ガイコクジンシーン in 福岡

A Historical Overview
Currently Fukuoka Prefecture is home to 39,000 foreigners and Fukuoka City to 20,400. With its proximity to the continent it is not surprising that 90% of foreign residents are from Asia. But what of the non-Asian migration? How has the influx of migrants from beyond Asia made a difference to Fukuoka? These questions lead to some interesting answers.

Of course it is impossible to find data on every person who has visited or lived in Fukuoka over the years, but the first recorded Western visit was that of Saint Francis Xavier, who stopped in Hakata on his way to Kyoto in 1550. Between 1641 and 1853 not many foreigners were allowed to set foot on Japanese soil, but after American Commander Perry forced Japan to end its isolation, many beat a path here.

Some of the first people to make their way to Fukuoka were missionaries, who established several Christian schools. Eiwa Jo Gakkou (now Fukuoka Jo Gakuin), founded in 1885 by missionaries from the Methodist Episcopal Church, was one of the first. The school was headed by a series of American principals, and one of these, Elizabeth Lee, is credited with introducing the sailor uniform to Japanese schoolgirls. The school also organized a visit to Fukuoka by deafblind author and activist Helen Keller. Another famous person to make his way to Fukuoka in pre-war days was Albert Einstein, who visited on Christmas Eve 1922.

With the start of World War II, thousands of POWs were brought to Fukuoka, and were left with bitter memories. Many worked on building the runway for the Fukuoka airport or in coal mines nearby to make up for the lack of manpower at the time. The end of the war brought the next wave of foreigners, in the form of the occupation forces. US camps included Camp Hakata (Uminonakamichi Koen), Camp Kurume and Camp Kasuga. The Korean conflict prolonged American military presence in Fukuoka, and in 1954 honeymooners Marilyn Monroe and Joe Dimaggio visited the armed forces stationed here.

In 1971 the Seinan Gakuin University exchange program commenced, and has brought hundreds of (mostly) Americans to Fukuoka to study, many of whom have stayed on. Augmenting the city’s strategy for internationalization, Fukuoka International School opened its doors the following year. The start of the working holiday program in 1983 also brought a sprinkling of Australians, Canadians and New Zealanders to town, and in 1987 the JET Program became the first large-scale program to recruit English speakers and provide them with a job, a decent wage and accommodation. This was the era of kokusaika, or internationalization, and the bubble economy with the promise of big pay for ordinary English speakers was a draw card for adventure-seekers; some of whom married locals and stayed.

In 1988 the Fukuoka Nihongo Center, the first Japanese language school, opened and accommodated 80 shugakusei (pre-college) students. They joined the 587 ryugakusei – students studying at public schools and universities. This figure is now 1307 and 5082 respectively. In 1989 Fukuoka City held the international expo Yokatopia and about 200 international pavilion attendants from the Asian-Pacific region spent six months working at Momochihama. Fukuoka’s international profile was raised even higher in the past decade with the hosting of major international events such as the 1995 Universiade, the 1997 Asian Development Bank, G8 2000 Finance Ministers Summit, and the 2001 World Swimming Championships.

By now, different-looking gaijin were no longer a novelty, and people pointing in awe became less frequent. It was from this point the number of foreign residents really increased. From 1990 to present the number doubled from 9,900 to 20,400. The establishment of the American, Australian, Canadian, Chinese, Korean consulates, UN HABITAT and various trade offices are testimony to the City’s growing importance overseas. Meanwhile the American Center, French-Japanese Institute of Kyushu, NPO Tiempo Iberoamericano and others have promoted internationalism. Finally, walk-in help centers like Rainbow Plaza and Kokusai Hiroba have been invaluable to foreign residents.

Recently relaxed visa regulations can be credited for the increasing number of foreign residents from an ever-widening array of countries. This includes changes such as self-sponsorship and three-year work visas. Assistant Language Teachers (ALTs) can now be found in many schools throughout the prefecture, and more and more gaijin are setting up their business in Fukuoka. Perhaps the recent increase of foreign students and specialized laborers will compensate for Japan’s declining birthrate? The foreigners who have made their way to Fukuoka are now, more than ever, part of the region’s future.

by Chris Flynn, Assistant Professor Kyushu Institute of Information Sciences

Facts on Foreigners
We all sense that the number of foreigners living or visiting Fukuoka is increasing. But where are these people from and what are they doing here? Below are a few sets of key statistics.

Nationalities
According to the Ministry of Justice, as of 2006, the total number of foreign residents in Fukuoka Prefecture was 45,758. Chinese and Koreans account for 76% but it should be noted that many of these people were born in Japan.

Visas
“Special Permanent Residents” (37%) are first and second generation Koreans and Taiwanese who lived in Japan before and after the war and were given special status by law. It is interesting to note that Entertainment visas in 6th position barely exceed the number of foreigners on International Services visas (comprised mostly of language teachers). Draw your own conclusions.

Mixed Marriages
Back in 1997, Fukuoka Prefecture recorded 616 marriages between Japanese and non-Japanese. In 2001 the number was 779, and in 2005 it had risen to 928. Interestingly, the number of Japanese men marrying non-Japanese women nationally in 2002 was 27,957, far exceeding the 7,922 foreign men with Japanese wives. Japanese men are especially tying up with women from other Asian countries.

Overseas Visitors
Immigration records only track entries by foreigners via Hakata Port and the Fukuoka airport. Since neither receive ships from non-Asian countries, it is no surprise that non-Asians rank so low. In 2005, 59.8% of the total 498,056 visitors were from Korea, followed by 15.7% from Taiwan, 8.6% from China, and 2% from America.

Came and Stayed
Most foreigners come to Fukuoka for a year or two, and some longer and some shorter. We thought it might be interesting to hear about what Fukuoka was like way back from a few foreigners who came － and stayed.

Bob Arnold
Teacher (former Military)
American, 44 years in Fukuoka
“I remember when it was a dirt road to Shikanoshima, an American double-feature film was just 180 yen, and there were over 30 GI bars in Saitozaki – now it’s a ghost town – so some things have come and some have gone”

Gurbir Singh
Owner & Founder of Nanak Indian Restaurants
Indian, 30 years in Fukuoka
“There were very few foreigners here in 1977. We were pioneers in that respect. We used to have to go to Osaka or further for many things – now Fukuoka has it all. Now those cities are over saturated and Fukuoka has more potential.”

