Life in Fukuoka "English"

【Spring Cleaning】

In Japan, the big house clean up is usually done in December right before the new year, but there are many advantages to cleaning in the spring.
For example, in winter it's pretty cold, so cleaning outside and cleaning around kitchen and bathrooms tends to feel like a hassle, but in spring, it is warmer, so it is easier to get motivated to do these chores. Plus, opening windows and doors for ventilation is actually pretty nice, and oil stains are easier to remove when the temperature is higher. This is really the season for efficient cleaning. Humidity is also lower on many days, so mold is less likely to form. Laundry also dries quickly, making it easy to wash curtains, sofa covers, and other large items.
If you do a big spring clean now along with changing up your room and clothes, your home will be spotless and you will feel pretty fresh and new. You can start this new season completely refreshed.
If you were slacking a bit at the end of last year, why not take this opportunity now to do a thorough house cleaning?

 【Fukuoka City Information】

Now, I have some information from the Fukuoka City International Foundation for you.

Using Line Call for Information and Advice

The Fukuoka City International Foundation does have an official LINE account.

If you connect with the Foundation's official LINE account, you can make an appointment for consultations on daily life or free professional consultation using the LINE call feature. Telephone consultations are available in 22 languages, so please feel free to contact them. In addition, you can get information on the Foundation's events and announcements for international residents. Please add the Foundation's official LINE account to your friends' list from the Fukuoka City International Foundation website. The foundation will not accept consultations via the LINE talk chat function, but you can use the inquiry form on the foundation's website if you want to send a message about anything.

The Japanese Chatting Salon

To continue, I've also got some information for any international students who are studying in Fukuoka. The Fukuoka City International Foundation holds a “chatting salon” once a month where, international students and Japanese volunteers have a chance to chat. The next session is online, on Friday, March 31^st.

Using Zoom, international students and Japanese volunteers meet one on one or in small groups to talk about topics that interest them. So if you are looking for a chance to use daily Japanese as well as practice the Japanese you've learned in class, or just want to chat with a native Japanese speaker, then definitely join in! The sessions are free but you do need a reservation.

To make a reservation, please visit the Fukuoka City International Foundation's website or its Facebook page. The web address is www.fcif.or.jp. If there is anything that you don't understand feel free to contact the Fukuoka International Student Support Association at 092-262-1744. Again that number is 092-262-1744. Phone calls will be accepted from 9am to 6pm on weekdays. Definitely check it out! They're looking forward to hearing from you!

【March 17th Manga Weekly Magazine Day】

As I've mentioned before, Japan has a number of unusual anniversary days. March 17^th, happens to be Manga Weekly Magazine Day.

So, what is this day and why is the 17^th the date for it?

Well, it seems that on this day in 1959, the first weekly magazines targeted toward kids were sold for the first time. These two magazines were Shonen Magazine and Shonen Sunday.

Both of these manga magazines are still being published today and Weekly Shonen Magazine, which went for 40 yen when it was first sold, is still only 340 yen.

Manga is, of course, very popular in Japan with kids to adults enjoying the huge variety of manga available to them.

In the US, manga is also very popular. It's a lot more common now, but it was kind of difficult to get when I was a teen. Actually, I worked at a bookstore when I was 18 and loved watching anime and reading manga. I actually ordered quite a lot of translated manga for the bookstore and managed to get a small section for it. It turned out to be popular with the customers and expanded to several bookshelves. My favorites at the time were Takahashi Rumiko's Maison Ikkoku and Ranma ½.

These days it's much easier to get manga, and anime even, online from anywhere in the world. Is there anything you like to read or watch? I'm a big fan of Meitantei Conan or Detective Conan, as well as One Piece.

Although some manga are pretty difficult to read with complicated plots and loads of difficult kanji, there are quite a few that are a lot easier and pretty fun, if you are trying to find other ways to study Japanese. I found Meitantei Conan to be pretty good for my studies!

【Fukuoka City Information】

Covid Vaccinations

Now, I have some information for you from Fukuoka City about Covid-19 vaccinations.

