I want to take good care of children.
Hütte MORGENROT Fujii Toshihiro

　Morgenrot started a business in 1981. About 1981 is time of the
daybreak of lodging street of Hirafu. Morgenrot is meaning called the
morning glow in German. Because I devoted the youth to mountain
climbing, as for me, I added words in conjunction with mountain to
Hütte. It is not Guesthouse Morgenrot and is not Lodge Morgenrot
and “is Hütte (in German mountain hut) Morgenrot”.

　My birth is Setana( Hokkaido). Because father who was member of
post office taught skiing in mountain near house, we loved ski since
the days of child. By policy of father to want to let you develop
independent spirit from junior high school, I lodged at house of aunt
of Aomori alone. Lift has been already installed in Moya skiing area in
Aomori-shi.

　At the age of tenth grader, I came to Hirafu for the first time.
Niseko Kogen lift was just completed. I remember that Hirafu Station
overflowed with person. Because buses from station to skiing area had
too many passengers and were not able to get, I went on foot to skiing
area.

　Niseko was favorite land all the time from those days. I married in
1972 when the Sapporo Olympics were held. Of course destination of
honeymoon was Niseko.

　For school days, I was crazy about mountain climbing. I belonged to
mountaineering club called Keirei-kai and spent all our time river
trekking in Iide mountain ranges (Fukushima, Niigata, Yamagata). It was
mountain that I met wife. In addition, I freeloaded at mountain hut
called Javelle of Kirigamine( Nagano). It was loved to date at popular
hotel which spread out from the 1950s by eminent people of mountain
climbing world. Three rocking chairs were put on terrace of the second
floor that could view gentle Kirigamine Heights from a distance, and
good visitor of article puffed at pipe leisurely. I want to run
mountain hut sometime, too. It became my young dream.

　However, because I could not have hut suddenly, at first I found a
job in the fiber industry. We were transferred to Sapporo at last. And,
triggered by that I might not agree to policy of company, I resigned
from company and moved to favorite Hirafu. I was 35 years old that
assumed living of family.

　I visited financial institution daily to raise building fund, but
took more than one year before I borrowed money. Anyway it was said that
management of lodging was impossible in those days in Niseko.

　Existence of school where child goes to is very important to person
who moved from other place. School has role that links area to parent as
well as role for children. Acquaintance between adults through child
and teacher is important.

　Inhabitants of Hirafu can choose either of principal school of
elementary school in city of Kutchan or local branch school in
attending school of child. There was movement to abolish branch school
at one time, but town assembly and administration drew our will to want
to let children go to history and naturally comfortable Kabayama branch
school, and branch school was retained.

　When local vitality is lost, school cannot continue. On the other hand, we can enhance local vitality again through school.

　I reduced guest room and established picture book cafe recently. It
is motive not to have worked for age as in the past and that me thought
that I want to make children, place to stay of children who
particularly come from foreign country coming to Hirafu. Because
picture book can be beyond the language barrier.

　I want mother and children to spend comfortable time relaxedly here
even if I do not ski. Now that children became independent, it is wife
and two and, like thought for school, wants to do this place in place to
help in the slightly local future.