Life in Fukuoka "English"

【Conserving Water】

We're already heading into August pretty quickly now and it turns out that August is the month in which the most water is used in the year. We're fortunate in that we have water every day without a problem, every time we turn on the tap, water comes out and we can use it without giving it a second thought.

However, for that water to get to us from the source takes the work and dedication of a countless number of people and in fact, there is a limit to the water we have, it's quite a precious natural resource, something that we should all be aware of. So, keeping that in mind, we should try not to use water needlessly and make an effort to conserve water when we can.

You may not have known this, but in Japan, the city that has the least amount of water per person available is actually Fukuoka. And this is why it's important that we keep in mind how important our water is. So, what can we do to save water in our daily lives? Well, it's pretty easy.

First, turn off the water when you're brushing your teeth and use a cup for rinsing. Second, when  you're cooking, instead of running water to rinse vegetable and dishes, have a full basin of water ready for those jobs. Finally, when you're taking a shower or bath, turn off the water when you aren't rinsing yourself and don't overfill the bath.

By doing these simple things, we can conserve more of that precious natural resource, water!

【Consultation With An Administrative Lawyer】

Now, I have some information from Fukuoka City.

Is there anything you don't understand about residency status and term of stay regulations? If there is, free consultation is available for the foreign residents of Fukuoka at the Fukuoka City International Foundation. Consultations are held every second Sunday afternoon of the month. A gyousei-shoshi, or administrative lawyer, will answer your questions and offer consultation.   There are English and Chinese interpreters present, and so, consultation in English, Chinese and Japanese does not require a reservation. For other languages, please consult with us at least one week in advance.

Confidentiality is guaranteed in all consultations, so please feel at ease to make use of these services.

For more information or for reservations, please check the Fukuoka City International Foundation's homepage or call 092-262-1799. Again, you can call 092-262-1799.

And to prevent the spread of Covid-19, measures are being taken so please wear a mask and disinfect your hands when you come for a consultation.

【Mail Magazine】

Now, I want to share a little information about Fukuoka City International Foundation's monthly mail magazine. The magazine, published in English and Japanese, shares news and information about international exchange events and cooperation and is available to everyone! You can easily sign up for the magazine by visiting the Foundation's website. Just search for FCIF in your web browser.

【Preventing the spread of Covid-19】

As always, we ask that you practice basic infection prevention measures to prevent the spread of Covid-19. Wear a mask, wash your hands, gargle and practice the 3 C's. And this means that you should avoid closed spaces, crowded places and close conversations.

【World Emoji Day】

Did you know that July 17^th is World Emoji Day? If you did, you've got one on me, I had no idea. It was established by Jeremy Burge in 2014. He is the founder of the Emojipedia website. Apparently this date was decided because the emoji pictograms of calendars on smart phones typically show July 17^th. I actually checked.

Emoji actually were born in Japan. NTT Docomo installed them in their i-mode mobile phone service. At that time, some people complained, saying that these pictographs weren't actually proper words or characters, they were just illustrations. However, they soon gained popularity, especially among young people and their usage spread.

It was finally in 2010 that emoji were added to the Universal Coded Character Set or Unicode and from there, the emoji that were originally only used on mobile phones spread to computers and smartphones and now the word Emoji is known and used all over the world.  Which emoji do you use the most? Looking at my phone, it looks like the laughing face with the tears is my most used.

【Watch out for Heatstroke】

Now, I have some information from Fukuoka City. The first is about heatstroke, something that we all need to be careful of as we go through summer. Often when it is hot and we're doing hard exercise or work, our bodies can't regulate its temperature and our water and body salts balance go off and we end up with heatstroke. And some of the symptoms of heatstroke include dizziness, a headache, lightheadedness and a feeling of nausea. If you don't feel better after cooling down and taking in fluids and salt, please call 119 for an ambulance.

It's especially in July, as temperatures reach maximum highs, that the number of emergency heatstroke patients increases rapidly. So in this hot and humid season, take care, as your body has difficulty acclimating. And though many of us have been spending more time indoors to prevent the spread of Covid-19, do not let your guard down as heatstroke can occur indoors as easily as outdoors. In addition, wearing a mask in the summer increases the risk of heatstroke and so you must take caution.

