***The 40th Muraokoshi Festival*** An interactive stage performance event. Packed with programs, the Muraokoshi Festival was thrillingly lively thanks to everyone’s support!! With rain forecast, this year’s event moved indoors, and we were delighted that many people from inside and outside the village attended. ↓Here are some highlights from the festival↓ ●The opening was decorated by the local Nishiokoppe junior high school brass band. The recorders played by first- and second-year students produced a surprisingly clear tone—perhaps because they usually play brass instruments— and their sound was very pleasant. ●The annual “Lumberjack Race” has teams of four competing to saw through a log as fast as possible. This year, to mark the 40th anniversary, they reportedly chose logs 40 cm in diameter. Both the cheering and the emcee’s commentary were full of excitement. ●Another participatory event, held for the first time this year, was the “Blindfolded Milk Perfect Chu-Chu! Contest” 🐄 Blindfolded challengers aimed to drink an exact specified number of grams of Nishiokoppe’s locally produced grass-fed milk. Watching the contestants, earnestly estimating the remaining amount while drinking without seeing, was surreal and entertaining. ●Headlining the stage performances was enka singer Kenji Niinuma. His powerful voice resonated through the venue in a stunning performance. I had just recently listened to “Headlight” with my grandmother, so hearing his live voice made my heart leap. ＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊ The seasons will change, but signs of events are already appearing for autumn and beyond…