Life in Fukuoka "English"

【Christmas Advent】

The winter celebration Christmas Advent has started again in Fukuoka this year. With the theme "A Christmas to Stimulate the Senses," Fukuoka transforms into a festive town that’s a joy to walk around and explore until Christmas Day. Visitors can stroll through dazzling illuminations, savor delicious food, admire art installations and enjoy the “Fukuoka Classical Music Festival” being held at the same time as the Christmas Advent Festival. The event this year combines light, music, and art for a Christmas experience like no other.

The main venues include Fukuoka Airport, JR Hakata Station Square, the plaza in front of the Kihinkan Hall, Tenjin Chuo Koen Park, the Fureai Hiroba on the west side of Fukuoka City Hall, and Fukuoka Daimyo Garden City. From Hakata through Nakasu and all the way to Tenjin, these areas form a band of light with illuminations and Christmas markets.

Each venue features creative illuminations and wooden “hutte” stalls offering classic Christmas treats like hot wine, hot chocolate, and spiral sausages, as well as Christmas goods sourced from Europe, allowing you to experience an authentic European Christmas right in Fukuoka. Since it’s held in the heart of the city, it’s easy to stop in and enjoy the festivities when you're out in town doing a bit of shopping!

A musical stage is held every hour at the event, and some venues even offer workshops, making this an event that can be enjoyed by all ages. If you’re aiming to get the exclusive event mugs,  which are very popular and sell out each year, make sure you go early to get one!

Enjoy the holiday season in Fukuoka!

【Information from the Fukuoka City International Foundation】

Naraya  November 26 Community Center-Infant Interaction Class

For those of you with children, wouldn't you like to visit a place where you can have fun with your children? At the Naraya Community Center in Hakata Ward, a parenting exchange salon takes place every month. Every fourth Tuesday of the month, they hold an infant interaction class, called Yarana Hiroba, where parents and children can have a great time together.

In November, it will be held on the 26th from 10:30 AM to 11:30 AM.

This month's theme is "Aikuru Demae Children's Center," where staff from the Chuo Children’s Center "Aikuru" will come to Naraya Community Center. Parents and children can enjoy various activities and storytelling together. It’s also a great opportunity for parents to connect with each other.

For details on how to apply, please visit The Fukuoka City International Foundation’s website or Facebook page.

Consultations on Immigration, Residency and Nationality Matters.

To continue, is there anything you don't understand about residency status and term of stay regulations? If there is, the Fukuoka City International Foundation provides free consultation on these matters to the international residents of Fukuoka City.

Consultations are held every second Sunday of the month. They are offered from 1:00 to 4:00 PM, but you must register by 3:30 PM. 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 the foundation at least two weeks in advance. 

Your confidentiality is guaranteed, so please feel at ease to use this service. 

For more information, please call the toll free number (0120-66-1799). Phone calls will be accepted between 9am and 5:30pm on weekdays. 

【Shichigosan Festival】

As we enter November, you can feel the season shifting from autumn to winter. It's during this time, if you visit a shrine, that you’ll often see families dressed in traditional attire. This is for Shichigosan, a Japanese celebration of children’s growth. Shichigosan takes place annually on November 15 and celebrates children who are three, five, or seven years old. Dressed in vibrant traditional clothes, families visit shrines to express gratitude for their children’s healthy growth and to pray for their continued well-being.

Shichigosan has its roots in a time when infant mortality was high in Japan, and reaching the age of seven was considered a significant milestone. It is believed that this festival originated from the desire to pray for further health and well-being for children who reached these ages. Over time, the custom evolved into today’s style, where children wear beautiful traditional outfits and visit shrines with their families.

During Shichigosan, children are also given Chitose Ame (thousand-year candy), a long, red and white stick candy symbolizing health and longevity.

The sight of children walking carefully in their zouri sandals, wearing bright and colorful clothes, with their hair done up is absolutely adorable. If you see families in traditional attire around town, give them a word of congratulations!

【Fukuoka City Information】

Student Recruitment for Fukuoka Kibou Junior High School

Last month I mentioned some information about Fukuoka Kibou Junior High School in our broadcast, if you remember. Currently, the school is recruiting students for the next school year, so I want to share some more detailed information today.

Fukuoka Kibou Junior High School is a public night school created by Fukuoka City for individuals who couldn’t complete compulsory education due to various circumstances, including truancy. Enrollment is open regardless of nationality.

