HomeMy WebLinkAbout09222025 City Council Laydown - Obihirio Student ExchangeJapan
2025
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Pot Luck
Hokkaido Center, JICA (Japan International Cooperation Agency). Offers technical training programs in agriculture, livestock farming and biodiversity conservation. We were greeted with
a pot luck which included employees of the city and this center, host families and previous exchange students both students and adults.
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Horse
Racing
Banei Tokachi is the only race of its kind in the world. Large draft horses weighing about 1 ton, race on separate courses in a 200 m straight line while pulling an iron sled that weighs
up to 1 ton.
Historically developed around 1900 when the people of this region would compete by having the horses play tug of war to test value and strength of the workhorses.
3
Ainu
Indigenous People
Indigenous Ainu people who inhabited the Obihiro, Hokkaido region long before the city was founded in 1883. This preservation society, the Obihiro Kamuy Tou Upopo established in 1964
works to promote preservation and education of the Ainu culture. The Mukkuri is a traditional Japanese plucked idiophone indigenous to the Ainu. Made of bamboo, sound is made by pulling
the string and causing the vibration of the reed while in the performers mouth.
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Obihiro
Fire department
Obihiro Fire Department. Opportunity to visit their headquarters which houses the 119 emergency call center. They run city wide about 800 calls per year (150,000 population). 150 fire
engines. Some of the same tools we carry in the US and some that are different. They use whistles for commands. Their ladder truck expanded to 150 ft. Normal ladder trucks in the US
go 75 to 100 ft. Free nationwide ambulance service, people do not get a bill for transport to the hospital by ambulance.
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Obihiro
Zoo
The second oldest zoo in Hokkaido. Home to 300 animals across 60 species.
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Obihiro
Shrine
Obihiro Shrine second oldest shrine in Hokiddo.
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The
Obihiro Heigen
Festival
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Tea Ceremony
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Fun filled trip!
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Tokyo
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