Message from the Mayor of Hirono Town

Welcome and thank you for visiting the Hirono Town Official Web Site !

 Hirono Town is situated in the Northern part of the area famous for Unshu oranges, and lies between the Pacific Ocean and Mount Abukuma. The mild and comfortable climate required to produce these famous oranges, also possesses an abundance of natural beauty.

 Our town shows various characteristics throughout the seasons. In the spring, we have mild sunshine. In summer, the ocean shines brightly. The green leaves turn to a beautiful red in the autumn, and in winter we can enjoy the sun's warmth in the town's gardens.

 The natural beauty of our town has been celebrated over the years in popular Japanese songs, such as "Kisha" ("Train Stream" in English) and "Tonbo-no-megane" ("The Dragonfly's Glasses"). With this background, Children's Song Festival in Hirono has been held every year since 1994. This festival encourages people to enter a verse-making contest.

 One of the biggest symbols of Hirono in the present day is J-Village. Japan's first national training facility for football (soccer). Opened in July 1997, it's where Argentina's National Team camped during 2002 FIFA World Cup Korea/Japan. In addition to World Cup  training, J-Village is regularly used by a lot of organizations – both domestic and from overseas － including Japan National Team, J.League, JFL and L.League clubs, teams from companies, universities, high schools, intermediate and elementary schools, as well as boys' / girls' football teams and foreign teams.

 Moving into the 21st Century, the town known for "bringing the spring" to the Tohoku area is taking a big step forward. We are aiming to build upon our already comfortable town brimming with greenery and light, where the people of Hirono Town enjoy a sensibility and richness of mind. We wish to embrace the wealth of beauty and tradition bestowed upon us by our predecessors; to be proud of this, our hometown, and to revel in the nature, culture, history and people with which Hirono Town has been so richly blessed.

Please take the time to look around our "HIRONO" through this, our home on the internet, which travels from the ancient past, through the present and into the future. And, some day, please visit our beautiful town. A warm welcome always awaits you in Hirono Town !