Sparkling Korakuen: An Evening Tea Gathering Thursday, October 23 and Friday, October 24 At Korakuen, where the maple trees had turned crimson, a light-up and tea gathering took place. Inside the garden stands Korakutei, a tea room used several times a month for tea practice and tea gatherings for children. Still, many village residents had never stepped into Korakutei, and many had only viewed Korakuen’s garden from outside. For regular walkers and those who don’t usually go out alike, these two days provided an opportunity to visit Korakuen. Because the garden has almost no lighting, lights placed along the walking paths glittered in the darkness. A gentle, light rain fell that night. The softly sweet tea sweets and the warm, full-bodied tea warmed us through. Even without knowing tea ceremony etiquette, I found the tea room’s refined, comforting atmosphere soothing, and I visited many times. (Refills of tea were available 🧉) Despite the poor footing due to the weather, many people came—thank you very much. #Nishiokoppe Village #Hokkaido #Traditional Japanese garden #Korakuen #Autumn foliage light-up #Tea gathering #Night #Autumn

Teachers’ Staged Reading "Hanasaki-yama" Saturday, November 15 At Nishiokoppe Village Community Center Large Hall The teachers will present a staged reading. This year’s program is the picture book Hanasaki-yama, written by Ryusuke Saito and illustrated by Jiro Takidaira. We will deliver a story incorporating the episodes of “Hachiro” and “Miko” that appear in this tale. The cast includes elementary and junior high school teachers, elementary school students, and fellow villagers. Including staff, people of various ages will work together to create a single production. Admission free Doors open at 1:30 PM, performance starts at 2:00 PM. Recommended for ages elementary school and up. Please come and see the teachers doing their best on stage. For inquiries, call 090-9086-8268 (Yamamoto). #Nishiokoppe Village #Hokkaido #staged reading #teachers’ staged reading #Hanasaki-yama #November 15 #Community Center Large Hall #Board of Education

Autumn Nature Walk in Miyanomori Miyanomori surrounds Forest Park. I heard we could stroll through Miyanomori, and about 20 people, from children to adults, gathered. You can walk from the foot to the summit and back in just over an hour on Miyanomori. Fallen leaves covered the ground, and with every step I heard the rustle of leaves. At first everyone walked at the same pace, but the energetic children pressed on, moving steadily ahead. As we walked, people stopped when something caught their eye, staring at it or reaching out to touch it. In the clear air, we fully savored the autumn forest. #Nishiokoppe Village #Hokkaido #Miyanomori #Walk #Autumn #Mushrooms

Gathered Around the Campfire It was around the time when overnight lows started hovering near 0°C. Children gathered at the BBQ house behind Hotel Morumu, forming a circle around the campfire. They tried lighting the fire, cutting wood, and grilling food. With temperatures too cool for short sleeves, the area around the fire felt warm and cozy. With help from adults and older students, each child had the chance to try whatever they wanted at their own pace. Sweet potatoes, potatoes, pumpkin, bread, sausages, marshmallows, and more were roasted. Many items turned out well with little charring! Soon the season for campfires and outdoor grilling will come to an end. The garden beside the BBQ house was steadily preparing for winter. I can’t help but feel a little excited already, wondering what winter delights await. #Nishiokoppe Village #Hokkaido #campfire #roasted sweet potato #hands-on experience #mokuiiku (wood learning) #autumn

ComCom Halloween This season has come around again! Halloween! Happy Halloween!! Strictly speaking it isn’t the day yet, but the Forest Museum ‘‘Komu’’ is full of Halloween decorations, so do come and visit 🎃 A corner that felt like moon-viewing until recently has splendidly taken on more orange. By the way, the pampas grass seen in front of the window was grown in the garden behind Hotel Morumu. If you snap a photo of your child sitting in the car, it will surely turn out adorable! The exterior visible from outside is also dressed in Halloween colors, so take your time to look from corner to corner. Forest Museum Komu Opening hours: 10:00–17:00 *From November the museum closes at 16:30 Admission: High school and older 500 yen Grades 4–6 and junior high school 300 yen Ages 3 to grade 3 100 yen Under 3 free Inquiries: 0158-87-2600 #Nishiokoppe Village #Hokkaido #Forest Museum Komu #Halloween #Decorations #Setoushi-kun

