Life in Fukuoka "English"

【Watermelons】

For you, what is THE fruit of summer. For a lot of people, I guess it's the watermelon. It has a nutritious punch, it's packed full of potassium, calcium and magnesium and is super hydrating, I mean its name says it all. Really a great fruit for the summer to help prevent heat stroke and dehydration. Some people like to sprinkle a little salt on it which some say makes it as effective as a sports drink. In the south of the US I've heard quite a few people do sprinkle salt on it, but I think it's to make it taste even sweeter. In Kyushu, Kumamoto is the main producer of watermelons and is the number one producer in Japan. Here in Fukuoka we do actually have one place that produces watermelons and it's in the Nishi ward. Those watermelons are called Kitazaki-Suika, Suika being the word for watermelon in Japanese. If you're out shopping and see watermelons in the produce section, why not see where they're from and if you're up for the challenge, compare how they taste? I've got one I picked up from a market in Kumamoto that is waiting for me now!

【Wiping out Drunk Driving】

Now, I have some information from Fukuoka City. Do you know about the drunk driving accident that occurred here in Fukuoka City on August 25, 2006? 15 years ago, this month, on the Uminonakamichi Bridge in Higashi ward, three children were killed when a drunk driver crashed into them.

That accident led Fukuoka City to enact measures to try and wipe out drunk driving once and for all. However, people still drink and drive and in fact, in 2020, there were 31 drunk driving accidents.

Drunk driving IS a crime.

After drinking alcohol you must not drive a car, a motorbike or ride a bicycle.

Lending a car to someone who has been drinking and forcing or even suggesting alcohol to someone who is driving is not okay. If you know that someone has been drinking and plans to drive, do not get in that car.

If you drink and then drive, the possibility of getting involved in an accident is dangerously high. Your judgement and the attention you need for safe driving is reduced. Your ability to recognize high speeds or dangerous situations will be impaired and the time it'll take you hit the brakes will be delayed.

If you see a car doing the following things, it's possible the driver is drunk so please call 110 to make a report.

If a car stops well before the stop line at a traffic light. If the light turns green but the car doesn't seem to be moving. If the car is weaving while driving. If the car keeps speeding up and slowing down.

It is important that each and every one of us remembers “Do not drink and drive, Do not let others drink and drive! “ Let's get rid of drunk driving together.

【Uchiwa】

Well, in this hot, hot weather, I'd be surprised if you said no, but have you ever used an uchiwa? If you're not familiar with the word, in English, it's a hand fan, a flat round kind of fan. The frame is usually made of wood or plastic and it's top part is covered with paper. Apparently, it came over from China in the 6th century.
During the Nara and Heian periods, high ranking people used to use the fan for telling fortunes as well as to block the sun or to hide their faces. From the Edo period, it was used in a variety of ways, to help start fires and to keep bugs away, as ornamental objects and for advertising!
Even now, many companies put their logos on the uchiwa that they pass out. If you get one, don't waste it, use it! It's an eco-friendly way to keep cool and it's great having one on hand.

【Residency Matter and Legal Consultation and Personal Counseling】

Now, I have some information from the Fukuoka City International Foundation. 

 Is there anything you don't understand about residency status and term of stay regulations? If there is, free consultation is available for the foreign residents of Fukuoka at the Fukuoka City International Foundation. Consultations are held every second Sunday afternoon of the month. 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 us at least one week in advance.

I also have information about free legal consultation and personal counseling for foreigners who live in Fukuoka

Legal consultations are available from 10:30 AM to 1:30 PM on the first Saturday of every month, and from 1:00 PM to 4:00 PM on the third Wednesday of the month. Each session is with a lawyer from the Fukuoka Bar Association and runs for 45 minutes. This service is completely free. Free English interpretation services are also available so if you will need an interpreter, please mention that when you make your reservation. Personal counseling services are available every Monday, Tuesday and Thursday with a Japanese clinical psychologist in English or Japanese. If you choose to use these services, please know that confidentiality is guaranteed.

