This year, the annual Beginning of the Year Enrichment Gathering, an important event of Hokkai District, was welcomed for the 69th time. It was held Jan. 13-14 at Hanabishi Hotel in Hakodate, with 270 participants, including about 20 children. Miyajima Yuko, the featured lecturer, spoke on the theme, “The Starting Step Opens the Road,” by sharing steps in the life of Christian author Miura Ayako, whom she served as her original private secretary.

Hokkai District has seven subdistricts, and each year one of the subdistricts takes responsibility and organizes this gathering, but not without bringing into play its area’s character or their original ideas. For more than ten years there were over 400 participants, but recently this has decreased to about 300.

A one-night, two-day event, this gathering is held in January, as its title indicates. Sometimes differing opinions on the timing are expressed, such as: “Since we are closed in with snow during this season here in Hokkaido, why not hold the meeting in the summer when there would be no icy roads to travel?” There are also other conclusions: “We could drive and gather during the season when the leaves are changing color.” However, directly and indirectly, many participants are engaged in farming or fishing, so the advantage of scheduling during the winter period, when there is scant need to fish or go to the fields, may be something particularly unique to Hokkaido.

The program consists of a lecture by the main speaker, a meal together, baths in hot springs, an independent program, an early morning prayer meeting, etc. But no matter what is shared or where it is held or who the lecturer is, the main point is that a decided number of people attend this gathering. Generally, there will be some change in attendance related to how well-known the speaker is and general interest in the theme. But otherwise, there is little change in regard to this gathering.

Participants do look forward to studying, but more than that they enjoy gathering once a year from throughout the vast area of Hokkaido and seeing nostalgic faces. The opportunity to meet colleagues who live far from you and those you seldom see is always a joy. Without a doubt, the atmosphere is that of a Hokkai District alumni meeting.

The strong ties of lay colleagues could be identified as a distinctive character of Hokkai District. The chief cause may be the heart for helping one another in the midst of a harsh natural environment, or perhaps it is the necessity of the many small churches to help one another. Or, it may be both. No matter what the reason, this gathering means seeing a broad smile. And nowadays, there are many attendees from other districts, which is a boundless joy. My hope and heart’s desire is that someday there will be a Kyodan-wide gathering at the beginning of the year. (Tr. RT)

by Hara Kazuto, moderator

Hokkai District

北海教区年頭修養会について　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　北海教区総会議長　原和人

年頭修養会は今回で69回目を迎えた、北海教区の一大イベントである。今年は2020年1月13〜14日、函館の花びしホテルで、テーマは「始める一歩が道を拓く」～初代秘書の見た三浦綾子さんの歩み～としてと題して、講師に宮嶋裕子さんをお迎えし、参加者は約270名（うちこどもは約20名）でした。

北海教区には7つの地区があり、毎年各地区が担当し、その地区ならではの地域性や独自性を発揮した内容の年頭修養会が開催される。10年以上前は400名を越える参加者があったが、現在は平均して300名前後を推移している。

年頭修養会はその名の通り、年頭つまり1月初旬に1泊2日で開催される。雪で閉ざされる北海道、何も凍てつく道を走って集まらなくても、夏に開催すれば？というご意見があったり、あるいは紅葉の時期にドライブがてら集まるのも良し、と考えてしまうのだが、直接間接的に農業・漁業に携わる方々が多い故、農閑期や漁に出ることが少ない冬の時期に設定されたのは、北海道特有のものかもしれない。

プログラムにはメイン講師による講演、一同に会する食事、温泉、自主プログラム、早天祈祷会等々様々あるが、参加する方々は何処の場所にせよ、どんな講師になるせよ、一定数の方々が集まってくるのが年頭修養会の最大の特徴と言えよう。

通常、集会は講師の知名度やテーマの興味如何で参加者の変動がある。だが、年頭修養会にはそれによる変動があまりない。無論、学びを楽しみにしておられるのだが、それ以上に年に1回、広大な北海道から集って懐かしい顔を見つけられるのが嬉しいのである。日頃、離れていて会えない仲間がこの機会を通して会える喜び。まさに北海教区同窓会と呼ぶに相応しい雰囲気がそこにはある。

北海教区の特徴に、信徒同士の繋がりが強いことが挙げられる。厳しい自然環境の中での助け合いの心が大きな要因なのか、小規模教会が多く互いに励まし合う必要性が原因なのか。あるいはそのどちらもなのか。いずれにしても、皆さんの破顔一笑が見られるのが年頭修養会である。そして、最近は他教区からの参加も多くあり、喜ばしい限りである。いつかは全教団的な（年頭）修養会が拓けたら…と願う。