Bill C
Ex-Educator & DJ / ol’ Hippy / now retired
American, 35+ years in Fukuoka
“Arrived here in the Vietnam era, back when “Gaijin da” was cute and not a slur. 2,000 yen (360 yen=USD1.00) was more than enough for serious all-night Nakasu fun (etc.) using midnight-blackmarket taxis. The few; A&W, Mr. Donuts & Dairy Queens hadn’t yet found “the Fuk”.

Jimmy Bartlet
Teacher
American, 37 years in Fukuoka
“Fukuoka’s much better now – everything’s gotten better! You used to see lots of gaijin “off limits” signs. Nakasu was where all the dance halls, discos and movie theaters were. Oyafuko was nothing!”

Rod Sebaoon
Hair Designer
French, 14 years in Fukuoka
“Unlike my home town Paris, you could get into any nightclubs – with no dress code, food and drinks all night, full dance floors, with no zombie DJ-watching crap, and Tenjin and Daimyo weren’t Kiddylands”.

Interviews

Bar Owner
Hector Omani
Ghanian
12 years in Japan

What’s it like being a bar owner in Fukuoka? Opening my own bar in 2000 earned me respect from both foreigners and Japanese and has really improved my lifestyle. I see it as my biggest achievement here. It has also enabled me to experience things like appearing in a weekly program on TVQ. Is life here very different to back home? In Ghana there were no real opportunities, but here if you’re willing to learn the language and work hard, you get your share. It’s the “Japanese way”. There have been challenges along the way and, yes, I’ve experienced some discrimination, but I believe patience moves mountains. What would you change about Fukuoka? Maybe Japan could use some reform because parts of the culture are still closed to foreigners. Overall, nothing really bothers me though. Fukuoka is like heaven to me!

Announcer
Kim Jisook
Korean
12 years in Japan

What’s it like working in radio? I started at Love FM in 2000 and noticed through listeners that the Japanese attitude towards Korea is changing. First there was the Yon-sama boom with housewives, and more recently K-Pop has become all the rage with students. Making a program is a creative process, so there are differences of opinion at times. Japanese people like to avoid conflict, but I believe it’s an inevitable part of producing quality. How do you feel about Fukuoka? When Korean friends ask me to take them sight-seeing it’s sometimes hard to show things uniquely Fukuoka. Lately more and more national department stores are opening; I hope Fukuoka won’t lose its own flavor! Any advice for newcomers? Many people give out advice on what Japanese people are like but for me it’s important to experience Japan yourself and then make up your own mind.

Teacher
Neil Witkin
American
3.5 years in Japan

What’s it like teaching English here? I was on the JET Program for three years as an Assistant Language Teacher (ALT), and living in a small community and getting to know my classes was a fantastic opportunity. I think it’s really important to motivate students, so I’m always trying to make lessons engaging and fun. Now I’m teaching at an English conversation school with children and adults, so I’m learning a lot about how to work with different age groups. Any challenges? Well, I’m not a big fan of kancho! But I really enjoy teaching, and I think that it’s important that young learners leave class with a positive outlook on English and studying. How do you like Fukuoka? I think there’s a lot of great stuff going on in the art and music scenes. I think Fukuoka is a place with many great opportunities for foreigners.

Hostess
Lisa Butler
Australian
7 years in Japan

Describe your job as a hostess here. I worked in an exclusive members-only club for two years where I made small talk with guests. I really enjoyed the variety of people I met, the short hours, and all the dressing up! What challenges did you face? Making sure my handkerchiefs matched my outfit! Seriously, being a hostess was an easy job. Getting paid well to be pleasant to others isn’t the worst job in the world. My Japanese language skills improved greatly too. I think the secret for success in getting along in Japan is accepting that you’ll always be a foreigner and will never quite fit in. What was your biggest achievement in Fukuoka? Having never eaten tonkotsu ramen – just the smell of it turned my stomach!

Employee
Kanthi Abeysundara
Sri Lankan
10 years in Japan

Describe working in Japan. People here are very polite and punctual, all of my colleagues arrive to work early, every day! They’re also extremely disciplined. Everyone does so much overtime there doesn’t seem to be a balance between job and family life. Sometimes I think the Japanese are addicted to work! Any differences to back home? Here you rarely find women in executive posts while in Sri Lanka it doesn’t matter if you’re female – as long as you’re qualified for the position. Do you have any advice for newcomers? Obviously learning Japanese is very important, especially the spoken language – I’m still struggling with kanji after 10 years! And I think you should try to adjust to the Japanese system because foreigners can’t change the way things are done here. Complaining doesn’t help either so just try to adapt and enjoy your job!

Student
Eduardo Jarque
Mexican
3 years in Japan

Describe life as a student here. Kyushu University has a high academic reputation and great professors. I enjoy studying here. My research, academic activities and the Foreign Students’ Association (KUFSA) keep me really busy, but I manage to set some time free on weekends for traveling around Kyushu or going out to Tenjin. I also used to do some
part-time work in translation. Why Fukuoka? It has the best University in Kyushu, it is a centric city in Japan with a very good standard of living; and the closest port to Korea and China. It is a perfect combination of a big metropolis and a quiet city. Any advice for foreign students? I think foreign students should get to know the local culture and society as much as possible, so I recommend getting involved in the Fukuoka community through places like Rainbow Plaza, where you can interact with Japanese people. Studying the language is crucial as well.

10 Ways to Wind Up a Gaijin
Put the good nature of your foreign friends to the test with a few of these ticklers. Use at your own risk and be prepared to run!

1. Say “haro” to one without any intent of having a conversation

2. Remark “your head is so small!”

3. When foreigners tells you they’re able to use chopsticks, give them a fork anyway

4. Ask a gaijin if he can eat natto and make him prove it!

5. Ask “when are you going home?” during your first conversation.

6. Prefer to stand for a 30 min. train ride because the only available seat is next to a gaijin

7. Date one for a year then suddenly marry your parents’ friends’ child

8. Leave the onsen bath when one hops in

9. After hearing she’s from Germany, ask her what part of the States she’s from

10. Call your male English teacher “rice king”

Survey!
Almost as soon as we started putting together this feature we realized that eight pages were not enough to do justice to this topic. We also found that very little data on foreigners in Fukuoka exist. So we hope this will inspire others to finish the job with a more in-depth report. As a first step we propose a survey be made of as many foreign residents as possible. We’ve set up a internet site to collect such data. Your privacy will be protected and we promise to share the resulting statistics in an upcoming report. Please take a few minutes now and help us compile an accurate profile of Fukuoka’s foreigners!
Photo credits: James Heneghan, Fukuoka Convention Bureau, Fukuoka City Wes Injerd, B. Hill

 

 

 

 

