#6

Overlaying Memories with the Present —
A Healing Moment on the Slopes, with Hotel Taisetsu as My Base Osamu Yamazaki
Former Moguls Olympian (Albertville),
President, Yamazaki Stone Industry Co., Ltd.

A youthful figure etched in time

The scenery from those days often returns to me, suddenly and vividly.
It was the 1980s, the height of Japan’s ski boom. As a moguls skier, I was driven by the dream of becoming the first Japanese Olympian in the discipline. Every year, as winter approached, I felt a rush of excitement. November 3rd—the season opening of the Kurodake Ski Resort in Sounkyo—became a cherished tradition.
In the early morning, the rhythmic rattle of snow chains echoed from the street. That sound was my wake-up call, transporting my heart back to the world of skiing. I still vividly remember the thrill of stepping out of the hotel in the dim light, heading for the snow-covered slopes of Kurodake.
Back then, I stayed at Hotel Taisetsu, blending in with the university ski camps. The rice balls they packed for lunch were a reward beyond measure after harsh training in the bitter cold. And after skiing, the ever-flowing hot spring would embrace my frozen body, melting even the tension in my heart.

Time passed, and now my home slope is Kamui Ski Links in Asahikawa, where I spend my days skiing with my daughters.

Checking in at Hotel Taisetsu after a day of skiing with my daughter at Kamui

As the season came to a close, I visited Sounkyo once again after skiing at Kamui, yet this time with my family. The newly renovated Hotel Taisetsu ONSEN & CANYON RESORT welcomed us with a refined atmosphere that still held a touch of nostalgic warmth.
The open-air hot springs remained unchanged—still flowing freely, still inviting. Soaking in the in-room bath, I let out a sigh of satisfaction as the hot water splashed over the edges. Even that little extravagance felt like part of the luxury.

A moment of bliss with a beer in hand, in the room bath

The sauna, which had once been part of my conditioning regimen, is now a place of calm and healing. The alternating hot and cold baths remain as invigorating as ever.

Sauna at "Taisetsu-no-Yu" on the 7th Floor (photo from the hotel website)

Dinner, now offered as a buffet, had evolved far beyond what I remembered from my training camp days—both in quality and presentation. I found myself overfilling my plate, eating more than planned, and smiling at the unexpected joy of indulgence.

Enjoying the buffet with family (Our eldest daughter couldn’t join us this time)

The next morning, we took the Kurodake Ropeway, run by Rinyu Kanko, just a short walk from the hotel. It was my first time returning to the Kurodake slopes in over thirty years. The panoramic view from the ropeway was breathtaking. During my training days, I had been too focused on skiing to notice the scenery—now, it felt like I was seeing it for the first time.

The view from the ropeway cabin

Though strong winds had halted the lifts that day, the untouched powder snow at the summit—still lingering even in this season—was worthy of the name “nutap-ka-ush-pe,” the Ainu word for the Taisetsuzan mountains. The familiar sensation of snow beneath me brought a smile to my face. I have a feeling I’ll return again, next season.

View of Kurodake from the lift area

At the Kurodake Ropeway Station

At the Taisetsuzan Kurodake Museum

Hotel Taisetsu—once a place that held the fiery dreams of my youth, now a warm and healing retreat I share with my family. A place where past dreams and present joy gently overlap. I know I’ll return again and again. It has become a beloved “hometown” of the heart.