Life in Fukuoka "English"

【Fish Restaurants】

Although Fukuoka is a big metropolitan city, the sea and mountains are right in our backyard. We're pretty lucky to have them, especially as they provide so many delicious ingredients. Fukuoka is famous nationally for its ramen and udon. You've had some, right?

However, I think even more than those two dishes, Fukuoka City has some amazing fish.

It seems the number of fish restaurants per 100,000 people in Fukuoka City is the highest percentage in the nation.

In Fukuoka, you'll find the Nagahama Fish Market where fish caught locally are sent all across Japan. At this market, there are also some restaurants, including sushi and tempura shops where you can enjoy what we could call “Japanese Cuisine”. If you don't like the raw fish of sashimi dishes, then definitely check out the tempura places. I've mentioned it before, but I love goma saba. If you can still get it, definitely eat it! As for tempura, I have to say one of my favorite fish to have as tempura is Kisu or Japanese Whiting. They're so light and easy to eat, if I were any good at fishing or making tempura, I'd probably stuff myself silly with them. I guess it's a blessing in disguise that I'm not good at either.

【Information from Fukuoka City】

Covid-19 Vaccinations
Alright, moving on to some important information from Fukuoka City.
Fukuoka City has been working toward making sure everyone who hopes to be vaccinated can do so with peace of mind.
In Fukuoka City, inoculations for the third dose of the vaccine have begun. Residents who are over the age of 12 and have received the previous two inoculations will receive the vaccination coupon for the third dose in the mail.
When the inoculation coupon arrives, please visit the reservation site or call the vaccine call center to make a reservation. Please wait until that coupon does arrive.
If you haven't received that coupon roughly 6 months after your second dose, please phone the call center. Vaccinations for children between the ages of 5 and 11 have also begun.
For questions regarding vaccinations or to make a reservation, you can call 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.

Temporary Special Benefits
Due to the prolonged effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, the government has put
together a temporary special benefit to give support to households which are
exempt from levy of the resident tax. The support benefit is 100,000 yen per household.
Eligible households will be sent a letter explaining the benefits and the request to confirm some details. You do need to follow a procedure to receive the benefits so please read the letter, fill in the necessary details and send that information back within three months of the letter’s date of issue.
If you need any help with these temporary special benefits, please contact the call center where they can help you. The phone number is 0120-018-092. Again, that number is 0120-018-092. Calls will be accepted from 9am to 6pm on weekdays and a number of foreign languages are supported, including English, Spanish, Portuguese and others.

【Info from Fukuoka city】

Vaccination information
Well, enough about me, I have some important information from Fukuoka City to share with you now. Fukuoka City has been working toward making sure everyone who hopes to be vaccinated can do so with peace of mind.
In Fukuoka City, inoculations for the third dose of the vaccine have begun. Residents who are over the age of 18 and have received the previous two inoculations will receive the vaccination coupon for the third dose in the mail. If you haven't received that coupon roughly 6 months after your second dose, please phone the call center. Vaccinations for children between the ages of 5 and 11 have also begun. Those inoculation coupons will be sent by post starting in order from children who are 11 years old.
When the inoculation coupon arrives, please visit the reservation site or call the vaccine call center to make a reservation. Please wait until that coupon does arrive.
For questions regarding vaccinations or to make a reservation, you can call 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.

Temporary Special Benefits

Due to the prolonged effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, the government has puttogether a temporary special benefit to give support to households which areexempt from levy of the resident tax. The support benefit is 100,000 yen per household.Eligible households will be sent a letter  explaining the benefits and the request to confirm some details. You do need to follow a procedure to receive the benefits so please read the letter, fill in the necessary details and send that information back within three months of the letter’s date of issue.If you need any help with these temporary special benefits, please contact the call center where they can help you. The phone number is 0120-018-092. Again, that number is 0120-018-092. Calls will be accepted from 9am to 6pm on weekdays and a number of foreign languages are supported, including English, Spanish, Portuguese and others.

