Deer Stew and Bread Making On a certain holiday, I heard that a dozen or so elementary school students had gathered. When I peeked in, some children were measuring flour and butter and mixing, while others were simmering something in pots. They were making a stew with venison and baking croissants! The stew started from scratch with a homemade brown sauce. The bread used a recipe said to be for advanced bakers, so they kneaded the dough carefully. In the spare moments, they played games like Old Maid with a deck of cards. I forgot to take a photo of the finished dishes, but everyone enjoyed the meal together.

Tsudome Lunch Today is the monthly community cafeteria day. The place is written as Shumu but called Tsudome It is held in the Social Welfare Council building and beloved by the nickname Tsudome Lunch. Today's menu is tsukemen (dipping noodles)! Thick noodles catch the savory broth perfectly. For dessert we served chocolate brownies in honor of Valentine’s Day. Next month is Wednesday, March 13! Thank you, as always, for the delicious lunch!

Ski Class In Hokkaido, there are regions where students have ski lessons during physical education class. At the elementary and junior high schools in Nishiokoppe Village, teachers and students come here together to ski. They leave their skis at the ski resort lodge. The lifts in Nishiokoppe use a slightly tricky style: you hold the handle with one hand and press the bar against your waist as you go up. It’s surprising to see some elementary school students riding them smoothly. Inside the lodge, there is an attendant who operates the lift and handles other duties.

Wood learning at the nursery! At the end of January, we held a wood-learning program at a nursery. Previously, we published an experimental report about making crafts from milk carton paper fibers. Here is a quick look at the children's creations. Simply touching the fluffy paper fibers floating in the water filled the room with joyful laughter.

Melting Milk Cartons The other day I happened upon an experimental setup. Many milk cartons sat submerged in a pot. A staff member promoting wood education was peeling them off. At first I wondered what they were peeling. They were removing only the plastic film from the outside of the milk cartons so they could use the inner fibers. They silently peeled the warmed, water-soaked cartons and tore them into small pieces. The torn paper fibers went into a blender with water to be broken down even further. It looked a bit like porridge... Then, they took a handful of the pulpy fibers soaked in plenty of water and scooped them up with a poi net like those used for goldfish scooping. After scooping, they removed the excess water and gave the poi a sharp shake, causing the pulp to come away cleanly from the net. Once dried, the result is a perfectly round piece. You can also press in yarn, leaves, or other materials to create an original work.

[Okhotsk Fair Held at Chikaho] In 2024, my constant companion, the Setoushi-kun doll, made its Sapporo debut! Over two days on January 24th and 25th, the Okhotsk Fair took place in the Sapporo Station Underground Walkway (Chikaho). Municipalities and shop owners from various Okhotsk regions set up booths and exhibited. From Nishiohkobe Village, Milk Design Co. came to Chikaho. Although the weather was stormy across both days, foot traffic at Sapporo Station never dwindled, and visitors from abroad made purchases as well. Those two days were supported by neighboring booth exhibitors. Thank you very much!

Screening and Donut Sale We used Guesthouse GA.KOPPER in Nishiokoppe Village to hold film screenings on January 19 and 20. Photographers captured Hokkaido’s wildlife. Set to music and shown on a grand scale, the film offered about 80 minutes of close attention to their lives and deaths. After the screening on the 20th, we held a sale of handmade sweets, including donuts. Hot drinks such as bamboo-grass chai and royal milk tea were also very popular. Donuts, chocolate, bagels, and cookies— the handmade, charming treats sold out in no time as people hardly had a moment to admire them. Thank you to everyone who came out!

New Year Mochi Pounding The annual mochi pounding event said to take place at Guesthouse GA.KOPPER! It was held on January 2nd! Guests staying at the guesthouse and village residents gathered around a single mortar to pound mochi, while those who wanted to relax sipped sweet sake in the dining room. White mochi and mochi with beans or brown rice were lined up, and everyone enjoyed them with nori, grated daikon, nameko mushrooms, sweet red bean paste, or roasted soybean flour to their liking. A hit with the children was chocolate! Eating mochi with chocolate was an idea we had never seen before! Timed with the mochi pounding, the sight of watching children jumping with serious faces made for a heartwarming day. #Nishiofuke Village #GA.KOPPER #New Year #Mochi pounding #Mochi and chocolate #Nameko mushrooms and grated daikon were delicious

Ski Area Open The ski area in Nishiokoppe has opened on January 13th! It looks like local children were quick to hit the slopes 😆 On nights when the lifts operate, why not stop by for a run after work?

