How could cycling fit better into everyday life in Fukuoka?
A live Fukuoka Now current affairs conversation
Cycling can be one of the most enjoyable and convenient ways to get around Fukuoka. But sharing the streets can also bring frustration, uncertainty, and competing expectations.
Where should bicycles belong? Are the rules clear enough, and does the street layout help people follow them? What works well here, and what could Fukuoka learn from other cities?
Join Fukuoka Now on December 4 for the eighth Kyushu Roundtable, an English-language discussion bringing international and Japanese residents together to explore the issues shaping life in Fukuoka and Kyushu.
Following our opening roundup of regional news, experienced cyclists Ryuzo “Rudy” Nakaya and Tim Muzik will help us explore everyday cycling from the perspectives of riders and the people sharing the streets with them.
Come away with clearer knowledge of cycling rules, a better understanding of the city’s approach, and practical advice from experienced riders.
Event Details
- Date: Friday, December 4, 2026
- Time: 18:30–20:00 (reception from 18:00)
- Location: CIC Fukuoka, Tenjin
- Language: English
- Participation fee: To be announced before applicants are asked to confirm attendance
- Capacity: 50
How the Roundtable Works
Each Kyushu Roundtable moves from current affairs into deeper discussion and audience participation. It is a shared conversation, with room for questions, different views, and personal experience.
Part 1 – Kyushu News Flash
A quick roundup of recent news shaping Fukuoka and Kyushu, with short reactions from our guest commentators followed by perspectives and questions from the audience.
Part 2 – The Main Story
Our guest commentators each give a short opening perspective on the evening’s central theme before the discussion opens to the room.
This month: Cycling in Fukuoka: What Works and What Doesn’t.
Part 3 – Voices from the Room
Audience members are invited to ask questions, challenge assumptions, share experiences, and introduce new perspectives into the discussion.
Part 4 – After the Roundtable
For our final KRT of 2026, we’re planning a bonenkai-style gathering with catered food and drinks immediately afterward, inside CIC. No change of venue, just more time to continue the conversation. Details will follow.
Guest Commentators
Ryuzo “Rudy” Nakaya
Director / International Sports Tournament Promotion Division, Fukuoka Prefectural Government (Former Event Director, Tour de Kyushu)
Rudy works on international sporting events for the Fukuoka Prefectural Government. He helped launch Tour de Kyushu, directed its first two editions, and helped plan this year’s finish in Tenjin. A Brompton rider since moving to Silicon Valley in 2010, he uses his folding bike for daily commuting and trips in Japan and overseas, including Copenhagen and London. He brings firsthand experience of everyday urban cycling alongside a professional background in sports and regional development.
Tim Muzik
Elementary School Principal, Fukuoka International School / Cycling Writer, Fukuoka Now
Tim is the elementary school principal at Fukuoka International School and writes Fukuoka Now’s Fukuoka & Kyushu Cycling Routes & Reports. Originally from Canada, he lived and worked in Korea and Taiwan before moving to Fukuoka in 2024. His extensive cycling experience spans Europe, North America, and Asia. Alongside long-distance rides, he enjoys everyday trips around town on a folding Brompton, a bicycle choice he shares with Rudy.
Moderated by Nick Szasz
Publisher and Editor-in-Chief, Fukuoka Now
This Month’s Main Story
Cycling in Fukuoka: What Works and What Doesn’t
A trip to work, school, or the shops can look quite different from a bicycle saddle, a car window, or the sidewalk. This discussion will bring those everyday experiences together with researched background on cycling rules and city policy.
Among the questions we’ll explore:
- Rules: What should riders know about sidewalks, intersections, and parking? Where does confusion arise?
- Streets and city policy: How is Fukuoka approaching cycling infrastructure, and where could improvements make the greatest difference?
- Sharing space: What would make everyday journeys safer and more comfortable for cyclists, pedestrians, and drivers?
- Practical experience: What habits and advice help experienced riders get around town? What ideas from overseas could work here?
Participants will receive a take-home reference sheet with key points and links to official guidance.
What works on your everyday journeys, and what would you change?
Who Should Attend
Anyone interested in everyday life in Fukuoka and Kyushu. Whether you cycle regularly, would like to cycle more, or mainly travel on foot, by car, or on public transport, your perspective belongs in the conversation. International and Japanese residents are equally welcome. No specialist knowledge is needed.
Previous Roundtables
Across seven editions, Kyushu Roundtable has explored international talent, tourism, regional growth, healthcare, and Fukuoka’s future. Each brings together different perspectives, with informed discussion and audience participation at its heart.
Read the KRT7 report or watch the KRT7 video to get a feel for the conversation.
Register
Advance registration is required. Applications are reviewed to help create a balanced and productive discussion. Your place is confirmed by email from the organizers.