From May 1 to May 5, 1999. Gathering Surf Clams. A Field Trip from Obihiro City, Hokkaido Prefecture. From May 1 to May 5 during Golden Week, the first gathering of shells and clams in the Tokachi area took place at an artificial beach and leisure facility, the " Hiroo Seaside Park". The gathering featured a unique clam called the 'Hokki-gai' or surf clam and was intended provide for the first one hundred arrivals per day. However, due to the uniqueness of the event and the good weather, more than 300 people gathered every day during this period. I heard that there was a queue of 100 people already waiting one hour before the opening. The sponsor was taken by surprise and decide to have a second and a third gathering to cope with the people that came to the beach. They hastily released additional surf clams. One day before the event, the Hiroo Fishermen's Cooperative stocked the beach with surf clams. Many families got on the beach during low tide, bringing the buckets and rakes that were prepared for them. Only five clams per person were permitted, but the children shouted for joy and smiled cheerfully as they dug up and found large clams as large as 10 centimeters. Because it was still cold on the beach side, I fortified myself by wearing a jacket, gloves, overalls, and boots. By the end, I was so engrossed, I was bathed in sweat. (The pictures were taken on May 3.กห

	Families digging eagerly. The children were wearing ear muffs.		The rakes and buckets and a freshly dug surf clam of about 10 centimeters.
	The artificial beach and leisure facility can be seen. Inside the aquarium, sea lions draw pictures for us.		A child washing a recently dug clam.