Fukuoka City has been working toward making sure everyone who hopes to be vaccinated can do so with peace of mind.

In Fukuoka City, vaccination tickets for the Omicron variant for those who will receive their third, fourth or fifth doses of the vaccine are being sent out. The vaccination for the omicron variant will be limited to one time per person. Vaccination vouchers are being sent out to those were vaccinated at least three months before.

When the inoculation coupon arrives, please visit the reservation site or call the vaccine call center to make a reservation. Please wait until that coupon does arrive.

If you haven't received that coupon, please phone the call center to have it issued again.

People who have recently relocated to Fukuoka City from overseas and who hope to get vaccinated need to fill out an application to receive the inoculation tickets.

For questions regarding vaccinations, to make a reservation or to apply for the inoculation ticket, you can call 092-260-8405. Again, that number is 092-260-8405. Calls will be taken between 8:30 am and 5:30pm every day. 7 languages are available at that number, including English, Chinese and Korean.

【March's seasonal vegetable-Nira or Garlic Chives】
Now that we are in March, the days are getting warmer and warmer, but you may still find the evenings a bit chilly. That temperature gap can be a bit rough on the body since you might still be feeling a bit tired out from the cold of winter, so to keep yourself feeling good and strong, it's important that you eat lots of good seasonal foods with plenty of nutrients.
One of those foods happens to be Nira, the garlic chive, which is in season in March.
Allicin, the unique aroma component of garlic chives, is said to increase the absorption rate of vitamin B1 and convert sugar into energy.
One dish that happens to contain a lot of vitamin B1 and allicin is sauteed liver and nira. It is a kind of stamina food and is one way to boost your energy.
When you buy nira, it's good to remember that they are freshest when they are bright green all over, firm to the tips of the leaves and look fresh.
Make an active effort to take advantage of the foods of each season to boost your immune system.

【Fukuoka City Information】

Avoiding the Rush When Moving House

March and April are busy months for moving house and as a result, the consultation desks at your local ward offices may be quite crowded. The period between March 20^th and April 10^th are especially busy with wait times of 2 to 3 hours, so if you can try to avoid that period. However, that's not always possible,and if you find that you're too busy on weekdays to submit the notification of your move to the ward office, then you'll be glad to know that there are several weekend days when the offices are open for paperwork related to moving in or out of the city.

On Sunday the 26^th of March and Sunday the 2^nd of April, Fukuoka City ward offices and their branches will be temporarily opened from 10am to 2pm to take paperwork in regards to moving in or out of the city. 

If you are moving out of Fukuoka City, you do not have to go to the ward office to report your move-out. You can do so by mail or online if you have your My Number Card.
If you are moving from one place to another inside Fukuoka city you do not need the notification of the move out of your previous residence, you just need to submit notification that you have moved into your new residence.

There is now an online service available to make reservations with the ward office to take care of moving procedures. Reservations can even be done via a smartphone but must be made by 8:30 am, 5 business days before your desired date. You just need to send the date you want to go in, and information about your address change. With this system, an appointment can be easily arranged and the process at the consultation desk will take less time.
If you have any questions, you can check with the ward office using a telephone interpreter.
The telephone number is 092-753-6113. Again, that phone number is 092-753-6113.
Tell them you are moving to Fukuoka City and would like to discuss moving procedures with the ward where you live.

One more process that you should remember when moving is making sure you call to have your water turned on or turned off. You will need to have the notification of your move for this. Please call at least 4 business days before you move to arrange this. The phone number for that is 092-532-1010. Again, that number is 092-532-1010. Phone calls will be accepted in languages other than Japanese. This process can also be done online.

Garbage from Moving House

Also with Spring and the moving season, this time tends to be when we see a lot more oversized garbage, like furniture and home electronics. Fortunately, I have information on how to use the Oversized Garbage Disposal Center to get rid of all of that.

The first way to do it is by applying for pickup with the Oversized Garbage Disposal Center. First, contact them by phone or by internet, or even through the Official Fukuoka City Line Account, to put in your application and then purchase the appropriate oversized garbage disposal ticket at the convenience store or other shops.

