Life in Fukuoka "English"

【Direct Grape Sales】

Grapes are in season right around this time of year, and you can enjoy delicious grapes right here in Fukuoka. Did you know that the Kanatake area in Nishi Ward, Fukuoka City, is known for producing tasty grapes? The area, surrounded by nature, has soil that is ideal for grape cultivation, and grapes have been grown there for about 50 years.

This year, the direct sale of those sweet and delicious grapes has begun again. They are available for a limited time during the harvest season, which lasts until mid-September, at "CO_YARD KANATAKE" located within "Kanatake-no-Sato Park." Starting from 9:00 AM every morning, freshly harvested juicy grapes are on display, with a variety of brands available, including Shine Muscat. Sales continue in the afternoon, but they end as soon as the grapes sell out, so it's best to visit early.

So, pick up a couple bunches of grapes and savor their flavor and the nutrients you get from them to help you get throught the late summer heat!

【Cinema Night Fukuoka】

Next up, I want to introduce a movie event to you this week. It's called "Cinema Night Fukuoka." and it is an outdoor movie-watching event held at the resort hotel "The Luigans Spa & Resort" located in Uminonakamichi, Higashi Ward, Fukuoka City.

This popular event allows you to relax and watch movies while spread out on a picnic blanket in front of a giant screen, all while enjoying the night breeze by the beach during the summer.

It takes place every Wednesday and Saturday night until September, and the best part is that entry and movie screenings are completely free! The films shown range from the latest releases to timeless classics, as well as kid-friendly animated movies.

In addition, food trucks are available on-site, so you can enjoy snacks and drinks, including alcohol, while watching the movies.

The event begins with a view of the sunset over the grassy area near the beach, and continues with a leisurely movie under the night sky. If you're lucky, you might even catch some fireworks while you're out there!

If you’re interested, check out the official website for the movie schedule and to make your reservation.

This is the perfect event for a summer night!

【There's an Elephant back at the Zoo!】

Four elephants, the new stars of the zoo, have arrived at Fukuoka City Zoo and Botanical Garden from Myanmar! After a taming period of about three months, they are scheduled to be unveiled to the public around autumn.

The new arrivals include one male and three female Asian elephants. All four are in good health, with no medical issues, and are currently resting comfortably. Visitors to the zoo can check out the latest updates on the elephants through videos and photos.

And, until August 31st, the zoo is accepting name suggestions from the public for the four elephants.

In addition, right now, the popular summer event "Night at the Zoo" is being held every Saturday until September 14th. This event offers visitors a rare chance to observe the behavior of nocturnal animals and you can even watch the animals during feeding time. Don't miss the opportunity to visit Fukuoka City Zoo during this special season!

【Fukuoka City Information】

Eliminating Drunk Driving

If you are a recent resident of Fukuoka you may not know about this incident but for those of you who have been here for awhile....did you know about the drunk driving accident that occurred in Fukuoka City on August 25, 2006?

This year marks 18 years since that drunk driving accident which killed three children on the Umino-nakamichi-ohashi Bridge in the Higashi Ward.

In response to this tragedy, Fukuoka City has undertaken various initiatives to eliminate drunk driving, but it still persists.

However, drunk driving has not disappeared.

Drunk driving is a crime.
You must not drive a car, motorcycle, or bicycle after drinking alcohol.
You must not lend your vehicle to a person who has been drinking alcohol, nor should you encourage or offer alcohol to someone who intends to drive.
You must not get into a car knowing that the driver has been drinking.

Driving under the influence of alcohol lowers your attention and judgment, which can delay your ability to detect danger, lead to excessive speeding, and increase the risk of traffic accidents.

Also, if you see someone driving in the way I'm going to describe, it's possible that person is driving drunk. If you see someone driving like this, please report it to emergency services by calling 110. Signs of a drunk driver include stopping the car well before the stop line when stopping at a stop sign, not starting the car up again when the traffic light turns green, weaving or unsteady driving and repeatedly accelerating or decelerating abruptly. Each and every person needs to take action and say “I will never drink and drive, I won't let others do it and I won't turn a blind eye!”
Let's all work together to eliminate drunk driving!

The Fukuoka Prize

To continue, I have some information about the Fukuoka Prize. Every year, Fukuoka City presents the "Fukuoka Prize" to individuals who have contributed to academic research, arts, and culture in Asia, honoring their achievements. The recipients of the 34th Fukuoka  Prizes are :

Daito Manabe with the Grand Prize, an active figure in the field of media art.

