Kushiro Port Festival.
The main event on the first day is the Great Fishing Song Parade. A large float is moved left and right by many people. Ms. Jyohoki Hanayagi of the Hanayagi School of Japanese Dance, Jyutoho Association, will be performing. She is our teacher, and I call her Karin-chan. The patrol boat Souya will enliven the festival at the earthquake-resistant quay. There are many food stalls, and lots of young people attend. The finale is a fireworks display.
Planting Yoshi.
A commemorative photo from the Hororo area wetland restoration experience meeting. The great thing about Kushiro is that you can enjoy nature on a global scale.
Kushiro Minato Festival.
On the second day, the citizen dance parade is held on Kitaoodori Street. This is the main event where we perform the three dances we've practiced. The sun is out, and it's a bit hot. It's 25°C, which is quite cool compared to other regions. It's fun!
Kushiro Minato Festival
On the last day of the festival, the number of people is a bit sparse.
Moreover, it's cloudy. The temperature is on the low side, but it's humid.
Young people are resting at the earthquake-resistant wharf.
We were able to tour the patrol ship Soya.
A crew member took a picture for us.
From the pilothouse, Nusamai Bridge looks small.
Kitaoodori.
This is the main street in Kushiro.
At the far end is Kushiro Station.
The Kushiro River and Nusamai Bridge.
On the left side is the Fisherman's Wharf MOO.
On the right side is the hotel I'm staying at, Dormy Inn Premium.
We will have a dance parade on this main street.
This is the so-called old town, downtown area.
8月5日:釧路みなと祭り:
カメラマンの方に撮影してもらいました。
Kushiro Minato Festival.
The photos were taken by a photographer.
8月7日:みなと祭り:
写真を頂きました。
有難う御座いました。
釧路は楽しいね。
Minato Festival.
Thank you for the photos.
Kushiro is fun!
Kushiro Wetland River Rangers - Shibecha Adventure School
We will conduct water quality and aquatic organism surveys.
We will study together with elementary school students.
It's an interesting project.
There are plenty of support teams.
The Kushiro River in this area has clean water quality, and the aquatic organisms prove it.
Vehicle Inspection
I always get my vehicle inspected in Kushiro. I take it to the inspection line at the Land Transport Bureau. They asked if it was my first time. I said, "No, but it's been two years, so I've forgotten how it goes." Because of that, the inspector stayed with me the whole time. I passed without any issues in 15 minutes. Success! The vehicle inspection certificate has become quite small. The placement of the sticker has changed. A long time ago, it was in the center, then on the passenger side, and since last year, it's been on the driver's side. ???
Lake Harutori and the Lake Festival
Lake Harutori, located in the heart of the city.
A live concert in the midst of nature.
Junko Higashi, who moved to Kushiro, had a beautiful singing voice.
Kyoko-chan, who was helping out at the simultaneously held FM Kushiro Festival.
8月11日:うどん:
釧路の丸亀製麺。
この万願寺唐辛子の天ぷらがいい。
つまり縁起物か。
Udon.
At Marugame Seimen in Kushiro.
This Manganji pepper tempura is great.
In other words, it's a good luck charm.
Curry Shop Indian
Indian is the soul food of Obihiro?delicious and affordable curry. There are also two locations in Kushiro. A couple of our skiing friends who are traveling around Hokkaido in a camper van came to visit us in Kushiro. We treated them to Indian curry for the first time. It's a curry that everyone loves.
Shinsen fireworks.
The first summer fireworks festival in Kushiro takes place on the Shin-Kushiro River.
You can lie down gracefully on the wide riverbank.
With a drizzle that is typical of Kushiro,
you end up completely soaked and cold.
But it’s still a wonderful night.
8月17日:新釧花火大会:
スターマインは賑やかでいいね。
透明傘が似合うジリの釧路の花火見物。
Shinsen Fireworks Festival.
The star mine fireworks are lively and delightful.
