Wednesday, April 28, 2021
On Tuesday, April 27th, 2021 at 8:00 AM, Isamu and Nobuko Kubo will be moving to Sapporo, where their son lives.
Members of the Wa neighborhood association and other townspeople who had a connection with the deceased gathered in the garden of the Kubo family home and, reluctantly, chanted "Banzai" three times in unison to see them off.
The Kubo family has made great contributions to building the agricultural foundation of Hokuryu Town over the past 102 years, since Mr. Isamu Kubo's grandfather settled in Hokuryu Town in 1920. He also served as the chairman of the neighborhood association and provided generous support.
Words from Chairman Hideyuki Hasegawa of the Wa Neighborhood Association
"I heard that during the time of Mr. Isamu Kubo's grandfather, they came from Uryuu Town to Hokuryu Town in search of farmland. They settled in Hokuryu Town over 100 years ago.
At that time, Hokuryu Town was not like the rice paddies of today; the land was of various sizes and elevations, and irrigation channels and drainage ditches were not well developed, so it was a very difficult time for the settlers to settle there.
After that, the infrastructure was improved, and I believe the foundations for today's rice paddies were laid around 1965 as part of a structural improvement project. At that time, the young Kubo-san became a central figure in the community, working hard to develop the infrastructure for modern agriculture.
In the Heisei era, the Wa Neighborhood Association merged with the Baemoto Neighborhood Association (around 2005). At first, there were some differences in the arrangements and other aspects of the merged neighborhood association. However, Kubo-san, as the neighborhood association president, skillfully coordinated the issues and ensured the neighborhood association was run smoothly, which I remember vividly.
We would like to express our sincere gratitude to Mr. Kubo for his long-term dedication to the community.
After this, Mr. and Mrs. Kubo will head to Sapporo, where their son lives, and will settle there. We hope that the two of them will be able to spend some quality time together.
We hope that during this time, Mr. Kubo will remember Hokuryu Town. We would also be grateful if you could come to the Sunflower Festival or other events, and if you happen to meet some familiar faces, please say hello.
We have received a donation from Mr. Kubo as a token of appreciation for the support he has received from the neighborhood association. We would like to express our gratitude to Mr. Kubo once again.
"Furthermore, in accordance with the rules of the neighborhood association, we would like to present a farewell gift to Mr. Kubo on behalf of the neighborhood association. We will miss you, but we would like to express our sincere gratitude for all your hard work over the years," said Chairman Hasegawa, representing the Wa neighborhood association.
Words from Isamu Kubo
"I would like to express my sincere gratitude to everyone for taking time out of your busy schedules to come and see me off early in the morning.
This year marks 102 years since my grandfather moved from what was then Uryu Village to Hokuryu Village in March 1920. I would like to express my sincere gratitude to everyone who has looked after us for three generations.
I hope that everyone will take care of their health and pray for continued good health and happiness. Thank you very much for coming out today despite the cold weather."
Three cheers as we see them off
We all chanted "Banzai" three times in unison to see them off.
With boundless love, gratitude, and prayers, we extend to the people of Hokuryu, who love their town so much and cooperate, help, and support one another to protect and pass on the spirit of harmony that has endured through their town.
◇ Photography and editing: Noboru Terauchi Interview and text: Ikuko Terauchi
