Life in Fukuoka "English"

【Bamboo Shoots】

Seasonal foods are something that I really love to take advantage of in my cooking. And, this season, we've got one of my favorites, Takenoko. Takenoko are the little shoots that grow underground beneath the bamboo stalks, and are just called bamboo shoots in English. They're an ingredient best eaten as fresh as possible so you should cook them soon after buying them. Freshly dug bamboo shoots can be eaten raw, but generally you need to boil them after digging them up.

The bamboo shoots sold at the supermarket have already been heat-treated so they're ready to turn into a delicious dish as soon as you're ready to whip something up. They can be used for a whole variety of dishes, like simmered dishes, stir fries and tempura. They've got a nice texture and really absorb the flavors of what you are cooking. The thicker bit at the bottom is harder but if you slice it up into thin strips or chop it up finely, it's great to steam with your rice!

Fukuoka Prefecture actually is the largest producer of bamboo shoots in Japan as well as the largest production area with a long delivery period from December to May. The bamboo shoots from Ouma, Kokuraminami-ku in Kitakyushu City are considered a top-class ingredient, nationwide. You can actually dig up bamboo shoots yourself if you want through some of the bamboo farms in the area. If you want to try those famous Ouma bamboo shoots, check out http://www.ouma-takenoko.jp/ for information on joining a dig. The season runs until April 17^th and digs are on weekends and holidays. I think I might join one myself, because as I said, I love takenoko!

【Legal Consultation and Personal Counseling】

Now, I have some information from the Fukuoka City International Foundation.

The Fukuoka City International Foundation offers free legal consultation and personal counseling for the international residents of Fukuoka City.

Legal consultations are available from 10:30 AM to 1:30 PM on the first Saturday of every month, and from 1:00 PM to 4:00 PM on the third Wednesday of the month. Each session runs for 45 minutes and is completely free. However, you do need to make a reservation to consult with the lawyer. Free English interpretation services are also available so if you will need an interpreter, please mention that when you make your reservation.

Personal counseling services are available every Monday, Tuesday and Thursday with a Japanese clinical psychologist in English or Japanese.

If you choose to use these services, please know that confidentiality is guaranteed.

And to prevent the spread of Covid-19, measures are being taken so please wear a mask and disinfect your hands when you come for a consultation.

【Information on the Mail Magazine】

Now, I want to share a little information about Fukuoka City International Foundation's monthly mail magazine. The magazine, published in English and Japanese, shares news and information about international exchange events and cooperation and is available to everyone!  Just search for FCIF in your web browser and sign up on the Foundation's website to receive that valuable information!

For notices from the Fukuoka City International Foundation, or if you have any questions or need to make a reservation, you can contact them during the week between 9am and 6pm at 092-262-1799. Again, the phone number is 092-262-1799.

【Spring Allergies】

As the season begins to warm up, sugi or Japanese red-cedar pollen becomes a worry for a good number of us. Pollen is tiny and it floats on the air, getting absolutely every where. So what to do? Even if you vacuum or sweep in an attempt at keeping things clean, pollen just gets caught up in the air produced, flying around even more. So, in the house, if you're trying to clean the floor, one thing to do is to use a dust cloth or one of those swiffer type dry sheets to wipe the floor to keep the pollen from flying up. If you wipe the floor regularly and get an air purifier for the house, you'll find that you'll start winning your fight against not only pollen but dust and other bits.

If you're out for a walk, know that pollen will get all over your clothes. So when you get home, take off your coat in the entryway and lightly knock the pollen off of your clothes so that it doesn't get all over the house.

I don't have bad allergies, but I do feel a bit stuffed up as the season comes. I rely heavily on my robot vacuum and wipes to keep things cleaned up, good luck with your battle against pollen this year!

【Get things done earlier when moving house】

I've got some information from Fukuoka City to share with you.

 March and April are busy months for moving house and as a result, the consultation desks at your local ward offices may be quite crowded. So, try to get any paperwork and other things for moving done sooner, rather than later.

