On Air: Fukuoka City Information/2014.05.24(Sat)/09:00～

Children are the ones who carry the future. Do you know about the Child Allowance offered to households to support their healthy development?

Households receiving childcare subsidies must submit Child Allowance Subsidies status forms no later than Monday, June 30th. Those who do not submit the form will lose their subsidies from June. Please submit the form if necessary.

The paperwork is mailed out to households at the beginning of June. Please follow the instructions enclosed in the envelope with the forms and fill out all of the necessary information and mail them, with any other documents required, into the Children’s Allowance Call Center. If all paperwork was completed correctly, a Notification of Child Allowance Subsidy Payments will be mailed out in the beginning of October.

For further information, please contact the Fukuoka City Children’s Allowance Call Center by phone at 092-711-7236.

The next announcement is about Funanorikomi, the event that brings summer officially to Hakata!

Funanorikomi is a traditional event unique to Kabuki since the Edo period. In the event, Kabuki actors announce their arrival to the city by sailing into town on boats. Actors, who will perform in the “June Hakata-za Grand Kabuki” celebrating the 15th anniversary of Hakataza Theater, will appear in the event.

The boarding ceremony will take place on Thursday, May 29th from 1:00 PM in the afternoon at Canal City Hakata. After that, the renowned kabuki actors performing in Grand Kabuki will sail the Hakata River on about 10 boats, starting at Seiryu Park and going to Hakata Riverain, with flags alive with color. There will be crowds gathered all around and flower petals showering this classic Fukuoka event!

All of the boats will make a stop together at the Kawabata Zenzai Hiroba and Toudori-san, the responsible party for the Gakuya dressing rooms, will explain the role of the actors and give a prologue set to an ancient and graceful melody.

Then, from about 2:15 PM on the first floor, on the Riverain special event stage, the opening ceremony will take place, with each of the kabuki actors giving individual greetings.

It is the one and only time a year that you get to see these kabuki performers take the stage up close! Please don’t miss your chance to see this spectacular event.

For further information, please contact the Fukuoka City Cultural Promotion Section by phone at 092-711-4471.