福岡、イマムカシ
九州、そしてアジアの玄関口として進化する国際都市フクオカ。現在、県の外国人人口は3万9000人で、そのうち2万400人が福岡市内に住んでいる。特に、アジアへの玄関口という特徴から、在住者の90％はアジア出身というデータには誰も驚かないだろう。それでは残りの10％は？彼らは何かを福岡にもたらしたのか？そのあたりをひも解いてみよう。

そもそも福岡を初めて訪れた西洋人はというと、1550年京都へ行く途中博多に立ち寄った宣教師フランシスコ・ザビエルだったと言われている。それから鎖国時代を経て再び多くの外国人が来日し、明治維新後、キリスト教宣教師らによって多くのキリスト教学校が誕生する。1885年に創立された福岡英和女学校（現在の福岡女学院）もその1つ。同校は当時の校長、アメリカ人宣教師のエリザベス・リーの考案で、日本で最初にセーラー服を取り入れたり、ヘレンケラーが2度来校したことでも有名だ。さらに1922年のクリスマスイブにはアインシュタインも来福を果たし、相対性原理について講義を行っている。第二次世界大戦が始まると、多くの戦争捕虜達の多くが福岡空港の滑走路建設や炭坑での労働を強いられた。戦争が終わると仕事を求める外国人の波が。米軍は、不安定な朝鮮半島情勢により長期にわたって駐屯し、博多（海の中道公園）や久留米、春日市には米軍キャンプが敷かれた。そんな中、1954年にマリリンモンローとジョー・ディマジオがハネムーンで来日した際、福岡にも立ち寄った事で地元は沸いた。交換留学プログラムを最初にスタートさせたのは西南学院大学で、1971年のこと。これにより何百人もの外国人留学生（ほとんどはアメリカ人）たちが福岡を訪れるように。その翌年、福岡インターナショナルスクールが開校、1983年にはワーキングホリデーがスタートした。以後、福岡の街にはアメリカ人以外にも欧米人達の姿が多く見られるようになる。1987年にはいよいよJETプログラムがスタート、英語のネイティブスピーカーたちが多く配備され、福岡の事が知られていくようになる。福岡国際化の第一歩といえるだろう。バブル経済の影響もあり、より多くの外国人が多数訪れ、国際結婚により定住する人が増えて来たのもこの頃。1988年、初の日本語学校、福岡日本語センターが誕生。1989年、福岡市はアジア太平洋博覧会「よかトピア」を開催し、当時約200人の外国人が6ヶ月間、国際交流活動に努めた。そして1995年、世界中から6000人の選手達が集まって行われた「ユニバーシアード福岡大会」を経て福岡を訪れる外国人の流れは最大となる。その後のアジア開発銀行会議、2000年の財務大臣サミット、2001年の世界水泳選手権などは記憶に新しい。このようにして地元では外国人の存在も珍しくなくなっていく。在福外国人の人口も、1990年の9900人から2007年には2倍の20,400人にまで増えた。各国領事館やレインボープラザ、こくさいひろばなどの機関も外国人サポートに貢献している。近年のビザの規制緩和でさらに多くの国々から日本に来れるようになり、環境も整ってきた。これにより外国語指導助手（ALT）がほぼすべての学校に派遣され、留学生やビジネスを立ち上げる外国人の数もさらに増えてきた。留学生の増加は少子化の穴を埋められるのでは？との期待もある。国際結婚だって珍しくない昨今、様々な国々から沢山の外国人が福岡を行き交い、この街が更に国際化都市として発展していく事が期待されている。

街を歩いていると、以前より外国人を目にする回数が増えたことを感じるのではないだろうか。外国人観光客しかり、在住者しかり、その数は間違いなく増えている。では、彼らはどこから来て何をしているのか？調査をした中の一部は下記の通り。

出身の国別数
法務省の2006年の発表によると、福岡県に在住している外国人総数は45,758人。そのうち76％は中国人、韓国人が占めており、彼らの多くは日本生まれが多い。

ビザの種類別数
「特別永住者」とは戦前戦後の特別法律によって永住が認められた在日1世や2世達を指す。7位の国際業務関係より6位の興行ビザが上回っているのには驚きだ。

国際結婚は？
福岡県においての国際結婚の数は1997年の616人から2005年には928人にまで増えている。意外にも、外国人男性×日本人女性の組合せより、日本人男性×外国人女性がはるかに多い。これは日本人男性はアジア圏から嫁を迎える傾向にあるからのようだ。

入国外国人は？
福岡空港と博多港で行われた調査によると、福岡市への入国外国人の数は、1位 韓国（59.8％）、2位 台湾（15.7％）、3位 中国（8.6％）となり、予想通りアジア圏が上位3位を独占した。アジア圏以外での最高順位は5位のアメリカで、2％。

たいていの外国人達は福岡にいたとしても1年～2年。もちろん、それより早く帰国する人もいれば、もっと長く滞在する人もいる。その中から福岡滞在歴の長いいわば“ベテラン”組に、昔の福岡はどうだったのか、話を聞いてみた。

ボブ・アーノルド
覚えてるのは志賀島に行く道は汚くって、2本立てのアメリカ映画はたったの180円で観れたことかな。西戸崎にはGIバーが30店くらいあったよ。今じゃゴーストタウンだけどね。発展と衰退を感じるよ。

グルビール・シン
1977年にはあんまり外国人はいなかった。だから私達が先駆者といっても過言ではないかも。以前は何をするにも大阪まで行かなくてはならなかったけど、今は福岡に何でもある。他の都市より福岡の方がまだ色んな可能性があると思うよ。

ビル
ベトナム戦争があった時代に福岡に来て”外人だ～”ってちやほやされてたけど、今じゃ全然。当時は2,000円（360円＝1ドル）あったら、中洲で遊びまくってタクシーで家に帰れたよ。ミスドとかDairy Queensみたいなファーストフードの店なんかなかったね。

ジミー・バートレット
昔と比べたら福岡はずいぶん良くなったね。前は”外人立ち入り禁止”の看板をよく見たよ。ディスコやダンスホール、映画館などの娯楽施設は全部中洲にあって、親冨孝には何にもなかったね。

ロッド・セバウン
パリと違って、どんなクラブにもすぐに入れた。ドレスコードもいらない、一晩中飲み食い、フロアは人で埋めつくされ、DJにたかるゾンビみたいなのもいなかった。天神も大名もちびっ子ランドじゃなかったよ。

