Hanayama Machi-Meguri” Stamp Rally in the Hanayama Station Area, Kobe, Japan

　The “Hanayama Machi-Meguri” stamp rally was held on November 16 at Hanayama Station Square (Hanayama-dai 1, Kita-ku, Kobe), Yamabiko Kindergarten (Hanayama Higashi-machi 3), and UR Hanayama Higashi (Hanayama Higashi-machi 2) near Hanayama Station on the Kobe Electric Railway.

Children enjoying limbo dancing with ALTs and students from Kobe Suzurandai High School (photo courtesy of Kitasuzu Land)

　This multigenerational and multicultural exchange event was held to create a place where local people can think “Hanayama is a nice town” by taking advantage of the characteristics of the Hanayama Station area, where 70 Assistant Language Teachers (ALTs) live, while the population is aging. In addition to Kobe Dentetsu, the organizer of the event, Kobe City and the Urban Renaissance Agency (UR) cooperated in the planning of the event, which was organized by the town development company “Kitasuzu Land. This year marks the second time the event has been held.

　At the stamp rally checkpoints, six stores will be open to sell takoyaki, oden, baked goods such as pudding and scones, oyaki and coffee, and three events will be held on stage, including an aloha dance. There were also three events on stage, including an Aloha dance, a railroad diorama exhibit, fairground games, darts, ring toss, and nine other activities.

　At the Yamabiko Kindergarten checkpoint, ALTs played a central role in organizing a program in which visitors could exchange Japanese yen for USH (United State of Hanayama) currency, the “Rin,” and participate in workshops and other activities. Children were also exposed to multicultural games such as the “limbo dance” from Trinidad and Tobago and “hopscotch,” a stone-kicking game from the United States.

　ALT Rondel Mangal recalls, “It was a lot of work to prepare for the event, but it was a great opportunity for the Hanayama community and the ALT community to have fun together, and seeing the smiles on the children’s faces, I felt it was worth it. Naoki Nakazono, a third grader who participated in the event, said, “I enjoyed the various games. Hopscotch was the most fun game from overseas,” he said.

　Tomohiro Murakami of Kobe Electric Railway said, “We want to make this a sustainable event by getting not only Kobe Electric Railway but also local residents involved in creating a lively atmosphere in front of Hanayama Station. We hope that by making people feel attached to the area, it will lead them to think that it is a town they would like to live in.