Tomoya Kaneko Live in Nishiokoppe Centennial Celebration of Nishiokoppe Village Singer-songwriter from Shimokawa Town Tomoya Kaneko will perform a live concert in Nishiokoppe Village! The show opens with BEAR HUGS, Nishiokoppe Village’s visual-kei rock band, who also appeared at this year’s entertainment show, to get the crowd going 🐻 Friday, November 21 at Hotel Morimu Plum Hall, Nishiokoppe Village Doors open 18:00 Show starts 18:30 All-you-can-drink with light refreshments included Unreserved seats High school and older: ¥5,000 Junior high and younger: ¥1,500 Preschool children: Free Reservations by QR code or phone. Tel 070-9097-3611 (Tsushima) Tel 080-6728-1980 (Henmi) Tel 090-2768-8710 (Dan) Our staff are working hard to make this a fun show 😆 We look forward to seeing many of you! #Nishiokoppe Village #Hokkaido #Live #Tomoya Kaneko #Singer-songwriter #Centennial celebration of village founding #BEAR HUGS #Hotel Morimu

Kourakuen Autumn Leaves Light-Up & Evening Tea Gathering Located behind Hotel Morumu the authentic Japanese garden Kourakuen This garden is known for its beautifully carpeted moss, and in autumn it becomes a lovely spot to enjoy colorful fall foliage. Kourakuen will shine even more with a light-up on Thursday, October 23 and Friday, October 24 for two nights! Alongside the autumn leaves light-up, an evening tea gathering will also be held. 🍁Autumn Leaves Light-Up💡 5:00 PM–9:00 PM 🧉Evening Tea Gathering🧉 6:30 PM–8:30 PM Admission is free. There is a parking area beside the garden behind Hotel Morumu, so please park there if you are coming by car. Inquiries: Nishiokoppe Village Office, Industry and Construction Division, Forestry and Commerce Section 0158-87-2111 Please enjoy Kourakuen on an autumn evening. #Nishiokoppe Village #Hokkaido #authentic Japanese garden #Kourakuen #autumn leaves light-up #tea gathering #night #autumn

Theatrical Troupe Kazenoko Tohoku "From Fukushima" A one-man play by Osamu Sawada "From Fukushima" March 11, 2011 Memories of the Great East Japan Earthquake and the years that followed. Stories from Fukushima are told. Performance Details Tuesday, October 21 Doors open 18:00 Performance starts 18:30 At Hotel Morimu Plum Hall Free for junior high school students and younger 500 yen for high school students and older Organized by the Friends of Troupe Kazenoko Tohoku Contact 090-8631-0781 (Hiroyuki Kikukawa) #Nishiokoppe Village #Hokkaido #theatrical troupe #Kazenoko #Tohoku #Osamu Sawada #one-man play #Fukushima #Great East Japan Earthquake

Blue Clear Stream Festival In Nishiokoppe Village a support facility for people with disabilities called Seiryuu no Sato. For the first time since the Reiwa era began the Seiryuu Festival, open to the general public, was held! Facility users and staff wore matching blue T-shirts, so whether you looked at the sky or at people, it was blue, blue, blue. Fourteen food and craft stalls lined the venue, and the crowd swelled just from the vendors gathering. At the booth where I was helping, 100 servings of udon and soba sold out in just over an hour after the festival began. Our neighbor’s stall (Koei beef bowls and curry!) also sold out around the same time, which made me realize how many people had come. On stage, a spade shamisen performance, bingo, and acts by facility users livened up the event. At the end, many people were handed spades and each swayed to the rhythm or danced through the venue as they liked. Under a clear autumn sky, it was a day that left us feeling very energized. #Nishiokoppe Village #Hokkaido #Seiryuu no Sato #Welfare facility #Seiryuu Festival #Spade shamisen