The garbage pickup day will be roughly one week after you apply.

You must put out the garbage by 8:30am on the collection day in the designated spot.

The phone number for the Oversized Garbage Disposal Center is 092-731-1153. Again, that number is 092-731-1153.

If you apply via the internet or Line, you can do so at your convenience, 24 hours a day.

For TV's, refrigerators, freezers, washing machines, clothes dryers and air conditioners, according to the home appliance recycling law, there are specific guidelines for disposal.

You can have the old appliance removed by the firm installing the new one or you can contact the store where you originally bought the appliance. You can also contact the Yamada Denki in your city about disposal. Recycling fees as well as fees for collection and transport will be required.

【Seasonal Flowers=Nanohana】

Nanohana or Rapeseed blossoms, with their bright yellow flowers, are a well-loved “Promise of spring” , much like cherry blossoms and are in bloom right around the same time.
In fact, rapeseed is a member of the Brassicaceae family of vegetables, and is related to komatsuna (Japanese mustard spinach) and Chinese cabbage.

From the past until now, this plant has been valued not only for its flowers but also as a source of food with its fresh spring flavor. The rapeseed season in Fukuoka is relatively long and lasts from early February to mid-April. As the weather gets warmer, people are out enjoying the view of the blossoms in a number of spots around the prefecture. And, as I mentioned before, the timing is right around the time the cherry blossoms bloom, giving visitors a colorful spring scene to feast their eyes on.
In some places in Fukuoka Prefecture, two types of rapeseed  are planted: "early blooming rape blossoms" and "late blooming rape blossoms," allowing visitors to fully enjoy them during the season.
There are also many places to enjoy these blossoms such as Umino-nakamichi Seaside Park (Umino-nakamichi Kaihin-Ko-en) and Nokonoshima Island Park. It's just about time to go out and enjoy these lovely yellow flowers, they're waiting for you and will surely brighten your day. 

【Info From Fukuoka City】

Filing City and Prefectural Taxes

Well, moving on from that, now I've got some information from Fukuoka City about filing taxes. I'm pretty sure that most of you have received your tax forms to file in Reiwa 5, they were sent by post from Fukuoka City.

The deadline for filing is Wednesday, March 15^th. The tax department of the ward office will accept your tax return from 9am to 5pm on weekdays, however the counters there may be crowded so please send your tax returns by mail or by internet.

Those who are required to file Fukuoka City taxes include anyone who has lived in Fukuoka City since the first of January 2023 and had income in 2022. Those who submitted a final tax declaration to the tax authorities or those who only received a salaried income whose company filed year end adjustments  do not need to file a tax return.

When filing, you need your My Number card or a document that shows your number and a driver's license, passport or resident card to show proof of identity.

Documents, such as withholding slips that show your income from 2022 and any documents for deductions made during 2022 are also necessary.

For information on what documents are needed and anything else about filing your taxes, please visit your local ward offices website. If there is anything that you don't understand, please use the telephone translation hotline to call the ward offices. The hotline supports 18 languages including English , Chinese, Korean, Vietnamese and Nepali. The number is 092-753-6113. Again, the number for that hotline is 092-753-6113.

That phone number is for a interpretation center, so after speaking to a representative you will be connected to your local ward office. Make sure you tell them which ward you live in and that you want help with filing taxes. If you go to your ward office in person, you can also use your phone and this service to help you with interpretation, so don't hesitate to use it!

【Retort Curry Day】

Japan has a number of unusual anniversary days, I've introduced a few on this program before and it turns out that just the other day on February 12^th, it was Retort Curry Day. It was in 1968 on this day that Bon Curry was created as the world’s first commercial retort-pouch food product ever to exist, using innovative original technology under the concept of “a curry that you can eat just by heating a single-serving package in hot water, a curry that never fails.”