[Screening and Homemade Sweets Sale] The documentary film "Ikitoshi Ikeru Mono", which has previously been shown in cinemas, captures wild animals living in Hokkaido. By chance, we will hold a screening in Nishiokoppe Village in January. The venue is Guesthouse GA.KOPPER in Nishiokoppe Village. The screening schedule is as follows: Friday, January 19th, 18:00–20:00 Saturday, January 20th, 10:00–12:00 On the 20th, homemade sweets such as donuts will also be on sale. We look forward to your visit to the screening.

Nishiokopper Live On the night of December 25 last year, Christmas night. One after another, cars began to stop in front of Guesthouse GA.KOPPER. When I opened the entrance, the first thing that caught my eye was the Christmas market. Handmade cookies and bagels were lined up in a row, and a few children were helping out at the stalls. In the dining hall that served as the venue, decorations sparkled. The windows filled with visitors’ drawings and writings had their own charm. While watching the performances by “Nishiokopper,” we relaxed and enjoyed food and drinks that night. We saw many sides of Nishiokopper: instrumentals and singing with dancing, a video presentation, and a reading set to koto music as background. The pumpkin parfait I had after my turn was very delicious. I’ll patiently wait for the day when Nishiokopper gathers again.

Happy New Year! The year has begun, and today is the first workday of the year. Here are photos from a midnight Hatsumode shrine visit and from a sunny New Year’s Day walk. I look forward to another year together!

Nishiokopper Live December 25, Christmas night. One after another, cars began to stop in front of Guesthouse GA.KOPPER. When I opened the entrance, the first thing that caught my eye was the Christmas market. Handmade cookies and bagels were lined up, and a few children were helping at the stalls. In the dining room that served as the venue, decorations sparkled. The windows filled with visitors’ drawings and messages added their own charm. While watching a performance by "Nishiokopper," people relaxed and enjoyed food and drinks that night. We saw many sides of Nishiokopper: instrumentals and songs with dance, a video presentation, and a reading accompanied by koto as background music. The pumpkin parfait I ate after my turn was very delicious. I’m patiently waiting for the day Nishiokopper gathers again.

I painted pictures on Kamu’s windows! Inside the Roadside Station Kamu there are many large windows. Not blank white, but a transparent canvas— children from the village drew Christmas-themed pictures for us! Some kids picked crayon colors while looking at sample drawings. Some boldly dragged crayons across the glass to create big works. Some drew characters together with friends sitting beside them. At their own pace, each child enjoyed drawing on the windows in their own way. The display runs through Monday, December 25. Some windows were even painted by adults with great design sense, so come by to soak up the Christmas atmosphere.

Komu Christmas Saturday, December 2 was a day when Morino Bijutsukan 'komu' opened its doors free of charge! Children gathered from inside and outside the village and enjoyed performances such as a concert by Nishiokoppe junior high school brass band and a puppet-theater circle Doremi including handbell performances. There was also a collaboration between Setoushi-kun and Santa Claus!! During the early music and piano session visitors could try tuning and see a piano played with its outer case removed, creating an exciting time even for adults. Komu's interior is decorated for Christmas, so please take a look when you stop by.

NISHIOKOPPER, Gather! People living in Nishiokoppe are apparently called “Nishiokopper” by locals. A Nishiokopper live show for Nishiokoppers is coming back on December 25th!!!! Drinks and snacks will be on sale. Enjoy performances by Nishiokoppers. And for this special night if you bring a sleeping bag, you can stay overnight at GA.KOPPER for free! Open-mic participation is welcome. Whether you’re a Nishiokopper or not come spend Christmas night at GAKOPPER. #Nishiokoppe Village #Guesthouse #GA.KOPPER #NISHIOKOPPER #Nishiokopper #LIVE

Dressed in Christmas colors The roadside station “Komu” symbol—its karakuri organ dolls—has been redressed in Christmas-colored outfits. They are usually painted in the village’s theme colors of orange and green, but during December the orange changes to red for the entire month. When you stop by Komu, take a quick look at the dolls’ new looks!

