Welcome to Fukuoka Now
Fukuoka Now is where the pulse of Fukuoka and the spirit of Kyushu meet the world. We’re a multilingual media platform built to tell real stories about life here — what’s happening, what’s changing, and what’s worth your time.
We started back in 1998 as a scrappy monthly print magazine, and by 1999, we were already online — long before social media made “local discovery” a buzzword. Since then, we’ve been sharing what makes this region tick: local news, seasonal guides, travel finds, food spots, and the events that bring the city together.
Over the years, we’ve earned the trust of both foreign residents and visitors, and we’ve worked hand-in-hand with local governments and organizations to connect cultures and communities.
Today, Fukuoka Now continues to evolve as the go-to guide for anyone curious about life in Japan’s most forward-looking city — and the Kyushu beyond it.
Company Overview
• Company Name: Fukuoka Now Ltd.
• Representative: Nicholas Szasz, Managing Director
• Address: One Fukuoka Bldg. 7F, 1-11-1 Tenjin, Chuo-ku, Fukuoka City
• Founded: December 25, 1998 (Incorporated July 1999)
• Main Activities: Operation of multilingual media; content planning, editing, and marketing from a foreign perspective; promotions; event and tour planning and management (Registered Travel Service Arrangement Business, Fukuoka Prefectural Governor No. 45)
Our Mission
Since day one, our goal has been clear: to make life in Fukuoka and Kyushu richer, easier, and more connected for an international audience.
We don’t just share information — we help people live better here. Whether you’re a long-term resident or a first-time visitor, we aim to be your most trusted source for what’s new, what’s local, and what’s next in this region we call home.
Our Policy
Fukuoka and Kyushu never sit still — and neither do we. Our job is to keep up with the city’s constant motion and share what matters, when it matters. That’s why our site is always evolving. You might spot small tweaks or updates as we go — it’s part of staying current.
At the core, our mission is simple: empower through information. We want what we publish to be genuinely useful — accurate, practical, and on time. Whether you’re planning a weekend trip, running a business, or just figuring out where to eat tonight, our goal is to help you do it better.
And we’re listening. Your ideas and feedback help shape what we do next — so drop us a line anytime through our contact page.
Sponsors
Fukuoka Now runs on collaboration. Our sponsors and partners share the same vision we do — connecting Fukuoka and Kyushu with the world.
They’re not just advertisers; they’re part of the story. Together, we highlight what makes this region special and help shape a more open, connected, and globally minded community.
Community
Fukuoka Now has always been a two-way street — built with our readers, not just for them. Every news tip, event post, and social share helps keep this community alive and buzzing.
Join us on our website, Facebook, YouTube, The Now (our newsletter), and Now Map to spread the spirit of Fukuoka and Kyushu even further.
Thanks for being part of it — and keep the ideas coming. We’re listening
Our History
• 1998: Fukuoka Now magazine launched (Dec. 25)
• 1999: Online edition launched
• 2003: The Now newsletter and Fukuoka Canada Day Party Vol. 1 begin
• 2006: Fukuoka International Business Association (FIBA) founded
• 2007: 100th Issue Celebration
• 2008: “Fukuoka Now × With The Style” party series begins (later Now Lounge)
• 2009: Now Map launched
• 2010: “Gaijin Idol” (later Gaikokujin Star Tanjou) event begins
• 2011: 10th Anniversary Party & event collaboration with JR Hakata City
• 2019: Itoshima Now launched
• 2020: Print magazine paused with Issue #256 due to the pandemic
• 2023: Now Map revived after a pandemic break
• 2024: Fukuoka Now Park Studio opened in Ohori Park
• 2025: New office established in Tenjin (May)
Fukuoka Now Media
Fukuoka Now – Monthly Magazine (Print)
Before everything went digital, there was the magazine.
Our free multilingual print edition — published in English and Japanese — captured the buzz of Fukuoka’s city life with maps, dining picks, event listings, and stories that celebrated the people behind them.
You could find it in cafés, bars, and schools where the city’s international crowd gathered — and even farther afield, from San Francisco to Bangkok, at venues connected to Fukuoka’s global community. At its peak, Fukuoka Now spoke six languages: English, Japanese, Korean, Chinese, French, Spanish, and Portuguese.
