Up until yesterday Fukuoka City was made up of six wards: Chuo-ku, Minami-ku, Higashi-ku, Sawara-ku, and Hakata-ku. However today a seventh “virtual” ward was created. The name of the ward is Kawaii-ku or in English, “Cute Ward”. Registration of citizens begins today online. Printed citizen certificates will be available for ¥300 by the end of September. The city hopes to attract 10,000 cuties. The leader (ku-cho) of “Cute Ward” is AKB48 member Mariko Shinoda, originally from Itoshima, Fukuoka. She will be involved in many upcoming promotional projects to generate awareness about Fukuoka City. One of the goals is to publicize Fukuoka’s cute assets and cute culture. The practice of using celebrities to promote cities in Japan is becoming popular, but Fukuoka City is the first to create a Cute Ward! For more information and to sign up: http://kawaiiku.jp/