The school offers all the subjects taught in daytime junior high schools, and for those concerned about their Japanese skills, Japanese language teachers provide instruction from basic levels. Graduates receive an official junior high school diploma.

Classes are held from 5:50 PM to 9:15 PM on weekdays on the 4th floor of the Fukuoka City Education Center in Momochi, Sawara Ward. It’s conveniently located, just a 10-minute walk from the subway and bus terminal.

 Tuition and textbooks are free, and financial assistance, such as travel expenses, may be available for students in need.

Fukuoka Kibou Junior High School is now accepting applications for students who wish to enroll in April next year. Eligible applicants must have been born before April 1, 2010, be registered residents of Fukuoka City, and either did not graduate from junior high school or were unable to fully attend classes due to various reasons.

For more information, please refer to the application guide available on the school’s website by searching for "Fukuoka Kibou Junior High School Student Recruitment." Brochures are also available at city and ward offices, with translations in multiple languages including English.

If you’re interested in applying, please contact the school by January 31 of next year via phone or email. The phone number is 092-400-0751. You can call on weekdays between 2:00 PM and 9:15 PM. The email address is provided on the school’s website so feel free to send questions or inquiries via email in your preferred language, as they offer support in multiple languages, including English.

HP https://sites.google.com/fuku-c.ed.jp/fukuokakibou/admissions/info

【November Holidays】

As we enter November, let’s talk about some holidays dedicated to expressing gratitude. Japan is known for having many special commemorative days, and two of them in November stand out: Good Couple Day and Labor Thanksgiving Day. 

Good Couple Day on November 22 was created from a Japanese wordplay on the numbers (11= “ii,” meaning good, and 22= “fufu,” meaning couple). This day is dedicated to cherishing time together as a couple. It’s a wonderful opportunity to express appreciation and share thoughts that may be hard to say in everyday life. Many people celebrate it not only with their partners but also with their parents, married children, or friends who are couples. The day has become so popular that some couples even choose it as their wedding anniversary. There are also events, such as the “Nice Couple Award,” which is presented to famous couples who stood out that year. 

Labor Thanksgiving Day on November 23 is the last national holiday of the year. As the name suggests, it’s a day to express gratitude to workers. Originally, it was a harvest festival where people thanked the gods for the year’s crops and prayed for a good harvest in the coming year. Today, Labor Thanksgiving Day encourages the appreciation of work and the efforts of others. While there are no specific customs for the day, people often take time to rest, unwind, and share gratitude with family, friends, coworkers, and others who work hard around them. 

Both of these days are also a reminder to show appreciation not only to others but to yourself. Take a moment to recognize your efforts and give yourself some well-deserved praise for all the hard work you do! 

【Oyster Huts】

Next up, I have information on a popular winter tradition in Fukuoka. These are the oyster huts in Itoshima which have opened for the season! Each year around this time, local fishermen set up huts and vinyl houses where visitors can enjoy oysters, often called "the milk of the sea." They are rich in vitamins and minerals, low in calories, and packed with high-quality protein and nutrients that boost immunity, combat fatigue, prevent lifestyle diseases, and are beneficial for skin and hair. 

Itoshima’s oysters are known for being fresh, safe, affordable, large, and delicious, making them a favorite not only among locals but also among visitors from outside the prefecture. They are even available for purchase online, so you can enjoy fresh Itoshima oysters at home.

How do you like your oysters prepared? Raw, grilled, or steamed with just a squeeze of lemon or soy sauce is always a classic choice. They’re also delicious sautéed in butter and garlic or served as an ajillo.

In the past, when I've visited the oyster huts, I often brought a few seasonings with me. Some huts let you bring them. I think my favorite way to eat them was with garlic and butter, but we also found that adding some parmesan cheese on them was pretty good too!

In Japan, fried oysters (kaki-fry) are also very popular, and many restaurants offer this dish during the season. Be sure to try it if you haven’t—it's delicious! Be careful though, they're really hot when they come out and stay hot for a while, so when you bite into them, you might burn your tongue! Oysters add great flavor to soups and hot pots, making them perfect for warming up on chilly days. 

I can't say I often use oysters in my own cooking, I tend to eat them at restaurants during the oyster season as I trust the cooks there to cook them just right and bring out the best of their flavors. 

But, if you have any delicious oyster recipes, please share them with us! I'm always interested in trying new dishes!