The Alliance of Japan-Taiwan Friendship Associations !

by Kazu

It is with honor to inform you all that the Alliance of Japan-Taiwan Friendship Associations was established in last October and the party to celebrate that was held  in KEIO Plaza Hotel Sapporo on January 21(Tue.).

The Consul General of Taiwan to Sapporo City Mr. Chen gave an opening speech at the beginning of the party and requested all the Japan-Taiwan Friendship Associations to exert efforts to accelerate the economic exchange between the two regions because the percentage of trade between the regions were very little, compared to the total amount of trade between Japan and Taiwan.  

Considering the tourists from Taiwan to Hokkaido and Hokkaido to Taiwan, the percentage seemed to be so little that every participant was a little bit flabbergasted and seemed to vow to contribute to the active exchange between the regions.  

It seemed that one third of the participants were the members of House of Representatives and the Legislature of Hokkaido.

Mr. Reiichi Kato is the chair of Hokkaido Legislature and the president of Asahikawa Japan-Taiwan Friendship Association. He was so delighted to hear that many new Japan-Taiwan Friendship Associations were to be established.

The governor of Hokkaido Mrs. Harumi Takahashi also extended congratulations and gave a short speech.
Each members of House of Representatives elected from Hokkaido showed their presences after the speech of the governor.
Mr. Yoshitaka ITO was the first.

Mr. Toshimi Funahashi followed.

Mr. Manabu Horii was the third.

Ms. Miho Takahashi wrapped up the parliamentarians' speeches.

Mr. Takatomo Wada is the member of Hokkaido Legislature and the chair of this alliance and. He was very happy to play the role of this important post.

All the presidents of Japan-Taiwan Friendship Associations and associations to be established were on the stage and the president of Sapporo Japan-Taiwan Friendship Association Mr. Yusuke Kimura represented his fellows.
Director-General for Sorachi Subprefecture Mr. Yasunori Yamane happened to be invited to the stage despite he was only the fixer of the establishment of Sorachi Japan-Taiwan Friendship Association.  

Mr. Chen greeted every participant to the party he threw.

Mr. Chen arrived in Sapporo and take the office in last August and did everything to activate the exchange between Hokkaido and Taiwan. I would like to extend my sincere "Congratulations !" to him.

Mr. Yamane, my superior was also happy because Sorachi Japan-Taiwan Friendship Association would be established so earlier than expected before and he could report that to Mr. Chen.

I am so looking forward to seeing much more active exchange between the regions and the delegation from Sorachi to Taiwan as my former supervisor Mr. Akihisa Uchida, Ambassador of Japaan to Canada who passed away years ago wanted to see that !

Hokkaido Shrine on January 4 !

by Kazu

Even on the fourth day of the new year, so many people swamped to the central shrine of Hokkaido which is called Hokkaido Jinguu in Japanese. As you may imagine, considering this situation, people had to wait for over an hour to reach the place to pray for their good fortune of new year near the midnight on the last day of 2013 and the first day of 2014.  

Various kinds of food stands and vendors were along the trails that led to the main alter and other facilities on the premises of the shrine.

Well-treated spruce trees were beside the approach to the shrine. Strictly speaking, the people should walk on the edge of the approach because the center of it is for the God.  

Among the food stands, the one that sells Amazake drink that is made of the debris obtained in the process to brew Japanese sake, is most popular for the worshiper to make their bodies warm.
The top of the state can not be allowed to do this traditional custom ?

Fading Memories in Kitami City !

by Kazu

These photo was taken in the morning of January 3(Fri.). I love to see my home town from this hillside since I was a chubby kid.
At that time there was a hospital run by Hokkaido Prefectural Government and tuberculous inpatients were cured calmly on this hillside.

I can not remember if this greenhouse was here in my infancy but tropical rain-forest trees can be seen inside the house and they might ease the pain brought by the disease and hospitalization.
I can remember that many rainbow trouts were raised on the premises of the hospital years ago but no pool nor fish are there now.
It was minus 15 degrees in Celsius this morning !  

The beginning of seasons !

by Kazu

It was so fine in my hometown Kitami City on the second day of 2014, too. I jogged around the Green Center of Kitami City and was allured to the forest again.

It was a little bit earlier than January 1 but the footprints were much more.

It seemed that some citizens tried to stroll in the forest and sought for the peak. Some big footprints were heading to the upper side of the mountain.

 Compared to the summer and autumn forest, the breathing of the trees could not be felt in winter. But the traces of wild lives existed here and there.

The houses of some creatures were in this area. They were breathing and watching this side.

 The city started to move  after the long and deep sleep. I hope I would show the city the glory of development again. I am wondering if I could come back to this city in the future. I love to jog around the mountain side of the city that has the tomb of my family.

Pine cones were collected by somebody or something beside the trail. This might be a mountain of goodwill for something.

They are combustible and produces nice aroma but I am not sure if they are edible for something or not. They also produces the new lives. We have to try again and again even in the uphill battle and do our best. "Till death do us part." Have you vowed for somebody ?  

Where is this ?

by Kazu

Where do you think this place is ?
I was given a massage to get the second wing.
This is the hot spring spa "Nonta no Yu" in Kitami City.

 

The souvenir shop is filled with the snacks, sweets and toys.

This is typical decoration for the beginning of the year. small orange is on top of the round rice cake.

This is the entrance of the spa. Many many citizens of Kitami City use this spa every day. Please check out the spa at http://www.city.kitami.lg.jp/docs/7030/ and visit there !