【White Day】

The 14th of February, as you may know is Valentine’s Day. In Japan, women typically give

chocolate to the guys they love or to people who help them out in daily life. Seems a bit

one-sided, doesn’t it? Fortunately, in March, on White Day which happens to be the 14^th of the month, it’s the guys’ turn to repay the favors they received. Valentine’s Day is more or less a global thing but White Day is still only celebrated in a few countries such as Japan, Korea and China.

It was around the end of Showa 40 or the late 1960’s into the 70’s that the idea of White

Day began to spread and, according to legend as they say, it was due to the sales promotions of one particular, long-established confectionary company.

In fact, this company is located in Fukuoka. The company, Ishimura Manseido, came up with the idea of Marshmallow Day. At first, most people bought confectioneries like white

chocolate, candy and marshmallows to celebrate the day, but nowadays, it’s an 'any kind of

sweets' kind of event.

There are often special sales events held and products  made especially for the day, so go

out and treat yourself!

【Vaccination information】

Now, I have some important information from Fukuoka City to share with you. Fukuoka City has been working toward making sure everyone who hopes to be vaccinated can do so with peace of mind.

In Fukuoka City, inoculations for the third dose of the vaccine have begun. Residents of Fukuoka City, who are over the age of 18 and have received the previous two inoculations will receive the vaccination coupon for the third dose in the mail. If you haven't received that coupon roughly 7 months after your second dose, please phone the call center.

When the inoculation coupon arrives, please visit the reservation site or call the vaccine call center to make a reservation. Please wait until that coupon does arrive.

For questions regarding vaccinations or to make a reservation, you can call 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, Nepali, Vietnamese and Korean.

 【Temporary special benefit to help give some support to households】

Due to the prolonged effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, the government has put

together a temporary special benefit to help give some support to households which are

exempt from levy of the resident tax. The support benefit is 100,000 yen per household.

Households where all members are exempted from resident tax and other eligible

households will be sent a letter with the details of the benefits and the request to confirm

other details. You do need to follow a procedure to receive the benefits so please read the

letter, fill in the necessary details and send that information back within three months of the

letter’s date of issue.

If you need any help with these temporary special benefits, please contact the call center where they can help you. The phone number is 0120-018-092. Again, that number is 0120-018-092. Calls will be accepted from 9am to 6pm on weekdays and a number of foreign languages are supported, including English, Spanish, Portuguese and others.

【Hot Pot Cooking】
Thank you for joining me today! Well, we are already in February which is the coldest month of the year here. And in the cold of winter, a nabe or hot pot is just exceptional. And actually, hot pots are really easy and cheap to put together.
You can pick up a nabe pot for under 500 yen at a 100 yen shop. After that, its up to you what to put in. Meat, fish, vegetables...cut up whatever you'd like, throw it in a soup or broth and boil it up. Easy right?

In Fukuoka City, Motsunabe is a famous hot pot dish. It's made from beef or pork tripe, and rather than going out to a restaurant to eat it, if you get together with family and friends and pool your money together, you can eat this dish without breaking the bank at all! Finally, add some rice or ramen to finish off the soup at the end. It's a delicious and filling way to enjoy every last drop. A hot pot on a cold winter evening is just the thing for a great time at home. In the winter, we do nabe at my house at least once a week. We usually save the leftovers to make zosui, which is like rice porridge, the next morning. I'm a fan of the fire nabe soup which has lots of spices in it but I also like the soup curry base as well!

【Covid Vaccination Information】

Fukuoka City has been working toward making sure everyone who hopes to be vaccinated can do so with peace of mind.

In Fukuoka City, inoculations for the third dose of the vaccine have begun. Residents of Fukuoka City, who are over the age of 18 and have received the previous two inoculations will receive the vaccination coupon for the third dose in the mail. You will receive your coupon roughly 7 months after you were given your second dose of the vaccine.