A retort curry is a pressurized, heat-sterilized curry packaged in a bag made of aluminum foil. The technology using retort was originally invented by the U.S. Military, but retortable curry, which can be heated with hot water and eaten immediately, is a Japanese invention.
Most retort pouch curries are heated with hot water, but there are some retort pouch curries that can be heated in a microwave oven, so be sure to read the directions carefully before cooking them up.
Nowadays, you can enjoy the taste of delicious curries from restaurants all over Japan. My partner and I have tried quite a few, we like to do at home curry tours. I'm a fan of a Miyazaki Curry but my partner seems to prefer the Indian curries. You're sure to find your favorite as you sample the many that are available at convenience stores and supermarkets!

【Fukuoka City Information】

Now, I have information from the Fukuoka City International Foundation .

Get consultations through LINE Call!

The first thing to share is about their Line Call service. If you are connected to the Foundation's official Line Account, you can use Line Call to ring the center for advice on life here as well as to make reservations for the free professional consultation services that the Foundation provides.  Interpretation over the phone for 22 different languages is available.

You can also sign up to get information on events or useful information for foreign residents of the city, so if you aren't already connected on Line, just go to the Fukuoka City International Foundation's homepage and click on Add Friend to get connected.

However, be aware that you cannot send messages through the chat function. If you want to send a message regarding getting advice, then please look up the Fukuoka City International Foundation's homepage on the internet and fill out the help request form on their website.

International Kids and Parents Event “Let's make easy riceball lunchboxes!”

The next bit of information I have to share with you is about an event for international kids and parents called “Let's make easy riceball lunchboxes”!

During this event, Japanese parents and kids and foreign parents and kids will get together to make onigiri-bento, or riceball lunchboxes, in a fun, international exchange event.

The event will be held on Saturday, March 11^th at  the Fukuoka City Health Promotion Support Center in the Airefu Cooking room. 

The deadline to register for this event is Monday the 20^th of February. To register for the event or to get more information, please go to the Fukuoka City International Foundation's website at www.fcif.or.jp .

【Taking care of yourself in February】
In this season, there is some concern about getting sick with covid and influenza at the same time, so it is important to continue taking measures to stay on top of the situation. Some basic precautionary measures you can do include wearing a mask when going out and gargling and washing your hands thoroughly when you get home.
Catechins, an ingredient in green tea, are said to have an antibiotic effect, so it may be a good idea to try gargling with tea or actively drinking tea. For those who are trying to avoid so much caffeine, hojicha (roasted green tea) is also good.
Also, cedar pollen will be in the air from mid-February so consider what countermeasures you need to take as early as possible if you are affected by the pollen.
Of course, in general, a few things to keep in mind is to get a good night's sleep, and maintaining a balanced lifestyle to keep your immune functions up. Keep yourself warm, don't drink too much alcohol and cutting back on smoking are also important actions you can take to maintain your nasal mucous as they say it is your first line of defense against infections.
We've only got to endure a little more cold weather before a brighter and warmer season arrives. Keep your mind and body healthy to fully enjoy and welcome spring!

【City Information】

Covid Vaccinations

Now, I have some information for you from Fukuoka City about Covid-19 vaccinations.
Fukuoka City has been working toward making sure everyone who hopes to be vaccinated can do so with peace of mind.
In Fukuoka City, vaccination tickets for the Omicron variant for those who will receive their third, fourth or fifth doses of the vaccine are being sent out. The vaccination for the omicron variant will be limited to one time per person. Vaccination vouchers are being sent out to those were vaccinated at least three months before.

When the inoculation coupon arrives, please visit the reservation site or call the vaccine call center to make a reservation. Please wait until that coupon does arrive.
If you haven't received that coupon, please phone the call center to have it issued again.

People who have recently relocated to Fukuoka City from overseas and who hope to get vaccinated need to fill out an application to receive the inoculation tickets.

For questions regarding vaccinations, to make a reservation or to apply for the inoculation ticket, you can call 092-260-8405. Again, that number is 092-260-8405. Calls will be taken between 8:30 am and 5:30pm every day. 7 languages are available at that number, including English, Chinese and Korean.

【Winter Flavors-Oysters and the Oyster Huts at Bayside】

It is very much Oyster season. Do you know where you can have some delicious oysters in the center of Fukuoka?

