Life in Fukuoka "English"

【Eye Health Day】

October 10 is "Eye Health Day," a day to prioritize and take care of your eyes. Many people use smartphones, computers, and tablets daily. However, prolonged use of these devices can strain your eyes, potentially leading to a decline in vision, as well as causing other physical problems like stiff shoulders, headaches, and even nausea. In today’s world, where such devices are essential for work and study, it’s important to be aware of our eyes' health even while using these devices.

So, to help protect yourself, when working for long periods:

• Sit up straight and keep at least 30 centimeters of distance between your eyes and the screen.

• Adjust your desk, chair, lighting on the screen or the natural light in your room to suit your needs. Rest your eyes for about 10-15 minutes every hour.

• Blink regularly to keep your eyes moisturized.

• Look into the distance or at nature, such as greenery, when possible.

• When you feel fatigued, warm your eyes with a steamed towel.

• If you wear glasses or contact lenses, get your eyes checked to make sure your prescription is up to date for your eyes.

• Your eyes can also be affected by UV rays, so protect them with sunglasses.

• Finally, proper sleep and a nutritious diet are also essential for eye health.

Let’s make it a habit to protect the health of our eyes on a daily basis!

【 Fukuoka City and Fukuoka City International Foundation Information】

Environmental Festival Fukuoka 2024

First, I want to share some information on the Environmental Festival coming up in a couple of weeks on the 26th and 27th of this month. Environmental Festival Fukuoka 2024 will be held at the Fureai Hiroba on the West Side of Fukuoka City Hall and on the first floor of Solaria Plaza at the Solaria Zephyr space on Saturday the 26th and Sunday the 27th of October. The event will run from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. both days, and admission is completely free.

At the Fureai Hiroba, a variety of food trucks offering delicious and fun meals will gather, including menus featuring eco-friendly ingredients such as keema curry and sweets. Additionally, with the cooperation of Fukuoka's basketball team, the "Rizing Zephyr," you can play a game where you shoot balls representing burnable, non-burnable, and PET bottle trash into the correct goal, learning about waste separation while having fun. The famous "DeLorean" from a certain Hollywood movie will also make an appearance, where you can sit inside for a photo op and there will also be a flea market, no doubt full of treasures to be found.

At Solaria Zephyr, high school and university students will take on quiz challenges aimed at becoming heroes to save the Earth, learning about the environment in a fun way. In the "Fukuoka Waste Art Exhibition," you can express your daily life through art, with stylish and ethical products available for purchase.

There will be plenty of events for both children and adults to enjoy while learning about environmental issues. So, head out to the city on that weekend and explore the eco-friendly practices close to us and have fun at "Environmental Festival Fukuoka 2024"!

October 22ndNaraya 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 October, the class will be held on the 22nd from 10:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.

The theme for October is "Parent-Child First Aid Training." To help you prepare for any emergencies with your child, staff from the Fukuoka City Disaster Prevention Center will teach first aid techniques. For more details on how to apply, please visit The Fukuoka City International Foundation's website or Facebook page.

【The Flavors of Autumn】

Now that summer heat has finally settled down, we can build up our autumn appetites  and enjoy the delicious flavors of autumn. This week, I'll talk about some of this season's best ingredients!

First, we have the classic autumn favorites: sweet potatoes, pumpkins, and chestnuts. Although they are available year-round, they are at their sweetest and most flavorful in the autumn. You can enjoy them in a variety of dishes, such as simmered dishes, tempura, mixed rice, stews, or simply steamed or roasted. You'll want to be sure to try out the seasonal sweets made from these ingredients that are only available this time of year. Just last Monday, I had a chestnut paste filled donut from Mr. Donuts. That was tasty!

We've also got root vegetables, like lotus root and burdock, in season at this time. They are also delicious in simmered dishes, stir-fries, or deep-fried into chips. They pair perfectly with ground meat and other meat-based dishes.

For something a little more indulgent, there are the fragrant and flavorful matsutake mushrooms. Though a luxury ingredient, they are worth enjoying grilled, in mixed rice, or as dobin mushi (steamed in a teapot) — delicacies that are only available in this season.

Moving on to fish, you can't go wrong with sanma (Pacific saury), simply grilled with salt to really enjoy its flavor. Also in season are the fatty mackerel, firm autumn salmon, bonito that is perfect for sashimi or tataki, and versatile red snapper. Be sure to try these seasonal fish while they are at their best. If you have a chance to try sanma sashimi, I recommend it. It is so rich and almost buttery, it just melts in your mouth. It's only during this season, if you can find it.

