insights from frontier Japan

Barrier-free restaurants are popping up all over Sapporo recently, including places with wheelchair accessible bathrooms, places without any steps at all, and places with braille menus for visually impaired people.

Ganbare Asahikawa, Surprise Fireworks" was held at a ski resort in Asahikawa on the night of July 17 as a symbol of hope for the quick abatement of the novel coronavirus pandemic.

The second round of the Oi-sen (throne game), which is one of the major shogi title matches, was held in Sapporo on July 13 and 14. Sota Fujii (17), a seventh-dan high school student, played against the Oi title holder Kazuki Kimura (47) in this hot match. Lunch meals ordered by players known as “shogi meshi” and snacks served during the match attracted as much attention as the match itself.

On June 26, the Sapporo City Government started promoting the “New Hokkaido Lifestyle”, a campaign that seeks to lower the risk of novel coronavirus spreading. As part of the promotion campaign, they lit up important landmarks including the Sapporo Clock Tower and Sapporo TV Tower.

A nine-year-old Hakodate boy with a development disability is attracting attention by showing his self-taught drum playing online.

On July 15, major tea retailer Lupicia will move its headquarters from its current location in Shibuya-ward, Tokyo to Niseko Town.

On June 25, eight landmarks in Sapporo including the famous Former Hokkaido Government Office Building known as "Akarenga" or the Red Brick Office Building were illuminated in blue to honour medical workers fighting the ongoing coronavirus outbreak. This event was planned by the Hokkaido Government and Sapporo City Government to mark the one-month anniversary of the lifting of the state of emergency.

On June 17, the Hokkaido Government, the Hokkaido Tourism Organization, and the operator of seven Hokkaido-based airports, Hokkaido Airports Co., Ltd., announced the joint development of their new “Hokkaido Love!” campaign. The campaign aims to attract overseas tourists back to Hokkaido following the sharp drop in visitors from abroad due to the current novel coronavirus pandemic.

On June 17, a consortium formed by groups including JA (Japan Agricultural Cooperative) Makubetsu, Hokkaido Obihiro Agriculture High School, and Hokkaido Obihiro Technical High School conducted a trial flight of a drone for agrochemical spraying at Obihiro Agriculture High School. Approximately 80 students learned the advantages of smart agriculture that reduces the burden of agricultural work with advanced technologies.

“Rice-duck farming” using ducklings to eat weeds and insects that hinder the growth of rice began in Naganuma Town in mid-June. This farming technique contributes to the reduction or elimination of chemical use, and stimulates crop growth as the movements of ducks stir the soil.