When the inoculation coupon arrives, please visit the reservation site or call the vaccine call center to make a reservation. Please wait until that coupon does arrive. Vaccinations will be administered either at a clinic in your area or at mass vaccination center.

Please check the Fukuoka City Homepage for the latest vaccination information. This information will be on the homepage in English, Chinese, Korean, Vietnamese, Nepali and simplified Japanese. 　　　

For those who have not yet taken your first or second inoculation but hope to do so, please visit the Fukuoka City homepage or contact the call center for information on where you can get your vaccination done. 

For questions regarding vaccinations or to make a reservation, you can call 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, Nepali, Vietnamese 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.

【Professional Baseball Day】
Baseball is a popular sport in Japan and February 5th is the day to commemorate it. That's because it was on this day in 1936 that the Nippon Professional Baseball Organization, as it is currently known, was formed and so this day is essentially the birthday for professional baseball in Japan. At that time, only 7 teams belonged to the organization. The very first contracted player was Osamu Mihara who had contracted with the Tokyo Giants at that time. The starting salary? It was 177 yen. That might not sound like much but at the time, the starting salary for college graduates was about 64 yen, so it was actually a pretty good salary for the time. Here in Fukuoka, our local team is the Fukuoka Softbank Hawks. Last year, they placed 4th in the league but this year there is a new coach. I'm sure he'll do his best to bring the team back to their former glory. It seems like training starts at the beginning of February and the game season will start in late March, so be sure to cheer on and support Fukuoka's very own Softbank Hawks!

【Life-style Related Disease Prevention Month】

February is Life-style related disease prevention month.

These are diseases that develop due to, as you may have guessed, our life-style. Life-style related diseases include diabetes, hypertension and heart attacks and are caused by a lack of regular exercise and by nutritionally imbalanced diets. Smoking, excessive drinking and stress can also cause life-style related diseases.

To maintain a healthy life-style, balanced and appropriately portioned meals, three times a day at regular times, is key.  Constantly eating nutritionally unbalanced foods, like instant meals or greasy foods, can cause obesity and diabetes. They also say that chewing your food properly is important in a healthy diet as it will reduce the burden on your digestive system and strengthen the muscles around the mouth. Taking your time to eat, spending at least 20 minutes enjoying your meal is suggested.

Regular exercise is also important as the loss of muscle mass due to a lack of exercise will affect your basal metabolic rate, which is the number of calories you burn as your body performs basic life-sustaining functions. If this rate decreases, it's more likely you'll gain weight. It also increases your risk of getting diseases such as diabetes. So make time to exercise to maintain your muscle strength and mass. Even if you don't have much time, aim to add on an additional 10 minutes of walking to your day. It will go a long way toward your health.

Sleep is also essential to your health. It plays an important role in our health as it allows us to get rid of mental and physical fatigue and boosts our immunity. And of course, immunity is what helps keep us from getting sick. But to maintain our immunity, it's important that we are getting enough sleep and that our sleep is good quality sleep. The best way to do this is to not use your smartphone before going to bed. You should also avoid watching TV or drinking caffeinated or alcoholic beverages before bed. They will all affect the quality of your sleep. Instead, find another way to relax, perhaps by taking a bath before bed, reading  book or spending some time meditating. It's important to live a stress-free life. Perhaps this is a chance to take a look at your own daily life-style.

【Daikon radish】

Daikon-It's a vegetable that I think everyone has seen and probably eaten here in Japan, and did you know that from December to February, you'll find daikon radishes are at their most delicious. From top to bottom, even their leaves, they are full of nutrients and whether cooked or raw they are very, very good. They are grown all across Japan but it seems here in Fukuoka City they are grown locally in Hara in Sawara-ku, and Kanatake and Kitazaki in Nishi-ku.

