On Air: Fukuoka City Information/2012.2.27(Mon)/19:50～

                    Fukuoka City and Neighborhood Associations Info

Today’s announcement introduces the concept of neighborhood and community associations to foreign residents in Fukuoka.

Some foreign residents may not be aware that neighborhoods in Japan often consist of 2 to 3 hundred households. Almost all such neighborhoods organize into associations and/or committees. In Japanese they are called “Chou-nai-kai” or “Jichi-kai”. Presently, there are over 2,000 such bodies in Fukuoka City. Through these associations, people join together to deal with issues in their community and to foster neighborly goodwill, making local communities pleasant places in which to live.

Neighborhood associations are responsible for a variety of activities. They hold neighborhood sports competitions, festivals and other events to strengthen bonds with one another. They also patrol for neighborhood safety, run recycling and cleaning programs, and upkeep roads and utilities, such as streetlights.

One place utilized by neighborhood groups is community centers. There is one community center located near every elementary school. They are places where local people gather and join in activities. For example, foreign residents sometime use community centers as places to share foods from their home country with others in their community. You can find lots of activities going on in your local community by checking with your community center. You can find the location of your local community center on the Fukuoka City homepage.

                          Questionnaire Support

There is one more message from Fukuoka City for its foreign residents, regarding participation in a questionnaire about your level of satisfaction with daily life in your community.

In particular, the questionnaire is aimed at those who have been living in Fukuoka less than 5 years, and who are above 20 years of age. 1,000 foreign residents meeting these criteria, who are registered with the city, have been randomly selected and questionnaires have been sent to their homes. Fukuoka City would like to ask for your support in filling out the questionnaire, should you receive one.

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