If you find that you're too busy on weekdays to submit the notification of your move to the ward office then you'll be glad to know that there are several weekend days when the offices are open for paperwork related to moving in or out of the city.

On Sunday the 27^th of March and Sunday the 3^rd of April, Fukuoka City ward offices and their branches will be temporarily opened from 10am to 2pm to take paperwork in regards to moving in or out of the city.

If you are moving into Fukuoka City from another city, you need to submit the notification of your move to the ward office by the day that you move in. You also need to have the notification of the move out your previous residence with you as proof of a move.

If you are moving from one place to another inside the city you do not need the notification of the move out of your previous residence, you just need to submit notification that you have moved into your new residence within 14 day of moving.

There is now an online service available to make reservations with the ward office to take care of moving procedures. Reservations can be made even with a smartphone but must be made 5 business days before your desired date. You just need to send the date you want to go in, and information about your address change. With this system, the process at the consultation desk will take less time.

One more process that you should remember when moving is making sure you call to have your water turned on or turned off. You will need to have the notification of your move for this. Please call at least 4 days before you move to arrange this. The phone number for that is 092-532-1010. Again, that number is 092-532-1010

【Garbage from moving house】

Also with Spring and the moving season, this time tends to be when we see a lot more oversized garbage and so I've got some information on how to use the Oversized Garbage Disposal Call Center.

The first way to do it is by applying for pickup with the Oversized Garbage Disposal Call Center. First, contact them by phone or by internet, or even through the Official Fukuoka City Line Account, to put in your application and then purchase the appropriate oversized garbage disposal ticket at the convenience store or other shops.

The garbage pickup day will be roughly one week after you apply.

You must put out the garbage by 8:30am on the collection day in the designated spot.

The phone number for the Oversized Garbage Disposal Call Center is 092-731-1153.

Again, that number is 092-731-1153.

If you apply via the internet or Line, you can do so at your convenience, 24 hours a day.

For TV's, refrigerators, freezers, washing machines, clothes dryers and air conditioners, according to the home appliance recycling law, there are specific guidelines for disposal.

You can have the old appliance removed by the firm installing the new one or you can contact the store where you originally bought the appliance. You can also contact the Best Denki or Yamada Denki in your city about disposal. Recycling fees as well as fees for collection and transport will be required.

【White Day】

The 14th of February, as you may know is Valentine’s Day. In Japan, women typically give

chocolate to the guys they love or to people who help them out in daily life. Seems a bit

one-sided, doesn’t it? Fortunately, in March, on White Day which happens to be the 14^th of the month, it’s the guys’ turn to repay the favors they received. Valentine’s Day is more or less a global thing but White Day is still only celebrated in a few countries such as Japan, Korea and China.

It was around the end of Showa 40 or the late 1960’s into the 70’s that the idea of White

Day began to spread and, according to legend as they say, it was due to the sales promotions of one particular, long-established confectionary company.

In fact, this company is located in Fukuoka. The company, Ishimura Manseido, came up with the idea of Marshmallow Day. At first, most people bought confectioneries like white

chocolate, candy and marshmallows to celebrate the day, but nowadays, it’s an 'any kind of

sweets' kind of event.

There are often special sales events held and products  made especially for the day, so go

out and treat yourself!

【Vaccination information】

Now, I have some important information from Fukuoka City to share with you. Fukuoka City has been working toward making sure everyone who hopes to be vaccinated can do so with peace of mind.

In Fukuoka City, inoculations for the third dose of the vaccine have begun. Residents of Fukuoka City, who are over the age of 18 and have received the previous two inoculations will receive the vaccination coupon for the third dose in the mail. If you haven't received that coupon roughly 7 months after your second dose, please phone the call center.

When the inoculation coupon arrives, please visit the reservation site or call the vaccine call center to make a reservation. Please wait until that coupon does arrive.

For questions regarding vaccinations or to make a reservation, you can 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, Nepali, Vietnamese and Korean.

