All Hokkaido Staff- Meet Taiki Mambo!

Hello from the All Hokkaido staff! We are going to introduce ourselves and the other members of Hokkaido Treasure Island over a series of posts. This time, we’re introducing the product development team leader, Taiki Mambo! He is originally from Hokkaido, and I asked him the same questions as Hayashi-san. Here is what he thinks about living here!

What is your job?

I create one-day plans so that visitors to Hokkaido can enjoy their trips more and learn about the island.

Why did you stay in Hokkaido?

The distance between the cities and nature is short, so I can spend my weekends and free time in either place depending on my mood. More specifically, the nature of Hokkaido has everything- the sea, mountains, forests, rivers, and winter snow- so it’s perfect for me, who has many hobbies! And I have a family here!

What do you love about Hokkaido?

There are many things I like about Hokkaido, but the best is the delicious food! The deliciousness and variety of ingredients grown in Hokkaido are probably the best in the world, so people who like to cook (like me) will definitely love Hokkaido.

What is your favorite thing to do when you have time?

I like to spend time relaxing and cooking while drinking. Of course I cook at home, but I also cook outside over a bonfire or charcoal.

What do you hope everyone who comes to Hokkaido will do?

Take a drive on a sunny day and choose a place you like to take a nap. Pleasant meadows, sandy beaches in the evening, parking lots overlooking the mountains still capped with snow… Hokkaido has many amazing spots for naps.

What is your fondest Hokkaido memory?

This happened right after I got my driver’s license and I was driving through Niseko. I got lost on a narrow farm road and had to back up to avoid a tractor driven by a farmer who was coming from in front of me, but my car went off the road and got stuck. The farmer called me a tow truck, and while I was waiting I decided to help with the potato harvest. Time flew by as I dug up potatoes and listened to the lively farm ladies’ stories, and when I left, they gave me a trunk full of potatoes as a souvenir. It’s been 20 years since that happened, but every autumn I receive a cardboard box full of potatoes and remember this.