Watching the fireworks in Kushiro's drizzle, with a clear umbrella that suits the atmosphere.
Fresh Sanma (Pacific Saury).
This year's sanma is said to be quite good. Some of the first catches are quite large. The smaller ones were available for as little as 100 yen per fish. I think this size will be tasty.
Red-Crowned Cranes.
This is a lecture by a veterinarian from Kushiro Zoo. Although the number of red-crowned cranes is increasing, accidents are also on the rise. These include car accidents, collisions with power lines, and train accidents. Due to their large size, rescue operations are extremely difficult. It is also said to be dangerous as they can peck with their beaks.
The Kushiro Hokkai Bon Dance Festival.
As always, it was held on Kita-Odori Street.
Unfortunately, the number of participants has been decreasing year by year.
Dancing together in the cool air of Kushiro is fun.
A Study Tour of the Kuchoro River Nature Restoration.
Efforts are being made by the national and Hokkaido governments to prevent the drying of the wetlands and to preserve the beautiful Kushiro Marsh.
We learned about the conditions from the upstream of the Kuchoro River to the area near the entrance of the marsh.
This is a region where bears also appear.
We were able to see many red-crowned cranes.
I want to enjoy this beautiful nature forever.
I participated in a guided tour to observe the natural restoration of the Kuchoro River, where I got into the water. I wore waders and stepped into the cold water up to my knees. Thank you very much for the photo. The current was swift, and the stones at the riverbed were tumbling, which was a bit scary. But I had fun.
8月22日:釧路北海盆踊り:
カメラマンの方から写真を頂きました。
賑やかな踊りパレードですね。
Kushiro Hokkai Bon Odori.
I received photos from a photographer.
It's a lively dance parade.
8月25日:ノラニンジン:
奇麗なのに可哀そうな名前もらっちゃたね。
Wild carrot からの由来だ。
似た花でレースフラワーってあるでしょ。
和名はドクゼリモドキだって。
Noraningin.
It’s such a pretty plant, but it ended up with an unfortunate name. It comes from "wild carrot." There’s a similar flower called "Queen Anne's lace." Its Japanese name is dokuzeri modoki, meaning "false water hemlock."
8月25日:ハキダメギク:
これも可哀そうな名前です。
Hakidamegiku.
This is another plant with an unfortunate name.
Serrano ham.
They were selling it in Kushiro as well.
That's great.
It was at a Trial store I visited for the first time.
The Trialgo store featured in a TV show was also appealing.
Ikinari Steak.
There's also a branch of this restaurant in Kushiro.
This summer, the prices went up, so I haven't been going as often.
But today, I saw a sign at the store for a limited-time menu.
My favorite, the cheese sauce with lots of cheese.
Doesn't this photo look super delicious?
I'm very satisfied.
A Family of Deer.
Here, on the grounds of the Super Arena at the marshland where Jim is, a family of deer was grazing on the grass. In Kushiro, this is not such an unusual sight. How lovely.
Chinese Cuisine.
Hot Chinese dishes at Ohsho after a long time. After working up a sweat at the gym and feeling refreshed with a shower, the food tastes so good. Everyday life feels full of happiness.
Naruto.
A restaurant called "Naruto" at the main store in Otaru. It is famous for its half-fried chicken. This time, I tried a different menu item instead of the half-fried chicken. It's very reasonably priced.
Clear Skies over Kushiro Wetland.
Today, it's apparently cool in Tokyo as well.
In Kushiro, the autumn sky is bright, and the sunlight is strong.
The view from the Super Arena, where I'm exercising, is beautiful.
You can clearly see Mount Meakan and Mount Oakan beyond the wetland.
It's a wonderful scenery.
9月4日:春採湖の鹿:
釧路の街中にある春採湖。
自然がいっぱい。
鹿も草を食んでいます。
The Deer of Lake Harutori
In the middle of the city of Kushiro lies Lake Harutori, full of nature. Deer can be seen grazing on the grass.