[Forest Park’s Last Open Day Is 100 Yen Again!?] The final open day at Nishiokoppe Village Forest Park is Sunday, October 19. You can play on the playground equipment, have a picnic on the lawn, or pitch a tent and spend the night. Thank you for using the park so much this year. On the last weekend, all playground equipment can be used for 100 yen each! Also, camping that normally costs 500 yen per tent is available for one night at 100 yen! *Overnight stays are also allowed on Sunday the 19th.* Enjoy every last moment while you can. #Nishiokoppe Village #Hokkaido #Forest Park #This season’s last open day #100 Yen Festival #Playground equipment #Tents

Autumn Nishiokoppe Market This year's autumn market was scheduled for Saturday, September 20th and Sunday, September 21st. The first day was calm and pleasantly mild, and many people came from inside and outside the village. The vendors were the familiar faces. Udon, soba, tempura, Ezo deer meatballs, and venison braised in red wine were available to eat at the venue Chiffon cake, Setoushi-kun yaki, umeboshi garlic and sweet potato sticks made good souvenirs. At the children's festival, a string-draw lottery appeared, and children pulled the strings with focused looks as they eyed the prizes they wanted. There was also a chance to try silk screen printing. From Seiryu no Sato fresh vegetables were on sale. The variety and low prices surprised everyone. The vegetables are also sold inside the Roadside Station building, so please consider buying some. The market's second day was unfortunately canceled due to severe weather. The next market will be held next spring. After a whole winter and once the snow melts, let's meet again—see you then! #Nishiokoppe Village #Hokkaido #Autumn Market #Roadside Station #Kamumu #Flower Park

The Power of Books, the Power to Live A Project in Cooperation with Shanti Volunteer Association "The Power of Books, the Power to Live" Through books, start close to home and then look toward the world— Under that concept, with the help of two people from Myanmar who live in Nishiokoppe Village, we created translated picture books to send to Myanmar. What kind of country is Myanmar? What is its situation right now? First, we spent time learning about Myanmar. Then we held picture-book readings in Japanese and Burmese. After enjoying the differences in Burmese and Japanese pronunciation, it was time to make the translated picture books. Using a Burmese kana comparison chart, we cut and pasted Burmese translation stickers onto every page, repeating the process. At the end, they taught us how to write our own names in Burmese. Having two people who speak Burmese meant we could ask questions when we lost track of where stickers should go, and learn things that you can’t get from reading materials alone, such as stroke order. Thanks to them, we felt Burmese become more familiar to us. The translated picture books we made that day will reach Myanmar around next summer. We entrusted the books to the Shanti Volunteer Association while wondering what Myanmar will be like then and what we ourselves will be doing at that time. #Nishiokoppe Village #Hokkaido #Shanti Volunteer Association #Translated picture books #Myanmar #The Power of Books, the Power to Live #Burmese

Nishiokoppe Village Variety Show Last year, the variety show returned after a five-year hiatus. This year, we were able to hold it successfully once again. Thank you to everyone who came out in large numbers. The performance segment was rich with acts. From children to adults taking the stage, there were fresh, uplifting performances and also V-kei band sets, letting audiences enjoy a wide range of genres. In the latter half, the karaoke segment featured a somewhat different lineup than last year, but this village truly has many talented singers…! We were captivated by the clear, expansive voices. Stalls offered food and drinks, as well as booths selling capsule toys and other playthings, plus shooting galleries and ring-toss corners. From morning until night, it was a day to fully savor the festival. #Nishiokoppe Village #Hokkaido #Variety Show #100th Anniversary of Village Founding #September 11

Shrine Festival The Kamikoppu area holds its shrine festival on September 7, and Nishiokoppe Village celebrates its shrine festival on September 11. It’s the day when people parade through their neighborhood with the portable shrine. In Kamikoppu, a night-before celebration called yomiya-sai is also held, making for a lively few days. In Nishiokoppe, an entertainment show takes place on the evening of the festival day, where villagers perform and enjoy drinks together while watching the acts. People wearing happi coats and children dressed as ochigo (festival pages) add to the festive atmosphere. Walking through the streets of Kamikoppu, I heard the taiko drums echo off the surrounding mountains and return as a distant rumble. I’ll post about the entertainment show in a separate entry. #Nishiokoppe Village #Hokkaido #Shrine Festival #Autumn #Mikoshi (portable shrine) #Procession #Ochigo (festival child) #Happi coat #Mochimaki (rice cake throwing)