ヘクター・オマニ
ガーナ出身／日本滞在12年
福岡でお店をスタートした時はどうだった？2000年にオープンした時、日本人、外国人両方から感謝されたりしたし、僕の生活も随分良くなった。オープンさせた事は僕にとって一大事だったし達成感を感じられる事。TVQの番組出演にも繋がったと思うしね。母国と福岡、生活は違う？ガーナではチャンスはそうそう転がってない。でもここでは、言葉を勉強したり働いたりしたければしたで、その分ちゃんと自分に戻ってくる。僕はこれを“ジャパニーズウェイ”っていうんだけど、すごく好きだね。もちろん努力は大切。でも忍耐は時に山をも動かすって信じてるよ。福岡のどこを変えたいと思う？ほとんどない（笑）まあ、ある部分ではまだインターナショナルを拒むような所があるから、そこはオープンになっていったらと思うけど、僕にとって福岡は天国そのものだね！

キム・ジスク
韓国出身／日本滞在12年
ラジオ番組を持たれてどうですか？番組スタートの2000年から今までの、日本人の韓国に対する印象の変遷が見えて面白い。数年前のヨン様ブームで主婦層が増え、最近はK-POPの影響で高校生ファンも多いですよ。制作面ではディレクター達と意見をぶつけ合った事もありました。日本人は衝突する事を避ける傾向がありますが、番組制作にしても他のものづくりにおいても、良いものをつくる為には必要なステップだと思うんですよ。福岡に対しての思うことは？全国区のデパートなどが増えて来て、福岡ならではのカラーが薄れてきている気がします。韓国からの友人を案内する時にどこに連れていったら分からない。福岡らしさを残していって欲しいですね。ニューカマー達へのアドバイスは？又聞きの「日本人論」に振り回されないで！自分の体験をもとに「日本人ってこうだよね」と語って欲しいです。

ニール・ウィトキン
アメリカ出身／日本滞在3年半
福岡で英語を教えるってどんな感じですか？僕がJETといういわば小さなコミュニティーで、英語講師として3年間勤務しながらクラスのみんなと仲良くなっていく体験は最高の機会だった。ほとんどの日本人生徒にとって英語を学ぶって言うのはなかなか難しいみたいだから、彼らのやる気が出るように授業内容を工夫するのはすごく大切な事なんだ。だからできるだけ楽しいものにしようとしてるよ。今は英会話学校で働いていて、子供から大人まで幅広い年齢層の生徒さんを楽しませるにはどうしたらいいか、日々勉強しているよ。何か挑戦したことは？そうだな、あんまりカンチョーは好きじゃないな（笑）英語を教えるのは大好きだし、生徒も英語や勉強することに対してポジティブな気持ちでいることが大切だと思うよ。。福岡のどんな所が好きですか？僕が思うに、福岡はアートとか音楽シーンにおいて面白い所がたくさんある。外国人にとっていろんなチャンスが溢れてる街だよ。

リサ・バトラー
オーストラリア出身／日本滞在7年
福岡ではどんなお店で働いていたんですか？ぞくにいうVIPメンバー専用のお店。特に饒舌である必要もなく約2年働いたわ。正直、私はここでの仕事が大好きだった。様々な人とほんの少しだけおしゃべりするのは本当に楽しいものだったわ！頑張ったことといったら何でしょう？ハンカチとその日のドレスがちゃんとコーディネートされているかのチェックをすること。そう、ホステスの仕事って難しくないのよ。人を喜ばせてお金を沢山もらうことって、そんなに悪い事じゃない。おかげで私の日本語レベルも格段にアップできたし。日本でうまくやっていくコツってきっと、自分が外国人であって、100％日本化する事はないって事を受け入れる事じゃないかしら。達成感を感じたことはありますか？トンンコツラーメンを決して食べなかったこと。あのニオイは…ただ私の気分を悪くした以外何者でもなかったわ！

アベスンダラ・カンティ
スリランカ出身／日本滞在10年
日本の職場の印象は？日本人って丁寧でいつも時間厳守。私の同僚は毎日出勤は早くて、皆規律正しい。残業だっていとわないみたいだけど、私から見ると仕事とプライベートのバランスが取れてないように見えるわ。母国との違いは何でしょう？女性が働く上で、日本ではまだまだ女性管理職が少ないと思う。スリランカは女性だろうと男性だろうと関係ない、その人がその職に適任かを判断されるの。ニューカマーへのアドバイスがあればお願いします。当たり前なんだけど、日本語を勉強する事はすごく大事、特に話し言葉ね。実は私も10年以上格闘中（笑）。たぶん、日本式の方法に合わせるように努力した方がいい。外国人が物事を劇的に変えられるわけじゃないし、比較したって何も生まれないから、うまくこちらの社会に順応できるよう頑張って欲しいわ。エンジョイ、ユアジョブ！

エドアルド・ファルケ
メキシコ出身／日本滞在3年
ここでの学生生活についてはどうですか？まず九州大学といえば名門校として有名で、質の高い教授がたくさんいらっしゃるので、勉強するのは面白いよ。研究や九大留学生会の活動などで忙しいけど、 休日には九州を旅したり、天神に行ったりしているよ。たまに翻訳の仕事とかもしていろ。何で福岡がいいのでしょう？九州一の大学があるし、安定した生活もできます。それに韓国や中国も近いでしょう。また都会と自然のバランスがちょうどいいと思うよ。他の外国人学生にアドバイスを！できるだけ、地元の文化を学んだり、レインボープラザのような場所を通じて、福岡のコミュニティーに触れる機会を持つことを勧めるよ。日本語を学ぶことも重要だよ。

最後に、外国人ともっともっと仲良くなるために、外国人と会った時に試して欲しい使えるジョークを10個程ご紹介しよう。ただし、試した後に身のキケンを感じたときはすぐさま逃げようね。

1.会話なんか必要ない。とにかく「ハロー」。

2. 「頭ちっちゃいね」と言おう。

3.お箸が使えると言ってきても、気にせずフォークを渡そう。

4. 「納豆食べれるか聞いた後、食べる所まで確認しよう。

5. 温泉でガイジンが入ってきたら、すぐさまお湯から出よう。

6.電車でガイジンの隣しか空いてなかったら、30分立っとくのもしかたない。

7.ガイジンと1年くらいデートしたら、そろそろ親の友達の子供とお見合いしよう。

8. 初めて会ったガイジンには、まず帰国がいつかを聞こう。

9.ドイツ出身だというやつには、「で、アメリカのどの州出身なの？」と聞こう。

10. 外国人講師（男）には「ライスキング」と言ってあげよう。

そういうわけで福岡の外国人シーンをお届けしてきたこの特集。もっともっと載せたい情報はあったのに、お気づきの通り8ページじゃスペースが全然足りない…。でもせっかくだから、次の機会にもっとディープな情報でこのレポートを完成させたい！ということで、外国人アンケートをウェブ上で続行します。福岡の外国人シーン、次回をお楽しみに！

 

 

 

 

A Historical Overview
Currently Fukuoka Prefecture is home to 39,000 foreigners and Fukuoka City to 20,400. With its proximity to the continent it is not surprising that 90% of foreign residents are from Asia. But what of the non-Asian migration? How has the influx of migrants from beyond Asia made a difference to Fukuoka? These questions lead to some interesting answers.