 【Temporary special benefit to help give some support to households】

Due to the prolonged effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, the government has put

together a temporary special benefit to help give some support to households which are

exempt from levy of the resident tax. The support benefit is 100,000 yen per household.

Households where all members are exempted from resident tax and other eligible

households will be sent a letter with the details of the benefits and the request to confirm

other details. You do need to follow a procedure to receive the benefits so please read the

letter, fill in the necessary details and send that information back within three months of the

letter’s date of issue.

If you need any help with these temporary special benefits, please contact the call center where they can help you. The phone number is 0120-018-092. Again, that number is 0120-018-092. Calls will be accepted from 9am to 6pm on weekdays and a number of foreign languages are supported, including English, Spanish, Portuguese and others.

【Useful Info for Your New Life】

Well, whether it's for school or for work, in our lives there are a number of times when we've got to change things up and in Japan, that time is often the first of April when the new work and school year starts. School entrance ceremonies are held, students move to the next grade, people enter new companies or move to new positions or jobs. And during this time, a lot of people also move house.

So it's in February and March that a lot of that preparation happens as people get ready for a new chapter in their lives.

Moving in and out of Fukuoka City

Is there anyone listening today who is planning to move into Fukuoka City, or even out of Fukuoka City?

If you are moving, you need to submit notification of your move. Before moving, head to your local ward office to get the necessary paperwork for that.

You can also get more information about what you need when you are moving from the Official Fukuoka City Line account or from the Fukuoka City International Foundation's website. Take a look if you are planning a move.

I've never moved out of Fukuoka City, so fortunately there wasn't too much paperwork to do. I did have to go to my ward office to let them know that I had moved from one ward to another though, there wasn't too much paperwork involved in that. The other thing that I had to do, that was pretty important, was call the gas, electric and internet companies to let them know that I was moving and would need to stop service at one address and start service at my new address. It wasn't terribly difficult to do, but I do recall having to do it in Japanese and asking the customer service reps to speak slowly and with regular language so that I understood everything. I've never used a moving company, I am blessed to have good friends that have helped me move house, but I heard from a friend who did use a company that you can negotiate prices sometimes with the companies to get a better price. It's better to book earlier rather than later if you know when you need to move as April is a crazy time and you might not be able to get any company to help you.

If you are looking for boxes to pack things up, the supermarkets in the area usually have an area where you can take discarded cardboard boxes for free.

If you are just moving into Fukuoka for the first time, take a look on Fukuoka Now to see if anyone is leaving, You may be able to pick up some good deals on furniture and appliances that people are leaving behind. The secondhand shops and or recycle shops here are also good places to get decent furniture on a budget. Eco-Mall and Book-Off and Second Street are fairly well-known places, but Flea Market ACB and Treasure Factory are also great places to get furniture and appliances. There are also a number of smaller secondhand shops in the area full of good stuff, you've just got to search them up on a map.  I bought a Dyson vacuum just last month at one near Noke, got a folding camping wagon from the Book-Off in Maebaru, a nice side table with drawers two years ago from a Recycle Mart in Arita in Sawara-ku and a TV stand that would probably be 20,000 yen or so new for only 3000 yen from an ACB around Kotabe. If you don't have a car, many of them can arrange delivery for you.

Also, definitely check out past blogs and podcasts of Life in Fukuoka as we've shared lots of information before. And don't worry, we'll continue giving you information here to help make living in Fukuoka easier.

If you go to the Fukuoka City Website, you can also find a Life in Fukuoka digital pamphlet and video for more information on life here. It covers how to live safely and comfortably in Fukuoka City, where to go if you need advice when you have trouble, area information and rules and manners for living here. The website link is in the blog for today's program on Life in Fukuoka's page on the LOVE FM website https://www.city.fukuoka.lg.jp/soki/kokusai/shisei/seikatugaidansu/guidance.html

but if you want to take a look now, just search for Life in Fukuoka Video and Pamphlet and it will come up.