When choosing your daikon, first take a look at the root, or main part. It should be heavy, white and feel firm to the touch. If there are still leaves attached, they should be a bright green and not wilting, but if the leaves have already been cut off, the cut area should still look fresh and not all dried out. If you do buy a daikon with its leaves still attached, cut them off when you get home and store them separately. Wrap the daikon up tightly and in the winter, keep it in a cool dark place. In other seasons, it needs to be kept in the vegetable drawer. As for the leaves, blanch them, and split them up into smaller amounts to keep in the freezer as accents for other dishes.

The root of the daikon is full of vitamin C and the digestive enzyme amylase. Grated daikon is great for helping with digestion, in fact! The leaves are full of carotene, calcium and digestive fiber. They're an easy addition to miso soup or stir-fries. I bought a daikon cookbook last year and my favorite recipe from it is mabo daikon. It's a fairly easy dish to make and tastes great. Just search for “mabo daikon” online. As for the leaves, I use them to make “greens and ham”. In the South of the US and many places in Detroit from when I was growing up, collard greens is a soul-food kind of dish and while collard greens are a specific vegetable, you can make similar dishes with the leaves of kabu, or beets in English, and daikon as well. Just look the recipe up, I recommend some corn bread from City Bakery and maybe a little fried chicken with it too.

【Be Careful about the Norovirus】

As you may know, winter is the season when it's very easy to get infectious gastroenteritis and food poisoning due to the Norovirus. It's a strong virus and can be transmitted even with very little contact.

The virus enters your body via the food you eat or from your hands from touching something. It causes vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal pain and fever. You can get the virus through inhalation if someone with the virus in the area has been vomiting or had diarrhea. You can also get it from foods that have been cooked by somebody infected by the virus. It can also be transmitted by eating shellfish, like oysters, that haven't been thoroughly cooked and are carrying the virus.

Severe vomiting and diarrhea can cause dehydration. So if you think you have caught the virus, get checked by a medical professional as soon as possible. You'll recover in a few days but the virus can hang around for a week to a month, even in your stools, and so it is possible to infect others, something we need to be careful about.

We can take measures to prevent the spread of infection, however. Be sure to wash your hands with soap before preparing meals, before eating and after using the toilet. Make sure you wash your utensils and cooking tools thoroughly after each use and disinfect them with bleach or boiling water. Alcohol disinfectants aren't that effective against the Norovirus, but heat is. The Norovirus is killed at temperatures of 85-90 degrees Celsius.

So, make sure that when you cook, things are cooked thoroughly and that you wash any fruits and veggies that you don't cook. And, of course, if you don't feel well, try to stay away doing too much in the kitchen.

【Enjoy Walking the Fukuoka Castle Ruins in English】

Our next bit of information to share with you is a chance to enjoy some history here in the city. Language school volunteers will be holding a Fukuoka Castle Ruin walking tour in English for those who are interested in learning more about it. This event will take place every Saturday in February from 10:30am to 12:30 pm and is only 100 yen to join. Spaces each week are limited to ten people on a first come, first serve basis. Reservations need to be made one week in advance of the date you'd like to join. For more information, please call 092-733-5050. Again, that number is 092-733-5050 for the Fukuoka Convention and Visitors Bureau. Why not rediscover some of Fukuoka's great history with your guide? It's a popular tour so sign up soon!