Of course it is impossible to find data on every person who has visited or lived in Fukuoka over the years, but the first recorded Western visit was that of Saint Francis Xavier, who stopped in Hakata on his way to Kyoto in 1550. Between 1641 and 1853 not many foreigners were allowed to set foot on Japanese soil, but after American Commander Perry forced Japan to end its isolation, many beat a path here.

Some of the first people to make their way to Fukuoka were missionaries, who established several Christian schools. Eiwa Jo Gakkou (now Fukuoka Jo Gakuin), founded in 1885 by missionaries from the Methodist Episcopal Church, was one of the first. The school was headed by a series of American principals, and one of these, Elizabeth Lee, is credited with introducing the sailor uniform to Japanese schoolgirls. The school also organized a visit to Fukuoka by deafblind author and activist Helen Keller. Another famous person to make his way to Fukuoka in pre-war days was Albert Einstein, who visited on Christmas Eve 1922.

With the start of World War II, thousands of POWs were brought to Fukuoka, and were left with bitter memories. Many worked on building the runway for the Fukuoka airport or in coal mines nearby to make up for the lack of manpower at the time. The end of the war brought the next wave of foreigners, in the form of the occupation forces. US camps included Camp Hakata (Uminonakamichi Koen), Camp Kurume and Camp Kasuga. The Korean conflict prolonged American military presence in Fukuoka, and in 1954 honeymooners Marilyn Monroe and Joe Dimaggio visited the armed forces stationed here.

In 1971 the Seinan Gakuin University exchange program commenced, and has brought hundreds of (mostly) Americans to Fukuoka to study, many of whom have stayed on. Augmenting the city’s strategy for internationalization, Fukuoka International School opened its doors the following year. The start of the working holiday program in 1983 also brought a sprinkling of Australians, Canadians and New Zealanders to town, and in 1987 the JET Program became the first large-scale program to recruit English speakers and provide them with a job, a decent wage and accommodation. This was the era of kokusaika, or internationalization, and the bubble economy with the promise of big pay for ordinary English speakers was a draw card for adventure-seekers; some of whom married locals and stayed.

In 1988 the Fukuoka Nihongo Center, the first Japanese language school, opened and accommodated 80 shugakusei (pre-college) students. They joined the 587 ryugakusei – students studying at public schools and universities. This figure is now 1307 and 5082 respectively. In 1989 Fukuoka City held the international expo Yokatopia and about 200 international pavilion attendants from the Asian-Pacific region spent six months working at Momochihama. Fukuoka’s international profile was raised even higher in the past decade with the hosting of major international events such as the 1995 Universiade, the 1997 Asian Development Bank, G8 2000 Finance Ministers Summit, and the 2001 World Swimming Championships.

By now, different-looking gaijin were no longer a novelty, and people pointing in awe became less frequent. It was from this point the number of foreign residents really increased. From 1990 to present the number doubled from 9,900 to 20,400. The establishment of the American, Australian, Canadian, Chinese, Korean consulates, UN HABITAT and various trade offices are testimony to the City’s growing importance overseas. Meanwhile the American Center, French-Japanese Institute of Kyushu, NPO Tiempo Iberoamericano and others have promoted internationalism. Finally, walk-in help centers like Rainbow Plaza and Kokusai Hiroba have been invaluable to foreign residents.

Recently relaxed visa regulations can be credited for the increasing number of foreign residents from an ever-widening array of countries. This includes changes such as self-sponsorship and three-year work visas. Assistant Language Teachers (ALTs) can now be found in many schools throughout the prefecture, and more and more gaijin are setting up their business in Fukuoka. Perhaps the recent increase of foreign students and specialized laborers will compensate for Japan’s declining birthrate? The foreigners who have made their way to Fukuoka are now, more than ever, part of the region’s future.

by Chris Flynn, Assistant Professor Kyushu Institute of Information Sciences

Facts on Foreigners
We all sense that the number of foreigners living or visiting Fukuoka is increasing. But where are these people from and what are they doing here? Below are a few sets of key statistics.

Nationalities
According to the Ministry of Justice, as of 2006, the total number of foreign residents in Fukuoka Prefecture was 45,758. Chinese and Koreans account for 76% but it should be noted that many of these people were born in Japan.

Visas
“Special Permanent Residents” (37%) are first and second generation Koreans and Taiwanese who lived in Japan before and after the war and were given special status by law. It is interesting to note that Entertainment visas in 6th position barely exceed the number of foreigners on International Services visas (comprised mostly of language teachers). Draw your own conclusions.

Mixed Marriages
Back in 1997, Fukuoka Prefecture recorded 616 marriages between Japanese and non-Japanese. In 2001 the number was 779, and in 2005 it had risen to 928. Interestingly, the number of Japanese men marrying non-Japanese women nationally in 2002 was 27,957, far exceeding the 7,922 foreign men with Japanese wives. Japanese men are especially tying up with women from other Asian countries.

Overseas Visitors
Immigration records only track entries by foreigners via Hakata Port and the Fukuoka airport. Since neither receive ships from non-Asian countries, it is no surprise that non-Asians rank so low. In 2005, 59.8% of the total 498,056 visitors were from Korea, followed by 15.7% from Taiwan, 8.6% from China, and 2% from America.

Came and Stayed
Most foreigners come to Fukuoka for a year or two, and some longer and some shorter. We thought it might be interesting to hear about what Fukuoka was like way back from a few foreigners who came － and stayed.

Bob Arnold
Teacher (former Military)
American, 44 years in Fukuoka
“I remember when it was a dirt road to Shikanoshima, an American double-feature film was just 180 yen, and there were over 30 GI bars in Saitozaki – now it’s a ghost town – so some things have come and some have gone”

Gurbir Singh
Owner & Founder of Nanak Indian Restaurants
Indian, 30 years in Fukuoka
“There were very few foreigners here in 1977. We were pioneers in that respect. We used to have to go to Osaka or further for many things – now Fukuoka has it all. Now those cities are over saturated and Fukuoka has more potential.”

