Postcard from Hakata, Kyushu, Japan

Hakata ramen

I don't usually post 'food porn' pics, but I know Luna students well be jealous again! 

Here I am in Hakata, Fukuoka for work and enjoying Hakata ramen (shop in the huge train station as good as any, which the queue to get in suggests!) with a cold beer after a busy 'Cambridge' day, decompressing with my boos - from Fukuoka = she's an ideal food guide!

She also showed ne around the yatai area along the river - overpriced and pushy (ask you to hurry up & eat/drink after you've waited for a seat for ages in the drizzle)...food is OK but only for the outdoor eating experience & banging elbows with strangers - no Michelin stars here!

I'm not complaining though - I love visiting Kyushu, and Fukuoka people are really laid back & cool!

Hakata River yatai (food stalls)

An away day with Cambridge - Jim on the job in Kyushu

Fukuoka cadre B1 & B2 Speaking examiners

 My apologies for not being 'at work' once or twice recently. I know it looks like I was only having fun ridinng the shinkansen, eating Hakata ramen or climbing hills looking for castles...the side-benefits to being asked to do a really important role for Cambridge Centre JP026 (Kawaijuku) which is to train English teachers to become speaking examiners.

In late August I was asked to train a group for B1:Preliminary & B2:First levels, with the number of candidates likely to rise significantly in Kita-Kyushu. The weekend was the culmination of months of recruiting. A group of teachers, some of whom had met in 2024 training for A2 Key, but also 60% 'new' teachers to the Cambridge team. Blending previous learnings with wide-eyed "what's this all about" is tricky, but fun...made all the easier by the ample preparations by JP026 and a proper interview & induction process avoiding unecessary disappointments or FAQs slowing us down.

Hakata headaches? A2 team

Needless to say, a lot of hard work involved by all participants, but a team we did construct after a follow up certification process on the Sunday. This group will be heading out to high schools in northern Kyushu later this autumn to deliver speaking tests cheerfully to nervous first-time exam takers, encouraging a lot of 'can do' and applying universal assessment criteria for valid, globally accepted results. I'm really looking forward to seeing this group of professionals in demonstrating their skills soon, and to welcoming their debuts in-person (yes, another weekend away - I know you won't miss me, as Kazumi will again be entertaining my students!). 

Postcard from - Hakata, Kita-kyushu

Naka River yatai

I had a really nice weekend working in Hakata - the people I was working with were great, and the location was only a short walk from downtown.

No hawkers

There were dozens & dozens yatai lining the Naka River, offering all sorts of Japanese fare, from yakitori to ramen & okonomiyaki. There were queues for each and every one, and happy customers bellying up to the counters eagerly. Drinks in full flow and the scene quietly buzzing - but unlike Shinjuku not a pimp in sight & no sign of scampilly clad maids; nor the throaty jostling of Osaka with elbows out. Instead, a really orderly and patient excitement.

I found a seat with my boss for ramen, and got chatting with a Danish traveller - we got told off for talking too much/not eating & drinking fast enough (a yatai faux pas!) so I'll do better next time. The munchies were great, masters super friendly and the beers...just right :)

Fish face

Next evening I had to have sushi - especially squid, which I remember from a road trip around Kyushu twenty years ago as being exceptionally good. No disappointment this time either.

I really enjoyed my evenings out in Hakata - place has a really welcoming vibe. Nobody in a rush, the food is great and you can walk to anywhere you want to get to. If you need to get any further the new subway lines will get you there quickly, if the extensive bus network won't. I can't wait to come back...