And of course, we can't get forget the fruits of autumn. Right now, we have pears, grapes, persimmons, and apples. They are great to eat as is, but they also work wonderfully in salads or as jams. I ordered a box of nashi, or asian pears, with Furusato Nozei and have already finished them. I've just received another box from a farm via Mercari, so I'll have pear for a few more weeks. We indulged in some shine muscat last month, they were really good, but something to eat sparingly, as they were quite expensive. Speaking of expensive, I'm hoping to have a few dishes with matsutake mushrooms this season, if I can find a nice course somewhere to enjoy! Are there any autumn dishes you are looking forward to trying?

Autumn is truly full of delicious ingredients! And remember, seasonal foods are packed with nutrients, so be sure to fully enjoy the flavors of autumn!

【Fukuoka City Information】

The Creators 2024

The event "The Creators 2024", will be on again this year. This is an event where you can experience creativity and entertainment with the latest in entertainment elements and technology-driven content.

There's a big change this year though. Before, it was only two days, but this year, the event will be held over two weekends: Saturday and Sunday, October 5th & 6th, and Saturday and Sunday, October 12th & 13th. With four days to explore, you'll have more time to leisurely experience all the various content, which was previously difficult to see in just two days.

During the first weekend, on October 5th (Sat.) and 6th (Sun.), at the Fukuoka City Science Museum,  the popular event called "Playable! Digital Art Exhibition,"  will be held. There,  you can immerse yourself in sound and visuals for a magical experience. You'll also find workshops where you can try programming and crafts, as well as an AI Dance Show featuring a 3D dance generation AI service called "Strongest AI Dancer," developed by creative companies in Fukuoka.

On the second weekend, on October 12th (Sat.) and 13th (Sun.), at the Fureai Hiroba on the west side of Fukuoka City Hall , you can enjoy live performances by creators and artists on a stage enhanced by large-scale lighting and screens. Additionally, there will be eSports battles between professional players and students, immersive experience booths, VR trucks, and more, offering a wide range of exciting content.

Plus, at the first-floor lobby of City Hall a new immersive space, a satellite branch of "Manga Dive" will be set up for you to experience the world of the popular manga "[Oshi no Ko]"  And at the Fukuoka Asian Art Museum, there will be events such as a screening of the popular movie "Summer Wars" and film-making workshops.

Admission is free at all venues, so get out and enjoy these four days of experiencing cutting-edge entertainment, culture, and technology in "Creative Fukuoka!"

【MUSIC CITY TENJIN 2024】

 We’re nearly at the end of September and hopefully you’ve been able to enjoy the music we’ve had all this month. The city has been buzzing with music this entire month. And this weekend, the event MUSIC CITY TENJIN 2024 will be held. Special stages will pop up all over Tenjin, turning the entire Fukuoka-Tenjin area into one big festival venue for Kyushu's largest music live event.

This year marks the 20th anniversary of the festival, with the theme "Connecting Through Music." On Saturday, September 28th, and Sunday, September 29th, more than 30 free live performances will take place at the main venue, Fureai Hiroba Square on the west side of Fukuoka City Hall , as well as at special stages at Solaria Plaza and Fukuoka Mitsukoshi Lion Plaza.

For the impressive artist lineup, check the official MUSIC CITY TENJIN website or social media.

In conjunction with this, another music event, TENJIN SHOWTIME, will also be held. This event will feature around 70 performances by 35 groups at eight locations throughout Tenjin. Music genres will range from classical to rock, jazz, gospel, and pop, offering something for every music lover.

Enjoy Tenjin, filled with music, during this event-filled time of year!

【& SAKE FUKUOKA】

Next, I’d like to let you know about another event happening this weekend. On September 28th and 29th, the large-scale event & SAKE FUKUOKA 2024 will take place at the Fukuoka International Center, bringing together sake breweries from Fukuoka Prefecture and renowned local restaurants.

This event is not just about enjoying food and drinks, but also about experiencing the beauty of connections through sake, food, music, atmosphere, and meeting new people. Items from 43 sake breweries across Fukuoka will be featured, and in addition to the sake, exclusive dishes from hard-to-reserve restaurants will also be available.

Fukuoka Prefecture is one of Japan's premier sake regions, with many breweries utilizing locally grown sake rice such as Yamada Nishiki and Yume Ikkon.

Be sure to visit and indulge in the wonderful sake of Fukuoka!

【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.

【The Day of the Ox in the Midsummer】

In Japan, there is day on which the season changes called "Doyo no Ushi no Hi" , or The Day of the Ox in the Midsummer. On this day, there is a tradition of eating eel. The reason is that during this time, as we transition from the end of the rainy season to the full swing of summer, people feel like they want to shake off the fatigue the rainy season and heat bring and boost their appetite. Eel is supposed to have these benefits, so it's great for helping our bodies get a nutrition and energy boost.
People typically eat eel as "Kabayaki," which is grilled eel with a sauce made from soy sauce and sugar, or "Shirayaki," which is simply grilled over charcoal without any sauce. In addition to eel, foods starting with the letter "u". or rather the Japanese character for "u", are considered lucky to eat on the Day of the Ox. These include "udon" (thick wheat noodles), "umeboshi" (pickled plums), and "uri" which are gourds like cucumber and watermelon.
This year, the Day of the Ox falls on July 24th and August 5th. As we head into the height of summer, let's stay healthy by eating nutritious and delicious foods!

