insights from frontier Japan

Lighting ceremonies in lieu of the Olympic torch relay for the Tokyo Olympics were held without spectators on June 13 and 14 at the Ainu culture revival hub "Upopoy National Ainu Museum and Park" in the Iburi region's town of Shiraoi and Kitasanjo Square (Akapla) in Chuo-ku, Sapporo.

The wood charcoal production and sales company Onishi Forestry, located in the Pacific Ocean adjacent town of Shiraoi in Central Hokkaido, is holding a "Takibi Cafe" in its "Bubetsu Forest Camping Field" on Saturdays and Sundays from March 6 to 21. Customers can enjoy a campfire while sipping coffee made with tree sap.

In January of this year, two foreign students from Mongolia joined the new Hokkaido Sakae High School sumo team that started last spring. According to the Sumo Division of the Hokkaido High School Physical Education Federation, this is the first time foreign students from Mongolia have joined a high school sumo team.

Shiraoi Town beef cattle ranch Yoshida Bokujo owner Mr. Yoshida shipped and entered Shiraoi beef in a beef cattle competition fair held in Obihiro City in November. He won the top award for the No. 1 position in all of Hokkaido.

The National Ainu Museum and Park (Upopoy) serves as a base for the revival of the culture of the Ainu, an indigenous people of Hokkaido. It opened on July 12 in Shiraoi Town, central Hokkaido. Upopoy means “singing (in a large group)” in the Ainu language.