Historian Sunil Amrith receiving the Academic Research Prize.

Artist Kimsooja being awarded the Arts and Culture Prize.

The award ceremony will be held on Thursday, September 26, and public lectures will take place on Friday, September 27, and Saturday, September 28. On Friday, September 27, the Grand Prize winner, Daito Manabe, will give his lecture. The next day, Saturday, September 28, there will be a lecture by the Academic Research Prize winner, Sunil Amrith, at noon, followed by a lecture by the Arts and Culture Prize winner, Kimsooja, in the evening.

All events are free to attend. To register, search for "Fukuoka Asian Culture Prize" or "Fukuoka Prize" and apply through the official website. The registration deadline is Thursday, September 5, for the award ceremony, and two days before each public lecture event.

【ISLA DE SALSA】

This year, we are celebrating the 25th anniversary of the annual outdoor world beat and dance festival, ISLA DE SALSA!  The event will be held on the weekend of August 31 and September 1 at Nokonoshima Camp Village. This festival features Japan’s leading salsa band "Orquesta De La Luz," along with top musicians and dancers from both Japan and abroad. Attendees can dance together to the rhythm, relax on the beach, enjoy BBQ and giant paella, and have fun in so many ways. This event is for everyone, regardless of age or gender, so come and experience salsa in a corner of Fukuoka that will feel like you're in the Caribbean.

【information from the Fukuoka City International Foundation】

August 27 Naraya 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 August, the event will take place on the 27th from 10:30 AM to 11:30 AM. This month's activities include "English Storytelling & Free Space," where parents and children can enjoy picture books, English songs, and hand games. For more information on how to apply and other details, 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.

【Hakata and Tenjin Summer Festivals】

The Hakata Summer Festival and the Tenjin Summer Festival are now being held livening up the summer in Fukuoka even more. 

The Tenjin festival is at Fureai Plaza on the west side of Fukuoka City Hall and will be held every day from tomorrow, Tuesday, August 6th until Sunday, August 18th. The Hakata Festival is being held in the square right in front of JR Hakata Station, again, every day from tomorrow to Thursday, August 22nd.  

There are stalls selling shaved ice, yakisoba, and Hakata gourmet foods, as well as traditional festival games like yo-yo fishing and shooting galleries. There's also a live music stage at each venue.

You'll have a chance to join in the Bon Odori dance performed there, forming a circle around the "yagura" tower and dancing to the music. Even if you've never danced the Bon Odori dance before, you'll no doubt have fun experiencing this uniquely Japanese festival. Be sure to visit and enjoy the treats of summer!

【Fukuoka City Information】

Japanese learning site-Tsunagaru, Hirgaru, Life with Japanese

Today, I'd like to share some information about the Japanese language learning site "Tsunagaru Hirogaru Nihongo de no Kurashi" created by the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science, and Technology. This site is designed for foreigners to learn Japanese on their own, and it aims to help learners acquire the Japanese necessary for communication and daily life.

The site supports 18 languages, including Japanese, English, Chinese, Korean, Nepali, and Vietnamese.

The site offers three levels of study, from Level 1 to Level 3, allowing you to study at your level of proficiency. There is also a Japanese proficiency check to help you determine which level is appropriate for you.  

There are a variety of lessons dealing with everyday situations. For example, you can learn Japanese used for "shopping," "going to the hospital," and "raising children" through videos. You can study the meaning and practice your pronunciation by watching these videos which have subtitles in Japanese, romaji, or a foreign language of your choice. The dialogues for each of the videos are also available to see on the site for easy review. 

As Japanese has many types of written characters, which might seem difficult at first, the site also introduces tips for reading and writing in daily life, such as how to write names and fill out common documents. There are also videos on systems like "tax" and "medical care," as well as informational columns with tips for daily life in Japan, making it a very useful site.

Search for “Tsunahiro”, that's TSUNAHIRO, and start learning Japanese from the scenarios that interest you or are most relevant to you right now. You can also find a link to the site on the Fukuoka City website under "Support for Foreign Residents."

If you want to learn from a teacher, face to face, Fukuoka City does offer many Japanese classes taught by volunteer teachers at community centers and other locations. Information about the levels, participation fees, and contents of each class is available on the "Nihongo Class Map." You can find beginner classes for slow-paced learning, kanji practice classes, classes to learn about Japanese culture, and classes that allow you to enjoy interacting with locals while studying Japanese.

Search for "Fukuoka City Nihongo Class Map" to find nearby Japanese classes.