Hokuchin Museum in Asahikawa City !

by Kazu

We visdted Hokuchin Museum run by the Self Defence Force of Japan. It is in Asahikawa City. Affected by the popular animation and comic book "Golden Kamui", it turned to one of the most popular spot to visit in Asahikawa.    

From the history of the Tondenhei Army and 7th Division of the Japanese Imperial Army that defended and reclaimed Hokkaido, to the 2nd Division of the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force that walked aside by side with the people of Hokkaido through the various erasof the National Police Reserveand National SafetyForces,

they have around 2,500 precious artefact that tell the story of Hokkaido's reclamationand defense through the years.
 

Ice Hockey! Hokkaido Red Eeagles vs Tochigi Ice Bucks !

by Kazu

It was so cold in Tsukisamu Arena, Sapporo but the game heated up after Tochigi Ice Bucks got a point in the first period. Two gentlemen gave punches each other for a few seconds.

I have ice hockey shoes and enjoy skating on Rideau Canal in Ottawa decades ago and after coming back to Sapporo, enjoyed in Makomanai Arena for a few times but have never tried recent years. 
 

My hockey ice shoes are under my bed now with protectors and helmet. The edge of the skate shoes must be honed up again to enjoy skating. 

Sushi Natsume in Ajarenga Terrace and Ice Hockey !

by Kazu

I use a hole-in-the-wall sushi bar in the building Akarenga Terracenear my office to treat my guests from overseas. It is so small sushi bar but the talk of the sushi master in the bar is so friendly and attractive. 

The name of the sushi bar is "Natsume" and the URL is 

https://www.sushi-natsume.com/akarenga/

The master Mr. Natori is so friendly and fascinating with high degrees of skill.

After enjoying nice and delicious sushi, we went to Tsukisamu Arena to watch the ice hockey game for the first time in recent few years. A voice-percussion group performed beside the ice skate link and played the role of DJ. Hokkaido Red Eagles won the game and Tochigi Ice Bucks lost on that day. We are planning to visit Tomakomai City to watch the ice hockey game in coming February.   

 

The Second Worship in 2025 ！

by Kazu

We visited Suwa Shrine in Sapporo to ask the priest to incinerate the charms and fortune teller's book after giving a pray. Before that, we did our second worship of this year and took photos of the decoration around the hand-wash fountain near the gate.  

The hand-wash fountain was gracefully decorated with a variety of flowers and umbrellas colored with purple, green, white blue and orange. My wife loves the decoration of this shrine. 

I was wondering where the priest and his disciples purchase theses beautiful umbrellas. They were made in Japanese style. These small umbrellas might be for females. 

 

Northern Blue over Sapporo City !

by Kazu

It was a pity that this year started with bad feeling brought by foodpoisoning but I could savor the New Year Buffet in Hotel Solaria Sapporo for lunch on January 1. I completely recovered on January 2 but it was so hard for me in the evening on December 31 and in the morning on January 1. 

The blue sky and the snow field on the premises of Hokkaido University reflecting the blue color of the sky were so beautiful even in such tough condition. 

I started to hit the stride during my routine jogging and I felt my thighs got filled up with energy and power. Before visiting India, it might be a connotation to avoid foodpoisoning in India.

 

The First Japanese Traditional Tea Ceremony !

by Kazu 

Some paints of "Hattifatteneres" were inside the souvenir shop in front of the baseball stadium Escon Field" in Kita Hiroshima. Without the cooperation of the Finnish Embassy in Tokyo, it must have been tough to lay out so many board-paintings of Moomin characters.

But I am not sure if the front of Escon Field Company got the cooperation of the Embassy or Special Envoy. 

The next day, we had a Japanese traditional tea ceremony in my condo and savor enough the traditional sweets and green tea itself. 

Basically, shooting a photo from this angle is prohibited but please allow me to show these photos. We savor "Petal Rice Cake" that contained salty burdock and sweet soybean-paste. "Hanabira Mochi" is the Japanese name of the sweet. If you would like to try it, please use this name to buy.   

 

The Snow Park in Escon Field !

by Kazu

There were many small object-like figures ? made of ice and snow in the Snow Park in front of Escon Field in Kita Hiroshima City adjacent to Sapporo. The space was off-limit and nobody could touch the ice and snow sculptures. 

I thought this is the image of the Snow Park created in the collaboration with the animation Moomin from Finland. How we can enjoy the season of winter amply and get over the coldness might be a common theme in the northern regions.

I think it took a while to make this ice object that contains many ice "Hattifatteners" inside. It also have to require patience and consistence. Very few visitors took photos of this ice sculpture on that day.