Puppet Theater Pook Performance in Nishiokoppe Village Wednesday, September 24, 2025 Puppet Theater Pook is coming again this year! Thank you for the many visitors from both inside and outside the village last year. The program features two works: "Kobozu Zuieten" and "It Might Be an Apple." Doors open at 6:00 PM Performance starts at 6:30 PM. The performance will be held in the large hall of Nishiokoppe Village Community Center. Advance tickets: 500 yen Same-day tickets: 600 yen Children aged two and under: free. Tickets can be purchased from members of the puppet theater circle Doremi or reserved via the QR code. A shuttle bus will operate on the day for residents of the Kamiokoppe area. Please feel free to use it. 6:00 PM Kamiokoppe Bus Stop 6:05 PM In front of Kamiokoppe Residents' Center 6:10 PM In front of Kamiokoppe Elementary School For inquiries about this performance, please contact: Nishiokoppe Village Board of Education 0158-87-2501 We will prepare a small selection of snacks and look forward to your arrival. Organizers: Puppet Theater Circle Doremi / Nishiokoppe Village Board of Education #Nishiokoppe Village #Hokkaido #Puppet theater #Puppet Theater Pook #Performance #Kobozu Zuieten #It Might Be an Apple #Puppet Theater Circle Doremi #Nishiokoppe Village Board of Education #September 24

Autumn Marche and KAMU-Oto This year’s Autumn Marche takes place over two days: Saturday, September 20 and Sunday, September 21. It will be held at Roadside Station Nishiokoppe Flower Garden from 10:00 to 15:00. On Sunday the 21st, continuing from last year, a small stage event called "KAMU-Oto" will also be held inside the Flower Park. In the morning, enjoy band performances and singer-songwriter sets, and in the afternoon, savor readings, koto music, and picture-book storytelling. Around midday, a guided walk of the Flower Park is scheduled. Admission to the Flower Park is 200 yen for high school students and older. Junior high school students and younger, as well as village residents, are free. We look forward to welcoming you! #Nishiokoppe Village #Hokkaido #Autumn Marche #KAMU-Oto #Roadside Station #Flower Garden #Flower Park

Nishiokoppe Village Variety Show Thursday, September 11 That variety show that returned last year is back again…! This year it starts at 6:00 PM There will also be a time capsule opening ceremony. A time capsule buried 20 years ago. Who buried what inside, nobody knows. Even the person who buried it seems unable to remember what they put in… The variety show begins at 6:30 PM. Food stalls and festival booths will be available. Enjoy performances by village residents and karaoke! The venue is the Nishiokoppe Village Public Hall large hall. #Nishiokoppe Village #Hokkaido #Variety show #Time capsule #Opening #100th anniversary of the village founding #September 11

Autumn Event Information Yesterday the Village Revitalization Festival ended. Thank you to everyone who attended!! And even though summer is over, events continue. First, here is the news for September. September • Saturday the 6th — Kamiokoppe Evening Festival Around 6:00 PM in front of Kamiokoppe Shrine. • Thursday the 11th — Time Capsule Opening Ceremony and Variety Show Will we open a time capsule buried 20 years ago!? We’re excited to see what will be unearthed. This begins at 6:00 PM. The variety show follows at 6:30 PM. Enjoy performances by villagers and food stalls. Both events take place in the public hall’s large auditorium. • Saturday the 13th — "Turning the Power of Books into the Power to Live" This project is organized with Shanti International Volunteer Association and people from Myanmar living in Nishiokoppe Village. Would you like to create translated picture books and send them to Myanmar? From 10:00 AM at the public hall. • Saturday the 20th to Sunday the 21st — Autumn Market & KAMU Music A small market celebrating the autumn harvest. A live music event will be held on the 21st. Both days run from 10:00 AM to 3:00 PM. At Roadside Station Nishiokoppe KAMU. • Wednesday the 24th — Puppet Theatre Company Pook Performance Pook Puppet Theatre, active nationwide and internationally, is coming to town! The program includes two pieces: "Little Monk Zuiten" and "It Might Be an Apple." Doors open at 6:00 PM, curtain at 6:30 PM. At the public hall’s large auditorium. • Sunday the 28th — Clear Stream Festival A festival at the Clear Stream Village. There will be entertainment and food stalls. At Seiryu no Sato in Kamiokoppe. Information about events from October onward will be posted later. #Nishiokoppe Village #Hokkaido #Autumn #Events #September

