Life in Fukuoka "English"

➖guest interview ➖

【Joshua Galyean】

from California, living in ItOSHIMA

Photographer (freelance) / Musician (J-Rock)

【[Fukuoka Marathon 2025] Volunteer Recruitment】

The Fukuoka Marathon will once again be held this year on November 9. Runners from Japan and around the world will take on a scenic and dynamic 42.195 km course stretching from Tenjin in Chuo Ward to Itoshima, blending urban energy with natural beauty.

To support this event, the organizers are currently recruiting 3,500 volunteers. The encouragement and support of volunteers are a powerful source of motivation for the approximately 15,000 runners taking part.

Volunteer activities include registration, course setup, baggage check services, aid stations, guidance and direction, and language support for international participants.

Volunteers can choose to participate on one or more days from November 6 to 9.
Individual volunteers must be 15 years or older, excluding junior high school students, and group or organizational participation is also welcome.

To participate, volunteers must be able to read and write in Japanese and attend a mandatory orientation session either online or in person in advance.

Whether you're a returning volunteer or joining for the first time, everyone is welcome to be part of the excitement and help make the event a success.
In addition, volunteers will have a chance to receive a guaranteed race entry spot in the next Fukuoka Marathon through the “Volunteer Entry Program.”

For more details and to apply, please visit the official Fukuoka Marathon website.

【Fukuoka City Information】

Notice from Fukuoka City National Health Insurance

In Japan, all residents are required to enroll in a public health insurance system, so that they can receive medical treatment at a low cost and with peace of mind when they are sick or injured. If you are permitted to stay in Japan for more than three months and are not enrolled in employee health insurance through a company, you are required to join National Health Insurance. You must complete the procedures at the ward office of the area where you live.

If you are enrolled in Fukuoka City National Health Insurance, you are required to pay insurance premiums. These premiums are an important source of funding used to cover medical expenses for everyone.

The premium amount for the period April 2025 to March 2026 was determined based on your income from the previous year, and notification letters were sent in mid-June in blue envelopes to those who need to pay. Please be sure to open the envelope and check the amount listed. Be sure to pay your premiums by the due date.

If you do not pay your insurance premiums, the city may investigate your assets and seize your savings or salary, so please be aware of this.

If there is anything you do not understand, you can get help in 23 languages by phone.
The phone number is (092-753-6113.)
You will first be connected to the interpreting center, and then to your ward office.
Please tell the interpreter your ward and that you are calling about National Health Insurance.

【Food Education Month】

Every year, the month of June is designated as Shokuiku Month, or Food Education Month, and June 19 is Shokuiku Day. A healthy body is built through a balanced diet. So, let’s take this opportunity to review our daily eating habits and aim for better nutrition.

This season also marks the rainy season (tsuyu), when the risk of natural disasters caused by heavy rain increases. During disasters, it may become difficult to obtain food from supermarkets or convenience stores, and water or gas supplies may be cut off. To prepare for such emergencies, it’s important to stockpile food.

In case transportation and lifeline services are disrupted, it may take more than three days for recovery. Therefore, it’s recommended to store at least "three days’ worth of food per family member.

A good strategy is to buy slightly more of your usual food, use items close to their expiration dates first, and replace them as you go. This method is easy to manage and helps keep your stock fresh.

During emergencies, meals often consist mostly of carbohydrates like rice and bread, which can lead to shortages of protein, vitamins, and dietary fiber. We recommend keeping canned fish, meat, or beans, and long-lasting vegetables like carrots and onions in your stockpile.

When choosing emergency food supplies, opt for items that are nutritionally balanced, shelf-stable, and suitable for long-term storage at room temperature.

Let’s all stay prepared with a mindful approach to disaster readiness, and take simple steps we can manage in our daily lives.

【Fukuoka City International Foundation Information】

Parent-Child Interaction Class “Yarana Hiroba

Looking for a fun place to spend time with your child?
The Naraya Community Center in Hakata Ward holds a monthly parent-child interaction class called “Yarana Hiroba”, where parents and children can enjoy time together.

For June, the session will be held on Tuesday, June 24 and goes from 10:30 AM to 11:30 AM.

This month’s theme is “Parent-Child Play.”
You’ll sing songs while holding your baby, read picture books, and enjoy playful interaction with your child. It’s a chance to experience fun and engaging activities in a spacious environment that’s different from home.

For registration details and more information, please check the Fukuoka City International Foundation’s Facebook page.

Schooling and Career Guidance Session 2025 for Children with Foreign Roots

The Fukuoka City International Foundation, in cooperation with NPO Tomoniikiru Machi Fukuoka Association, Fukuoka YWCA, and the Fukuoka International Citizens Association, will host the  Education and Career Consultation Fair 2025 for Children with Foreign Roots.

This session is for families with children from preschool age to high school students who have foreign backgrounds. You can receive advice about education and career options. There will also be a booth for residence status consultations with immigration officers and administrative scriveners.

Participation is free, but advance reservation is required.
Consultation is available in Japanese, English, Chinese, Vietnamese, and Nepali.

