On Aug. 24, City Hall held the first meeting of the Yatai Selection Committee, an independent board charged with selecting new operators of yatai (food stalls), one of Fukuoka’s big attractions. The Committee decided to cease the operation of 28 stalls operated by persons using other people’s permits by the end of the fiscal year and solicit applications for the same number of stalls. The Committee is scheduled to convene three more times to determine the new yatai operators no later than December. Under the Yatai Ordinance that went into effect in 2013, the City determined that the optimal number of stalls is 110~120 (There are currently 111). The law also forbids yatai operators from transferring their permits beyond one generation. The Committee is composed of 13 members, including local residents and yatai operators. Source: TNC
