Now Reports

Lion Dance: A Celebration of the New Year

The shishi-mai (lion dance), which is part and parcel of New Year’s celebrations, is a traditional folk dance performed by dancers wearing large lion-headed costumes. Because lions...

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• #Fukuoka Topics
• #Fukuoka City

Making the Ordinary Special ~ A Luxurious Overnight Journey to Saga ~

As many people already know, there are many places to see and things to do in Kyushu running the gamut from delicious food and crafts to hot springs, the mountains and the sea. For...

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• #Art & Culture
• #Travel
• #Arita
• #Saga Prefecture
• #Ureshino

Okushida-san: The Shrine of Hakata’s Guardian Deity

Kushida Shrine, referred to affectionately by locals as Okushida-san, has been home to the city’s guardian deity since olden times. Although Kushida Shrine has been mentioned sever...

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• #Places
• #Fukuoka Topics
• #Hakata

Our Visit to Arita’s Kakiemon Kiln

Looking for a fun day trip outside of Fukuoka, my partner and I wanted to visit somewhere that wouldn’t usually be on our radar. When the opportunity to visit Arita’s town to exper...

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• #Things To Do
• #Arita
• #Saga Prefecture

Kenji Oda’s Ohajiki

The new year is approaching and we could all use some good luck, right? Well, Kenji Oda, a forty-year veteran Hakata doll maker with a studio and gallery in Maebaru might be able t...

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• #Itoshima Now
• #itoshima
• #itoshimalife
• #itoshimanow
• #糸島

Studio Kura

Recently, more and more non-Japanese are discovering what a wonderful place Itoshima is to live and visit. But thanks to Studio Kura and their popular artist in residence program, ...

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• #Itoshima Now
• #itoshima
• #itoshimadrive
• #itoshimalife
• #itoshimanow
• #糸島

A Tale of Two Local Doctors and Educators: Nanmei Kamei and Osamu Takaba

This month’s article focuses on two doctors and educators from Fukuoka who were active in the Edo and Meiji eras. The first, Nanmei Kamei (1743 - 1814), was born in Meinohama (now ...

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• #Fukuoka Topics
• #Fukuoka City

The deep, soothing tones of the Chikuzen Biwa

The Japanese biwa is a type of lute which traces its origins to ancient Persia, and it made its way to Japan from the Silk Road via China. Even today in Arab cultures, a biwa-like ...

• #Art & Culture
• #Fukuoka Topics
• #Fukuoka Prefecture