The answer to that is the "Oyster Hut at Bayside" which is open until March 26 for a limited time at "Bayside Hakata".  It's the nearest port to Tenjin and Hakata and is a place where you can enjoy oysters while feeling the sea breeze.

At the Oyster Hut, visitors can enjoy oysters, seafood, meat, and other ingredients grilled over charcoal in a barbecue style.

The venue's outdoor facility, "Bayside Canopy," is spacious and well ventilated but still warm from the warmth of a charcoal fire. Oysters are sold for 1,100 yen per basket.

One popular menu item is gan-gan-yaki, a fisherman's dish in which oysters and other seafood are stuffed into a can and steamed over an open fire just as they are. The texture is light and fluffy and the taste is exquisite!

It's something to enjoy and compare with the taste of the grilled oysters!

I haven't actually been to an oyster hut in years, but a group of us used to go every winter. It's a fun experience and even if you don't like oysters, there are a variety of other foods to grill up.

It is one of those flavors that is unique to winter here so why not enjoy a meal at one of these easily accessible oyster huts in Fukuoka City?

https://www.baysideplace.jp/2022/10/16/wanganmaru_kakigoya/

【Fukuoka City Information】

Lifestyle Related Disease Prevention Month

February is Life-style related disease prevention month.

These are diseases that develop due to, as you may have guessed, our life-style. Life-style related diseases include diabetes, hypertension and heart attacks and are caused by a lack of regular exercise and by nutritionally imbalanced diets. Smoking, excessive drinking and stress can also cause life-style related diseases.

To maintain a healthy life-style, balanced and appropriately portioned meals, three times a day at regular times, is key.  Constantly eating nutritionally unbalanced foods, like instant meals or greasy foods, can cause obesity and diabetes. They also say that chewing your food properly is important in a healthy diet as it will reduce the burden on your digestive system and strengthen the muscles around the mouth. Taking your time to eat, spending at least 20 minutes enjoying your meal is suggested.

Regular exercise is also important as the loss of muscle mass due to a lack of exercise will affect your basal metabolic rate, which is the number of calories you burn as your body performs basic life-sustaining functions. If this rate decreases, it's more likely you'll gain weight. It also increases your risk of getting diseases such as diabetes. So make time to exercise to maintain your muscle strength and mass. Even if you don't have much time, aim to add on an additional 10 minutes of walking to your day. It will go a long way toward your health.

Sleep is also essential to your health. It plays an important role in our health as it allows us to get rid of mental and physical fatigue and boosts our immunity. And of course, immunity is what helps keep us from getting sick. But to maintain our immunity, it's important that we are getting enough sleep and that our sleep is good quality sleep. The best way to do this is to not use your smartphone before going to bed. You should also avoid watching TV or drinking caffeinated or alcoholic beverages before bed. They will all affect the quality of your sleep. Instead, find another way to relax, perhaps by taking a bath before bed, or doing whatever is it you like to do to relax. It's important to live a stress-free life. Perhaps this is a chance to take another look at your own daily life-style.

【Seasonal Ingredients-Renkon】

Today, I'd like to talk about an ingredient that we often see around this time of year.
Have you heard of the vegetable "ren-kon"?
If you haven't, well, RENKON" is the enlarged underground stem of the lotus, which looks like a root, hence the name "lotus root" in English. Maybe you've seen it, but didn't know the name. When it's cut into slices, you'll see that it has holes in it, which is supposed to be "good for the future" and "good for your future prospects” because you can see through it. If you had the New Year's dish, osechi, this year, you might have seen it. It is supposed to bring the wish for a bright new year ahead.

Honestly, I can say I haven't seen it in any kind of regular cooking in the US, but in Korea, where my mom is from, we definitely ate  it. I had it at Korean restaurants in the US as well, it was usually a side dish that came out with the kimchi and other dishes. I love it, I especially like it with seasoned mince meat sandwiched inside, which I make at home sometimes.

