Ambassador of Portuguese Republic to Japan visited Hokkaido!

by Kazu

His excellency Mr. Francisco XAVIER ESTEVES, Ambassador of Portuguese republic in Tokyo visited Hokkaido and paid a courtesy call on Vice Governor of Hokkaido Yasuhiro Tsuji.  

Ambassador ESTEVES took his wife to Sapporo and seemed to be able to enjoy their stay in Hokkaido, watching around the beautiful scenery and landscape of our island.

Ambassador ESTEVES brought the guidebook of Portugal to encourage Vice Governor to visit Portugal and likewise, Mr. Ambassador was handed the photo book of Hokkaido landscape.

Winter has come 2！

by Kazu

It was my first jogging in the snow of this season. Everything was shining in the morning and covered with beautiful white snow. The air is very cold but energizing enough to burn up my blood.

Soon the trail will be frozen up and become slippery. It is very tough to jog around on the slippery ice and it will take longer than spring, summer and autumn to jog around my condo. The season of gray scale will continue until the end of March in Hokkaido.

Friends of China 2!

by Kazu

The Japan-China Friendship Group in Hokkaido Legislative Assembly presented a picture to the Ambassador of China to Japan at this courtesy call. The picture is the typical scenery in Hokkaido.

Farming field and birch trees were expressed by using the bark of birch tree and some plants.

The seasoned and experienced Ambassador promised to deliver the information on Hokkaido to the people in China. Actually he recommended the sports delegation from China to use Hokkaido as the training place for winter sports.

Friends of China!

by Kazu

The Chair person, Vice Chair and other members of Japan-China Friendship Group in Hokkaido Legislative Assembly paid a courtesy call on the Chinese Ambassador to Japan. 

They asked the Ambassador to inform Chinese people on the current Hokkaido after the huge earthquake in Eastern Iburi Area. Almost all the facilities for tourists are in normal operation and tourists can savor amply the culinary delights sourced locally in Hokkaido like before.

The Ambassador promised to convey the message to his country. It may be a good chance to romp around Hokkaido without any nuisance of crowded people.

Soccer Friends from Heilongjiang, China!

 by Kazu

Handing down the good relationship between the regions to next generations is very important to maintain the beneficial friendship.

A soccer authority of Heilongjiang, China dispatched a delegation to seek for the possibility of soccer exchange between the youths of Hokkaido and Heilongjiang. 

It seems that the delegation was satisfied with the result of their research on the facilities they would use in Hokkaido. It has been thirty two years since the friendship affiliation was established between Hokkaido and Heilongjiang. 

Winter has come!

by Kazu

Praying for the very best of happiness of my family and fiends, my wife and I ate up tons of beef and walked around the old Hokkaido Government building called "Red Bricks" in Sapporo.

This is me falling into the dark side of the force but my wife saved me. Happy merry Christmas for you all ! 

Seafood and Sweden !

by Kazu

These rice bowls are what you can savor in Kakizaki Shokudo(Seafood Eatery), Yoichi Town where The World's No. 1 Whisky "Yoichi" and "Taketsuru" are produced.

On the same day, the reception was held to welcome the artistic delegation from Sweden. We happened to enjoyed the performance of the violinists from Sweden at the beginning of the reception.

The fiddle play was so nice and stroking our hearts. The Hokkaido -Sweden Association has been playing the important role and will celebrate its 40th anniversary next week. 

For English Teaching in Hokkaido !

 by Kazu

Hokkaido Government has a longest history of Sister-state relationship with Alberta Province of Canada. They kindly dispatch a specialist of English teaching Ms. Olenka Bilash every year.

 We can't thank her enough for her devotion to English teaching in Hokkaido even if we would offer an order of Hokkaido. She is so filled with energy and enthusiasm to teach English to the people whose mother tongue is not English. We really appreciate her contribution to the good command of English of the youth in Hokkaido.

Mini Volley Ball Friends from Sakhalin !

by Kazu

Do you know Mini-Volley Ball ? Seniors, youth, males, females, kids everybody can enjoy the game together. So it is good for us to stay fit easily. 

 Hokkaido Government announced before to enhance the exchange with Sakhalin, Russia and Heilongjiang, China that have a friendship affiliation with Hokkaido. This time, the friends from Sakhalin visited Hokkaido in this season of autumnal beautiful foliage. 

Cozy room in Jouzankei Onsen " Hotel Shikanoyu Hanamomiji" !

by Kazu

This is the hot spring bathroom in the guestroom of Jouzankei Onsen "Hotel Shikanoyu" in Sapporo City. It may be good for the people who are not used to the public bath.

Even for the people from overseas can enjoy their stay in such a room. The quality of the hot spring water of this hotel is so nice and fresh from the hot spring resource.

Some of the hot spring spa in Japan use the hot spring water with the refining and circulation system to make the most of the effect of the ingredients in the hot spring water.

Jouzankei Onsen Hotel Shikanoyu Hanamomiji !

 by Kazu

Wouldn't you like to stay in such typical a room of the hotel with hot spring spa and culinary delights ? The atmosphere is so called Japanese-Japanese.

This cozy Japanese-style room is one of the most luxurious suites in Jouzankei Onsen "Hotel Shikanoyu" at the southern end of Sapporo City.

The smell of Igusa plants that makes Japanese of Tatami mat in the room gives us physical and mental relaxation. Please try the hotel. Believe me.