【Fukuoka City Information】

Fukuoka City Official Tourist Guide Site Information

Today, I'd like to give you a little information about the Fukuoka City International Tourist Guide, the global site for sightseeing in Fukuoka. This website shares information about the attractions of Fukuoka, including tourist facilities, events, area sightseeing, and gourmet food, effectively using videos and photos in four languages (English, Korean, Traditional Chinese, and Simplified Chinese) to really show what is so great about this city. You can search by categories such as gourmet, history and culture, nature and outdoor activities, or by specific areas, making it easy to find recommended information about the area you want to visit.
The site is packed with useful information not only for tourists but also for residents of Fukuoka to enjoy and get to know the city better.
Search for "Fukuoka City Official Tourist Guide" online to discover something new about the city!

Fukuoka City Child-Rearing Exchange Salons

To continue, I've got some information from the Fukuoka City International Foundation about a child-rearing exhange salon.
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 monthly parenting exchange salon has begun. Every fourth Tuesday of the month, they hold an infant interaction class there where parents and children can have a great time together.
In July, the event will take place on the 23rd from 10:30 AM to 11:30 AM. The theme for July is "Parent-Child Exercise." A childcare worker will come and lead the parents and children in fun activities like dancing and other physical exercises.
For more information on how to apply and other details, please visit the Fukuoka City International
Foundation's website or Facebook page.

【Fireworks in Higashi Ward】

Golden Week begins this weekend, and many of you may have plans to go out. If you are you looking for something around the city for the first day of Golden Week, then I've got information for you for Saturday the 27th, when the "Fukuoka Higashi Ward Fireworks Festival" will be held.

The location is the sea above Kashiihama in Higashi Ward, Fukuoka City, at the Mishima Green Bay Walk. Starting around 7:30 pm, approximately 7000 fireworks are scheduled to be launched. It's a fireworks festival that can be viewed from 360 degrees, anywhere.

And of course, festival stalls are an important part of these kind of events, aren't they? The stall locations for the festival are divided into three areas, and the ones that are especially recommended are in the "Island City Outer Green Space" area, which is close to the fireworks and has no obstructions, and in the "Kashiihama Central Park" area, which has a free viewing area, toilets, and many stalls. 

Stalls will also be set up near the paid seating area in "Kashiihama North Park," but it's expected to be very crowded. Keep in mind though that the full view of the fireworks cannot be seen from this area due to the highway, so the other two areas are actually recommended.

For access to the venue, "JR Chihaya Station" is the way to go. The route from "JR Kashiihama Station" might be crowded as you get close to "Aeon Mall Kashiihama" area and you might have to make a long detour around it. Therefore, it's recommended to get off at "JR Chihaya Station" and head towards the free viewing areas of "Kashiihama Central Park" and "Island City Outer Green Space." One other thing to remember is that there is no parking available specifically for the event, so public transportation is probably the easiest way to go. 

So, if you are in the city, go and enjoy the first fireworks of the year in Fukuoka and the beginning of Golden Week♪

【Special discount tickets for kids during Golden Week】

 I've got some information for you about children's discount tickets available during the Golden Week period.

First on the list is from "JR Kyushu". From Saturday April 27th to Monday, May 6th,  the "Kids' Adventure Ticket" will be on sale. It's a ticket that allows unlimited rides for one day on JR Kyushu's local and rapid trains for 100 yen. If you purchase a special express ticket in addition to it, you can also use it for the Shinkansen and special express trains. This ticket must be purchased by 11pm the day before you plan to travel. It cannot be bought on the day of use. Sales are available through "JR Kyushu Internet Train Reservation" and at  ticket vending machines for reserved seats at JR Kyushu stations.

Next is for the "Fukuoka City Subway". The subway is also offering a one-day pass called the "Elementary School Student 100 Yen Pass", allowing unlimited rides on all Fukuoka City Subway lines for 100 yen for one day. This can be purchased on the day at each station's ticket counter or at a customer service center.

Finally, the discount for "Nishitetsu Bus". For this, all routes of Nishitetsu's regular buses and express buses are only 50 yen per ride, regardless of the distance. Cash or nimoca can be used, and children should say  "I'm an elementary school student" to the driver when they get off the bus to receive the discounted fare.