Chikuzen-ni, a local dish of Fukuoka Prefecture, also uses lotus root, and is loved by the locals. Chikuzen-ni is a kind of simmered dish and I think it's a pretty standard household recipe. In saying that, although lotus root is a familiar ingredient that can be found in supermarkets, it is difficult to cook and eat chikuzen-ni by yourself, as you usually need to make a big old pot of it!

These days, it is sold at even convenience stores as a side dish that can be eaten just by heating it up, so if you don't plan on making a huge pot all for yourself, then pick up a pack and give this traditional Fukuoka dish a try!

【Fukuoka City Information】

Fukuoka was Chosen by the Lonely Planet!

Now, I have some information from Fukuoka City.

I don't know if you've heard, I saw this information on twitter, but in the "Best in Travel 2023" which announces the best destinations to visit in 2023 according to The Lonely Planet, Fukuoka was selected and it was the only selection in Japan!
Fukuoka was selected for the "Food" category, Lonely Planet which, if you've never used it, is a travel guidebook that boasts the world's largest market share and is read mainly in Europe and the United States. Every year, in the autumn, this guidebook announces its choices for the next year.
Naturally, all of us who live here know that Fukuoka has great food, but Fukuoka is attracting attention internationally for its rich variety of food culture, from yatai (food stalls) and ramen to trendy bars and coffee shops.
If you are interested in which shops were listed, just Search "Best in Travel 2023" . Maybe one of your regular haunts is on the list!

https://www.lonelyplanet.com/japan/kyushu/fukuoka

【Making a Healthy Year the Goal】

After the New Year's holiday and New Year's holidays, when we've enjoyed ourselves to the fullest, many of us feel a bit more conscious of our waistlines. If that's the case, why not start a little exercise this year and make it a habit to keep you healthy throughout the year?

Whether it is jogging, swimming, yoga, or going to the gym, choosing an exercise routine that fits your personality, preferences, and lifestyle will make it last longer. And of course, along with your exercise routine, make sure to eat a healthy diet and get enough sleep.

Also, looking at a monitor screen for a long time, like on a computer, smartphone, or tablet, can really tire your eyes out. If you're feeling some strain from staring at a screen all day, it might be a good idea to warm up and relax your eyes.

An easy way to do this is to take a shower, just close your eyes, and just let that warm water run over your eyelids. Make sure you keep them shut tight so that you don't get water in them! Of course, you can't always just jump in the shower, so another way to warm your eyes is with a warm, damp towel. Make sure it's not so hot that it'll burn your eyelids. You can prep the towel in the microwave or by soaking it in hot water. If you combine that towel with your bath time, you'll get to soak and relax your eyes.

There are also commercial eye masks and facial steamers available on the market, so whether you use them, or something that you have at home, you can easily take care of yourself and enjoy an easy and healthy year!

【Info From Fukuoka City】

Be Careful about the Norovirus

As you may know, winter is the season when it's very easy to get infectious gastroenteritis and food poisoning due to the Norovirus. It's a strong virus and can be transmitted even with very little contact.

The virus enters your body via the food you eat or from your hands from touching something. It causes vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal pain and fever. You can get the virus through inhalation if someone with the virus in the area has been vomiting or had diarrhea. You can also get it from foods that have been cooked by somebody infected by the virus. It can also be transmitted by eating shellfish, like oysters, that haven't been thoroughly cooked and are carrying the virus.

Severe vomiting and diarrhea can cause dehydration. So if you think you have caught the virus, get checked by a medical professional as soon as possible. You'll recover in a few days but the virus can hang around for a week to a month, even in your stools, and so it is possible to infect others, something we need to be careful about.

We can take measures to prevent the spread of infection, however. Be sure to wash your hands with soap before preparing meals, before eating and after using the toilet. Make sure you wash your utensils and cooking tools thoroughly after each use and disinfect them with bleach or boiling water. Alcohol disinfectants aren't that effective against the Norovirus, but heat is. The Norovirus is killed at temperatures of 85-90 degrees Celsius.

So, make sure that when you cook, things are cooked thoroughly and that you wash any fruits and veggies that you don't cook. And, of course, if you don't feel well, try to stay away doing too much in the kitchen.