A Live Discussion on Fukuoka’s Future
On February 20 at CIC Fukuoka, 33 residents representing 18 nationalities gathered for a simple but meaningful experiment. The response was strong enough that we’ve decided to continue the Forum as a regular event.
So what happens when internationally minded residents sit down and seriously discuss local news face to face?
Over two hours, the answer unfolded through thoughtful debate, disagreement, and reflection. One thing became clear: international residents are not just living in Fukuoka. They are thinking seriously about its future and their future here. We’re all in the same boat, after all.
The evening began with context.
“We have 11,000 news stories about Kyushu since 1999,” moderator Nick Szasz, Publisher and CEO of Fukuoka Now, reminded the room. For more than two decades, Fukuoka Now has reported on local developments. “This is an experimental event, the first time we’ve done something like this, and we’re looking for your feedback.”
Panelists included Kirk Patterson, President of Konpira Yacht Services and former Dean of Temple University Japan, and Evan Kirby, Founder of Genki Japanese & Culture School. The format was intentionally simple. Short panel reactions were followed by open exchange. There were no slides and no speeches. News stories were just starting points. The conversation quickly moved from headlines to harder questions.
Education: Spending More But Is It Working?
“In a healthy economy, it’s completely natural that every budget be a record budget. That’s how inflation works,” Evan Kirby noted. “We’re lucky to live in one of the few cities where there is still population growth.”
But the optimism did not go unchallenged.
“What are they getting for the money?” Kirk Patterson asked.
He continued, “Just increasing the budget doesn’t solve the problems if you don’t deal with the underlying curriculum issues.”
Japan already spends heavily on English education. “Just spending a lot of money on education doesn’t mean anything if there isn’t a good result,” Patterson added.
At the same time, an audience member offered a grounded reminder. “For a family with two kids, free lunch really means something.”
That balance captured the tone of the night. The discussion was neither celebratory nor cynical. Investment alone is not success. Outcomes matter.
Transportation: Progress and Friction
JR Kyushu’s first fare increase in 29 years sparked immediate reaction.
“That’s an incredible length of time,” Kirby said of the long freeze. But the correction felt sharp. “It’s a massive dent in the wallets of salarymen at a time when real wages are still stagnating.”
The discussion then shifted to the Queen Beetle ferry scandal.
“The water’s supposed to stay on the outside,” Patterson remarked, drawing brief laughter.
The humor faded quickly.
“There were dozens and dozens of people involved in the coverup,” he said. “This wasn’t just incompetence at the top. There’s a serious problem in Japanese corporate culture. They try to bury problems and hide them.”
For many, the ferry symbolized more than transport. As Nick Szasz put it, “It was a pride of Fukuoka, and that’s just been zeroed out.”
The conversation moved beyond a single incident toward a broader question. If Fukuoka presents itself as Asia’s gateway, what does accountability look like?
Trust, several participants suggested, is part of infrastructure too.
Inbound Tourism: Opportunity and Risk
Foreign arrivals have surged, with a particularly sharp increase from Korea.
“There is a bit of a danger in being so reliant on one country for tourism,” Kirby cautioned. “There are crowds everywhere. Tourists can’t all be expected to follow the customs of Japan.”
No one disputed tourism’s economic contribution. The city feels busy. Restaurants are full. Hotels are thriving.
But the social impact surfaced quickly.
“When a tourist’s bad behavior causes a negative perception of foreigners, that perception is then turned on us residents,” one long-term resident observed.
The line resonated because it reflected lived experience. Long-term residents often feel the ripple effects of short-term behavior.
The discussion widened into policy.
“Why extend a red carpet to people you wouldn’t extend to your own folks?” another attendee asked, referring to tax-free shopping.
A third added bluntly, “Just get rid of the tax rebate. Japan is cheap anyway.”
The question was not whether tourism is good or bad. It was how to manage it responsibly and sustainably.
International Residents: Growth Without Integration?
Foreign workers in Fukuoka have reached record highs, up 12 percent year on year.
“A 12 percent increase in one year is huge,” Kirby said. “A worker shortage is crippling some industries.”
“Convenience stores wouldn’t function without foreign staff,” someone in the audience added.
Yet numbers alone do not define belonging.
“Immigration is not integration,” one long-term resident said, a phrase that surfaced more than once.
“Japanese people feel uncomfortable about the speed of change,” Kirby noted, acknowledging that rapid demographic shifts can unsettle any society.
But responsibility, participants agreed, is shared.
“To preserve the good elements of Japanese society, we need to strengthen integration,” Kirby said.
An audience member responded with a perspective that broadened the point. “It’s a requirement for us to feel that we belong. But it’s also a requirement for Japanese people to feel that we belong.”
The conversation moved from theory to lived experience. One attendee described being refused medical services outright.
“They literally said, ‘Sorry, we don’t do foreigners.’”
The room grew quiet.
Another participant reflected on personal responsibility. “When I see another foreigner misbehaving, it makes me feel horrible. We’re all ambassadors.”
Integration, the discussion suggested, is not automatic. It is built through policy, behavior, and everyday interaction.
Housing and Affordability: Boom or Bubble?
Luxury condominium developments near Ohori Park triggered a pointed exchange about inequality and long-term direction.
“We’re seeing an increase in income inequality,” Kirby argued. “Rich people can afford to pay whatever price is asked. They don’t want to drop the price. They can afford to wait.”
At the same time, cities benefit from rising land values through taxation. Is Fukuoka becoming less accessible, or positioning itself for global competitiveness?
The question remains open. It reflects a broader tension between growth and inclusion.
Why This Matters
This was not a networking event. It was not a startup pitch night.
It was a room full of residents engaging seriously with the city they share.
Participants disagreed, sometimes firmly, but respectfully. Perspectives varied by nationality, profession, and length of residency. What united them was engagement.
One attendee put it plainly: “I didn’t know what to expect, but this gave me a sense of community.” They added that until now, their interaction with Fukuoka’s international community had been largely limited to Reddit.
Moving from online commentary to in person dialogue felt right.
After the Forum
The conversation did not end when the microphones were turned off. It continued at a nearby pub, where debates about healthcare access, housing, and tourism carried on over drinks.
What’s Next
This was the first Fukuoka Now Forum. Future sessions will refine the format, broaden participation, and continue examining local issues through an international lens. The intention is to hold the Forum regularly, ideally monthly, building a space where news becomes dialogue and dialogue strengthens community. Register via this form to be notified of the next event. And even better, you definitely should subscribe to our free weekly English newsletter, The Now, filled with local news summaries, insights and event announcements.