insights from frontier Japan

On June 11, the ANA Niseko Classic, one of the largest cycle races in Hokkaido, was held in the town of Kutchan in the Shiribeshi region of central Hokkaido. The event was held for the first time in three years due to the spread of coronavirus infections. On the first day of the event, time trials for men and women in different age groups were held on a 14.2 km course in the town, and about 120 amateur cyclists from throughout Japan and beyond participated in the early summer races at the foot of Mt. Yotei.

On June 4, the operation of summer slopes began in earnest at the Engaru Rock Valley Ski Area in the town of Engaru in the Okhotsk region of eastern Hokkaido, allowing visitors to enjoy winter-like skiing during the summer months.

The 42nd Chitose JAL International Marathon was held on June 5, starting and ending at Aoba Park in Chitose City. It was suspended until this year due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and finally returned after a two-year absence. Though participant count was decreased to half of normal as an infection prevention measure, 4,138 runners from inside and outside of Hokkaido successfully ran the early summer course under a blue sky.

On May 12, Hokkaido Consadole Sapporo's general manager, Mikami Hirokatsu announced that the club has reached an agreement to sign Thailand international midfielder Supachok Sarachat (23) on loan from Thai League 1 team Buriram United F. C. The player is expected to join the team in mid-June at the earliest.

A total of 1,262 runners from throughout Hokkaido and beyond took part in the 48th Toyako Marathon, which was held for the first time in three years in the town of Toyako in the Iburi region of central Hokkaido on May 15. Blessed with clear skies, the participants ran the lakeside course amid the abundant natural environment.

Nana Takagi, who with her younger sister Miho became the first pair of speed skating siblings to appear at three Olympic Winter Games, announced her retirement on Tuesday.

The most important thing in sports for me is for it to be fun. Sure I have been frustrated or even cried after losing. But overall, I was having fun and would be back training and in the next competition fighting for the win.

Jozankei Onsen is one of Japan’s most famous natural hot-spring resort With over a 150-year history, and more than 75 different naturally occurring hot springs from the bottom of the Toyohira river which runs through the valley, Jozankei is well known to the Japanese public. Often being featured on TV programs extolling the benefits of the healing waters and introducing the many hotels and activities which can be enjoyed in the area.

This winter, the Hoshino Resort Tomamu Ski Resort is obliging users of off-piste areas, which are limited to experienced skiers, to register with the ‘Yukiyama’ GPS app on their smartphones. The appeal of the restricted areas is that it allows skiers to ski in an almost pristine natural environment, but the visibility is not as good as that on other groomed slopes. The use of the app is intended to help rescue people quickly in the event of an accident, and to help prevent such accidents. According to the resort, there have been rescue requests from lost skiers in the past.