We will introduce a variety of local specialties that are unique to Hokuryu Town.
Monday, November 17, 2025 The purple color of new rice and new beans is created by the new rice "Yumepirika" grown in Hokuryu Town and the rare "Kurosengoku soybeans." Cooking them together creates a vibrant purple rice ball. The plump […]
Tuesday, October 21, 2025 ◇
Friday, September 26, 2025 The year is 2025, in Hokuryu Town, Hokkaido. Farmers are nurturing the summer sun from the winter snow. They join hands with their colleagues, talk to their seedlings, and pour their soul into each and every berry. Crack open the green, black-striped skin to reveal sun-colored flesh. It's a simple […]
On Tuesday, September 2, 2025, and Wednesday, August 27, the Hokuryu Sunflower Watermelon Producers Association presented a sunflower watermelon to the hippopotamus at Asahiyama Zoo. The children from Wa Nursery School who participated were captivated by the sight of the hippopotamus biting into the watermelon whole with its big mouth.
On August 14th (Thursday), the 2025 Hokuryu Town Melon and Watermelon Festival was held, attracting huge crowds with long lines forming from early in the morning! The 350 boxes of "Sunflower Watermelon" were prepared, each with a sweetness of over 12 degrees Brix.
Friday, August 15, 2025 View this post on Instagram A post shared by Takada Akimitsu (@qiuguanggaotian)
On Thursday, August 14, 2025, the Hokuryu Sunflower Festival was featured on STV's "Dosanko Wide" during Fukunaga's live broadcast week! With 2 million sunflowers as a backdrop, announcer Shunsuke Fukunaga introduced the new local delicacy, "Sunflower Keema [...]"
August 15, 2025 (Friday) Yukio Takada, Chairman of the Kurosengoku Business Cooperative Association, which revived the legendary Kurosengoku soybean, received the Hokkaido Industry Contribution Award (Hokkaido) for FY2025 and the Hokkaido Federation of Small and Medium Enterprises Associations 70th Anniversary Commemorative Award.
On Friday, July 18, 2025, the harvest season for the local specialty "Sunflower Watermelon" reached its peak in Hokuryu Town, Hokkaido. At Takada Akimitsu Farm, each watermelon is carefully harvested, polished with the latest automatic brushing machines, and packed into boxes.
Thursday, July 10, 2025 View this post on Instagram A post shared by Yuya Hoshino (@yuyahoshino.aie.0117) ◇
On Monday, July 7, 2025, the Hokkaido Shimbun Press (Sapporo City) published an article titled "Sunflower Watermelon Donated to Special Nursing Home by Hokuryu Farmers" on its website, Hokkaido Shimbun Digital. The article was published on July 4th, so we would like to share it with you.
On Monday, July 7, 2025, Hokkaido Value Scope Co., Ltd. (Sapporo, President Shigemichi Miura) launched a campaign on its Hokkaido hotel and accommodation reservation, leisure, and gourmet website, Guutabi Hokkaido, where five people will receive a gift set of Hokuryu Town specialty products.
On Friday, July 4, 2025, the Kurosengoku Business Cooperative Association from Hokuryu Town will be exhibiting at the "Discover Hokkaido" event at the Daimaru Sapporo store. Kurosengoku soybean-related products will be on display in the event space on the basement floor, and Kurosengoku kinako (roasted soybean flour) dishes will be available in the restaurant area on the eighth floor.
On Thursday, July 3, 2025, the Kita Sorachi Shimbun, an internet site operated by the Kita Sorachi Shimbun Company (Fukagawa City), published an article titled "'Taste the Sweetest Sunflower Watermelon' - Hokuryu Producers Present to Eirakuen" (dated July 2). [...]
On June 30th (Mon) and June 28th (Sat), 2025, Hokuryu Town's specialty product, "Sunflower Watermelon," was featured on "Agri Kingdom Hokkaido NEXT (HBC Hokkaido Broadcasting)." Agri Kingdom Hokkaido NEXT: Hokuryu Town - Yellow Fruit [...]
June 21, 2022 (Sat) On the Hokkaido Broadcasting Corporation (HBC) website, a gourmet documentary site called “Agri Kingdom,” they posted an article titled “Pay attention to the ‘Hokuryu Town Sunflower Watermelon Edition,’ which will be broadcast on June 28 (Sat) next week!” (dated June 21) […]
On Saturday, June 21st and Wednesday, June 11th, 2025, HBC's "Hokkaido Agri Kingdom NEXT" covered the Hokuryu Town sunflower watermelon. Viewers received gifts, experienced harvesting and polishing, and sampled the watermelons. Agurikko celebrated the efforts of the producers and the sweetness and freshness of the watermelons.
June 16, 2025 (Mon) The first shipment of Hokuryu Town’s specialty “Sunflower Watermelon” was made on June 11 (Wed) and sent to markets in Sapporo and Asahikawa. This year’s crop was excellent, with a sugar content of 12 degrees. Takada, the association president, hopes to increase awareness of the yellow watermelon and expand production.
Monday, June 16, 2025 View this post on Instagram A post shared by Kitasorachi Agricultural Cooperative (JA Kitasorachi) (@ja_kitasorachi)