For reservations or more information, please call 092-262-1799. Again that number is 092-262-1799. Calls will be accepted between 8:45 am and 6pm on weekdays.

And to prevent the spread of Covid-19, measures are being taken so please wear a mask and disinfect your hands when you come for a consultation.

【Information on Covid-19 Vaccinations】

This morning we've got a lot of information for you from Fukuoka City. It is about the Covid 19 vaccinations. From the 30^th of June, information about the vaccination program was sent by post to Fukuoka City residents 64 years and younger. In addition to the two inoculation tickets and preliminary exam tickets in the envelope that was sent out, you should have also found a booklet giving instructions in regards to the vaccine and information on the vaccine. There is also a leaflet informing you of when you can reserve your vaccination. If you are a resident of Fukuoka City but have not received that envelope, at the end of this announcement, I will give you the phone number to call so that you can have it sent to you again.

Vaccinations will be administered to anyone, including foreign residents, who are over the age of 12.

You will receive two doses, 3 to 4 weeks apart.

Vaccinations will be administered either at a clinic in your area or at mass vaccination center.

You are able to also get vaccinations at locations outside of your ward of residence.

And, those who are 18 years or older can also get vaccinated at the Chuo Wharf Cruise Center. There is a free shuttle bus that runs between Tenjin and the Chuo Wharf Cruise Center. If regular center hours are difficult, late night vaccinations are also available at the Fukuoka City Hospital between 10pm and 8am. 

Please make sure you reserve a day and time before getting your vaccination.

If you can, make reservations for both your first and second vaccination doses on the special reservation website. If making a reservation online is too difficult, reservations can also be made by phone. In order to make a reservation, you must have the number that is printed on your inoculation ticket.

On the day of your vaccination, make sure you have 1 vaccination ticket and your preliminary exam ticket with you, as well as some kind of ID. The vaccination ticket is a sticker, so bring it as it is, on the sheet that it is attached to. DO NOT remove it from the sheet. You will use one preliminary exam sheet and one vaccination sticker at each appointment. Make sure you read the instruction manual before your appointment and fill in all necessary information in advance.

You will be given the vaccine in an area around your shoulder, so make sure you are wearing clothes that allow you to expose your shoulder area easily. Make sure you come wearing a mask.

The prepared number of vaccines must be used on the day, so unless you are feeling ill, please do not suddenly cancel your appointment.

For information on places that are doing inoculations and for the most up to date information from Fukuoka City, check the Fukuoka City homepage.

For more information about the vaccination program or to arrange for your envelope to be sent again, please 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 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.

【Conserving Water】

We're already heading into August pretty quickly now and it turns out that August is the month in which the most water is used in the year. We're fortunate in that we have water every day without a problem, every time we turn on the tap, water comes out and we can use it without giving it a second thought.

However, for that water to get to us from the source takes the work and dedication of a countless number of people and in fact, there is a limit to the water we have, it's quite a precious natural resource, something that we should all be aware of. So, keeping that in mind, we should try not to use water needlessly and make an effort to conserve water when we can.

You may not have known this, but in Japan, the city that has the least amount of water per person available is actually Fukuoka. And this is why it's important that we keep in mind how important our water is. So, what can we do to save water in our daily lives? Well, it's pretty easy.

First, turn off the water when you're brushing your teeth and use a cup for rinsing. Second, when  you're cooking, instead of running water to rinse vegetable and dishes, have a full basin of water ready for those jobs. Finally, when you're taking a shower or bath, turn off the water when you aren't rinsing yourself and don't overfill the bath.

By doing these simple things, we can conserve more of that precious natural resource, water!

【Consultation With An Administrative Lawyer】

Now, I have some information from Fukuoka City.

Is there anything you don't understand about residency status and term of stay regulations? If there is, free consultation is available for the foreign residents of Fukuoka at the Fukuoka City International Foundation. Consultations are held every second Sunday afternoon of the month. 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 us at least one week in advance.

Confidentiality is guaranteed in all consultations, so please feel at ease to make use of these services.

