Life in Fukuoka "English"

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【Mushrooms】

So without further ado, let's get to our first topic today, mushrooms!

So many foods come into season in the autumn, but the ones that should come straight to mind are mushrooms. Although they might not seem all that luxurious compared to meat or fish, in fact, they are a pretty amazing food.

Shiitake, shimeji, maitake, eringi, enoki...there are so many varieties of mushrooms that the list goes on. And among them is Matsutake, the king of autumn flavor, or so they say. It's a flavorful, fragrant mushroom and is often sold at premium prices as a luxury ingredient.

Although many in Japan love the matsutake, it does have a rather unique aroma that might be off-putting to some.

Across the board, mushrooms are typically low in calories but high in fiber and vitamin D.  If you're on a diet or if you need a little help with keeping your digestive system moving, then you'll definitely want to add mushrooms to the menu.

And although mushrooms often get lumped with vegetables, they're actually fungi with over 10,000 species in nature. I am a huge mushroom fan, possibly Hobbit level for those of you who know. I'm not sure I have a favorite though, each kind is unique and delicious and has its place in recipes. Take portobello, they're huge and chunky and great as burgers or topped with cheese. Enoki wrapped in pork belly and grilled, button mushrooms raw on salad, eringi battered and fried, shiitake in a nice hot pot. I love them all!

【Tuberculosis Prevention Week】

Now, I have some information from Fukuoka City to share.

The week of September 24^th to the 30^th is Tuberculosis Prevention Week.Tuberculosis is a disease that causes inflammation of the lungs mainly by Mycobacterium tuberculosis. It is an infectious disease that is transmitted person to person.

In 2020, 149 people in Fukuoka City were diagnosed with tuberculosis.

Symptoms of tuberculosis include coughing, phlegm, fever, bloody phlegm, chest pain, lethargy, night sweats and/or weight loss. In the beginning, it does resemble the common cold.

If you've noticed that you've had a cough for over two weeks, have had a lot of phlegm, you've felt lethargic or you've suddenly lost weight, please see a medical professional for an exam as soon as possible. The earlier it is detected, the earlier it can be treated preventing it from becoming a serious illness.  It is important to prevent spreading illness to family, friends and those at the workplace who are important to us.

Even if you are infected, tuberculosis does not always develop, however if your body cannot fight the tubercle bacillus, over time, an infection may develop.

If you are diagnosed with tuberculosis, you can fight it off by taking the proper medicine every day according to your doctor's orders.

And, to prevent the spread or start of infections, make sure you get plenty of sleep, eat a good, balanced diet and get enough exercise. Making an effort every day to live healthily is the most effective prevention.

In Fukuoka City, there is the Fukuoka City Medical Interpreting Call Center service available if you do need to find a hospital or need some advice. It is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. The phone number for that service is 092-733-5429. Again, that number is 092-733-5429. Interpretation is available in 20 different languages.

【Protecting Animals】

This week, our topic is focused on being kind to animals. In fact, there is a Be Kind to Animals week from the 20^th to the 26^th of September. The week was created with the idea to deepen people's understanding and interest in animal welfare and proper breeding. It's also a great opportunity to think about how to protect animals. Take for example if you have a dog or a cat. You should consider how you would need to protect your pet in the case of a natural disaster such as an earthquake or heavy rain and perhaps even practice what you would do.

If you are thinking about getting a pet someday, checking animal protection group websites is a good way to get the information you need.

In Fukuoka City, the Eastern Animal Protection Management Center, also known as Animal Port, and the Home Animal Enlightenment Center, more commonly known as the Fukuoka-do-butsu-soudanshitsu, are two facilities to check. They work to protect and manage animals in the hopes of creating a symbiotic society in which humans and animals are in harmony.

I've got two cats at home and have worked to find homes for other rescued cats. Personally, I recommend adopting rescue pets if you can. There are many animals out there looking for caring homes. If you are new to having a pet, some of it is trial and error but if you listen to your pet and pay attention, I think you'll do just fine. I love having cats, they have such unique personalities and quirks and bring a lot of joy to my house.

【Introducing the Tutor Program】

Now I have some information from Fukuoka City International Center 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. 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!

【The Japanese Chatting Salon】

 I've also got information for any international students who are studying in Fukuoka. Do you about the monthly Japanese Chatting Salon? Using Zoom, international students and Japanese volunteers meet one on one or in small groups to talk about topics that interest them. If you are looking for a chance to use daily Japanese as well as practice the Japanese you've learned in class, or just want to chat with a native Japanese speaker, then definitely join in! The sessions are free and the next session will be held online on September 30^th.

To learn more about the programs mentioned today or to make a reservation, 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!

【COVID-19 Vaccination information】

Now, I have some important information from Fukuoka City to share with you. I hope you have all received your vaccination notices from the city. In Fukuoka City, anyone over the age of 12 who is registered as living in the city should have received a COVID-19 vaccination notice in the mail. When you receive it, make sure that you have received both the vaccination tickets and the preliminary health check documents. If you have not yet received your notice, I will give you the phone number you should call a little later. Also, if the address you are at now is different from the address you registered with the city, make sure you go to your ward office to change that.

Once you have received your notice and made a reservation, you will be able to receive your vaccinations. You will receive 2 doses, 3 to 4 weeks apart. You can receive vaccinations at clinics in the area, at the mass vaccination centers in each ward or at the Chuo Wharf Cruise Center. If you choose to go to the Chuo Wharf Cruise Center, there is a free shuttle bus from Tenjin. There are also late night vaccinations available from 10pm to 8 am at the Fukuoka City Hospital.

If you are planning to get vaccinated, make sure you make your reservation in advance.

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 sheet 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.