On Air: Fukuoka City Information/2014.05.10(Sat)/09:00～

Fukuoka City works to provide lots of free counseling services to help its citizens.

At the citizen consultation offices of Fukuoka City Hall and ward offices, you can get help. Counseling staff and specialists, together with organisations in a variety of fields, team-up to offer consultation and/or to provide advice to help support you solve whatever issue you may be having. They can also recommend other sources to aid you along your way. The consultation offices are a great place to start to look for solutions to your questions and concerns.

There is also foreign resident consultation available at Higashi Ward Office. There, you can discuss your concerns or present issues you would like to express to Fukuoka City. The service is available in English every Monday, and with Chinese interpretation every Thursday. The telephone number to call is 092-631-2192. Consultation is offered between 1:00 and 4:00 PM.

The second location for receiving this kind of service is at Rainbow Plaza, located on the 8th floor of the Tenjin IMS Building. There, staff able to speak not only Japanese, but also Korean, Chinese and English, are available to offer a variety of information to assist you with living in Fukuoka.

Consultation regarding legal and/or healthcare matters is also available on specified days of month. Service regarding legal matters is offered by a lawyer from the Fukuoka Bar Association, and is available from 1:00 to 4:00 PM every first and third Saturday of the month. Consultations are by appointment only. Also, please be aware that if you’ll need an interpreter, you should mention that when you make your reservation and Rainbow Plaza will make arrangements.

Also, free health consultations are held every Wednesday from 5:00 to 7:00 PM. There, a volunteer Japanese medical doctor will try to answer your questions about health problems. Consultation is available in English or Japanese. Advanced reservations are not required. Please stop in and share your concerns, anytime.

A Japanese clinical psychologist, who is able to speak English, is also present to help foreign residents, with mental or emotional problems they may be experiencing. This service is available every Monday between 10:00 AM and 6:00 PM, every Thursday between 10:00 AM and 12:30 PM, and on every first and third Saturday of the month between 5:00 PM and 7:00 PM. Services on other Saturdays take place between 3:00 and 7:00 PM.

To start getting help for legal or personal counselling, or for other information on Rainbow Plaza, please call 092-733-2220.

Be well and enjoy your life in Fukuoka. There is help if you need it.