{"id":176433,"date":"2026-03-10T18:16:35","date_gmt":"2026-03-10T09:16:35","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.fukuoka-now.com\/?post_type=event&#038;p=176433&#038;lang=en"},"modified":"2026-03-13T17:14:21","modified_gmt":"2026-03-13T08:14:21","slug":"kyushu-roundtable-02-talent-wars","status":"publish","type":"event","link":"https:\/\/www.fukuoka-now.com\/en\/event\/kyushu-roundtable-02-talent-wars\/","title":{"rendered":"Kyushu Roundtable #2: Can Kyushu Compete for Talent?"},"content":{"rendered":"<h2><strong>A live Fukuoka Now current affairs conversation<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Join Fukuoka Now for the second <strong>Kyushu Roundtable<\/strong>, an in-person discussion forum that brings international residents together to explore the issues shaping Fukuoka and the wider Kyushu region.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The <a href=\"https:\/\/www.fukuoka-now.com\/en\/fukuoka-now-forum-international-voices-local-stakes\/\">first Roundtable<\/a> in February brought together residents from 18 different nationalities for a lively and thoughtful exchange. On March 27, we continue the series with a new evening of Kyushu news, moderated discussion, and audience participation.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">This month\u2019s featured discussion asks whether Kyushu can compete for domestic and global talent, and what it will take to persuade people to stay.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-176434\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.fukuoka-now.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/A-Forum-for-the-Regions-Global-Community-1.jpg?resize=1280%2C720&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"\" width=\"1280\" height=\"720\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.fukuoka-now.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/A-Forum-for-the-Regions-Global-Community-1.jpg?w=1280&amp;ssl=1 1280w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.fukuoka-now.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/A-Forum-for-the-Regions-Global-Community-1.jpg?resize=300%2C169&amp;ssl=1 300w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.fukuoka-now.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/A-Forum-for-the-Regions-Global-Community-1.jpg?resize=1024%2C576&amp;ssl=1 1024w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.fukuoka-now.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/A-Forum-for-the-Regions-Global-Community-1.jpg?resize=768%2C432&amp;ssl=1 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px\" \/><\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<h2>Event Details<\/h2>\n<p>Date: March 27, 2026<br \/>\nTime: 18:30\u201320:00 (doors open 18:00)<br \/>\nLocation: CIC Fukuoka, Tenjin<br \/>\nLanguage: English<br \/>\nAdmission: Free (registration required)<br \/>\nFormat: In-person only (no livestream)<\/p>\n<p style=\"font-size: 1.1em; margin-top: 20px;\"><strong>Register now:<\/strong> Seating is limited to <strong>45 participants<\/strong>.<br \/>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/forms.gle\/ELrgMZ9R7K7T6KQV6\"><strong>Register here<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<h2>Watch Highlights from the First Roundtable<\/h2>\n<div style=\"max-width: 720px; margin: 30px auto;\">\n<div style=\"position: relative; padding-bottom: 56.25%; height: 0; background: #000; overflow: hidden;\"><iframe style=\"position: absolute; top: 50%; left: 50%; width: 60%; height: 100%; transform: translate(-50%,-50%); border: 0;\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/Tt1In3QLFic?rel=0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<h2>How the Roundtable Works<\/h2>\n<p>Each Kyushu Roundtable follows a simple four-part structure designed to move from context to discussion and audience participation.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Part 1 &#8211; Kyushu News Flash<\/strong><br \/>\nA quick roundup of recent news stories shaping the region. We\u2019ll highlight a handful of local developments, with short reactions and context from the panel, followed by comments and perspectives from the audience.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Part 2 &#8211; The Main Story<\/strong><br \/>\nGuest commentators explore the evening\u2019s central theme through moderated discussion, before opening it up to questions and perspectives from the audience.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Part 3 &#8211; Voices from the Room<\/strong><br \/>\nIn the final part of the evening, audience members are invited to raise their own questions, observations, or issues for discussion, with responses from the panel and others in the room.