Life in Fukuoka "English"

【Hakata Old Town Festival / Hakata Old Town Light-Up Walk】

Today, I'd like to share some information about an autumn event where you can experience the charm of old Hakata.

Starting this Friday, the 17th, the “Hakata Old Town Festival” will begin. It will be held in the “Hakata Old Town” area, where many temples and old streets remain. Various events will take place in this area full of history and culture until Sunday, November 9. Over the 24-day period, visitors can experience this area in a new way with town walks, kimono dressing, hands-on activities, and delicious food and drink.

Among the highlights is the “Hakata Old Town Light-Up Walk,” which will take place for four days from Friday, October 31 to Monday, November 3. Which has become an iconic autumn event in Hakata, will be held. During this period, temples and shrines that are usually closed at night will be specially opened. Their buildings and gardens will be beautifully lit, and visitors can enjoy illuminated approach paths and atmospheric grounds in a completely different ambiance than during the day. This unique event offers a rare opportunity to view temples and shrines in this special nighttime setting. This year’s lighting theme is “Forest of Light.” The night-time “Hakata Old Town Light-Up Walk” will begin on Friday, October 31 and continue through Monday, November 3, with the light-up period from 5:30 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.

Additionally, during these four days, there will be music events where visitors can enjoy live classical and jazz performances, along with Japanese sake and other drinks, and gourmet food from kitchen cars. At the night markets and local marches, visitors can also enjoy Hakata’s food culture during both the day and evening. For more details, please search the official website.

Be sure to head out and enjoy this unique opportunity to experience the special history and culture of Hakata available only during this event

【Fukuoka City International Foundation Information】

The 23rd Japanese Speech Contest by International Residents

Come and show your support for the International residents giving speeches in Japanese for the 23rd Japanese Speech Contest. This year, on Sunday, October 19th  starting at 1 PM, the Fukuoka City International Foundation will be holding the 23rd Japanese Speech Contest by International Residents. At this contest, international residents and technical interns studying Japanese at schools or classrooms in the Fukuoka area will speak on various topics, such as their experiences living in Fukuoka and their dreams for the future, all in Japanese.

The event will be held at the Science Hall of Fukuoka City Science Museum in Ropponmatsu, Chuo Ward.
Admission is free, and no reservation is required.

Please come and listen to the participants showcase the results of their hard work and language studies!

For inquiries, contact the Japanese Speech Contest Executive Committee at the Fukuoka City International Foundation at （092-262-1744）.

The “Yarana Hiroba” Infant and Toddler Interaction Class

Moms and dads, would you like to come to a place where you and your child can have fun together?

At Naraya Community Center in Hakata Ward, a monthly infant and toddler interaction class,“Yarana Hiroba”, is held for parents and children to enjoy time together.

In October, the session will be held on Tuesday, the 28th, from 10:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.

This month’s activity is a “Eurhythmics Class” (30 minutes) presented by Sanno Kodomo Plaza.

In this class, parents and children will move their whole bodies in rhythm with the music. It’s a special opportunity to enjoy plenty of physical closeness and bonding. Through eurhythmics, you and your child can experience the joy of music and expressing yourselves together.

For more details and information on how to register, please check the Fukuoka City International Foundation Facebook page.

【Sports Day】

Every year, the second Monday of October is Sports Day, a national holiday in Japan.  It's a day on which we should enjoy sports and nurture healthy minds and bodies. 

As the weather becomes more comfortable, sports festivals and athletic events take place all around the country. If you’ve been feeling like you haven’t been active enough lately, this is the perfect chance to get moving!

Naturally, doing exercise is a great boost to your health and helps your body get stronger and fitter, but as you do more and more, you get hungrier and food tastes even more delicious, don't you think?!

What's more, getting proper rest after physical activity helps reset your body's  rhythm, maintain your mental and physical balance and even improve your day to day performance.  

For adults, the ideal amount of physical activity to support good health is said to be at least 60 minutes a day of walking or other similar movement. That’s about 8,000 steps per day if you’re walking.

Now that the weather is getting nicer, it’s a great season to get out and get active. Whether it’s a sport you already enjoy, something new you’ve been wanting to try, or simply adding more movement into your daily life — why not make the most of this season of sports?

【Fukuoka City Information】

The Creators 2025

I want to share some information with you on the event "The Creators 2025", which will be on again this year. This is an event where you can experience creativity and entertainment with the latest in entertainment elements and technology-driven content.

This year, it will be held over two days, Saturday and Sunday, October 11th & 12th at United Labo in Daimyo in Chuo Ward and admission is free!

On stage, you’ll be able to enjoy live performances by popular artists like SIRUP and muque, as well as a collaborative performance by kimono artist Koji Fukumoto and the flower artist collective HANA ART KATAYAMA. 

 Also, the “FUKUOKA CREATORS AWARD,” which honors creators with ties to Fukuoka, is a special program that shines a spotlight on talent in fields such as games, music, anime, manga, video, fashion, and design. Don’t miss the interactive art created by local creators.

There will also be plenty of content that families can enjoy together, including programming and game development workshops for children, DJ experiences, and VR experiences.

For game fans, there will be a demo booth for the popular game “Gran Turismo 7,” VR experiences produced by local game companies, and talk sessions featuring special guests such as company representatives and game creators—lots of game-related content to enjoy!

Additionally, there will be limited-edition bread sold at the venue from “dacō Fukuoka,” another brand by Amam Dacotan. The bread will be offered in a tote bag in collaboration with NEWGRAPHY, an art book fair originating from Fukuoka.

It’s a special two-day event where everyone from children to adults can experience the joy of creation—be sure to come and enjoy it!