【Shiro-uo Fish】

In Fukuoka, one of the things that says that spring is definitely on its way is fishing for Shiro-uo fish, or Ice Goby in English. This little fish has a transparent body that only gets to about 4 or 5 centimeters long and as its name suggests, is part of the Goby family.  They usually live in shallow waters along the coast and at the beginning of spring, moves up the river for spawning, it lays eggs under the sand.

Now, in Fukuoka Prefecture, the Muromi-gawa River is the only place where ice goby fishing still happens. This seasonal tradition will go until about mid-April. There are restaurants in the area where you can eat ice goby in a variety of dishes such as in clear soups, as tempura or in scrambled eggs, however, among those ways to enjoy the fish is a rather unusual one called Odori Gui or Dance-eating, which is the feeling of eating live sea creatures. You can try this method of consumption by scooping the live fish up with a small net and eating them together with a vinegared soy sauce. In your mouth, you'll feel them squirming and jumping about, a rather novel sensation some might say. It may be a bit grotesque for some, but if you have the courage, go ahead and give it a try. I, personally, have never tried it and probably never will, but to each their own as they say.

【Filing City and Prefectural Taxes】

Well, moving on from that, now I've got some information from Fukuoka City about filing taxes. I'm pretty sure that most of you have received your tax forms for Reiwa 4, they were sent by post from Fukuoka City.

The deadline for filing is Tuesday, March 15^th. The tax department of the ward office will accept your tax return from 9am to 5pm on weekdays, however the counters there may be crowded so please send your tax returns by mail or by internet, or take them to one of the temporary counters that have been set up.

Those who are required to file Fukuoka City taxes include anyone who has lived in Fukuoka City since the first of January 2022 and had income in 2021. Those who submitted a final tax declaration to the tax authorities or those who only received a salaried income whose company filed year end adjustments  do not need to file a tax return.

When filing, you need your My Number card or a document that shows your number and a driver's license, passport or resident card to show proof of identity.

Documents, such as withholding slips that show your income from 2021 and any documents for deductions made during 2021 are also necessary.

For information on temporary tax counters, what documents are needed and anything else about filing your taxes, please visit your local ward offices website. If there is anything that you don't understand, please use the telephone translation hotline to call the ward offices. The hotline supports 18 languages including English , Chinese, Korean, Vietnamese and Nepali. The number is 092-753-6113. Again, the number for that hotline is 092-753-6113.

That phone number is for a interpretation center, so after speaking to a representative you will be connected to your local ward office. Make sure you tell them which ward you live in and that you want help with filing taxes. If you go to your ward office in person, you can also use your phone and this service to help you with interpretation, so don't hesitate to use it!

【Cat Day!】
Finally, a day for my feline friends. Did you know that in Japan, February 22nd is Neko no Hi, or Cat day? It was established in 1987 as a day to appreciate the happiness that comes from living together with cats and the joy they bring to our lives. And every year on Cat Day, there are actually a number of different cat-themed events and campaigns that take place, as well as activities to raise awareness about cats. So, are you wondering why February 22nd was chosen as Cat Day? Well, it comes from the sound that cats are said to make in Japanese which is nyan, nyan, nyan which sounds like ni ni ni or two two two in Japanese. Actually, there are other Cat Days around the world, in many countries in Europe, World Cat Day is on February 17th, in Russia it's March 1st and in the US it's on October 29th. I've got two cats at home, so I guess I'll have to celebrate Cat Day with them on the 22nd. They're pretty full of themselves though, I think they expect to be celebrated everyday!

【Hot Pot Cooking】
Thank you for joining me today! Well, we are already in February which is the coldest month of the year here. And in the cold of winter, a nabe or hot pot is just exceptional. And actually, hot pots are really easy and cheap to put together.
You can pick up a nabe pot for under 500 yen at a 100 yen shop. After that, its up to you what to put in. Meat, fish, vegetables...cut up whatever you'd like, throw it in a soup or broth and boil it up. Easy right?