This event will be held on Saturday, July 12, from 1:00 PM at the Fukuoka City International Center in Tenyamachi, Hakata Ward.

For reservations and inquiries, please visit the website of NPO Tomoniikiru Machi Fukuoka no Kai in Japanese.

【Fukuoka Civic Orchestra】

Do you enjoy classical music?

This Sunday, June 15th, the Fukuoka Civic Orchestra will hold its regular concert at the ACROS Fukuoka Symphony Hall in Tenjin, Fukuoka City. 

Founded in 1972, the Fukuoka Civic Orchestra is an amateur ensemble that has continued vibrant performance activities with the aim of becoming an "orchestra loved by the citizens." The orchestra consists of around 100 members, mainly working adults, but also includes students, homemakers, and people from various walks of life. They rehearse every Saturday and focus on holding two regular concerts a year, along with other performances throughout the year.

The program for this concert includes:

Spring Song, a symphonic poem by Jean Sibelius

Symphony No. 5 in E-flat major by Jean Sibelius

Selections from A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Op. 61 by Felix Mendelssohn

Before the main performance, there will also be a lobby concert and a pre-talk by the conductor.

The concert takes place on Sunday, June 15th. Doors open at 1:00 PM, and the performance begins at 2:00 PM.

All seats are non-reserved. Tickets are 1,500 yen for general admission, and 500 yen for students from elementary through university level.

We hope you’ll take this opportunity to enjoy a wonderful afternoon of classical music!

【Fukuoka City Information】

About Taxes

If you live in Fukuoka City and earned more than 1 million yen in the previous year from January 1 to December 31, you may be required to pay residential taxes, those are municipal and prefectural taxes. 

A tax payment notice will be sent to you around June 15.
Please make sure to open the envelope, as it contains important information about how much you owe and the payment deadline.

You can pay your taxes at convenience stores, banks, or post offices.
Payment is also possible using a smartphone payment app or credit card.

If you are employed by a company, these taxes may be automatically deducted from your salary.

If you do not pay your taxes, you may face property seizure or experience difficulties when renewing your residence status.

If you are unsure about anything or have trouble paying, please consult your local ward office. You can also get help over the phone in 23 different languages.

The phone number is (092-753-6113). 
This number connects you to an interpretation center, which will then connect you to the appropriate ward office. Please tell the interpreter which language you speak, which ward you live in, and that you are calling about taxes.

【Hakozaki Hydrangea Festival】

As the seasons shift from spring to summer, the rainy season—tsuyu—brings many cloudy and rainy days. In Fukuoka, the tsuyu typically begins in early June and ends in mid-July. One of the joys of this season is appreciating the flowers of the moment,  hydrangeas or ajisai in Japanese.

Hydrangeas begin with pale colors and deepen in hue as they bloom over time. Interestingly, the color of the flowers can also vary depending on the acidity of the soil. With their vibrant shades of white, blue, pink, and purple, hydrangeas brighten streets and gardens, lifting our spirits even during damp, dreary weather.

There are many famous hydrangea spots in Fukuoka City. Close to Tenjin, Maizuru Park is especially recommended for a stroll. You'll see hydrangea if you look for the wooded area behind the Fukuoka Art Museum and near the entrance of the peony and Chinese peony garden.

At the Fukuoka City Botanical Garden, you can admire not only hydrangeas but also a wide variety of plants in the greenhouse, making it a great rainy-day destination.

You can also enjoy hydrangeas on a grand scale at Uminonakamichi Seaside Park in Higashi Ward and Nokonoshima Island Park in Nishi Ward, where wide-open spaces showcase colorful blooms in abundance.

Another highlight is the Hakozaki Shrine Hydrangea Festival, held throughout June. In the shrine’s vast 1,700-tsubo Ajisai Garden, around 3,500 hydrangea plants from 100 varieties bloom beautifully. Don’t miss the hydrangeas displayed in the water basin used for purifying hands and mouth before prayer. They’re one of the festival’s special sights.

Let the beauty of hydrangeas soothe your soul during Japan’s rainy season.

【Fukuoka City information】

Rainy season and heavy rains

 In Japan, June to July is rainy season and is called "tsuyu" in Japanese. It is a period of frequent rainfall and is also a time to be cautious as it is also a season when heavy rain disasters can occur.  

In recent years, Fukuoka Prefecture has experienced significant damage due to record-breaking heavy rainfalls during the rainy season. When it is raining heavily, please avoid going near places that can become dangerous during these rainstorms, such as rivers, coastlines, and mountainsides. It is also important to take action to protect yourself during this time.

One thing you can do is to check hazard maps and disaster prevention information on the Fukuoka City website. It is advisable to familiarize yourself in advance with the risks and evacuation procedures specific to your residential area. For more details, search for "Fukuoka City Multilingual Portal" and refer to the "Disaster" page.

Important information from Fukuoka City is also shared in multiple languages on the official Facebook page "Global Community Fukuoka" and the Fukuoka City International  Foundation Facebook page "Fukuoka City International Center/ Attaka Fukuoka." Follow these pages to stay updated on important information.