Nishiokoppe’s Test of Courage A night spent in costume isn’t just about the Bon Odori. In Nishiokoppe, the summer test of courage has recently become an annual tradition. During summer vacation, the children gather starting in the early afternoon for strategy meetings, making ghost costumes, a candy party, and bug hunting. This day also happened to be the day a traveling bookstore from Shimokawa visited. Pom overflowed with books and children. In the evening came the long-awaited watermelon-splitting game. When I was a child, many people used to give false directions so the watermelon wouldn’t get broken, but the children in Nishiokoppe guided us properly. After we finished eating, it was finally time to march around. The people playing ghosts took their positions, and the rest of us walked toward the elementary school and Forest Park. They were more funny-costume scare actors than truly scary ghosts. We strolled through the night town with a few laughs. Along the way, the owner of Yukimichi Bookshop told a frightening story, but people listening dwindled as the tale went on. I wonder how terrifying it really was. When it got chilly, we held a handheld firework finale before saying goodbye! There were so many fireworks everyone brought that people held them in both hands and tried lighting several sparklers at once. Adults rekindled their inner child, and it was a delightful night. Thanks to the kids who organized it!! Thanks also to the support from teens and adults. #Nishiokoppe Village #Hokkaido #Summer vacation #Test of courage #Summer night #Watermelon-splitting #Fireworks #Travelling Yukimichi Bookshop #August 18th

Fun and Camping at Forest Park! Three Days During Obon At Forest Park, to mark the 100th anniversary of the village opening we ran an "Everything 100 Yen" campaign! Camping was 100 yen per night and every playground ride cost 100 yen per go! Hours were extended by two hours, so for three days visitors could play until 6:30 p.m. Go-karts kept racing nonstop, and the batting center never stopped sounding with hits. Because the event overlapped with Bon dance season, many people used the campground. On the third and final day of the 100-yen campaign, we also held a PET BOTTLE ROCKET event! Participants assembled PET BOTTLES into rockets, filled them with water, attached them to the launcher, pulled the trigger and launched them! Cheers rose as the rockets flew powerfully through the air. Even when water splashed on them, children squealed with delight and had a great time. Thank you for visiting Forest Park! The season is still ongoing. We look forward to your next visit! #Nishiokoppe Village #Hokkaido #Forest Park #Summer #Everything 100 Yen #Play #Camping

"Mura Okoshi Festival 2025" This year’s Mura Okoshi Festival is on Sunday, August 31, 2025! From 10:00 to 15:00 at the Forest Park *In case of rain, it will be held at Nishiokoppe Village Indoor Multipurpose Gymnasium* Celebrating its 42nd edition this year with a live performance by singer-songwriter Miyako Hansaki! The event will be emceed by Kana Morino, a personality from HBC Asahikawa Broadcasting Station! Other highlights include a performance by the junior high school brass band, Nishiokoppe Wenshiri Taiko, and an act by the group Fake' z to liven up the day. Interactive attractions include the lumberjack race to see who can cut through a log fastest and the Drink-Bang-Bang-Born contest using locally produced milk. There will also be a big lottery, so please enjoy the event all the way to the end. #Nishiokoppe Village #Hokkaido #Mura Okoshi Festival #Summer #100th Anniversary of Village Founding #Miyako Hansaki #Kana Morino #August 31"