In Fukuoka City, Motsunabe is a famous hot pot dish. It's made from beef or pork tripe, and rather than going out to a restaurant to eat it, if you get together with family and friends and pool your money together, you can eat this dish without breaking the bank at all! Finally, add some rice or ramen to finish off the soup at the end. It's a delicious and filling way to enjoy every last drop. A hot pot on a cold winter evening is just the thing for a great time at home. In the winter, we do nabe at my house at least once a week. We usually save the leftovers to make zosui, which is like rice porridge, the next morning. I'm a fan of the fire nabe soup which has lots of spices in it but I also like the soup curry base as well!

【Covid Vaccination Information】

Fukuoka City has been working toward making sure everyone who hopes to be vaccinated can do so with peace of mind.

In Fukuoka City, inoculations for the third dose of the vaccine have begun. Residents of Fukuoka City, who are over the age of 18 and have received the previous two inoculations will receive the vaccination coupon for the third dose in the mail. You will receive your coupon roughly 7 months after you were given your second dose of the vaccine.

When the inoculation coupon arrives, please visit the reservation site or call the vaccine call center to make a reservation. Please wait until that coupon does arrive. Vaccinations will be administered either at a clinic in your area or at mass vaccination center.

Please check the Fukuoka City Homepage for the latest vaccination information. This information will be on the homepage in English, Chinese, Korean, Vietnamese, Nepali and simplified Japanese. 　　　

For those who have not yet taken your first or second inoculation but hope to do so, please visit the Fukuoka City homepage or contact the call center for information on where you can get your vaccination done. 

For questions regarding vaccinations or to make a reservation, you can 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, Nepali, Vietnamese 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.

【Professional Baseball Day】
Baseball is a popular sport in Japan and February 5th is the day to commemorate it. That's because it was on this day in 1936 that the Nippon Professional Baseball Organization, as it is currently known, was formed and so this day is essentially the birthday for professional baseball in Japan. At that time, only 7 teams belonged to the organization. The very first contracted player was Osamu Mihara who had contracted with the Tokyo Giants at that time. The starting salary? It was 177 yen. That might not sound like much but at the time, the starting salary for college graduates was about 64 yen, so it was actually a pretty good salary for the time. Here in Fukuoka, our local team is the Fukuoka Softbank Hawks. Last year, they placed 4th in the league but this year there is a new coach. I'm sure he'll do his best to bring the team back to their former glory. It seems like training starts at the beginning of February and the game season will start in late March, so be sure to cheer on and support Fukuoka's very own Softbank Hawks!

【Life-style Related Disease Prevention Month】

February is Life-style related disease prevention month.

These are diseases that develop due to, as you may have guessed, our life-style. Life-style related diseases include diabetes, hypertension and heart attacks and are caused by a lack of regular exercise and by nutritionally imbalanced diets. Smoking, excessive drinking and stress can also cause life-style related diseases.

To maintain a healthy life-style, balanced and appropriately portioned meals, three times a day at regular times, is key.  Constantly eating nutritionally unbalanced foods, like instant meals or greasy foods, can cause obesity and diabetes. They also say that chewing your food properly is important in a healthy diet as it will reduce the burden on your digestive system and strengthen the muscles around the mouth. Taking your time to eat, spending at least 20 minutes enjoying your meal is suggested.

Regular exercise is also important as the loss of muscle mass due to a lack of exercise will affect your basal metabolic rate, which is the number of calories you burn as your body performs basic life-sustaining functions. If this rate decreases, it's more likely you'll gain weight. It also increases your risk of getting diseases such as diabetes. So make time to exercise to maintain your muscle strength and mass. Even if you don't have much time, aim to add on an additional 10 minutes of walking to your day. It will go a long way toward your health.

Sleep is also essential to your health. It plays an important role in our health as it allows us to get rid of mental and physical fatigue and boosts our immunity. And of course, immunity is what helps keep us from getting sick. But to maintain our immunity, it's important that we are getting enough sleep and that our sleep is good quality sleep. The best way to do this is to not use your smartphone before going to bed. You should also avoid watching TV or drinking caffeinated or alcoholic beverages before bed. They will all affect the quality of your sleep. Instead, find another way to relax, perhaps by taking a bath before bed, reading  book or spending some time meditating. It's important to live a stress-free life. Perhaps this is a chance to take a look at your own daily life-style.