ALT’s Laplante Family Cooking Class In Nishiokoppe Village, we invited an English teacher from Juneau, Alaska. On the evening of Tuesday, November 28, Mrs. Laplante of ALT led the cooking class as the main instructor! Participants included preschoolers, elementary and junior high students, and adults from both inside and outside the village. We mixed people of different ages into groups and decorated cookies and made Quesadillas. The Laplante Family went around to each group checking the sugar-and-butter mix and how the tortillas were cooking. Frosting, colored differently for each group, looked vibrant when the four groups’ cookies were brought together, and each design showed its own personality. Those who felt a little hungry nibbled cookies before making Quesadillas. Quesadillas were filled with plenty of cheese and wrapped in tortillas with chicken or vegetables as preferred. The guacamole the Laplante Family made was also superb. It was a fun and delicious evening. Thank you to everyone who joined us! #Nishiokoppe Village #Cooking Class #ALT #Quesadilla #ButterCream #Frosting #Cookie Decoration #Setoushi Santa

Teachers’ Read-Aloud Play They spent only three weeks rehearsing. In that short time, elementary and junior high school teachers gathered in the elementary school gym after work to do warm-ups, voice exercises, and acting practice. Holding scripts, they conveyed the story through a read-aloud play. Reading, projecting the voice, and performing the narration. They considered the intention behind each line and who it was addressed to. They asked how best to read each passage so it would reach the audience. With each rehearsal, the tones of the teachers’ voices grew richer and reached the ear more deeply. When they moved to stage rehearsals, tension and excitement filled not only the cast but the staff as well. Looking back, the final week’s push felt truly intense. We were delighted that not only the teachers’ former pupils—elementary and junior high students—but people of many ages came to watch. On a stage lit by a pale pink moon, wrapped in the sound of guitar and violin, they delivered a confident read-aloud performance. Thank you very much.

Final Day of Activities at Korakuen Garden Since June, I visited the garden several times to help with maintenance. As of November 2nd, this year’s activities have concluded. During the hot months we waded into the pond to scoop out mud, and even in the chilly November weather we waded in to gather fallen leaves. What to do with the collected leaves… "That’s it — onion netting!" It seems the group leader suddenly had a flash of inspiration. I’d like to drop by on the first day of next year’s activities as well.

Mini Volleyball Tournament Players are villagers, referees are villagers, and the supporters are villagers too… A mini volleyball tournament by villagers for villagers!! Even after summer ends, lively events continue, such as the cultural festival and the mini volleyball tournament. People who usually aren’t seen exercising chase the ball and run, slide in places that make no sense. Refereeing and scorekeeping rotate among participants. Although everyone gathered for the opening ceremony, they were so eager for the post-game gathering—essentially a drinking party—that only about half remained for the closing ceremony. Thank you to everyone who took part—great job!

Komu Christmas A Christmas festival will be held at Morino Bijutsukan, Komu. On this day only, everyone can enter for free. Enjoy the Komu facilities and don’t miss the events. The museum is open from 10:00 to 16:30. Event Schedule 11:00 – Performance by Nishiokoppe Junior High School Wind Ensemble 13:00 – Puppet theater circle and gifts from Santa Claus 14:00 – Christmas concert with early music instruments and piano Come and visit Komu, dressed for Christmas!

Christmas Window Art at kamu A joint project by Nishiokoppe Village's new and former community revitalization team members in charge of tourism! We will hold an event where elementary and junior high school students from the village will paint Christmas-themed pictures on the large windows inside the kamu building. The exhibition will run for about two weeks, so why not visit kamu decorated with Christmas artwork? We look forward to your visit. Event date and time: Saturday, December 9, 10:00–11:30 Participants: Elementary and junior high school students in the village Capacity: About 15 people Participation fee: Free Application deadline: Thursday, November 30, by 17:00 Exhibition period: Saturday, December 9–Monday, December 25

Village Culture Festival 2023 I heard someone say, "There’s a village culture festival in November," and I was surprised, thinking, "There’s such a festival…!" In Nishiokoppe Village, the culture festival ran for three days. On November 1–2 there were only exhibitions, and on the 3rd the community center area hosted performances, award ceremonies, and stage presentations. The venue, a hotel, is connected to the community center and library, and a used book fair took place in the library area. Sometimes books villagers let go of find their way into the hands of nearby residents. While enjoying displays like ikebana and picture-letter art, you could taste wagashi and tea in the tea room. This year, as a first-time experiment, the puppet-theater group Doremi presented a staged reading and read picture books aloud. Bathed in sunlight streaming through the skylights, I slowly sank into the world of the staged reading and picture books. Stage presentations included a volunteer band, the junior high school brass band, and piano performances, and, a Nishiokoppe Village staple, children from the abacus class performed "flash mental arithmetic." For adults it was a precious opportunity to present. It was a culture festival full of nervous excitement and delight.