All three tickets are aimed at "elementary school students", so it's a great chance for families with young school age children to get out and enjoy your outings in Fukuoka♪

【The Van Gogh Exhibition】
As I guess many of you know, Vincent van Gogh was a famous Dutch Impressionist painter and is now known as "father of modern art”. If you are a fan, or even if you are not, you have no doubt seen his work, including Starry Night and Sunflowers as they are often used or referenced even in modern culture. If you want to know more, or are in fact a fan of Van Gogh, you'll have the chance to immerse yourself in his work at the Digital Fine Art Exhibition and Moving Vincent Van Gogh, which are currently being held at the Fukuoka City Science Museum.

The "Digital Fine Art exhbition" is an exhibition of works using computer graphics technology, such as 3DCG animation and VFX (special effects), on the medium of fine art. It has already established itself as a genre of artistic expression in the United States, France, Australia, and other countries, and is gaining popularity.

This time, approximately 860 works by Van Gogh from around the world, painted during the 37 years of his life, are being visualized by the latest digital technology. This new world of Van Gogh's art, brought to life by digital technology as "paintings in motion," is a world of surprise and discovery. There will also be a planetarium program reproducing the starry skies from his masterpiece in addition to a number of other works. You can see all of this until June 16th at the Fukuoka City Science Museum, so go and enjoy art in a brand new way.

【Words from DJ Colleen on the 'new' life stage】

Well, next week is a new year in a sense! April is when many things start in Japan. In fact, some of our listeners might be stepping into a new environment from next week. Whether it's starting a new job, entering a new school and making new friends, enjoy it to the fullest. The only time you'll have it is now. I'm sure there will be a few bumps in the road, it takes time to adjust sometimes, but remember, these are only temporary and they're learning experiences. You don't have to go out and make a new you as we start this new period in life though. I think sometimes, myself included, we try to make these grand changes and sometimes they fall flat when they don't go as we'd envisioned. So go in as you are and be yourself and have a great every day. 
Let's be HAPPY in April and beyond with this program!

And, please feel free to send me an e-mail with any questions, messages, or requests, if you have the chance!

【International Women's Day】

Have you recently seen any mimosa flowers decorating the city streets? March 8th is "International Women's Day," a commemorative day established by the United Nations to celebrate and protect women's rights and honor the accomplishments they've achieved. It's celebrated worldwide.
Mimosa flowers symbolize International Women's Day. Blooming from February to March, heralding the end of the cold winter and the arrival of spring, in the language of flowers, the mimosa represents "gratitude" and it's also known as the "flower of happiness." The bright yellow vitamin color is cute and charming, making you feel cheerful just by looking at it!
Just like sending carnations on Mother's Day, how about expressing your gratitude on this year's International Women's Day by giving someone dear to you some mimosa flowers?

【Fukuoka City International Foundation Information】

「Let's Build Our Town Together with UN Staff! 」Participants Wanted.
Now, I have some information from the Fukuoka City International Foundation to share with you. The Fukuoka City International Foundation will host a workshop on community building with staff from UN-Habitat Fukuoka Headquarters as instructors and are looking for participants.
The workshop, targeting elementary fourth graders to junior high school third graders, will take place on Saturday, March 23rd, from 10:00 am to 11:30 am at Acros Fukuoka.
UN-Habitat Fukuoka Headquarters, engaged in projects related to "people's dwellings," is the only UN agency in Kyushu.
During the workshop, participants will become residents of Habitat Village and brainstorm reconstruction plans for a village heavily affected by heavy rainfall.
The workshop will be conducted in simple Japanese, so children of foreign nationalities are encouraged to participate. The foundation is looking forward to the participation of everyone interested in the global activities of the United Nations.
To continue, I have some information regarding consultation times at the Fukuoka City Consultation Support Center for Foreign Residents.

Consultation hours at the Fukuoka City Consultation Support Center for Foreign Residents.
The Fukuoka City Consulation Support Center for Foreign residents on the first floor of the Fukuoka City International center in Hakata Ward's Tenyamachi aims to address the questions and concerns of foreign residents. They provide consultations on various aspects of daily life, such as residence procedures, employment, healthcare, welfare, childbirth, childcare, and children's education, and also provide information and guidance to relevant agencies.
From April, general consultations are available from 9:00 AM to 5:30 PM on weekdays, from Monday to Friday. The center offers face-to-face, telephone, and email consultations. For face to face or telephone consultations, interpretation services are available in 22 languages, including English.
The address for the center is 4-1 Tenyamachi, Hakata-ku, Fukuoka City, and the telephone number is 0120-66-1799. You can also use LINE call through the Foundation's offical line account.
For more information, please visit the Fukuoka City International Foundation website.
The service is free, but you do need to make an appointment. To find out how to make an appointment, please visit the Fukuoka City International Foundation's homepage or its Facebook page. The website address is fcif.or.jp. If there is anything that you don't understand or if you still have questions, you can also contact 092-262-1744.