For more information or for reservations, please check the Fukuoka City International Foundation's homepage or call 092-262-1799. Again, you can call 092-262-1799.

And to prevent the spread of Covid-19, measures are being taken so please wear a mask and disinfect your hands when you come for a consultation.

【Mail Magazine】

Now, I want to share a little information about Fukuoka City International Foundation's monthly mail magazine. The magazine, published in English and Japanese, shares news and information about international exchange events and cooperation and is available to everyone! You can easily sign up for the magazine by visiting the Foundation's website. Just search for FCIF in your web browser.

【Preventing the spread of Covid-19】

As always, we ask that you practice basic infection prevention measures to prevent the spread of Covid-19. Wear a mask, wash your hands, gargle and practice the 3 C's. And this means that you should avoid closed spaces, crowded places and close conversations.

【World Emoji Day】

Did you know that July 17^th is World Emoji Day? If you did, you've got one on me, I had no idea. It was established by Jeremy Burge in 2014. He is the founder of the Emojipedia website. Apparently this date was decided because the emoji pictograms of calendars on smart phones typically show July 17^th. I actually checked.

Emoji actually were born in Japan. NTT Docomo installed them in their i-mode mobile phone service. At that time, some people complained, saying that these pictographs weren't actually proper words or characters, they were just illustrations. However, they soon gained popularity, especially among young people and their usage spread.

It was finally in 2010 that emoji were added to the Universal Coded Character Set or Unicode and from there, the emoji that were originally only used on mobile phones spread to computers and smartphones and now the word Emoji is known and used all over the world.  Which emoji do you use the most? Looking at my phone, it looks like the laughing face with the tears is my most used.

【Watch out for Heatstroke】

Now, I have some information from Fukuoka City. The first is about heatstroke, something that we all need to be careful of as we go through summer. Often when it is hot and we're doing hard exercise or work, our bodies can't regulate its temperature and our water and body salts balance go off and we end up with heatstroke. And some of the symptoms of heatstroke include dizziness, a headache, lightheadedness and a feeling of nausea. If you don't feel better after cooling down and taking in fluids and salt, please call 119 for an ambulance.

It's especially in July, as temperatures reach maximum highs, that the number of emergency heatstroke patients increases rapidly. So in this hot and humid season, take care, as your body has difficulty acclimating. And though many of us have been spending more time indoors to prevent the spread of Covid-19, do not let your guard down as heatstroke can occur indoors as easily as outdoors. In addition, wearing a mask in the summer increases the risk of heatstroke and so you must take caution.

So, here are some pointers to help prevent heatstroke. First, make sure you keep yourself hydrated. For everyday hydration, water or mugi cha tea is fine. If you are doing sports or hard work then you might want to have a sports drink. If you are sweating, make sure you are replacing the fluids and salt that your body is losing.

Also, wear a hat or carry a parasol when you are out to help block the sun. And try to use your fan or air conditioner as efficiently as possible so that the room temperature does not go above 28 degrees.

 There are lots of cooling pads and ice pillows out on the market these days, picking up one of those might help keep you cool. And finally, make sure you eat a balanced diet everyday and get plenty of sleep to keep yourself feeling good.

【Preventing the spread of Covid-19】

As always, we ask that you practice basic infection prevention measures to prevent the spread of Covid-19. Wear a mask, wash your hands, gargle and practice the 3 C's. This means that you should avoid closed spaces, crowded places and close conversations.

【Cucumbers】

So, this week, our first topic is cucumbers. Ah, the humble cucumber, available at any time of the year for our dining pleasure. Did you know that it is actually more than 95% water? And, it's full of potassium which is supposed to have a diuretic effect and is good for helping hangovers as well as reduce swelling in the limbs. Basically, it's a great summer food, if you think about it! In Fukuoka Prefecture, cucumbers are pretty intensively cultivated and shipped out all year round. Actually, Hakata Port has been a trading port with the continent for a long time and so it seems that cultivation in Japan started quite early on.