Bon Odori Alive with Costumes and Food Stalls Nishiokoppe Village’s Bon Odori takes place each year in the Kamiokoppe area on August 14 and in the Nishiokoppe area on August 15. You can enjoy Bon Odori in the village for two days. Each day features different food stalls, so deciding what to eat is part of the excitement. Children’s Bon Odori and the Hokkai Bon Uta Both have about 30 minutes set aside for dancing. If you plan to keep dancing, you need a lot of stamina…! Those in costume especially worked up a sweat. Thank you for your impressive costumes! Summer nights are lively and uplifting. #Nishiokoppe Village #Hokkaido #Bon Odori #Summer #Costumes #Food stalls

Komu Museum of Art’s Wood Play Experience Market A workshop festival celebrating the village’s 100th anniversary The “Wood Play Experience Market” was held at Komu Museum of Art! Vendors from across Hokkaido gathered for a hands-on making event using wood and natural materials. When the museum opened at 10:00, visitors came to the event space without pause. We offered six experiences. Make a wooden kaleidoscope Make a wooden clock Make BUG BUG from nuts and seeds Make wooden brooches and keychains Make a wood shaker Make mushroom magnets. @do.mono @tek_toys Visitors chose beads and peered into the finished kaleidoscopes, walked around with insects made from acorns and pipe cleaners, and shook bean-filled wood shakers. On the clock faces, participants decorated not only numbers but many other embellishments. In one corner, poisonous-looking mushrooms and irresistibly cute mushrooms sprouted in abundance. Animal keychains and brooches, each with its own expression, were adorable. Many people didn’t stop at just one experience but walked around to multiple booths, which made us very happy 😆 Including the reception staff, the day brought together people skilled in wood education and woodcraft 🏋️🏋️🏋️ Thanks to the staff who watched over and supported the participants, it became a truly lovely time ✨ Thank you very much!!! #Nishiokoppe Village #Hokkaido #Komu Museum of Art #Summer #Wood Play Experience Market #Hands-on experience #Workshop #Woodworking #Making things #Woody Summer School #August 2

Bon Odori season has arrived! Dance to the sound of the taiko drums Let's dance🏮 Kamiokoppe area: Thursday, August 14 at the Kamiokoppe Multipurpose Family Exchange Center. Nishiokoppe area: Friday, August 15 in front of the Nishiokoppe Life Improvement Center. Come in costume and you might find a pleasant surprise. Look forward to food and drink stalls too🍺 #Nishiokoppe Village #Hokkaido #Bon Odori #Summer #Costumes #Food stalls

Summer nights taste better with beer Friday, August 1 Hosted by the Chamber of Commerce Youth Division The Forest Beer Garden ended successfully! Thank you to everyone who came out🍺 Everything lined up at the stalls was delicious. Personally, I love the potato dumplings and pumpkin dumplings that often appear at summer stalls, and they sold out early again this year. I was happy to buy one pack of each before they sold out. Thanks to everyone who handled frying and grilling in the heat, and to the vendors and organizers for their hard work🏋️ #Nishiokoppe Village #Hokkaido #Forest Beer Garden #Beer Garden #Summer #Chamber of Commerce Youth Division #Chamber of Commerce Women's Division #Yume-mura Forest Garden #Night

[Forest Park Extended Hours] Three summer days only!! Nishiokoppe Village Forest Park will extend its opening hours until 6:30 PM🏃 Normally it closes at 4:30 PM, so working adults can drop by after work!(^^)! During the period, all playground equipment is a flat 100 yen per use! Everything can be enjoyed for just one coin. In addition, the campsite is 100 yen per tent! (100 yen charged per night) On Thursday the 14th there will be the Kamiokoppe Bon Odori, and on Friday the 15th the Nishiokoppe Bon Odori, so you can enjoy Nishiokoppe Village into the night🏮 Also on Saturday the 16th from 10:00 AM to 12:00 PM, there will be a free PET bottle rocket activity you can join. You can make rockets on the spot and, time permitting, launch them as much as you like🚀 You may also bring rockets you made yourself. We look forward to seeing you all! #Nishiokoppe Village #Hokkaido #Forest Park #100th anniversary of the village opening #100 yen #Extended hours