【Daikon radish】

Daikon-It's a vegetable that I think everyone has seen and probably eaten here in Japan, and did you know that from December to February, you'll find daikon radishes are at their most delicious. From top to bottom, even their leaves, they are full of nutrients and whether cooked or raw they are very, very good. They are grown all across Japan but it seems here in Fukuoka City they are grown locally in Hara in Sawara-ku, and Kanatake and Kitazaki in Nishi-ku.

When choosing your daikon, first take a look at the root, or main part. It should be heavy, white and feel firm to the touch. If there are still leaves attached, they should be a bright green and not wilting, but if the leaves have already been cut off, the cut area should still look fresh and not all dried out. If you do buy a daikon with its leaves still attached, cut them off when you get home and store them separately. Wrap the daikon up tightly and in the winter, keep it in a cool dark place. In other seasons, it needs to be kept in the vegetable drawer. As for the leaves, blanch them, and split them up into smaller amounts to keep in the freezer as accents for other dishes.

The root of the daikon is full of vitamin C and the digestive enzyme amylase. Grated daikon is great for helping with digestion, in fact! The leaves are full of carotene, calcium and digestive fiber. They're an easy addition to miso soup or stir-fries. I bought a daikon cookbook last year and my favorite recipe from it is mabo daikon. It's a fairly easy dish to make and tastes great. Just search for “mabo daikon” online. As for the leaves, I use them to make “greens and ham”. In the South of the US and many places in Detroit from when I was growing up, collard greens is a soul-food kind of dish and while collard greens are a specific vegetable, you can make similar dishes with the leaves of kabu, or beets in English, and daikon as well. Just look the recipe up, I recommend some corn bread from City Bakery and maybe a little fried chicken with it too.

【Be Careful about the Norovirus】

As you may know, winter is the season when it's very easy to get infectious gastroenteritis and food poisoning due to the Norovirus. It's a strong virus and can be transmitted even with very little contact.

The virus enters your body via the food you eat or from your hands from touching something. It causes vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal pain and fever. You can get the virus through inhalation if someone with the virus in the area has been vomiting or had diarrhea. You can also get it from foods that have been cooked by somebody infected by the virus. It can also be transmitted by eating shellfish, like oysters, that haven't been thoroughly cooked and are carrying the virus.

Severe vomiting and diarrhea can cause dehydration. So if you think you have caught the virus, get checked by a medical professional as soon as possible. You'll recover in a few days but the virus can hang around for a week to a month, even in your stools, and so it is possible to infect others, something we need to be careful about.

We can take measures to prevent the spread of infection, however. Be sure to wash your hands with soap before preparing meals, before eating and after using the toilet. Make sure you wash your utensils and cooking tools thoroughly after each use and disinfect them with bleach or boiling water. Alcohol disinfectants aren't that effective against the Norovirus, but heat is. The Norovirus is killed at temperatures of 85-90 degrees Celsius.

So, make sure that when you cook, things are cooked thoroughly and that you wash any fruits and veggies that you don't cook. And, of course, if you don't feel well, try to stay away doing too much in the kitchen.

【Enjoy Walking the Fukuoka Castle Ruins in English】

Our next bit of information to share with you is a chance to enjoy some history here in the city. Language school volunteers will be holding a Fukuoka Castle Ruin walking tour in English for those who are interested in learning more about it. This event will take place every Saturday in February from 10:30am to 12:30 pm and is only 100 yen to join. Spaces each week are limited to ten people on a first come, first serve basis. Reservations need to be made one week in advance of the date you'd like to join. For more information, please call 092-733-5050. Again, that number is 092-733-5050 for the Fukuoka Convention and Visitors Bureau. Why not rediscover some of Fukuoka's great history with your guide? It's a popular tour so sign up soon!