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!

Bonfire Roasted Sweet Potatoes On Sunday, after the elementary school students finished their school play, Monday, October 16, became a substitute holiday. The bonfire event, postponed due to bad weather, was held in the morning! We gathered at 9:00 AM and enjoyed ourselves fully until noon. To skewer marshmallows, we whittled the tips of branches with knives, but first we practiced by sharpening pencils. With the uniquely shaped pencils done, we carried out firewood together with the elementary students. After the fire was lit, we whittled more branches and wrapped sweet potatoes and potatoes in wet newspaper and aluminum foil. Before we knew it, while eating the roasted potatoes, it was already time to disperse. On a season that turned chilly, the warmth of the bonfire and the kindness of the children really warmed us.

VOICE Comes to Nishiokoppe! About a month ago I found myself listening to “24-Hour Myth” and waiting eagerly for the live show. When the concert finally began, even songs I heard for the first time drew me in with the guitar tones and soaring vocals. Nearly two hours flew by in an instant! Partway through, during a song that imagined the feelings of salted salmon roe, the audience joined in at a certain part, and the whole venue felt united. By the final act, the applause and cheers never stopped… The excitement was palpable. It was their first Nishiokoppe live in five years. I’m already looking forward to the day the two of them return!!

Brass Ensemble Mini Concert On the evening of Friday, September 29, a mini concert by the Nishiokoppe Junior High School Brass Band took place at Morino Bijutsukan "komu". This time, three third-year students each performed a solo. Trombone and trumpet players produced beautiful tones alongside images projected on the wall. The drummer spun the sticks and showed off elegant hand work. The third-year students recently retired after the school cultural festival. Well done and thank you for your hard work! #Nishiokoppe Village #Brass Band #Nishiokoppe Junior High School Brass Band #komu #Morino Bijutsukan #Moon Viewing #Toy Theater

Town and sky Looking back through my photo folders, I found several shots of summer skies. Here are some photos of the sky seen from the town for everyone to enjoy.

Potato digging A potato field tended as a hobby. After October began, about seven of us gathered on a holiday and went to dig potatoes! First we removed the weeds and leaves lying on the soil, then used digging forks to unearth the potatoes carefully without piercing them. After digging them up, we left them in the sun for a while to dry their skins, then sorted the potatoes by size—large and small—and put them into bags before loading them onto the truck. My leg muscles still ache even after two or three days (laughs). It felt great to work up a good sweat after such a long time!

[A Giant Pumpkin Appears!?] I found giant pumpkins growing just beyond Setogyu Pass, past the center of Nishiokoppe. Apparently, some of them had been eaten by deer... I'd like to use them as Halloween decorations! The last photo shows a mini pumpkin someone shared with me.

Karasu no Pan-ya San at Nishiokoppe Village The picture book "Karasu no Pan-ya San" Have you all read it? To celebrate the 50th anniversary of its publication a "Satoshi Kako Reproduction Original Art Exhibition" was held at Komu Museum of Art and on September 24 during the exhibition period bread making from the picture book took place. Following the illustrations, participants tore off portions of pre-fermented dough, rounded them, and shaped them. When the baked bread arrived children peered in with excited faces to see how the bread they made had turned out. Finally, they drew patterns with chocolate pens and it was complete! The two who made the saw-shaped bread and the daikon-shaped bread let me take a collaborative photo with them!^^! After the event I quietly let my imagination run wild, wondering, "What sort of bread shape would make people happy?"

Osmanthus fragrans is in bloom. Inside Roadside Station Kam in Nishiokoppe Village there is a greenhouse where plants that struggle to grow in Hokkaido’s climate are cultivated. When I stepped into the greenhouse in early October, a very pleasant fragrance filled the air. Trees of kinmokusei (fragrant olive) and ginmokusei bloom side by side. Kanmokusei bears small orange flowers. The slightly paler ones are ginmokusei. In Honshu, the scent of kinmokusei makes people feel, “Ah, autumn has arrived.” When you stop by the roadside station, please be sure to visit the greenhouse and breathe in the scent of autumn! The Flower Park charges admission until October 15; after that date it is open free of charge.

Guided stroll through the Flower Park Roadside Station Nishiokoppe Kamu features an attached Flower Park. On Saturday, September 23, we held an event in which participants explored the grounds with a gardener guide. This event has run for about five years, and this year’s edition invited visitors to enjoy the autumn natural garden. Autumn blooms such as asters, persicaria, and fujibakama (Eupatorium) add color to the park. It’s not only the flowers—apparently the trees and shrubs are grown with great care, and spots where grasses of different hues stand side by side are especially striking. I was surprised that about three people maintain the large Flower Park, and I’m excited to see how the plants planted in recent years will look five or ten years from now. The Flower Park remains open through October. Why not come and relax among the plants as you refresh from your travels?

[October Events] Summer has passed and a hint of autumn is starting to drift through Nishiokoppe. How is it in your area? Today we bring you information about October events 📢 1) Friday, October 6 — Starts at 18:30 The puppet troupe Pook comes to Nishiokoppe Village! A puppet theater circle formed within the village, Doremi, serves on the organizing committee, and they will be waiting for everyone at the venue. Location: The large hall at Hotel Morimu Tickets are on sale. 2) Saturday, October 7 — 13:30–16:00 For those who want to warm up by a bonfire For those who love roasted sweet potatoes Join us around the bonfire at the BBQ house behind Hotel Morimu! 3) Saturday, October 7 — Starts at 18:30 An acoustic guitar concert by Chuuei Yoshikawa! Don’t miss guest performances by village residents. Location: The large hall at Hotel Morimu Admission: ¥2,000 (free for junior high school students and younger) 4) Saturday, October 14 — Starts at 18:00 Twin artist duo VOICE is coming! Enjoy light bites and all-you-can-drink while you watch. Location: The large hall at Hotel Morimu Ticket price: ¥4,000 *Application deadline: October 10* 5) Sunday, October 15 — From 11:00 At Burari Cafe We will host finger yoga, lunch, and an aroma session! A soothing space awaits here＿＿. Please reserve lunch by the day before! Aroma and yoga require no reservation. 6) Saturday–Sunday, October 28–29 Greenwoodworking workshop! Jam spoons or butter knives, small plates, curry spoons Why not try making one of your favorites with your own hands? Location: Komu Museum of Art 7) Saturday, October 28 — 10:00–12:00 As a Halloween event we will hold craft bag making and a puppet show! There will also be time to walk around hunting for sweets. Location: Community Center and Library October, the season of school cultural festivals, brings even more events!! Please come and fully enjoy autumn in Nishiokoppe.

Green Woodwork Workshop Trees and forests are close at hand, yet people often have few chances to touch wood. In this workshop, you can use fresh-cut wood to make a spoon, a butter knife, or a small dish. Why not carve wood with your own hands and create a small item? The workshop takes place on October 28 and 29. 1. Jam spoon or butter knife 2. Small dish 3. Curry spoon The items vary by session, so please join the session you prefer.

[Autumn Marche Held] The Autumn Marche took place over two days on September 17th and 18th. A tent stood at the entrance of Roadside Station Nishiokoppe Kamu, featuring chiffon cakes, Ezo deer meatballs, a flea market, and stalls selling Nishiokoppe-produced vegetables. Children from the elementary school prepared a lottery for kids and a popular "candy fishing" game where sweets were attached to magnets, which seemed to be a big hit! I couldn’t join this time, so I’m already looking forward to next year’s marche.