【Toshi-ake Udon-Opening the year with udon】

Have you ever heard of Toshi-ake Udon? I hadn't and so I'll share a little bit about it with you. As you know, on New Year's Eve, people eat toshi-koshi soba, or kind of “year-end” noodles. It's a pretty well known tradition across Japan and I'd guess nearly everyone tries to have soba before the clock strikes midnight. Toshi-ake udon, however, isn't nearly as well known. And, well to be honest, that's understandable as it's a fairly recently created custom. Apparently, it was introduced on New Year's day in 2009 in an attempt to expand the consumption of udon and bring back udon's popularity.
Since long ago in Japan, udon has been considered an auspicious food with it's soft white color. It also signifies a wish for health and longevity as it is a thick, long noodle.
To make toshi-ake udon is a pretty simple process. You only need to top your udon with a red ingredient of sorts and eat it between the 1st and 15th of January. Things like umeboshi, kamaboko or even shrimp tempura are all great ideas and the sky is the limit really, when you think about it.
And although Fukuoka is famous for ramen, historically, this area is said to be where udon was first brought from China, Jotenji-temple is considered its birthplace here, and as such, there are a ton of udon shops in the city. Udon on a cold winter day is just the thing to warm you up, so why not give toshi-ake udon a try? So where to go? Well, you could just pick up a pack from the supermarket and do it at home if you want to keep the price down, but if you feel like getting out, I'd say search for Asian Beat, Fukuoka Udon, to take a look at one article I found with a whole variety of udon shops in the area. The Samurai Udon shop over by Hakata Station looked interesting, but if you want something more traditional, Yataro Udon near Tenjin Minami station also looked good.

【COVID-19 Vaccination Information】

Now, I have some information from Fukuoka City to share with you. Fukuoka City has been working toward making sure everyone who hopes to be vaccinated can do so with peace of mind. In Fukuoka City, inoculations for the third dose of the vaccine have begun. Residents of Fukuoka City, who are over the age of 18 and have received the previous two inoculations will receive the vaccination coupon for the third dose in the mail.

For those who have not yet taken your first or second inoculation but hope to do so, please visit the Fukuoka City homepage or contact the call center for information on where you can get your vaccination done.

For information on vaccinations or for advice or to make a reservation, you can call 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, Nepali, Vietnamese and Korean.

【The Big Clean】
There's only just a bit of 2021 left, how time flies. And in December, in Japan, many people typically do a big, thorough house cleaning. It's called “O-souji” in Japanese.
This is a custom that has been followed for a long time in Japan and the purpose of it is to get rid of the dirt that has accumulated over the year in order to welcome the kamisama or Japanese deities into your home on New Year's Day. The two key points to doing this big clean is preparation and the weather. A clear day with just a bit of a breeze is perfect. A lot of water is used for cleaning so saving your bath water to do it is an eco-friendly way of doing things. Plus, having lukewarm water will save your hands from freezing as you clean, which means you get things done faster!
You'll, of course, need cleaning supplies like rags and a mop, but make sure your cleaning liquids are stocked up as you might think you have enough but end up finding out that you've run out in the middle of the job.
When doing O-souji, the order in which things get cleaned goes from top to bottom, meaning ceiling, then walls and then floor and back to front, so the back of the closet, to the cupboards and under and around the TV, which makes sense and ensures that you don't dirty up a place that you've already cleaned. It sounds like a big job but once you get done, you'll have a clean and tidy house to welcome in the new year. I'm mentally prepping myself to get it done this year. We managed to kind of do it last year but may have got distracted midway through. Good thing my vacuum robot always works so hard for me!

【World Human Rights Day and Human Rights Week】

 Next, I have information from Fukuoka City about human rights. Human rights are the the inalienable rights which everyone is entitled to as a human being from the time they are born.

December 10^th is Human Rights Day and this isn't something just in Japan, it is something that takes place all over the world and is a day to think about Human Rights. And from December 4^th to the 10^th is Human Rights Week, and here in Fukuoka City, a Human Rights Respect Week is held with the goal of creating a comfortable, discrimination free place to live.

In the same way that we recognize ourselves as individual, irreplaceable beings, at the same time, others are also individual, irreplaceable beings. And so this is an important week to recognize that all of us are valuable, precious beings.

In order to realize a society where no one is left behind as laid out by the Sustainable Development Goals for countries, we need to eliminate prejudice and discrimination against women, children, the elderly, foreigners, those with disabilities and all others who may face that negativity. Simply, we need to respect one another's human rights.

So let's keep compassion and a person's irreplaceability in mind as we move through this last month of the year.

