Hiroto Fujii Monthly Magazine June 2025 Issue
■ Young people from Minokamo spreading their wings across the country and the world
As the new fiscal year begins, various sports and events are being held, and I am witnessing the active participation and breakthroughs of many young people.
Mei Ozeki, a first-year student at Higashi Junior High School, won second place in the "Skateboard Japan OPEN Street Division" held in April. She has earned the right to represent Japan at the "World Skateboarding Tour Rome Street 2025"! Off to Rome in June, and then to the United States.
Hiroya Kito, a third-year student at Kamo Agriculture and Forestry High School, won second place in the U17 Greco-Roman 92kg class at the "JOC Junior Olympic Cup 2025" national tournament held in Yokohama in April.
He has earned his ticket to represent Japan at the "U23 & U17 Asian Championships"! Off to Vung Tau, Vietnam, in June.
Jomena Butalon, a second-year student at Kamo Agriculture and Forestry High School, won a triple crown at the "40th High School English Speech Contest," receiving the Grand Prize, the NHK Gifu Station Manager Award, and the Chunichi Shimbun Award.
Speaking six languages, she is truly a role model for multicultural coexistence in Minokamo!
She also actively participates in local volunteer activities.
The National Urban Greenery Festival, which I mentioned in the previous issue, is currently underway.
Many students from Minokamo have won awards in the flower bed contest.
Grand Prize Gifu Prefectural Governor Award: Asuna Kondo (1st year, Nishi Junior High School)
Gifu Prefectural Board of Education Award: Yuina Ohira (6th year, Kamono Elementary School)
Chunichi Shimbun Award: Yurika Kato (1st year, Nishi Junior High School)
Kani Mayor Award: Ryoka Mandai (1st year, Futaba Junior High School)
In the region, across the country, and out into the world.
I am moved and filled with hope by the sight of young people challenging themselves toward their dreams!
And I feel that around these young people, there is surely the support of many, starting with their mentors. I hope to continue supporting them together with all the citizens.
■ Yumesen Initiatives
For the past 11 years, Minokamo City has been implementing the "JFA Kokoro Project 'Dream Classroom'" for
all 5th-grade elementary and 2nd-grade junior high school students.
This fiscal year has also started, with the first sessions held at Miwa and Furui Elementary Schools. The Dream Teachers were Athens Olympic Bronze Medalist 🥉 & Beijing Olympic Gold Medalist 🥇 former Japan national softball team member Hiroko Sakai.
Yayoi Kobayashi of Nadeshiko Japan also appeared.
After exercising together in the gymnasium, there was a "Dream" class in the classroom. The children were very excited by the professional experience. Please be sure to ask your children for their impressions.
In addition, London Olympic Bronze Medalist 🥉 former Japan national volleyball team member Kaori Inoue and other
wonderful Dream Teachers have visited Shimoyoneda, Kamono, and Yamate Elementary Schools, and Futaba Junior High School. They will visit the remaining elementary and junior high schools in June and from October to January.
I hope this will become food for the hearts of the children and the school teachers!
■ Creating the Future Together from the Voices on the Ground
Entering the new fiscal year, I have been actively exchanging opinions, starting with "Pop-up Mayor's Office." I would like to introduce some of them.
● Together with New Farmers
I shared frank opinions with new farmers who have recently started farming, regarding pear and tomato cultivation, concerns about initial investment, and the potential of smart agriculture.
Whether they returned to their family homes to take over the farm or jumped into agriculture through a chance encounter,
even though their backgrounds are different, I feel certain hope in the highly significant work of agriculture that supports the region and us.
Agriculture has many challenges. That is why city support is indispensable. We will continue to provide support that is close to each site.
● Visit to "Chill Cafe" in front of Kani Station
I visited Chill Cafe, operated by the certified NPO ICAN, which supports the "I want to try this!" of young people.
Young people from Minokamo also gather in front of Kani Station, and various issues were discussed. At the station front, I interacted with the lively young people through a self-introduction card game.
Hearing about their dreams and what they are passionate about was very stimulating for me as well.
This place, supported by multinational volunteers, is the very strength of the region. Support that cannot be reached by the administration alone is certainly here. We will explore the possibilities of future collaboration.
● Pop-up Mayor's Office
I exchanged opinions with the midwife group "Minowife" regarding support for pregnancy, childbirth, and postpartum.
Minokamo City is currently promoting initiatives to support the start of child-rearing, such as consultations and visits by midwives, postpartum care (stay-in, day-care, and home-visit types), and maternity classes.
From the field, there were opinions such as:
・The importance of postpartum mental care
・The presence of reliable midwives
・The need for specialized childcare support.
Also, regarding sex education, the necessity of the following was shared:
・Education based on "preconception care" that views pregnancy and childbirth positively
・Life-design education targeting both men and women.
We will continue to make use of the voices from the field to build a system where people can give birth and raise children with peace of mind.
What I felt again at each site is that
"people move and the region changes" because of the passion and thoughts of the people standing on the front lines, and the actions that accompany them.
I will continue to value the voices from the field and turn what the city can and should do into reality, one by one.
To everyone who cooperated, thank you very much 🙇♂️
I look forward to seeing you again!
■ The "Satoyama Millennium Vision" Nurtures the Future of Minokamo
― From the field of learning and creation living with nature ― We carried out two core projects for the long-term policy set forth by Minokamo City, the "Satoyama Millennium Vision."
● Satoyama Childcare Training Session
Since fiscal year 2023, the city has fully launched "Satoyama Childcare" that utilizes local nature. The philosophy is supported by the training and practice of childcare workers. We are sending childcare workers with qualifications to the Gifu Academy of Forest Science and Culture for further skill improvement.
The other day, two childcare workers who were dispatched last fiscal year presented their experiences balancing learning and the childcare field. It was a time to share the possibilities of conducting childcare in the satoyama (village forest) with about 40 childcare workers in the city, as well as faculty and students from the Forest Culture Academy.
A very major theme is not to be "given" or to "wait," but to "create for yourself". We will continue to expand this challenge of fostering the power to live while interacting with nature.
●IBUCAL 1st Anniversary
IBUCAL is a "satoyama creation base" that utilizes a 100-year-old traditional folk house. It was born as a shared workshop that makes use of local resources and culture by renovating the "Sakurai Residence" in Ibuka-cho.
On this day, as a 1st-anniversary event, Mr. Wada from Tsubaki Lab, a local leader,, Mr. Kobayashi, and others held a talk session, and there was also a warm live performance.
The event, which centered on woodturning lathes, attracted visitors even from Tokyo, and long-term stay utilization is being considered for the future. "I want people who haven't visited yet to definitely come by"—that was the sentiment behind this 1st anniversary. Commemorative tenugui (hand towels) are also on sale.
■Gifu Juku 2nd Term Starts
Together with colleagues who learn from and elevate each other—"Gifu Juku" has started again this year. The 2nd term.
Young members who have gathered from all over Gifu Prefecture, including Minokamo City, and who have a desire to make their region better, are active in various positions such as government, private sector, and NPOs.
In this space where people talk across generations and fields, new realizations and perspectives are born one after another, making it a time to seriously think about "what can I do for my town?"
I will do my best to connect this learning network to the field in Minokamo City.
I look forward to working with you again this month!