Bill C
Ex-Educator & DJ / ol’ Hippy / now retired
American, 35+ years in Fukuoka
“Arrived here in the Vietnam era, back when “Gaijin da” was cute and not a slur. 2,000 yen (360 yen=USD1.00) was more than enough for serious all-night Nakasu fun (etc.) using midnight-blackmarket taxis. The few; A&W, Mr. Donuts & Dairy Queens hadn’t yet found “the Fuk”.

Jimmy Bartlet
Teacher
American, 37 years in Fukuoka
“Fukuoka’s much better now – everything’s gotten better! You used to see lots of gaijin “off limits” signs. Nakasu was where all the dance halls, discos and movie theaters were. Oyafuko was nothing!”

Rod Sebaoon
Hair Designer
French, 14 years in Fukuoka
“Unlike my home town Paris, you could get into any nightclubs – with no dress code, food and drinks all night, full dance floors, with no zombie DJ-watching crap, and Tenjin and Daimyo weren’t Kiddylands”.

Interviews

Bar Owner
Hector Omani
Ghanian
12 years in Japan

What’s it like being a bar owner in Fukuoka? Opening my own bar in 2000 earned me respect from both foreigners and Japanese and has really improved my lifestyle. I see it as my biggest achievement here. It has also enabled me to experience things like appearing in a weekly program on TVQ. Is life here very different to back home? In Ghana there were no real opportunities, but here if you’re willing to learn the language and work hard, you get your share. It’s the “Japanese way”. There have been challenges along the way and, yes, I’ve experienced some discrimination, but I believe patience moves mountains. What would you change about Fukuoka? Maybe Japan could use some reform because parts of the culture are still closed to foreigners. Overall, nothing really bothers me though. Fukuoka is like heaven to me!

Announcer
Kim Jisook
Korean
12 years in Japan

What’s it like working in radio? I started at Love FM in 2000 and noticed through listeners that the Japanese attitude towards Korea is changing. First there was the Yon-sama boom with housewives, and more recently K-Pop has become all the rage with students. Making a program is a creative process, so there are differences of opinion at times. Japanese people like to avoid conflict, but I believe it’s an inevitable part of producing quality. How do you feel about Fukuoka? When Korean friends ask me to take them sight-seeing it’s sometimes hard to show things uniquely Fukuoka. Lately more and more national department stores are opening; I hope Fukuoka won’t lose its own flavor! Any advice for newcomers? Many people give out advice on what Japanese people are like but for me it’s important to experience Japan yourself and then make up your own mind.

Teacher
Neil Witkin
American
3.5 years in Japan

What’s it like teaching English here? I was on the JET Program for three years as an Assistant Language Teacher (ALT), and living in a small community and getting to know my classes was a fantastic opportunity. I think it’s really important to motivate students, so I’m always trying to make lessons engaging and fun. Now I’m teaching at an English conversation school with children and adults, so I’m learning a lot about how to work with different age groups. Any challenges? Well, I’m not a big fan of kancho! But I really enjoy teaching, and I think that it’s important that young learners leave class with a positive outlook on English and studying. How do you like Fukuoka? I think there’s a lot of great stuff going on in the art and music scenes. I think Fukuoka is a place with many great opportunities for foreigners.

Hostess
Lisa Butler
Australian
7 years in Japan

Describe your job as a hostess here. I worked in an exclusive members-only club for two years where I made small talk with guests. I really enjoyed the variety of people I met, the short hours, and all the dressing up! What challenges did you face? Making sure my handkerchiefs matched my outfit! Seriously, being a hostess was an easy job. Getting paid well to be pleasant to others isn’t the worst job in the world. My Japanese language skills improved greatly too. I think the secret for success in getting along in Japan is accepting that you’ll always be a foreigner and will never quite fit in. What was your biggest achievement in Fukuoka? Having never eaten tonkotsu ramen – just the smell of it turned my stomach!

Employee
Kanthi Abeysundara
Sri Lankan
10 years in Japan

Describe working in Japan. People here are very polite and punctual, all of my colleagues arrive to work early, every day! They’re also extremely disciplined. Everyone does so much overtime there doesn’t seem to be a balance between job and family life. Sometimes I think the Japanese are addicted to work! Any differences to back home? Here you rarely find women in executive posts while in Sri Lanka it doesn’t matter if you’re female – as long as you’re qualified for the position. Do you have any advice for newcomers? Obviously learning Japanese is very important, especially the spoken language – I’m still struggling with kanji after 10 years! And I think you should try to adjust to the Japanese system because foreigners can’t change the way things are done here. Complaining doesn’t help either so just try to adapt and enjoy your job!

Student
Eduardo Jarque
Mexican
3 years in Japan

Describe life as a student here. Kyushu University has a high academic reputation and great professors. I enjoy studying here. My research, academic activities and the Foreign Students’ Association (KUFSA) keep me really busy, but I manage to set some time free on weekends for traveling around Kyushu or going out to Tenjin. I also used to do some
part-time work in translation. Why Fukuoka? It has the best University in Kyushu, it is a centric city in Japan with a very good standard of living; and the closest port to Korea and China. It is a perfect combination of a big metropolis and a quiet city. Any advice for foreign students? I think foreign students should get to know the local culture and society as much as possible, so I recommend getting involved in the Fukuoka community through places like Rainbow Plaza, where you can interact with Japanese people. Studying the language is crucial as well.

10 Ways to Wind Up a Gaijin
Put the good nature of your foreign friends to the test with a few of these ticklers. Use at your own risk and be prepared to run!

1. Say “haro” to one without any intent of having a conversation

2. Remark “your head is so small!”

3. When foreigners tells you they’re able to use chopsticks, give them a fork anyway

4. Ask a gaijin if he can eat natto and make him prove it!

5. Ask “when are you going home?” during your first conversation.

6. Prefer to stand for a 30 min. train ride because the only available seat is next to a gaijin

7. Date one for a year then suddenly marry your parents’ friends’ child

8. Leave the onsen bath when one hops in

9. After hearing she’s from Germany, ask her what part of the States she’s from

10. Call your male English teacher “rice king”

Survey!
Almost as soon as we started putting together this feature we realized that eight pages were not enough to do justice to this topic. We also found that very little data on foreigners in Fukuoka exist. So we hope this will inspire others to finish the job with a more in-depth report. As a first step we propose a survey be made of as many foreign residents as possible. We’ve set up a internet site to collect such data. Your privacy will be protected and we promise to share the resulting statistics in an upcoming report. Please take a few minutes now and help us compile an accurate profile of Fukuoka’s foreigners!
Photo credits: James Heneghan, Fukuoka Convention Bureau, Fukuoka City Wes Injerd, B. Hill

 

 

 

 

A Historical Overview
Currently Fukuoka Prefecture is home to 39,000 foreigners and Fukuoka City to 20,400. With its proximity to the continent it is not surprising that 90% of foreign residents are from Asia. But what of the non-Asian migration? How has the influx of migrants from beyond Asia made a difference to Fukuoka? These questions lead to some interesting answers.

