Life in Fukuoka "English"

【Cleaning Your Washing Machine】

June is a time in which we not only get a lot of rain but also have a lot of humidity. And it's during this season that mildew and mold grow easily, so it's important to keep food and other ingredients in the fridge to keep them fresh. But there's something else you might want to think about keeping fresh. When was the last time you cleaned out your washing machine? Washing machine? It washes, so it doesn't need to be cleaned is what some might think. But in fact, you should clean out your washing machine at least once a month to help prevent the growth of germs and mold and mildew. The easiest way to clean your washing machine is with some baking soda, it's called “Jyu-Sou, which you can pick up at a 100 yen shop. Put it in the empty machine, run the cycle and when the machine fills up with water, stop it there and let the water and “Jyu-sou” mixture sit for 5-6 hours. Dirt and other bits will float to the top over that time. Scoop all of that out, and then let the machine finish its cycle. Once all the water has drained, leave the lid of the machine up so that the inside can dry out. There are also some special machine cleansing detergents on the market which can also be used to keep your machine shiny and clean, so when you have the chance, give your washing machine a thorough cleaning!

Oh and when you do the laundry, if you live in a place with thin walls, try to avoid doing your wash too late at night as the spin cycle can be pretty noisy for the folks around you.

【Rainy Season and Heavy Rains】

Now for some information from Fukuoka City. As you know, throughout Japan, June and July are the months when we get lots of rain, it is Japan's rainy season. And this year, rainy season started much earlier than usual, in Northern Kyushu, it actually started on May 15^th. And with heavy rains, it's much easier for natural disasters to occur, so please take care during this rainy season.

Last year in July, we had record breaking rainfall and Fukuoka prefecture experienced quite a lot of damage from it. So, when it is raining heavily, please keep yourself safe and stay away from places like rivers, coastlines and mountain overhangs as they can be dangerous.

On the Fukuoka City Official Website, hazard maps and disaster prevention information is available for you to check at any time. So before a disaster happens, take the time to find out what areas around you might be dangerous and how you should evacuate in the case of a disaster.

If evacuation to an evacuation center becomes necessary, make sure that you do wear a mask and wash your hands to help prevent the spread of COVID-19. For more information on all of this and more, please look up “Support for Foreign Residents” and take a look at the disaster prevention information that is available on that Fukuoka City Foreign Resident Support page.

You will also find important information on the Fukuoka City's Official Facebook page “Global Community Fukuoka”, as well as on the Fukuoka City International Foundation's Facebook page “Fukuoka City International Center/ Attaka Fukuoka”, in a number of foreign languages. If you follow these pages, then whenever important information is posted, you'll be sure to get it!

【I-Kasa】

I have another announcement that might come in handy for you this rainy season and that is the umbrella sharing service “I-Kasa” that we have here in Fukuoka City. With your smartphone, you can easily arrange to rent an umbrella when you're stuck outside without one. Pick-up points are at places like subway and train stations as well as at department stores.

It only costs 70 yen to rent an umbrella for 24 hours which is cheaper than buying one of those cheap plastic ones and it's much friendlier to the environment. Definitely take advantage of this service on those days when the rains come without warning.

For more information, just look up I Kasa Fukuoka.