Seafood Marinated Rice Bowl
This is a bento from Trial (a supermarket).
It's a rice bowl marinated in a sauce similar to Hawaii's poke bowl.
It's incredibly delicious. Tuna, salmon, squid, and egg.
The meticulous presentation includes parsley, shiso leaves, sesame seeds, and lemon on top.
All for just 299 yen, tax included. That's amazing!
Katsu Curry
Seicomart's Hot Chef (in-store prepared meal).
The curry sauce has a rich, spicy flavor.
The thick pork cutlet is large.
This is quite a remarkable dish.
The Three Great Sunsets of the World.
Whether that's true or not doesn't really matter, but the sunset from the Nusamai Bridge in Kushiro is incredibly beautiful. There are many tourists. A clear autumn sky is the best.
Halloween Preparations.
A large pumpkin is growing in the flowerbed along Route 44.
The people who manage the flowerbed planted it.
After looking into it, it seems that this pumpkin is edible.
The Relationship Between Salmon and Humans: Insights from the Latest Research
I attended a lecture by Mr. Urabe from the Hokkaido Research Organization. It was very interesting and educational. Due to global warming, the number of salmon in Japan has drastically decreased. Artificially hatched individuals are weak and have difficulty surviving in the wild. They even return to the hatcheries. Could this also apply to humans? On a global scale, salmon populations are increasing. So, what should Japan do?
Tancho Market
Kushiro is famous for Washo Market, but the neighboring Tancho Market has been renovated. It's quiet with fewer customers, so you can relax. The food was delicious.
9月11日:釧路の夕焼け:
毎日色々な夕焼けを見せてくれます。
ほんの一瞬の空の芸術。
The sunset in Kushiro.
It shows us different sunsets every day.
A fleeting piece of sky art.
The driving school in Kushiro.
It's unbelievably uncrowded. This is for my wife's senior driver training. The cool weather and relaxed atmosphere make it the perfect environment. Kushiro is great.
Kushiro Port.
That being said, there are many ports in Kushiro. This one is dedicated to fish, with Marintopus and the fish market. There’s also the famous "Senchan Shokudo" restaurant. By the way, if you include West Port and Chiyonoura Port, the ports stretch for 10 kilometers.
Harutori Lake Nature Center.
A commemorative photo with the nature guide.
Thank you so much for everything.
With the holiday break and Donpaku festival, we may not be able to meet again until next year.
Please stay healthy, and I look forward to seeing you again.
Kushiro Tairyo Donpaku
Kushiro's largest festival.
The weather is perfect, with a refreshing temperature of 20°C.
The main event is at night, but it's bustling during the day as well.
Many celebrities have come to Kushiro.
There’s plenty of delicious food too.
It's a lot of fun!
Donpaku Fireworks
We were blessed with good weather, and it was a wonderful fireworks festival.
The spectators were wearing hoods.
It gets cold when the wind blows.
The 3-shaku-dama (giant firework) wasn’t as impressive from where we were sitting.
Next year, we’ll have to choose a different spot.
The World of Owls
A lecture by Matsuko Watanabe, who has been photographing Ural owls.
The interviewer was Harumi Sato from FM Kushiro.
The event was organized by Professor Onishi of Kushiro Vocational School.
It was a very fascinating talk.
To my surprise, Watanabe, who is much older than I am, goes into the mountains alone and continues to take photos.
Of course, this is in areas where there are many bears and other wildlife.
Sometimes, she even climbs trees. Amazing.
Harutori Lake Nature Center
I went to greet everyone at the Nature Center, who have been so kind to me.
To my surprise, even the deer made an appearance.
I would be so happy if I could visit Kushiro again, healthy and well, next summer.
Hotels in Kushiro
We're always taken care of by the same room attendant.
It's been the same person for years, so we feel very comfortable.
Actually, we're always in the same room too.
Kushiro is nice.