The main purpose of this visit is to join the open campus of this University. I had to take my daughter to the veterinary department. I asked someone whether we were on the right path to get there. He replied, "Go straight this way for about 20 minutes and ask again." "20 minutes! Unbelievable!" shouted my daughter. The vastness of this university was beyond her imagination. I was happy to realize that it was worth while to have taken her to this university.
After that, we enjoyed gazing at the forest on the way to the Vetenarian School and I was busy taking pictures.
This picture shows the ginkgo trees, one of the features of Hokkaido Universiy. I'd like to see the leaves when they turn yellow.
This is the main street that is running north-south.
This is one of the features too. It shows a strand of poplar trees. The road is lined with poplar trees. I wanted to go near the trees but it's been prohibited for 10 years because the trees are old and got damaged by the typhoon. These trees are supposed to fall dawn in the near future.
Turning the lens to the left, you can see the vast experimental farm. It's wonderful that it's a 5 minute walk from Sapporo station.
This picture shows a small path in the botanical garden that is preserved as it used to be for centuries. It's material for researchers. From the viewpoint of nature being located in the center of the city, this garden reminded me of Stanley Park in Vancouver. 
At last, to tell the truth, I had a person whom I was eager to meet here. He is in the last picture. Yes, he is Dr. Inazo Nitobe. I'd like to see him. On the base of his statue, his desire is written as follows: "I wish to be a bridge across the Pacific Ocean." He passed away in Victoria, B.C. in Canada and his statue is in Vancouver too. He graduated from Hokkaido University and is known for his transcendent skill in English. He wrote "Bushido: The Soul of Japan" in 1900. I'd like all the people in the world to read this book from the bottom of my heart. I was profoundly moved by this book and his way of thinking.
You might be smirking, but I had been copying his signature when I was a medical student. Now I can find my old signature in some books and files on my shelf with the surname circled just like his signature. I'm going to visit Vancouver next March with my friends and daughters. If I have enough time to drop in at his statue, I want to take some pictures of it and post them here.
Abruptly, my youngest daughter shouted, "Hokkaido University is just like UBC!" I really think so. My youngest daughter went to Vancouver and Whistler for the first time for about 10 days in 2004. I drove my car through the campus of UBC at that time. She seemed to be deeply impressed to see the campus. It was a good and valuable lesson for her.
(Vocabulary)
gaze at sb/sth ＜…＞を見つめる, じっと見る
ginkgo 《植物》銀杏、イチョウ 発音gi'ŋkou | gi'ŋkgou
a strand of pearls/beads 一連の真珠［ビーズ］
line （道など）に沿って並ぶ
be lined with something （道などに）＜…＞が並んでいる
The street was lined with small shops. 通りには小さい店が並んでいた．
transcendent 並外れた人［物］ 並外れた 〔能力などが〕卓越した
smirk うすら笑いを浮かべる, にやにや笑う
(KW: 北海道大学 北大 新渡戸稲造 武士道 ポプラ並木)
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