We are so pleased to welcome Yoshio Noda to our 2025-26 FSFA Committee as our "man on the ground" in Susono, our sister city. Yoshio worked for Yazaki and was based in the City of Frankston for a number of years whilst working at Australian Arrow Pty Ltd - Yazaki's Oceania subsidiary. He continues to lecture and educate in his "retirement" and remains very active in the scouting movement.
Yoshio joins our monthly meetings via TEAMS and submitted the following presentation on the New Year activities in Susono at our February meeting:
The Kanji of the Year "Kuma (Bear)" is a result of the increasing encounters with bears throughout Japan during 2025. Unfortunately, there were a record breaking 235 incidents and 13 fatalities reported between April and November across Japan due to climate change and rural depopulation!
Observing and photographing the first sunrise of the year is very important to the Japanese, and what better place to do that in Susono by capturing an image of Mount Fuji. People will often travel great distances in the early morning to catch a special sighting at a mountain, shrine or temple, and even the ocean or sea!
Food is especially important during the New Year when many Japanese will travel back to their home town to reunite with family members as the generations gather to celebrate together with specially prepared foods and drink.
The Tokyo-Hakone Relay Race brings teams from all the major universities and colleges to compete along the route which passes through our sister city of Susono. Hatsumode is the first Buddhist temple or Shinto shrine visit of the New Year and usually occurs between January 1st to 3rd. Omamori are small charms and prayers sold at temples and shrines which are thought to bring good luck and protection for health, safety, romance and academic success.
Mochi is made by pounding steamed rice into a sticky and chewy dough, and sometimes filled or served with a sweet red bean paste, ice cream or grilled with soy sauce. Care must be taken with eating mochi as the very young or elderly can find the gelatinous texture may be a choking hazard!
This view of Mount Fuji shows the City of Gotemba which is located north of Susono, which is to the left in this picture.
Susono Mayor Mr. Harukaze Murata will serve another 4 years after his successful campaign which saw him riding his bicycle to all parts of the city often wearing his signature red or pink outfits. Susono's Mayor is elected by the citizens, unlike Frankston where the elected councilors choose the Mayor each year.
Setsuban is held in early February and involves praying for a healthy and happy life. Beans are thrown to ward off evil spirits or oni (which is a kind of yokai, ogre, troll or demon in Japanese Folklore).
And like many other Japanese occasions, food and drink are important elements - but I'm not so sure about the sardine heads!
We look forward to future informative and interesting presentations and updates from Susono thanks to Yoshio!
Slides presented by Yoshio with addition notes by FSFA Vice Chairperson Simon Hast.
