Fukuoka Now

(English) Hakata Ori Exhibition

(English) Hakata ori (woven textile) is a local folk craft with 760 years of tradition. Recently, the traditional design of Hakata-ori has been incorporated in everyday items and their original blend of old tradition and modern taste has gained a high reputation from home and abroad. This exhibition “Hakata Orimoto Sennen Kobo Exhibition” at Hakata Riverain’s 5F Atrium Garden features a display of over 50 types of Hakata Ori. Vote for your favorite to enter a draw to win a Hakata Ori Obi and other goods. Koishiwara pottery items will also be included in the exhibition, and available for purchase. EXTRA! Experience Hakata Ori making in a 30 minute free course, where you will weave a Hakata ori coaster, which you can take home.

(English) Jane Eyre (ジェーン·エア) at Hakata-za Theatre

(English) Award winning actress Takako Matsu (Confessions, 2010) stars in an acclaimed musical adaptation of Charlotte Brontë’s novel Jane Eyre. The show tells a gothic love story of Jane Eyre and the tormented Mr. Rochester. Nominated for Best Original Score and Best Musical, this no-nonsense adaptation of the novel will provide an excellent opportunity to see a familiar character portrayed by one of Japan’s most popular actresses in a state-of-the-art Kabuki venue. The performance is in Japanese (translated by Yoshida Mie, lyrics by Matsuda Naoyuki). Tickets can be paid for online and collected at the theatre or purchased at the theatre box-office.

(English) KLM Fukuoka – Amsterdam Route Press Conference

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(English) Theater Review : Jane Eyre at Hakata-za

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(English) Oishinbon 30th Anniversary & Garage Sale

(English) Celebrating their 30th anniversary, Fukuoka’s local gourmet guide Oishinbon (http://www.oishinbon.net) is holding a food festa this Sunday alongside a garage sale at Kego Shrine. Whilst you shop at the garage sale, you can sample delicious treats from around twenty stalls by well-known restaurants and cafes in Fukuoka– with everything from ramen to pizza and doughnuts! A great way to spend the first Sunday of Autumn!

(English) Mori-J: Dancer & Artist

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(English) Motsunabe Keisyu

(English) While the prospect of eating cow’s intestines may seem less than tempting at first, Hakata’s specialty dish motsunabe is proof that you shouldn’t knock it ‘til you try it! This hot-pot featuring beef entrails (motsu) and vegetables in a delicious broth has gained popularity across Japan. If you’re new to motsu, “Motsunabe Keisyu”– a modern and stylish restaurant located down a quiet alley in the foodies district of Nishinakasu is a good place to start. As the sister restaurant of long-established “Yakiniku Keisyu”, the meat used in all dishes is top quality. Keisyu’s motsu is sourced from Kagoshima and is soft and pink before cooking– a sign of its freshness. But what really sets this motsunabe apart is its broth, the most critical element of the dish. In addition to the soy and white miso broth, they also offer an original “salted tail” broth, made from slow boiled beef tail. Chinese cabbage, onion, garlic and other vegetable are simmered in this broth along with the motsu to create a rich meal. It’s simply delicious! Another recommended dish and one that goes well with motsunabe is crispy wagyu beef gyoza. There’s also an izakaya-style menu of over 30 favorite dishes that go well with wine, and private rooms are available on the second floor.

불교와 관계 깊은 하카타 직물

하카타 인형과 더불어 하카타의 전통공예품으로 잘 알려진 하카타 직물. 탄탄하고 두꺼운 견직물로 기모노의 오비로 예부터 인기를 끌어왔습니다. 묶을 때 독특한 소리가 나는 것이 특징인데 ‘키누나리’라 불리는 이 소리는 좋은 견직물이 아니면 나지 않는다고 합니다.

(English) Francine Méoule

(English) Francine Méoule, the new Director of the Institut français du Japon – Kyushu, is keen to get started in her new role bridging France and Kyushu through culture. Francine has spent nine years of her career in Asia and loves it! She sees much potential in Fukuoka and Kyushu and thinks the institute could diversify to include more pop culture such as manga and technology. She plans to visit many places around Kyushu to familiarize herself with the region and develop networks from which the institute can initiate new events and also broaden awareness of their existing activities. In addition to events by French artists and musicians and a monthly cinema night at Nishitetsu Hall, the institute also operates the area’s largest French language school complete with a resource library of books and DVDs. This year marks the 30th anniversary of sister city relations between Bordeaux and Fukuoka. The institute has many events already planned, details of which can be found on their website in French and Japanese. On a personal level, Francine is looking forward to biking around the city, joining a yoga school and getting settled in!

(English) Time to Say Goodbye

(English) I am going to write some words I never thought I’d write: Of all the places I’ve ever left, Fukuoka is by far the most recent. After 16 years in Fukuoka, 19 in Japan, and 20 in Asia, I decided to call it quits and move back to what some might call my home country. I certainly wasn’t the first to gaijin to leave and I know I won’t be the last, but after a certain number of years here one becomes known as a “lifer”. I crossed that barrier long ago, yet I left anyway. Many were shocked I decided to leave – including myself.

by P. Sean Bramble