u/Defiant-Corgi-9362

I went for a bike ride along the banks of the Toyohira River yesterday. I uploaded some photos in another post, so some of you may have seen them.

While riding, I passed several foreign cyclists. They all made gestures—like a slight wave or a nod—so I took that as a greeting and returned the gesture in kind.

Of course, there are Japanese cyclists who do this too, but not everyone does. Personally, it seemed to me that foreign cyclists almost invariably made those kinds of gestures. It made me happy and really added to the enjoyment of the rest of my ride.

I wonder, is this a cultural difference?

It made me think that the culture of etiquette and mutual respect among cyclists might be different from what we see in Japan.

If anyone knows anything about this, I’d love to hear your thoughts.

It really does feel hot today.

Even though the forecast is only 29°C.

If Hokkaido did not exist, supermarkets, convenience stores, and the food service industry would each suffer devastating damage in distinct ways.

1. Supermarkets

Produce Section:
Hokkaido-grown produce accounts for nearly 100% of the onions, potatoes, and carrots distributed in the Japanese market. These would likely be replaced entirely by imports, such as vegetables from China.

Fresh Fish Section:
Items such as autumn salmon (which holds about 90% of the domestic market share), walleye pollack (the source of *tarako* and *mentaiko* roe), and scallops would disappear. The selection would be dominated by Chilean farmed salmon and Russian sea urchin and crab, while "domestic wild-caught fish" would become a luxury item.

Dairy Section:
Hokkaido products—accounting for approximately 90% of domestic butter and 85% of domestic cheese—would vanish. Consumers would be forced to rely on expensive imported butter.

Snack Section:
Potato-based snacks, such as potato chips, would either disappear or see their prices skyrocket.

2. Convenience Stores

Rice Balls (*Onigiri*) and Bento Boxes:
Top-selling rice ball varieties—salmon, *tarako* (salted cod roe), and *karashi-mentaiko* (spicy cod roe)—could no longer be produced due to the loss of raw materials (Hokkaido salmon and pollack roe). Furthermore, the inability to use *kombu* (kelp) dashi would necessitate switching to chemical seasonings for everything from the rice-cooking base to the flavoring of side dishes.

Sandwiches and Savory Breads:
Domestic strong flour (holding about 70% of the market share), used for sandwich bread, would become unavailable. Additionally, potato salad—an essential filling (with potatoes holding an 80% market share)—could not be made, and shortages of raw materials for mayonnaise and dressings (such as rapeseed for vegetable oil and sugar beets for sugar) would drive up prices across the entire bread section.

Sweets and Chilled Beverages:
Dairy ingredients like fresh cream, milk, and yogurt would disappear, as would sugar beets (holding a 100% market share), which provide more than half of Japan's sugar supply. It will no longer be possible to maintain qualities like "rich fresh cream" or a "moist texture," and flavors will likely degrade as reliance on vegetable-based whipped toppings and artificial sweeteners increases.

3. The Food Service Industry (A massive blow ranging from fast food to high-end Japanese cuisine)

Fast Food & Family Restaurants

French Fries and Croquettes:
While some potatoes used by fast-food chains like McDonald's are imported, the disappearance of domestic potatoes (which account for an 80% market share) would force a simultaneous price hike or the suspension of sales for side-dish fries and the potato garnishes served in family restaurants.

Hamburg Steaks and Beef Bowls:
Due to the drastic decline in domestic beef, budget-friendly chains would be forced to rely entirely on imports from the U.S. or Australia, making it impossible to enjoy affordable beef bowls or hamburg steaks.

Ramen and Udon Shops:
Specialty ramen and udon shops that pride themselves on using "100% domestic wheat" would lose 70% of their raw materials (wheat from Hokkaido) and be unable to continue operations. They would have no choice but to switch to imported wheat, making it impossible to produce noodles with their signature firm texture and flavor.

Sushi Restaurants and High-End Japanese Restaurants The Collapse of "Dashi" (Soup Stock)—the Heart of Japanese Cuisine:
With the disappearance of 95% of high-quality kelp varieties (Rishiri, Rausu, and Hidaka), Japanese restaurants that prepare authentic kelp dashi would face devastating cost increases.

Disappearance of Sushi Staples:
Top-tier sushi toppings—such as scallops (nearly 100% of which come from the region), sea urchin (uni), salmon roe (ikura), and salmon—would suddenly vanish from Japanese waters.

Hokkaido may be considered "the countryside," but it is the backbone of Japan's food supply.
Hokkaido is magnificent.

: )

Hello to everyone visiting Hokkaido.

It is the height of summer now, but how does Hokkaido's summer feel to you after experiencing the summers in Tokyo or Osaka?

Personally, I feel it’s been a bit cooler this year compared to usual.

What kind of changes in your thinking did you experience?

- You were surprised
- You were disappointed
- It was different from what you imagined
- You found it strange
- It was something you saw/felt for the first time

and so on. etc.

This is just my curiosity.

よろしくお願いします。