So, here are some pointers to help prevent heatstroke. First, make sure you keep yourself hydrated. For everyday hydration, water or mugi cha tea is fine. If you are doing sports or hard work then you might want to have a sports drink. If you are sweating, make sure you are replacing the fluids and salt that your body is losing.

Also, wear a hat or carry a parasol when you are out to help block the sun. And try to use your fan or air conditioner as efficiently as possible so that the room temperature does not go above 28 degrees.

 There are lots of cooling pads and ice pillows out on the market these days, picking up one of those might help keep you cool. And finally, make sure you eat a balanced diet everyday and get plenty of sleep to keep yourself feeling good.

【Preventing the spread of Covid-19】

As always, we ask that you practice basic infection prevention measures to prevent the spread of Covid-19. Wear a mask, wash your hands, gargle and practice the 3 C's. This means that you should avoid closed spaces, crowded places and close conversations.

【Cucumbers】

So, this week, our first topic is cucumbers. Ah, the humble cucumber, available at any time of the year for our dining pleasure. Did you know that it is actually more than 95% water? And, it's full of potassium which is supposed to have a diuretic effect and is good for helping hangovers as well as reduce swelling in the limbs. Basically, it's a great summer food, if you think about it! In Fukuoka Prefecture, cucumbers are pretty intensively cultivated and shipped out all year round. Actually, Hakata Port has been a trading port with the continent for a long time and so it seems that cultivation in Japan started quite early on.

When storing cucumbers at home, rinse them off and keep them in a plastic bag in the vegetable drawer to keep them from drying out. Apparently, storing them at 10-15 degrees is optimum. If they get too cold, they go bitter and lose their vitamin C.

And here's a little Fukuoka trivia for you, if you didn't know. During the Hakata Gion Yamakasa, THE event in Fukuoka City, from the first of July to the 15^th of July, participants are not allowed to eat cucumbers. This is because when a cucumber is sliced into rounds, it looks like the mark of the god of Yamakasa. What's your favorite cucumber recipe? I quite like them just with a bit of salt and pepper but they're good with wakame and sumiso as well!

【Covid-19 Vaccination Information】

Now, I have some important information from Fukuoka City and this is about the Covid-19 vaccination notice you should be receiving by post soon. It'll come in an envelope from Fukuoka City, so make sure you open them and check what's inside. In addition to the two inoculation tickets and preliminary exam tickets, you'll also find a booklet giving instructions in regards to the vaccine and information on the vaccine. You'll also find a leaflet informing you of when you can go for your vaccination.

Vaccinations are available to anyone over the age of 16. You will receive two doses, 3 weeks apart. Vaccinations will be administered either at a clinic in your area or at mass vaccination center. The number of places to get vaccinated are likely to increase.

The day when you can begin to receive your vaccinations will vary depending on if you have an underlying illness or not, and your age. Please make sure you take a look at the notice that tells you when you can go for your vaccinations. It will be in that envelope you receive. And definitely, make a reservation before you go in, once the date comes on which you can begin to get vaccinations. If you can, try to make reservations for both your first and second vaccination doses on the special reservation website. If making a reservation online is too difficult, please call for consultation. And in order to make a reservation, you must have the number that is printed on your inoculation ticket.

On the day of your vaccination, make sure you have 1 vaccination ticket and your preliminary exam ticket with you, as well as some kind of ID. The vaccination ticket is a sticker, so bring it as it is, on the sheet that it is attached to. DO NOT remove it from the sheet. You will use one ticket each for your preliminary exam and vaccination. Make sure you read the instruction manual before your appointment and fill in all necessary information in advance.

You will be given the vaccine in an area around your shoulder, so make sure you are wearing clothes that allow you to expose your shoulder area easily. Make sure you come wearing a mask.

The prepared number of vaccines must be used on the day, so unless you are feeling ill, please do not suddenly cancel your appointment.

For information on places that are doing inoculations and for the most up to date information from Fukuoka City, check the Fukuoka City homepage.

If there is anything that you don't understand or if you can't make a reservation on the website, please call for consultation. The phone number for that is 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.

It will not cost anything to you to get vaccinated. You will not receive a bill for the vaccination. In addition, you will not get phone calls or emails asking for personal information. Please be careful, there have been suspicious phone calls and emails recently.