When storing cucumbers at home, rinse them off and keep them in a plastic bag in the vegetable drawer to keep them from drying out. Apparently, storing them at 10-15 degrees is optimum. If they get too cold, they go bitter and lose their vitamin C.

And here's a little Fukuoka trivia for you, if you didn't know. During the Hakata Gion Yamakasa, THE event in Fukuoka City, from the first of July to the 15^th of July, participants are not allowed to eat cucumbers. This is because when a cucumber is sliced into rounds, it looks like the mark of the god of Yamakasa. What's your favorite cucumber recipe? I quite like them just with a bit of salt and pepper but they're good with wakame and sumiso as well!

【Covid-19 Vaccination Information】

Now, I have some important information from Fukuoka City and this is about the Covid-19 vaccination notice you should be receiving by post soon. It'll come in an envelope from Fukuoka City, so make sure you open them and check what's inside. In addition to the two inoculation tickets and preliminary exam tickets, you'll also find a booklet giving instructions in regards to the vaccine and information on the vaccine. You'll also find a leaflet informing you of when you can go for your vaccination.

Vaccinations are available to anyone over the age of 16. You will receive two doses, 3 weeks apart. Vaccinations will be administered either at a clinic in your area or at mass vaccination center. The number of places to get vaccinated are likely to increase.

The day when you can begin to receive your vaccinations will vary depending on if you have an underlying illness or not, and your age. Please make sure you take a look at the notice that tells you when you can go for your vaccinations. It will be in that envelope you receive. And definitely, make a reservation before you go in, once the date comes on which you can begin to get vaccinations. If you can, try to make reservations for both your first and second vaccination doses on the special reservation website. If making a reservation online is too difficult, please call for consultation. And in order to make a reservation, you must have the number that is printed on your inoculation ticket.

On the day of your vaccination, make sure you have 1 vaccination ticket and your preliminary exam ticket with you, as well as some kind of ID. The vaccination ticket is a sticker, so bring it as it is, on the sheet that it is attached to. DO NOT remove it from the sheet. You will use one ticket each for your preliminary exam and vaccination. Make sure you read the instruction manual before your appointment and fill in all necessary information in advance.

You will be given the vaccine in an area around your shoulder, so make sure you are wearing clothes that allow you to expose your shoulder area easily. Make sure you come wearing a mask.

The prepared number of vaccines must be used on the day, so unless you are feeling ill, please do not suddenly cancel your appointment.

For information on places that are doing inoculations and for the most up to date information from Fukuoka City, check the Fukuoka City homepage.

If there is anything that you don't understand or if you can't make a reservation on the website, please call for consultation. The phone number for that is 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 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.

【Hydrangea】

The flower of the rainy season is the hydrangea. I'm sure you've seen these beautiful flowers already around the city. They are of course beautiful on clear days but somehow under the rain they are even more gorgeous. Gaku hydrangea are a type that originated in Japan, were imported to the West where they underwent breeding techniques and were reimported back to Japan as Western Hydrangea. Recently, both Western Hydrangea and Gaku Hydrangea come in a wide variety of shapes and colors.

Growing hydrangea is actually fairly easy but there is a little trick in pruning to make sure the flowers bloom the next year. And once they're planted, it is a long-lived plant that you can enjoy for many years. The flowers also increase year by year so as time passes you'll have more and more bountiful blooms. Here in Fukuoka City, you can easily see hydrangea in places like Uminonakamichi Seaside Park, Hakozaki Shrine, Maizuru Park and the Fukuoka City Botanical Garden. I saw a bunch over by the castle ruins, quite a few people were out taking pictures of and with them. So get out there and enjoy this Hydrangea season!

【Introducing the Tutor Program】

Now I have some information from Fukuoka City about the Tutor Program. This will be useful for those of you who are struggling with letters from school and other places because you can't understand what is written in Japanese. The “Tutor Program” is a one on one service that will match you with a tutor that you can contact online. The tutors are registered with the Fukuoka City International Foundation. You'll be able to ask this tutor to give you simple translations of letters from school or other documents from places like the ward office. You can also ask them for advice on daily living.

