promotion associations, and senior citizens' associations, and asked for as many people as possible to understand the association and to cooperate in participating.
We also visited various support groups around Hokkaido and thoroughly considered the content of our activities. When building the support center, we took into account the various opinions of our members.
Activities include a karaoke club, a Marugoto Genki Up Class, a Dandelion Club, and Go, which are held three times a week (Monday, Wednesday, Friday: 10am-3pm). Once a month (10 times a year), a luncheon is held for elderly people living alone. At these luncheons, bento boxes prepared by volunteer members are provided. We are truly grateful for this award, which recognizes the sincere efforts of everyone involved.
We would like to offer our heartfelt congratulations to everyone at the Hekisui Mutual Support Association for winning the 2020 Kitashin Hometown Promotion Fund Jury Special Award!
Love the local community and work to revitalize and develop it
To the sincere spirit of those who continue to work enthusiastically, connecting people's hearts, and moving forward with all their might,
With boundless love, gratitude, and smiles...
Other photos
・Photos (53 photos) from the FY2020 Kitashin "Hometown Promotion Fund" award ceremony are here >>
Related articles
◇ Photography and editing: Noboru Terauchi Interview and text: Ikuko Terauchi
