Selected news topics by Fukuoka Now from Fukuoka’s Shisei Dayori.
City Starts PM2.5 Forecast E-mail Service
City Hall now sends messages via its disaster prevention info-mail service just after 7:00 when daily PM2.5 levels are forecast to exceed the Ministry of the Environment standard (35μg/m3). Please refer to the suggested actions in these e-mails. This service is also used to provide information on weather warnings, earthquakes, tsunamis, rainfall, yellow sand and smog. To sign up for the service, please send a blank e-mail to entry@fukuoka-city.jp. Inquiries: Environmental Conservation Section, 733-5386
Fukuoka Castle Cherry Blossom Festival
A cherry blossom festival will be held in Maizuru Park, one of the city’s prime cherry blossom areas, Mar. 22 ~ 31. The castle ruins and nearly 1,000 cherry trees in the park will be lit up at night (18:00 – 22:00), and food stalls will be set up near the grassy area by Korokan. On Mar. 23, 24, 30 and 31 from 11:00 ~ 16:00, two historical structures, the Shiomi Turret and the Tamon Turret, will be opened to the public. Visitors can enjoy the night scenery from atop the castle keep for ¥300.
第11回森・花・緑のまちかど写真コンテスト推薦「夜桜爛漫」
Hakata-Tenjin Tulip Road
100,000 tulips planted by elementary school students, area management groups and local volunteers last year are set to bring some color to the streets between Hakata Station and Kego Park. The peak viewing time is late March to mid April. For more information on sites in Tenjin and Hakata, pick up a free copy of the Hakata Walking Map at a Tourist Information Counter or the Information Plaza at City Hall. Also available as download here: http://hakatamap.jp/img/walkingmap_hakata2013.pdf (Walking tour events will be held Mar. 9 ~ May 6).
Welcome to Fukuoka
New to Fukuoka? The City provides free copies of the Fukuoka Living Guide (Japanese), a guide to city services and public facilities, and the Household Garbage Regulations, available in four languages (English, Chinese, Korean and Japanese). You can also pick up a Flood Hazard Map (Japanese) for your ward. All are available at the General Affairs Section in each Ward Office and at the Information Plaza in City Hall.
Bicycle Safety Ordinance Goes into Effect
Bicycle accidents are on the rise in Fukuoka. To ensure rider safety and improve etiquette, a new Bicycle Safety Ordinance will go into effect on Apr. 1. Under the new law, riders will be asked to push their bicycles on crowded sidewalks, attach lights and reflectors and enroll in bicycle accident insurance. Helmets will be mandated for all children up to junior high school age, and the sidewalk on the west side of Watanabe-dori Ave. in Tenjin will be designated as a “Push Your Bicycle Zone” (Enforcement hours: M ~ F: 8:00 ~ 19:00, Weekends/holidays: 10:00 ~ 19:00).
Yipee! For FREE!
Gardening Show
Flower pots created by local citizens, companies and universities will be displayed in Kego Park Apr. 6 ~14 (10:00 ~ 17:00). On Apr. 6 and 7, a limited number of cut tulips will be given to the first several visitors to commemorate Kyushu’s first direct flight to Europe.
For more Information
Fukuoka City Bulletin
Fukuoka Shisei Dayori is City Hall’s official magazine published bi-weekly on 1st and 15th of each month 23 times per year. It’s available in Japanese online too. Consider using it for Japanese study! ふくおか市政だより Website: www.city.fukuoka.lg.jp/shisei/kouhou-hodo/shiseidayori/
Originally published in Fukuoka Now Magazine (fn172, Apr. 2013)
