 The
combination of mild climate and fertile soil carried by the two major rivers,
the Ishikari and the Uryu, create ideal conditions for farming. This makes Fukagawa
one of the premier agricultural areas in Hokkaido.
Fukagawa's major agricultural product is rice. Outstanding brands such as "Kirara397"
and "Hoshinoyume" maintain a high reputation among consumers all over
Japan. Fukagawa also produces many other types of food such as potatoes, pumpkins,
asparagus, apples, cherries, and melons. Flower cultivation is also popular, with
roses and statice being grown in plastic greenhouses. The many types of farmers
-fruit and vegetable growers, flower cultivators, and farmers raising livestock-make
the most of different soil conditions from region to region.
 Fukagawa
is also well-known as a city with many specialty products. "Urokodango",
a triangular-shaped dumpling made of rice flour, has been produced in our city
for 90 years. Farm-processed food, such as Fukagawa Wine, juice, jam, cookies
and yogurt, and woodwork puzzles are some other products for which Fukagawa is
well-known.
 As
of 2000, Fukagawa was home to 42 manufacturing firms that employ nearly 1,000
people, producing 13.5 billion yen (about US$ 113 million) worth of goods annually.
The main manufactured goods in Fukagawa are timber and wood products, concrete,
and construction products. Fukagawa's rich natural resources - forests, minerals,
gravel, and so on - provide manufacturers with all they need to produce these
goods. A concrete supporter factory, a tungsten factory, and food-processing plants
are located at the Hirosato Industrial Complex, south of the city. In order to
stimulate local industries, we seek to create new specialties unique to Fukagawa,
such as innovative rice-based products, that make use of our existing agricultural
output.
 Because
of its role as an important transportation hub and its location in the heart of
the Kitasorachi Commercial Circle, commercial and service industries have played
a very important role for many years in Fukagawa.
As of 1999, 377 shops and stores were in operation, employing over 2,300 people
and posting 61.7 billion yen (about US$ 515 million) in annual sales. Recently,
large retail outlets and supermarkets have expanded their businesses in the suburbs.
Consumers now have easier access to the neighboring bigger cities (such as Sapporo
and Asahikawa) for shopping because most of them own cars these days. As a result,
local retail shopkeepers are having difficulty keeping their customers. The city
has been trying to attract consumers to the local shopping district by emphasizing
its local orientation and encouraging its modernization.
 There
are 3 preschools, 6 elementary schools, 5 junior high schools, 4 senior high schools,
2 nursing schools and 1 junior college in Fukagawa. Over 10,000 students attend
these schools.
In 1993, Fukagawa started recruiting an assistant language teacher (ALT) to teach
English in the city's junior high schools. Today, there are two ALTs from English-speaking
countries in Fukagawa. In today's shrinking world, Fukagawa recognizes the importance
of encouraging students to think internationally, beginning with foreign language
study.
The four senior high schools are categorized into general, commercial, agricultural
and distance learning. Takushoku University Hokkaido Junior College has three
departments: the Department of Environmental Agriculture, the Department of Management
Economics, and the Department of Preschool Education. The college maintains strong
community ties and plays an important role in postsecondary education in the region.
 The
city's social services system ensures that all citizens can have opportunities
for a full and pleasant life. We have expanded and improved welfare facilities
such as day-care centers, nursing homes for senior citizens, and other services.
Various services are provided for senior citizens, physically and mentally challenged
people, and other groups through public organizations, private charities, and
individual volunteers and volunteer groups.
Our community is aging rapidly. Senior citizens aged 65 or older accounted for
over 25% of Fukagawa's population in October 2001. Our goal is to build a strong
community where people support and assist each other, live a well-rounded life,
and have peace of mind.
 With
society aging rapidly and the birthrate declining, the availability of health
and medical care services has become more important than ever. The city provides
public- health services so that all citizens can lead healthy and happy lives.
These services include various physical checkups for early diagnosis and treatment,
and health education to encourage disease prevention. Fukagawa City General Hospital
is designated as an emergency hospital and a regional core hospital. It functions
as a central hospital in the Kitasorachi region, with the latest facilities and
equipment. |