Of course it is impossible to find data on every person who has visited or lived in Fukuoka over the years, but the first recorded Western visit was that of Saint Francis Xavier, who stopped in Hakata on his way to Kyoto in 1550. Between 1641 and 1853 not many foreigners were allowed to set foot on Japanese soil, but after American Commander Perry forced Japan to end its isolation, many beat a path here.

Some of the first people to make their way to Fukuoka were missionaries, who established several Christian schools. Eiwa Jo Gakkou (now Fukuoka Jo Gakuin), founded in 1885 by missionaries from the Methodist Episcopal Church, was one of the first. The school was headed by a series of American principals, and one of these, Elizabeth Lee, is credited with introducing the sailor uniform to Japanese schoolgirls. The school also organized a visit to Fukuoka by deafblind author and activist Helen Keller. Another famous person to make his way to Fukuoka in pre-war days was Albert Einstein, who visited on Christmas Eve 1922.

With the start of World War II, thousands of POWs were brought to Fukuoka, and were left with bitter memories. Many worked on building the runway for the Fukuoka airport or in coal mines nearby to make up for the lack of manpower at the time. The end of the war brought the next wave of foreigners, in the form of the occupation forces. US camps included Camp Hakata (Uminonakamichi Koen), Camp Kurume and Camp Kasuga. The Korean conflict prolonged American military presence in Fukuoka, and in 1954 honeymooners Marilyn Monroe and Joe Dimaggio visited the armed forces stationed here.

In 1971 the Seinan Gakuin University exchange program commenced, and has brought hundreds of (mostly) Americans to Fukuoka to study, many of whom have stayed on. Augmenting the city’s strategy for internationalization, Fukuoka International School opened its doors the following year. The start of the working holiday program in 1983 also brought a sprinkling of Australians, Canadians and New Zealanders to town, and in 1987 the JET Program became the first large-scale program to recruit English speakers and provide them with a job, a decent wage and accommodation. This was the era of kokusaika, or internationalization, and the bubble economy with the promise of big pay for ordinary English speakers was a draw card for adventure-seekers; some of whom married locals and stayed.

In 1988 the Fukuoka Nihongo Center, the first Japanese language school, opened and accommodated 80 shugakusei (pre-college) students. They joined the 587 ryugakusei – students studying at public schools and universities. This figure is now 1307 and 5082 respectively. In 1989 Fukuoka City held the international expo Yokatopia and about 200 international pavilion attendants from the Asian-Pacific region spent six months working at Momochihama. Fukuoka’s international profile was raised even higher in the past decade with the hosting of major international events such as the 1995 Universiade, the 1997 Asian Development Bank, G8 2000 Finance Ministers Summit, and the 2001 World Swimming Championships.

By now, different-looking gaijin were no longer a novelty, and people pointing in awe became less frequent. It was from this point the number of foreign residents really increased. From 1990 to present the number doubled from 9,900 to 20,400. The establishment of the American, Australian, Canadian, Chinese, Korean consulates, UN HABITAT and various trade offices are testimony to the City’s growing importance overseas. Meanwhile the American Center, French-Japanese Institute of Kyushu, NPO Tiempo Iberoamericano and others have promoted internationalism. Finally, walk-in help centers like Rainbow Plaza and Kokusai Hiroba have been invaluable to foreign residents.

Recently relaxed visa regulations can be credited for the increasing number of foreign residents from an ever-widening array of countries. This includes changes such as self-sponsorship and three-year work visas. Assistant Language Teachers (ALTs) can now be found in many schools throughout the prefecture, and more and more gaijin are setting up their business in Fukuoka. Perhaps the recent increase of foreign students and specialized laborers will compensate for Japan’s declining birthrate? The foreigners who have made their way to Fukuoka are now, more than ever, part of the region’s future.

by Chris Flynn, Assistant Professor Kyushu Institute of Information Sciences

Facts on Foreigners
We all sense that the number of foreigners living or visiting Fukuoka is increasing. But where are these people from and what are they doing here? Below are a few sets of key statistics.

Nationalities
According to the Ministry of Justice, as of 2006, the total number of foreign residents in Fukuoka Prefecture was 45,758. Chinese and Koreans account for 76% but it should be noted that many of these people were born in Japan.

Visas
“Special Permanent Residents” (37%) are first and second generation Koreans and Taiwanese who lived in Japan before and after the war and were given special status by law. It is interesting to note that Entertainment visas in 6th position barely exceed the number of foreigners on International Services visas (comprised mostly of language teachers). Draw your own conclusions.

Mixed Marriages
Back in 1997, Fukuoka Prefecture recorded 616 marriages between Japanese and non-Japanese. In 2001 the number was 779, and in 2005 it had risen to 928. Interestingly, the number of Japanese men marrying non-Japanese women nationally in 2002 was 27,957, far exceeding the 7,922 foreign men with Japanese wives. Japanese men are especially tying up with women from other Asian countries.

Overseas Visitors
Immigration records only track entries by foreigners via Hakata Port and the Fukuoka airport. Since neither receive ships from non-Asian countries, it is no surprise that non-Asians rank so low. In 2005, 59.8% of the total 498,056 visitors were from Korea, followed by 15.7% from Taiwan, 8.6% from China, and 2% from America.

Came and Stayed
Most foreigners come to Fukuoka for a year or two, and some longer and some shorter. We thought it might be interesting to hear about what Fukuoka was like way back from a few foreigners who came － and stayed.

Bob Arnold
Teacher (former Military)
American, 44 years in Fukuoka
“I remember when it was a dirt road to Shikanoshima, an American double-feature film was just 180 yen, and there were over 30 GI bars in Saitozaki – now it’s a ghost town – so some things have come and some have gone”

Gurbir Singh
Owner & Founder of Nanak Indian Restaurants
Indian, 30 years in Fukuoka
“There were very few foreigners here in 1977. We were pioneers in that respect. We used to have to go to Osaka or further for many things – now Fukuoka has it all. Now those cities are over saturated and Fukuoka has more potential.”

