Life in Fukuoka "English"

【Hojoya】

One of the highlights of autumn in Fukuoka is Hojoya, one of Hakata’s three major festivals, alongside the Hakata Dontaku festival in spring and the Hakata Gion Yamakasa festival in summer.

Hojoya is held every year from September 12th to 18th at Hakozakigu Shrine in Higashi Ward, Fukuoka City. Around one million people visit during the festival period, and this year it begins this Saturday.

With a history of more than 1,000 years, the festival originally involved releasing fish and birds back into nature as a way of showing respect for life. Today, it is also celebrated as one of Fukuoka’s major autumn festivals, with people praying for a good harvest, prosperity in business, and safety and happiness for their families.

Around 500 stalls line the one-kilometre approach to the shrine. Visitors can enjoy all kinds of festival food, as well as traditional games such as goldfish scooping, water-balloon fishing, and shooting galleries. There is even a retro Showa-era haunted house.

Another familiar sight along the approach is bunches of fresh ginger with the leaves still attached, one of Hojoya’s best-known specialties. In the past, ginger fields spread throughout the area around Hakozakigu Shrine, and visitors would take fresh ginger home as a souvenir after visiting the shrine. That tradition continues to this day.

With plenty to enjoy from morning until night, Hojoya is a wonderful way to give thanks for this season's harvest while experiencing one of Fukuoka’s most distinctive autumn traditions.

【Fukuoka City Information】

Disaster Preparedness Day and Emergency Stockpiling Week

Every year, September 1st is Disaster Preparedness Day in Japan. In Fukuoka City, the week from September 1st through September 7th has been designated Fukuoka City Emergency Stockpiling Week.

“Stockpiling” means keeping food and other essential supplies on hand in case of an emergency. Fukuoka City is encouraging both households and businesses to prepare supplies and to think more carefully about disaster preparedness.

So why is stockpiling so important?

Well, even if you survive an earthquake or typhoon, you still need water and food to stay safe and healthy. If stores are closed, you may not be able to buy food or drinks. If the water supply is cut off, you may not have drinking water, and if electricity or gas is unavailable, you may not be able to cook. Having emergency supplies ready in advance can help you stay safe after a disaster.

So, what should you prepare?

Make sure you have at least three days’ worth of drinking water and food. As a general guide, each person needs around three litres of water per day. For emergency food, prepare items that can be eaten without cooking, such as ready-to-eat rice, including alpha rice, canned food, biscuits, chocolate, and emergency crackers.

Check that your radio and flashlight have working batteries. You should also prepare any medicine you regularly take, as well as first-aid supplies such as bandages. If there is a baby in your family, make sure you have essentials such as diapers.

In addition to drinking water, you will also need water for everyday use, such as flushing the toilet. It is a good idea to keep water stored in containers or to leave some water in the bathtub so that it can be used in an emergency.

Another recommended method is called rolling stock. This means buying a little more of the food you normally eat, using the oldest items first before they expire, and then replacing what you have used. It is an easy and practical way to keep emergency supplies on hand without adding much extra cost or effort to your regular shopping.

Typhoons are common around this time of year, and with the recent major earthquake in Kumamoto, this is a good opportunity to check your emergency supplies and make sure you are prepared for a disaster.