Life in Fukuoka "English"

【A Japanese film I like】

I'm sure many of you have been staying at home quite a lot more these days under the state of emergency that Japan has declared. Catching up on books, organizing the house or even watching films? I've been doing all of that and am wondering, since you came to Fukuoka, what films have you watched? These days it's definitely a lot easier with so much available online. You can stay at home and pick from a huge selection of films! Have you found a new favorite film recently? I tend to watch a lot of comedy, and I like a bit of suspense and action at times as well. If I'm honest though, I don't actually watch that many Japanese films. I'm more of an anime fan and enjoy watching series...but recently, with the extra free time I've had, I decided to check out the anime film, Paprika. I actually looked up what Japanese movies were considered to be among the best and a few were anime. This particular anime was based on a novel and was directed by the late, great, Satoshi Kon. The movie went by surprisingly fast and I have to say that I thoroughly enjoyed it. In it, a device is created to allow others into someone's dream. A psychiatric institute is using it, but the device is stolen meaning that the criminal can enter anyone's dreams. The main character is a doctor who has an alter ego, a cheerful woman named Paprika. Without giving too much away, the doctor herself, as well as Paprika, go in and out of reality and dreams, to save the world before reality and dreams become completely intertwined.  I don't know if I'd call it my favorite Japanese movie, but I'd certainly watch it again and I might have to look at some of the other movies on the list I found.

【The state of emergency and the 3 C's】

Right now our own reality is a bit strange, I think. Hopefully it will all get back to what we call normal, but it is up to all of us! I mentioned this before in previous weeks, but it's worth repeating as we are still under the state of Emergency that was declared in Fukuoka Prefecture to help prevent the spread of the Coronavirus. The prefecture has asked that people avoid going out unnecessarily until Wednesday, May 6^th.  You aren't banned from doing things that are necessary for your daily life, like going to the hospital or getting groceries, but before you go out, consider where you are going.

There are three things you definitely want to avoid when you go out and those are:

Places with little or no ventilation

Places with many people around

Places where you're talking in close quarters with someone.

 Each and every action will lead to saving lives. Be aware of not only protecting yourself from getting sick but also recognize that there is the danger of transmitting the virus to others nearby and take the appropriate actions to prevent that as well. 

【Friday　Ovation】

There are many people who have been affected by the novel Coronavirus, and it's important to remember that the people who are on the front line working to fight against the virus and bringing in measures to help the rest of us are the doctors and nurses and others in the medical fields. They are there every day, around the clock, trying to treat and prevent the spread of infection but at a great risk to themselves. They are the people supporting our lives.

To show them support, and to show them some thanks for the work they've been doing, every Friday at 12pm, we'd like to ask everyone to give them a huge (!) round of applause. Let's show them how much we really appreciate their work with the Friday Ovation.