[Hokuto Pro Wrestling Visits the Village!] Sunday, July 27 Hokuto Pro Wrestling came to Nishiokoppe Village. It was a string of thrilling matches. The show opened with kids versus a pro wrestler. Children swarmed the strong, burly wrestler. Their shoving and jostling was heartwarming to watch. What followed were one intense bouts after another. At times the fights were so heated that wrestlers flew out of the ring. The brawls up close had everyone gripping their seats. The wrestlers were full of fan service. A few of them even posed for commemorative photos with Setoushi-kun. Their athleticism was astonishing. They jumped and spun, and we enjoyed their performances from start to finish. Thank you very much!! #Nishiokoppe Village #Hokkaido #Hokuto Pro Wrestling #Summer #Setoushi-kun

【ICHI LIVE】 ICHI LIVE is happening! Kids and adults alike, come to the South Pasture🐄🐑 Wednesday, August 13 Live starts at 10:30 AM Adults 2,000 yen Ages 6– 500 yen Venue: South Pasture, Nishiokoppe Village Everywhere is filling up with summer plans. We hope everyone has a wonderful summer. #Nishiokoppe Village #Hokkaido #ICHI #LIVE #Summer #South Pasture

Culture Night Friday, July 25 At the Forest Museum Komu, the yearly Culture Night took place. Normally Komu closes at 5:00 PM, but for this night only it stayed open until 8:00 PM. Since people usually visit Komu during daylight hours, entering the museum at night felt like sneaking into school—full of excitement. That evening, not only the young children who often use Komu but also middle school students who came to see their friends from the brass band and many adults arrived one after another. For some locals who live nearby but rarely stop by these days, it was a rare chance to step into Komu again. Inside the building, the Nishiokoppe Junior High School brass band performed, and the puppet-theater group Doremi staged “The Mischievous Ghost Kenmun.” Among the performances, a trio by three third-year brass-band students left a strong impression. Trumpet, horn, and euphonium. Each instrument had its highlight passages, and their overlapping harmonies were very beautiful. The puppet show put on by village volunteers collaborated with lighting to create a vivid, immersive performance. After the shows, there was time to interact with the puppets and instruments. The children who played until they were drenched in sweat likely slept soundly that night. We look forward to next year’s Culture Night. #Nishiokoppe Village #Hokkaido #Forest Museum Komu #Culture Night #mokuiiku (wood learning) #brass band #puppet theater

[Wood Play Experience Market] Komu Museum of Art Saturday, August 2, 10:00–16:00 We present the “Wood Play Experience Market”! ※Museum closing time is 17:00 See it, touch it, make it—fun wooden workshops await you. [Workshop Highlights] 〇 Wooden keychain and brooch making Artist: tek Tanno Yuri Fee: 500 yen each Duration: about 30 minutes 〇 Make a wooden kaleidoscope or clock!! Artist: Do mono Fee: Kaleidoscope 1,000 yen / Clock 500 yen Duration: about 30 minutes 〇 Wood-nut BUG BUG Wood education meister: Erika Murai Fee: 300 yen Duration: about 30 minutes 〇 Mushroom magnet making Uenshiri and friends (taiko drum team) Fee: 500 yen (for two pieces) Duration: about 10 minutes ※Admission fees apply as usual High school and older 500 yen / Grades 4–6 and junior high 300 yen / Ages 3 to Grade 3 100 yen / Under 3 free ※Residents of Nishiokoppe Village are free of charge that day To mark the village’s 100th anniversary, the first 100 visitors will receive a free workshop ticket! Every craft is adorable—you’ll have trouble choosing which to make. Come make a lovely piece and create a summer vacation memory. #Nishiokoppe Village #Hokkaido #Komu Museum of Art #Summer #Wood Play Experience Market #Hands-on #Workshop #Woodworking #Woody Summer School #August 2