By 2016, as major events like the Lions Clubs Convention, America’s Cup, G20 Finance Ministers Meeting, and the Rugby World Cup came to town, the magazine evolved into Fukuoka’s official guidebook for global visitors.
When the pandemic hit, the print run paused after 256 issues — but the story didn’t end there. Now Map returned in 2023, and our coverage now lives on through the web, social media, and video. The platform grew — the mission stayed the same.
▶︎ All 256 back issues of Fukuoka Now magazine are available as PDFs.
Online Media Fukuoka Now
Our website has been live since 1999 — practically the dawn of the internet era — and it’s still the heartbeat of everything we do. Updated daily, it covers what’s happening right now in Fukuoka: events, festivals, food, travel, culture, and local news that define the city’s rhythm.
The idea is simple: a city with something happening every day. Through that lens, we showcase the energy and diversity that make Fukuoka and Kyushu some of Japan’s most dynamic regions — all told from an international point of view.
(Note: our community “Classifieds” section is currently on pause.)
Now Map Fukuoka (Print)
If Fukuoka Now is the pulse, Now Map is the compass. First published in 2009, this bilingual sightseeing map has become a trusted guide for visitors and newcomers discovering Fukuoka.
Issued twice a year — April and October — each edition is refreshed with updated maps and listings to keep everything current. It’s also a go-to “omotenashi” tool for local businesses welcoming international guests.
Special editions, including an airport version distributed at Fukuoka Airport, help travelers hit the ground running.ally.
▶︎ Now Map – Multilingual Free Map for Fukuoka
Social Media
Stay connected with us on Facebook, X (formerly Twitter), and Instagram — where Fukuoka’s daily life plays out in real time.
Our feeds mix news, humor, and the everyday stories that make this city feel alive — snapshots of the international community that calls Fukuoka home.
And when things get serious — like during emergencies — we switch gears fast, delivering clear and reliable English updates you can count on.
Kyushu Live – Connecting Kyushu and the World
Kyushu Live brings Fukuoka and Kyushu to the world — one live stream at a time.
Launched in January 2021, it’s a narrated YouTube series that takes viewers beyond the guidebooks and straight into the streets, mountains, and coastlines of the region. Each episode feels like you’re tagging along with a local — no filters, just real places and real moments.
Whether you’ve lived here, visited once, or are planning your first trip, Kyushu Live lets you experience the sights, sounds, and spirit of this region — and join the chat as it happens.
▶︎ YouTube Channel: Kyushu Live
Content & Production Services
In addition to our own media platforms, Fukuoka Now provides content creation and production Fukuoka Now isn’t just a media platform — it’s also a creative engine.
We produce content that connects cultures: concept planning, editing, translation, proofreading, design, and photography — all crafted with a mix of global experience and local insight.
Our team collaborates with government agencies, tourism boards, and international brands to tell stories that move across languages and borders. Whether you’re starting with a rough idea or a full campaign, we can help shape it from concept to completion.
Let’s make something that speaks to both locals and the world.
Travel Services
Seeing Kyushu is one thing — experiencing it the right way is another.
For international visitors, media crews, and study or inspection tours, Fukuoka Now offers tailored travel coordination and media support designed to go beyond the surface.
Each project is personally led by our bilingual, bicultural director — someone who’s spent decades building deep connections across the region. The result? Authentic, high-quality experiences that reveal Kyushu’s culture, creativity, and character from the inside out.
▶︎ Learn more about our Travel Services
FIBA – Fukuoka International Business Association
Behind every great city is a network that connects ideas to action.
Founded in 2006, FIBA brings together internationally active executives based in Fukuoka, creating space for real business exchange and collaboration across Kyushu.
Fukuoka Now serves as the association’s secretariat, helping members tap into local insight, global perspective, and the partnerships that make business here thrive. FIBA also plays a quiet but crucial role — encouraging international companies to see Fukuoka not just as a destination, but as a place to build and grow.
Current membership: 64 (as of October 2025)
▶︎ FIBA – Fukuoka International Business Association
Last Updated: October 30, 2025