【COVID-19 Vaccination Information】

 As you know, Fukuoka City has been working toward making sure everyone who hopes to be vaccinated can do so with peace of mind. In Fukuoka City, anyone over the age of 12 who is registered as living in the city and is eligible for vaccinations will receive COVID-19 vaccination notice in the mail. If you have not yet been inoculated but hope to do so,

please visit the Fukuoka City homepage for information on where you can get your vaccination done.

The vaccine is free. You will be given 2 of the same dose, 3 to 4 weeks apart.

After you receive your vaccination, a sticker will be placed on your vaccination sheet. This shows that you have been vaccinated and which vaccine you have received. This is an important document, so make sure you do not lose it.

For information on vaccinations or to make a reservation, you can call 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, Nepali, Vietnamese and Korean.

【Stove and Heater Safety】

Well, we are very nearly to December now and it really feels like winter is settling in. And so, I have no doubt that your heaters, portable stoves and other warm equipment is out being used. And so today, I want to share with you a few tips on using them safely.

Naturally, make sure that there is nothing flammable around your heating units, things like paper or cloth. When you are using gas or kerosene heaters, make sure you ventilate the room on a regular basis.

Apparently, there have been reports of products in bathrooms and toilets as being the cause of some fires; the warm water wash function on the toilet seat was the reason for one of these fires, so it's important to make sure your appliances are up to date and that there is no dust build up around the plugs as this can be the cause of fires. Just a quick clean with a vacuum hose or dry wipe will take care of that.

With the cold weather, making hotpots at home becomes a more regular thing, especially in my house, but if you are using one of those little table top stoves, make sure you have put the canister in the stove correctly and have moved anything flammable out of the way as accidents have happened. And when you throw the gas canister away, make sure there is no gas left in the can. To be sure of this, take the can outside away from any possible flames, and lay some paper or cloth on the floor. Press the nozzle down on that cloth or paper and let it spray until nothing comes out. Once  that's done, you can put the empty can into the blue Non-burnable Garbage bag.

【World AIDS Day】

Next, I have a few announcements from Fukuoka City.

First is about World Aids Day on December 1st. Every year around the 1st of December, around the world, various events and activities take place, to deepen awareness and understanding of AIDS.

Even after being infected by HIV, definitive symptoms may not appear for a period of time and so it is believed that there are a number of people who have been infected but will not be diagnosed until the onset of AIDS. By detecting HIV infection early and receiving the appropriate health care and treatment, the onset of AIDS can be delayed.

At the health and welfare centers of each ward, HIV screening is offered. This screening is free of charge and anonymous. So, if you think you may be at risk, get checked as soon as possible. Screening is only on certain days so make sure you check which days before you go.

And, I don't know if you know this but the red ribbon is a symbol that shows awareness and solidarity with those affected by AIDS. The red ribbon announces to others that you have no prejudice against people affected by AIDS and gives that message that we will not discriminate against those living with AIDS. So for World AIDS Day, let's all take the time to learn the correct information about AIDS and how to prevent it.

【Illegal dumping of garbage or Fly-tipping】

I hope this doesn't really need to be said, but dumping oversized garbage and household waste in the mountains, forests, by the seaside, by rivers, on the road, or in parks is illegal.

In Fukuoka City, at the end of the year, many people do a big house clean and a lot of garbage is produced. As such, December has been designated as “Illegal Dumping Prevention Reinforcement Month”. Activities will be undertaken to strengthen measures to prevent the illegal dumping of waste.

Fukuoka City has, in cooperation with the police, installed surveillance cameras and warning signs in places where illegal dumping is common and will carry out patrols of those areas. Home appliances like TV's, refrigerators and freezers, washing machines and dryers, air conditioners and the like, are all subject to the Home Appliance Recycling Law and there is a set way to dispose of them. If you are buying replacement appliances, the shop will pick up your old appliance. In Fukuoka City, you can speak with Best Denki or Yamada Denki for help with this.