If you are a foreign resident of Fukuoka City and think you will be able to communicate with a tutor online, then you are eligible for the program. The program will usually cost 500 yen per month but until November of this year, it is free! To learn more about the program, please visit the Fukuoka City International Foundation's website or call the Foundation. The number to call is 092-262-1799. Again that number is 092-262-1799. Phone calls will be accepted from 8:45am to 6pm on weekdays. Definitely check it out!

【Personal counseling】

Next up is an announcement about free legal consultation and personal counseling for foreigners who live in Fukuoka. .

Legal consultations are available from 10:30 AM to 1:30 PM on the first Saturday of every month, and from 1:00 PM to 4:00 PM on the third Wednesday of the month. Each session runs for 45 minutes and the service is completely free. Free English interpretation services are also available so if you will need an interpreter, please mention that when you make your reservation. Personal counseling services are available every Monday, Tuesday and Thursday with a Japanese clinical psychologist in English or Japanese. If you choose to use these services, please know that confidentiality is guaranteed.

For reservations or more information, please call 092-262-1799. Again that number is 092-262-1799. Calls will be accepted between 8:45 am and 6pm on weekdays.

【FM Day】

Did you know that June 13^th is FM Day? It comes from F being the 6^th letter and M being the 13^th letter of the alphabet. A pretty simple combination but who came up with it, when and why are all questions that have no answers, it seems. I'm sure there are folks out there that listen to the radio, even while at work, these days we can listen to the radio anywhere thanks to smartphones and PCs. Have you ever wondered why there are FM and AM channels? I know as a kid, my understanding of FM and AM was that FM seemed to have more music and AM seemed to be talk radio, at least when my mom was in the car listening to it. Actually, FM Means Frequency Modulation and AM is Amplitude Modulation. The biggest difference between them is noise. In the case of AM, the amplitude, or overall strength, of the signal is varied to incorporate the sound information so if noise enters at a time when the amplitude is low, you get static. With FM, you don't get that problem. So it terms of audibility, FM is better. However, FM can only be received on a narrow range of frequencies but AM can be heard over a larger range. Regardless, being able to listen to different stations, music and talk, on the radio, is a great thing. One of my favorite stations in Detroit is 94.7 WCSX. They play a lot of classic rock, think of music like Queen, Aerosmith, Jimi Hendrix etc. It was my go to station whenever I was in my car. Nothing better than singing along to the radio with the windows down on a beautiful summer day while cruising with your friends!

【Status Report on the Child Allowance】

Families raising children can receive a support allowance up until each child finishes junior highschool. The amount per child varies from 5000 yen to 15,000 yen depending on the age of the child and the household income. The allowance is paid three times in four month installments, once in June, then October and again in February. In order to receive this child allowance, you must submit a yearly status report. In the first half of June, Fukuoka City sent the documents necessary to make the report to allowance recipients. Please fill the necessary information in and make sure to post the report so that it will arrive by June 30^th. You can do this report online as well, using your My Number card.  Please be aware that you will not receive a payment if you do not submit the report or if there are any sections left incomplete. 

 【Taxes】

If you live in Fukuoka City, and have earned more than 1 million yen the previous year, from January 1^st to December 31^st, you may need to pay taxes. If you are a regular company employee, taxes are deducted from your salary. However, if you aren't a regular company employee, you will receive a tax payment notification around the 15^th of June. Please make sure you open that envelope, it has information on when you need to pay and how much will be due. You can pay at convenience stores, the bank or even the post office. If you do not pay your taxes, you may risk facing difficulty when it comes time to renew your residence status or risk being subject to seizure of property.

If there is anything you don't understand, or if you may have difficulty making payments, please check with your local ward office. You can also consult by phone in 18 different languages. This phone number is 092-753-6113.  Again, this phone number is 092-753-6113. This phone number will connect you to the ward office after you speak with an interpreter. Please tell the interpreter which ward you live in and that you are calling about taxes.