Selected news topics by Fukuoka Now from Fukuoka’s Shisei Dayori.
New Children’s Hospital Opens in Island City
The 30-plus-year-old Fukuoka City Children’s Hospital in Chuo-ku will close on Nov. 1 and move to a new facility in Island City (5 Kashii-teriha, Higashi-ku). The new hospital will use its wealth of clinical experience and medical expertise to improve pediatric and perinatal care for its patients who come from all over Kyushu and western Japan. Outpatient care will begin on Nov 5.
Emergency Pediatric Care Hotline: #8000
If your child suddenly falls ill or is injured late at night, you can call the Emergency Pediatric Care Hotline at #8000 or 092-725-2540. The hotline is available from 19:00~7:00 and is staffed by experienced nurses. The Japan Pediatric Society’s “Kodomo no Kyukyu” website (http://kodomo-qq.jp) can also help you determine whether you should take your child to a hospital. Inquiries: 092-711-4892 (Regional Medical Affairs Section)
Fukuoka Marathon 2014
On Nov. 9 (Sun), 12,000 runners and 3,000 volunteers will fill the streets of Fukuoka and Itoshima for the first-ever Fukuoka Marathon 2014. More than 60 stalls will be open 10:00~16:00 at the finish line venue (Shima Chuo Park) offering grilled oysters, steamed sweet potatoes, butajiru and more. Free shuttle buses will run between the park and JR Chikuzen-Maebaru Station every five minutes. Inquiries: 092-711-4676 (Fukuoka Marathon Organizing Committee Office)
Startup Cafe Opens
Fukuoka City’s Startup Café opened inside Tsutaya Book Store Tenjin (1 Imaizumi) on Oct. 11. The cafe offers information and consultation services as well as one-stop support for business startup procedures. It also serves as a place where startup owners can meet potential staff. The cafe is open 10:00~22:00 year-round (except Year-End/New Year holidays) and is staffed by full-time coordinators. Inquiries: 092-711-4455 (Business Startup & University Collaboration Section)
Visit Local Schools
Nov. 1~7 is School Open House Week in Fukuoka City. All 231 of the city’s schools (143 elementary schools, 69 junior high schools, 4 high schools, 8 special needs schools and 7 kindergartens) will be opened to the public so that local residents, parents and guardians can see what’s going on at school. Regular classes, foreign language activities, choral competitions and cultural festivals will be open to the public again this year. Last year, around 140,000 people visited schools during Open House Week. Please check school and Board of Education homepages for detailed schedules (http://www.city.fukuoka.lg.jp/kyoiku-iinkai/gakkoshien/ed/koukai.html).
Yipee! For FREE!
Festival of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries
The Festival of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries will be held 9:00~15:30 on Nov. 8 (Sat) at the plaza in front of the Fukuoka City Fish Market (3 Nagahama, Chuo-ku). Stop by to sample locally-produced foods and buy fresh vegetables, meat and fish. Nov. 8 is also community appreciation day at Nagahama Seafood Market. The event runs 9:00~12:00 and features a tuna cleaning show at 9:30.
For more Information
Fukuoka City Bulletin
Fukuoka Shisei Dayori is City Hall’s official magazine published bi-weekly on 1st and 15th of each month 23 times per year. It’s available in Japanese online too. Consider using it for Japanese study! ふくおか市政だより Website: www.city.fukuoka.lg.jp/shisei/kouhou-hodo/shiseidayori/
Originally published in Fukuoka Now Magazine (fn191, Nov. 2014)