When disposing of these items, recycling fees or collection and transportation fees are necessary.

Traders who advertise “Free pick-up for items you don't need” are illegal collectors who have not received permission from Fukuoka City. Please do not use these unauthorized collectors as problems such as illegal dumping, high fees and improper processing of waste may occur.

【The Kyushu Sumo Tournament】

Well, it's time of year again...what time of year you say? The time of year in which you may see sumo wrestlers in yukata, around the city. That's right, the Ozumo Kyushu Basho is back. Have you ever seen a sumo match live?

Well, from the 14^th to the 28^th of November, you might have a chance. The Ozumo Kyushu Basho or Kyushu Sumo Tournament will be held during that time at the Fukuoka International Center. It's been two years since the last Kyushu Basho due it being cancelled because of the pandemic.

Many of the Sumo wrestlers you may spot around town are still minor but in the future, many of them will become famous. The sumo whose names are often mentioned on TV and in newspapers don't often appear in public, as they are quite popular.

You can get tickets to see the sumo matches for only 2000 yen for the cheapest seats, but be prepared to line up from first thing in the morning to get those tickets. The best seats in the house, called Tamari, are about 20,000 yen per person. It's a sumo fan's dream to watch a match from a Tamari seat at least once in their life. As it's been two years since the last Kyushu Basho, there is no doubt that this year's event is going to be exhilarating. It's been about 10 years since I last went so I'm definitely thinking about going this year.

【Autumn's National Fire Prevention Campaign】

Now I have some information from Fukuoka City. This year, November 9^th to 15^th is the Autumn National Fire Prevention Campaign week. As we move from Autumn to Winter, the air becomes drier and incidents involving fires increase. In Fukuoka City last year, there were 261 incidents! The main causes of incidents involving fires include cigarettes, gas burners and home heaters.

Some concrete examples of the incidents that might occur are when clothes hanging to dry or curtains are near a gas heater catch fire, or when your futon or blanket is too close to the gas heater and, while you are sleeping, catch fire. It's really dangerous to put things that might be flammable near a gas heater. Also, don't forget to switch off the gas heater when it's not in use.

You've also got to be careful with those little gas burners. When it gets cold, and you want to make a nabe or hot pot at the table, the gas burner often comes out. And when you do use it, make sure you're far enough away from anything flammable, like curtains or blankets.

Finally, be careful of starting fires with cigarettes. This should go without saying but do not smoke while in bed and don't let your cigarette butts just pile up. Make sure you put your cigarette out completely when you are done smoking.

Also, check that the smoke alarm in your house is working and that your fire extinguisher is up to date every now and again. It's important to practice fire safety every day.

【Nice Teeth Day】

One more announcement for you. November 7^th and 8^th are Iina, Iiha day. It's a bit of word play with the sounds of the month and days and basically it means 'ahh, lucky you, nice teeth' day. So what's happening on these days? They are a reminder for everyone to take care of those handy, dandy chompers we have in our mouth that let us bite down on and chew the food we love so easily. Of course, to keep our mouths healthy, it's important to brush our teeth every day to keep our mouths clean. In addition, regular checkups for cleaning, cavities and other oral diseases are something to get done to make sure you can keep your teeth healthy for years to come.

Fukuoka City wants to help its residents out with that with milestone dental examinations. Residents who have celebrated their 35^th, 40^th, 50^th or 60^th birthday between April 1^st to March 31^st of the following year can go for a dental and gum examination for only 700 yen. For residents who have turned 70 during that period, the examination is free. In addition, women who are expecting can receive a free prenatal and postnatal dental exam once during pregnancy and once within one year after childbirth.

You can get advice on how to brush your teeth better and also check if you're missing any spots when you go for your exam. It's important to know if you are missing spots, as you want to keep your teeth as healthy as possible for as long as possible. Take this time to look back on your eating habits and oral care, is there anything else you should be doing?