Noshiro Residents Celebrate 20th Anniversary of City’s Merger

The Yomiuri Shimbun

17:28 JST, April 8, 2026

NOSHIRO, Akita — About 300 residents of Noshiro in Akita Prefecture celebrated the city’s 20th anniversary recently.

“Looking to the future, we will make the most of our local resources, tackle difficult challenges head-on and move forward together with our residents, step by step,” Mayor Shigenobu Saito said in a speech at a ceremony held at the Noshiro cultural hall on March 21.

Alongside a photographic retrospective of the past 20 years, the event featured folk performances of sacred Shinto music and dance such as the Kairagefuchi-bangaku and the Hadachi-daikagura. It also featured a live show by five members of the calligraphy club at Noshiro Shoyo High School.

When the club members finished writing the characters for “leap forward” and a message on a sheet of paper measuring about 4 meters long by 6 meters wide, the venue erupted in loud applause.

The club president said: “I was moved to receive such a warm round of applause. I want to help create a vibrant city.”

The city was established on March 21, 2006, through the merger of the former Noshiro City and Futatsui Town.