The reversal of liveliness between Obihiro and Kushiro - traveling through summer Hokkaido

From Sapporo to Obihiro

It was the summer of 2022 when I traveled through Hokkaido.
The purpose of the trip was to film walking videos of cities.
Day 1: Stayed in Obihiro.
Day 2: From Obihiro to Kushiro, Nemuro, through the Shiretoko Peninsula, stayed in Abashiri.
Day 3: From Abashiri to Kitami, Monbetsu, Nayoro, Wakkanai, stayed in Teshio Town.
Day 4: From Teshio Town to Yubari, Chitose, and back to Tokyo.

I was supposed to rent a car near Chitose Airport and head to Obihiro, but I forgot my camera equipment, so I went to Yodobashi in Sapporo. I decided to buy what I needed there and then head to Obihiro.
I was supposed to arrive in Obihiro at night, but the schedule ended up with me leaving Sapporo at night and arriving in Obihiro in the middle of the night.
I regret not being able to film Obihiro's night streets.

This is from walking in the morning mist. Watching the video, you can feel the atmosphere of the night streets, which makes me regret it even more.

The population reversal between Obihiro and Kushiro

Searching online for Obihiro and Kushiro, you'll find articles scattered about the population reversal.
It seems that in 2020, the population of Kushiro City, which had been the 5th most populous in Hokkaido, and Obihiro City, which was 6th, reversed.

Comparison of statistical data between Obihiro City and Kushiro City

Kushiro City developed after the war with three main industries: fisheries, coal (mines), and paper/pulp, but the closure of mines and decline in fishery resources caused the local economy to slump.
Of course, Obihiro City is also in a declining population trend, but it was relatively gradual. Obihiro City's main industry is agriculture, and it seems to have maintained steady performance.

Kushiro Station area as seen in "The Yellow Handkerchief of Happiness"

In the movie "The Yellow Handkerchief of Happiness," Kinya Hanada, played by Tetsuya Takeda, who was dumped by a woman in Tokyo, travels to Hokkaido by ferry and first sets foot at Kushiro Station. There's a scene where he buys a hat and jacket at a shop in front of the station.
There's also a May Day demonstration scene, but the cityscape shown has vitality and liveliness. It was an era when coal mines were already a declining industry, but...

"The Yellow Handkerchief of Happiness" was released in 1977, so 46 years ago. Current Kushiro Station area is said to be ruins in some YouTube videos. Indeed, there are many ruined buildings that could be made into such videos.
If you watch this video, you should understand the situation in front of the station.

I'd like to visit Hokkaido again around next year. Next time, I hope I can film Obihiro's night streets.