Bill C
Ex-Educator & DJ / ol’ Hippy / now retired
American, 35+ years in Fukuoka
“Arrived here in the Vietnam era, back when “Gaijin da” was cute and not a slur. 2,000 yen (360 yen=USD1.00) was more than enough for serious all-night Nakasu fun (etc.) using midnight-blackmarket taxis. The few; A&W, Mr. Donuts & Dairy Queens hadn’t yet found “the Fuk”.

Jimmy Bartlet
Teacher
American, 37 years in Fukuoka
“Fukuoka’s much better now – everything’s gotten better! You used to see lots of gaijin “off limits” signs. Nakasu was where all the dance halls, discos and movie theaters were. Oyafuko was nothing!”

Rod Sebaoon
Hair Designer
French, 14 years in Fukuoka
“Unlike my home town Paris, you could get into any nightclubs – with no dress code, food and drinks all night, full dance floors, with no zombie DJ-watching crap, and Tenjin and Daimyo weren’t Kiddylands”.

Interviews

Bar Owner
Hector Omani
Ghanian
12 years in Japan

What’s it like being a bar owner in Fukuoka? Opening my own bar in 2000 earned me respect from both foreigners and Japanese and has really improved my lifestyle. I see it as my biggest achievement here. It has also enabled me to experience things like appearing in a weekly program on TVQ. Is life here very different to back home? In Ghana there were no real opportunities, but here if you’re willing to learn the language and work hard, you get your share. It’s the “Japanese way”. There have been challenges along the way and, yes, I’ve experienced some discrimination, but I believe patience moves mountains. What would you change about Fukuoka? Maybe Japan could use some reform because parts of the culture are still closed to foreigners. Overall, nothing really bothers me though. Fukuoka is like heaven to me!

Announcer
Kim Jisook
Korean
12 years in Japan

What’s it like working in radio? I started at Love FM in 2000 and noticed through listeners that the Japanese attitude towards Korea is changing. First there was the Yon-sama boom with housewives, and more recently K-Pop has become all the rage with students. Making a program is a creative process, so there are differences of opinion at times. Japanese people like to avoid conflict, but I believe it’s an inevitable part of producing quality. How do you feel about Fukuoka? When Korean friends ask me to take them sight-seeing it’s sometimes hard to show things uniquely Fukuoka. Lately more and more national department stores are opening; I hope Fukuoka won’t lose its own flavor! Any advice for newcomers? Many people give out advice on what Japanese people are like but for me it’s important to experience Japan yourself and then make up your own mind.

Teacher
Neil Witkin
American
3.5 years in Japan

What’s it like teaching English here? I was on the JET Program for three years as an Assistant Language Teacher (ALT), and living in a small community and getting to know my classes was a fantastic opportunity. I think it’s really important to motivate students, so I’m always trying to make lessons engaging and fun. Now I’m teaching at an English conversation school with children and adults, so I’m learning a lot about how to work with different age groups. Any challenges? Well, I’m not a big fan of kancho! But I really enjoy teaching, and I think that it’s important that young learners leave class with a positive outlook on English and studying. How do you like Fukuoka? I think there’s a lot of great stuff going on in the art and music scenes. I think Fukuoka is a place with many great opportunities for foreigners.

Hostess
Lisa Butler
Australian
7 years in Japan

Describe your job as a hostess here. I worked in an exclusive members-only club for two years where I made small talk with guests. I really enjoyed the variety of people I met, the short hours, and all the dressing up! What challenges did you face? Making sure my handkerchiefs matched my outfit! Seriously, being a hostess was an easy job. Getting paid well to be pleasant to others isn’t the worst job in the world. My Japanese language skills improved greatly too. I think the secret for success in getting along in Japan is accepting that you’ll always be a foreigner and will never quite fit in. What was your biggest achievement in Fukuoka? Having never eaten tonkotsu ramen – just the smell of it turned my stomach!

Employee
Kanthi Abeysundara
Sri Lankan
10 years in Japan

Describe working in Japan. People here are very polite and punctual, all of my colleagues arrive to work early, every day! They’re also extremely disciplined. Everyone does so much overtime there doesn’t seem to be a balance between job and family life. Sometimes I think the Japanese are addicted to work! Any differences to back home? Here you rarely find women in executive posts while in Sri Lanka it doesn’t matter if you’re female – as long as you’re qualified for the position. Do you have any advice for newcomers? Obviously learning Japanese is very important, especially the spoken language – I’m still struggling with kanji after 10 years! And I think you should try to adjust to the Japanese system because foreigners can’t change the way things are done here. Complaining doesn’t help either so just try to adapt and enjoy your job!

Student
Eduardo Jarque
Mexican
3 years in Japan

Describe life as a student here. Kyushu University has a high academic reputation and great professors. I enjoy studying here. My research, academic activities and the Foreign Students’ Association (KUFSA) keep me really busy, but I manage to set some time free on weekends for traveling around Kyushu or going out to Tenjin. I also used to do some
part-time work in translation. Why Fukuoka? It has the best University in Kyushu, it is a centric city in Japan with a very good standard of living; and the closest port to Korea and China. It is a perfect combination of a big metropolis and a quiet city. Any advice for foreign students? I think foreign students should get to know the local culture and society as much as possible, so I recommend getting involved in the Fukuoka community through places like Rainbow Plaza, where you can interact with Japanese people. Studying the language is crucial as well.

10 Ways to Wind Up a Gaijin
Put the good nature of your foreign friends to the test with a few of these ticklers. Use at your own risk and be prepared to run!

1. Say “haro” to one without any intent of having a conversation

2. Remark “your head is so small!”

3. When foreigners tells you they’re able to use chopsticks, give them a fork anyway

4. Ask a gaijin if he can eat natto and make him prove it!

5. Ask “when are you going home?” during your first conversation.

6. Prefer to stand for a 30 min. train ride because the only available seat is next to a gaijin

7. Date one for a year then suddenly marry your parents’ friends’ child

8. Leave the onsen bath when one hops in

9. After hearing she’s from Germany, ask her what part of the States she’s from

10. Call your male English teacher “rice king”

Survey!
Almost as soon as we started putting together this feature we realized that eight pages were not enough to do justice to this topic. We also found that very little data on foreigners in Fukuoka exist. So we hope this will inspire others to finish the job with a more in-depth report. As a first step we propose a survey be made of as many foreign residents as possible. We’ve set up a internet site to collect such data. Your privacy will be protected and we promise to share the resulting statistics in an upcoming report. Please take a few minutes now and help us compile an accurate profile of Fukuoka’s foreigners!
Photo credits: James Heneghan, Fukuoka Convention Bureau, Fukuoka City Wes Injerd, B. Hill