Hello! This is Atami Bay Resort Korakuen!

Warmer days are increasing and the atmosphere is beginning to feel the arrival of spring!

(I am frightened by the hint of hay fever… LOL)

In this issue of our staff blog, we would like to report on the “First Atami Molucc Cup” held at Atami Korakuen Hotel on February 22!

As this was the first time for Atami Korakuen Hotel to host a MOLUQ tournament, even I, a sports lover, wondered what the atmosphere would be like. “Will it be exciting? I was half excited and half nervous on the day of the event.

What is moluk? For those who are wondering, it is a sport originated in Finland in which players compete for points by knocking down wooden pins (skittles) with a stick (moluk)!

It is a game that can be enjoyed regardless of strength, age, or gender. The team that knocks down the pins with numbers (1-12) on them and reaches exactly 50 points first wins (however, if the score exceeds 50 points, the score goes back to 25 points, so strategy and control are important at the end). (Please look up the detailed rules!)

The venue was the convention hall “Shuho” at the Atami Korakuen Hotel, where the first part of the event was held with 10 teams and the second part with 8 teams!
Since the event was held indoors, we were able to enjoy it without worrying about the weather.

The spacious venue allowed us to enjoy Molucco to the fullest.

It was impressive to see teams enjoying the competition in their own styles, including teams that were full of energy from the morning, family teams participating in a friendly atmosphere with smiles on their faces, and teams of work colleagues!

This time, the teams were numbered by lot and played 4 matches (2 sets per match) against their assigned opponents, with the teams with the highest total score playing each other, and finally a rank-deciding match.

After explaining the rules at the opening ceremony, it was time to start the games.

Once the games started, the competition was at a higher level than I had imagined..!

The heated competition was so heated that some players were cheering for the winners.

The format, in which teams compete with each other for points, is fun enough to watch and naturally brings smiles to the faces of spectators.

The entire venue was filled with a sense of unity, with everyone encouraging each other and applauding nice plays!

Molok is a simple competition, but when you see it in action, you are drawn in by its depth and strategic nature.
I couldn’t take my eyes off the game until the very end, as the flow of the game changed dramatically with a single pitch.

After the games were over, the results were announced, and the runners-up were presented with Onsen Manju Pudding and other prizes, while the winner received a set of six ATAMI PURINs!

Congratulations to all the winners and runners-up!

Smiles abounded at the awards ceremony, and a group photo was taken of all participants at the end.

When it was over, it was a very satisfying morc convention, filled with smiles and applause.

Participants in this year’s Atami Molucc Cup competition received an invitation to a Day-trip hot spring facility, OCEAN SPA Fuua!

After the heated molok competition, participants could move on to refreshment time at a spa with a spectacular view overlooking the sea and sky of Atami, a luxurious event where they could enjoy sports and healing at the same time.

These are just a few of the reasons why I was so excited and anxious about the first event, but I am relieved that it went off without a hitch… LOL!

Through the tournament, participants were able to interact with each other (and I was able to interact with many of them!). I was also impressed by the enjoyment of the participants.

Since the spa experience after the sports was also included in the package, my impression was that it was a very good way to enjoy this unique time of the year.

Atami Korakuen Hotel will continue to plan various events for each season. (We would love to do a second one!)

Please check back for information on future events!

So, in closing, thank you once again to everyone who participated!

(*We would have liked to include a photo of everyone who participated, but we were not able to take enough pictures, so we are only including those who cooperated. We hope you will forgive us.)

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