On February 1st, the annual "former Masamako City" was held, mainly in the shopping districts of Kuroishi City, Aomori Prefecture.

A special event that is held from the early morning of the first Sunday of February every year. "Mcco" is Tsugaru dialect and means "bonus" or "new year's gift". There are various theories about the origin of the "Long-Year Macco City", and it is said that the Kuroishi merchants gave out lots of gifts to Chinese New Year shoppers in order to thank and thank them every day, but most of the historical materials remain. Not said.

On the day of Mako City, it is said that the population of the city will be doubled. From the morning, traffic jams and lines at the Mako City participating stores can be lined up before the opening. Participating stores sell New Year's sale and lucky bags, and prepare "Mcco" (assortment box of daily necessities and foods) for shoppers. Macco stores such as drugstores are very popular, and even less than an hour after opening at 5 o'clock, there were stores that sold out 1000 prepared items.

Mr. Keito Arima, who was lined up at 4:30 in the morning with a light snowfall of minus 2 degrees Celsius, shopped for about 20,000 yen. I was waiting with my child for the return of my wife who went to the challenge to win the lottery. "I plan to go to a discount shop after this. I wish I had the target Macco," he mutters.

The annual "Fukumaki" was held at Yokomachi Square in the city. At the first "Fukumaki" held at 5 am in the morning, about 500 people wearing ski wear gathered, and Japanese sweets and discount coupons for shops sprinkled from a specially built tower about 5 meters high. I reached for a bag containing. Parents and children from Aomori City, who got five “Fuku” with peanuts and discount coupons, participated for the first time. "I want to come again next year," he was smiling.