Teacher Read-Aloud Play Have you ever watched a read-aloud play? Nishiokoppe Village has one elementary school and one junior high school, and this time teachers from both schools will come together to perform a read-aloud play. The story is based on the picture book Otsukisan Momo-iro (The Moon Is Pink). Author: Miyoko Matsutani Illustrator: Fumihide Inoguchi Alongside the teachers’ voices, live guitar and violin music and lighting that conveys the book’s color palette combine to bring the story to life. A village resident with many years of theater experience directs the show, and rehearsals are now underway. Please come and join us. Date and Time: Saturday, November 18, 2023 Doors open 14:00 / Performance starts 14:30 Venue: Nishiokoppe Village Community Center Plum Hall Admission: Free (unreserved seating) ※The performance will last about 30 minutes.

Halloween Fun!! Before we knew it, November had arrived. There are less than two months left in the year. Here is a report on the “Ha”lloween event held in Nishiokoppe Village on October 28. The puppet-theater group Doremi and ALT families decorated the venue from the day before, eager to delight the children. The ALT families’ game corner was a big hit, featuring tattoo stickers that leave color on the skin if pressed for ten seconds and pumpkin-rolling bowling. During the puppet show, a scene with darts prompted the audience to throw candy. We worried in rehearsal whether the candy would stick and whether everyone would throw, but we were glad so much candy stuck! Children carried bags they had decorated themselves and went around the spots at the end to collect candy. We’re already looking forward to next year’s Halloween!

Making Small Dishes Greenwoodwork in Nishiokoppe Village has become something of a tradition. I took part in a session making small dishes. First, we chose between linden and Amur cork tree wood, sawed it, and split it in half. Next, I shaved the wood down to my preferred thickness using a dedicated setup (a shavehorse and a sennuki) to hold the piece while planing. This special setup changes angle and clamping position depending on the wood’s thickness and length, and the instructor, an experienced grass-cutting teacher, handled it masterfully—just watching their demonstration was really enjoyable. After adjusting the thickness, we carved out the dish’s depth with a chisel. Depending on how you carve, wave-like patterns can appear, which revealed each person’s individuality. Round shapes and square shapes, and variations in size and depth all show each maker’s particular preferences.

[PR at AEON West in Asahikawa!] From October 21 to 22 we held a PR event for Nishiokoppe Village at AEON Mall West in Asahikawa city. Titled “Come Visit! The Big Nishiokoppe PR Campaign” We set up a booth beside the first-floor escalator and promoted Nishiokoppe alongside staff from the Hokkaido Shimbun Kitami branch. In Nishiokoppe there is an indoor facility called komu (komu) where you can play on wooden playground equipment, view woodcrafts, and sometimes make them yourself. This time we brought a wooden sandbox from there! It was packed with wooden balls and looked almost like a pool. From small children to adults people stepped into the sandbox to enjoy the feel of the wood together!^^! What delighted many visitors most of all was the appearance of Setoushi-kun! A few lucky guests even got to meet a version of Setoushi-kun who plays a real guitar. Thank you to everyone who filled out a survey and to those who joined the raffle!

A Relaxing Stop at the Burari Café The reservation-only Burari Café On Sunday, October 15th, Burari Café opened with an instructor offering finger yoga and hand massages! Tomiyo prepared lunch, and while enjoying the delicious aromas, I tried a hand massage. Stiffness had built up on the backs of my hands and fingertips, and as it loosened, my hands seemed to move more smoothly. After my hands warmed up, I savored a lunch featuring ingredients from Nishiokoppe. The corn rice, mixed with a touch of butter, was superb. I couldn’t join the finger yoga session this time, but I hope to find another chance to try it. It was a comfortable space where I could chat leisurely with other participants.

“Do Re Mi ‘Fa’ Halloween” No matter where you go, you see Halloween decorations and packaging these days. Now, tomorrow!! On Saturday, October 28, Nishiokoppe Village will host a Halloween event! Organized mainly by the village puppet-theater circle, this event started last year. Enjoy a craft time led by the ALT teacher, a Halloween-themed puppet show, and a sweets-themed stroll, among other activities! Date and time: Saturday, October 28, 10:00–12:00 Venue: Community Center and Library Participation fee: Free Please come in costume!