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Part 4 &#8211; <b>After the Roundtable<\/b><\/strong><br \/>\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Optional, but highly recommended. For those who want to continue the conversation, we\u2019ll gather after the event at a casual food and drink spot in the same building<\/span><\/p>\n<p>The Roundtable is not a lecture or formal panel, but a <strong>shared conversation about Kyushu<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<h2>Guest Commentators<\/h2>\n<p><strong>Kirk Patterson<\/strong><br \/>\nPresident, Konpira Yacht Services<br \/>\nFormer Dean, Temple University Japan<\/p>\n<p><strong>Leonie Habraken<\/strong><br \/>\nBusiness Innovator at Kyuden International<\/p>\n<p><strong>Moderated by<\/strong><br \/>\nNick Szasz<br \/>\nPublisher &amp; Editor-in-Chief, Fukuoka Now<\/p>\n<blockquote><p>Commentators will open the discussion with brief perspectives, but the Roundtable is built around active audience participation. Questions and perspectives from the room help shape the conversation throughout the evening.<\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<h2><span style=\"text-wrap-mode: initial;\">This Month\u2019s Main Story<\/span><\/h2>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p><strong>Talent Wars: Can Kyushu Compete for Global Talent?<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Across Japan, labor shortages and demographic change are forcing cities to compete for international professionals, entrepreneurs, and researchers. Kyushu is no exception. While the region is becoming more international, many global residents eventually move elsewhere.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Why does that happen? What would make Kyushu a place where international talent chooses to build a long-term career and life? <\/strong>This session explores those questions through professional perspectives and lived experience from people working directly in Kyushu\u2019s international business environment.<\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<h2>Who Should Attend<\/h2>\n<p>The Roundtable works best when participants are comfortable contributing to a thoughtful English-language discussion.<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>International professionals living or working in Kyushu<\/li>\n<li>Residents interested in the region\u2019s economic and social future<\/li>\n<li>People who want to understand local issues beyond headlines<\/li>\n<li>Anyone who enjoys informed and respectful conversation<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<hr \/>\n<h2>From the First Roundtable<\/h2>\n<p>On February 20 at CIC Fukuoka, <strong>33 residents representing 18 nationalities<\/strong> gathered for the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.fukuoka-now.com\/en\/fukuoka-now-forum-international-voices-local-stakes\/\">first Kyushu Roundtable<\/a>. The format was intentionally simple. Short panel reactions were followed by open exchange. There were no slides and no speeches. News stories served only as starting points. The discussion quickly moved from headlines to deeper questions about tourism, housing, immigration, and the future of the region. Participants disagreed at times, sometimes firmly, but respectfully. Perspectives varied widely, reflecting different professions, nationalities, and lengths of residency.<\/p>\n<div style=\"max-width: 720px; margin: 30px auto;\">\n<div style=\"position: relative; padding-bottom: 56.25%; height: 0; overflow: hidden; background: #000;\"><iframe style=\"position: absolute; top: 0; left: 0; width: 100%; height: 100%; border: 0;\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/nBLSU7l5i1Y?rel=0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<h2>Register<\/h2>\n<p>Seating is limited to <strong>45 participants<\/strong>. Advance registration is required.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/forms.gle\/ELrgMZ9R7K7T6KQV6\"><strong>Register here<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Join Fukuoka Now for the second Kyushu Roundtable, an in-person discussion that brings international residents together to explore issues shaping the region\u2019s future.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":5,"featured_media":176434,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","tags":[5236],"class_list":["post-176433","event","type-event","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","tag-roundtable","location-fukuoka-city","location-tenjin","event-type-community","en-US"],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.fukuoka-now.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/event\/176433","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.fukuoka-now.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/event"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.fukuoka-now.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/event"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.fukuoka-now.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/5"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.fukuoka-now.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=176433"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.fukuoka-now.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/176434"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.fukuoka-now.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=176433"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.fukuoka-now.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=176433"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}