Life in Fukuoka "English"

【The New Year and Fukuoka's Unique Tradition-Hatsumode, the First Shrine visit to 3 Shrines】

So, how are you spending the new year? Yesterday was the 1^st of January and I guess a lot of people were at home with their families eating new year's dishes and hanging out. Did anyone climb a mountain to see the first sunrise? I just relaxed with my cats. I'll try to get out for some of the new year bargains but I'll wait until the crowds are gone. I know I'll probably miss out on the best deals, but I don't mind.

Speaking of the new year in Japan, there is a tradition called Hatsumode. Hatsumode is making a shrine visit at the very beginning of the year to pray that your year will be a full and happy year. It's a custom that has carried on from a long time ago.

In Fukuoka, the custom of hatsumode means to do sansha-mairi or three shrine visits in the new year.

If you plan on doing the three visits, you can visit your favorite shrine, or even one near your house, everyone has their own custom, but if you are planning on doing shrine visits in the Fukuoka city area, in Tenjin or Hakata, you could visit Kushida, Sumiyoshi and Kego shrines. Do you think you'll do Sansha-mairi this year? I usually do three shrines, Kego is almost always on the list, and I sometimes do Hakozaki and Atago, if I have time. There are a few shrines near my house, so it isn't too hard to get all three in!

【Information from Fukuoka City】

Information about Covid Vaccinations

Now, I have some information for you from Fukuoka City about Covid-19 vaccinations.

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

In Fukuoka City, vaccination tickets for the Omicron variant for those who will receive their third, fourth or fifth doses of the vaccine are being sent out. The vaccination for the omicron variant will be limited to one time per person. Vaccination vouchers are being sent out to those were vaccinated at least three months before.

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.

If you haven't received that coupon, please phone the call center to have it issued again.

People who have recently relocated to Fukuoka City from overseas and who hope to get vaccinated need to fill out an application to receive the inoculation tickets.

For questions regarding vaccinations, to make a reservation or to apply for the inoculation ticket, 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 and Korean.

The Fukuoka Prize Presentation  Ceremony

Fukuoka City honors those who have contributed to academic research, art, and culture in Asia by presenting the "Fukuoka Prize. This year's award ceremony, the 32nd, was held on December 22nd .This year's awardees were taiko drummer HAYASHI Eitetsu, art historian TIMON SCREECH, and Artist Shahzia SIKANDER. The award ceremony, held with great fanfare, will soon be available to watch on YouTube. If you are interested, just check the Fukuoka Prize website for the link to that video.If you are interested, just check the Fukuoka Prize website for the video link. That website is https://fukuoka-prize.org.

Fukuoka Prize: Invitation to an event with a past Fukuoka Prize winner

If the Fukuoka Prize winners are people that interest you, then you'll be interested to hear that the 17th Academic Research Award winner, historian Dr. Takeshi Hamashita, has been invited to give a lecture on Saturday, February 4, 2023. His lecture is titled "Considering Asia from the Sea" and will be held at Nishijin Plaza in Sawara-ku, Fukuoka City. For details, please see News & Topics on the Fukuoka Prize website.

We are currently accepting applications for participants, so if you are interested, please join us!

https://fukuoka-prize.org/topics/detail/54259378-4e74-4815-bae8-0aba3f08251f