Trivia & Fun Facts About Fukuoka Prefecture, the Culinary Capital
Fukuoka Prefecture is full of attractive food-related spots, from Hakata ramen and spicy cod roe (karashi mentaiko) to its yatai street-food stall culture.
Beyond food, it’s also home to plenty of must-see sightseeing spots, such as PayPay Dome, the home stadium of the Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks, Mojiko Retro, and Miyajidake Shrine.
In this article, we’ll share trivia and fun facts about Fukuoka Prefecture.
Some of these are “of course” moments locals will recognize, but they may be surprising to people from other prefectures.
Let this article be your gateway to discovering even more of Fukuoka’s charm!
[City of Food] Trivia & Fun Facts about Fukuoka Prefecture (1–10)
The specialty product “Amaou” was named after the initials of akai (red), marui (round), ookii (large), and umai (delicious).
There are famous strawberry-producing regions across Japan, such as Fukuoka and Tochigi.
During strawberry season, you often see special features on strawberry picking online and elsewhere.
Some strawberry names are apparently derived from their characteristics.
The name of Amaou, which is harvested in Fukuoka, comes from the initials of akai (red), marui (round), ookii (large), and umai (delicious).
Amaou is a branded strawberry that Fukuoka Prefecture spent six years developing.
The aim was to improve farmers’ profits by producing high-quality strawberries.
For this reason, to enhance its brand value, Amaou is not allowed to be produced outside Fukuoka Prefecture.
“Issē no se” is Fukuoka dialect for “san no ga hai.”
A shout used when people want to coordinate their timing, such as when lifting something heavy.
Nationwide, there are various calls with regional differences.
In Fukuoka Prefecture, instead of “issei-no-se,” people say “san-no-ga-hai.” According to one theory, its origin is the “san, hai” used when starting to sing.
Many people who use this shout may not have realized it was a dialect, since the phrase blends naturally into everyday life.
Besides “san-no-ga-hai,” people also use calls like “san hai,” “se-no,” “yaa,” and “oisa,” choosing the one that fits the situation.
In PE class, students respond to commands like “Sit!” or “Stand!” by answering with “ya!”
There are regional differences in the commands used at schools across Japan.
In Fukuoka Prefecture, it’s said that students respond with “yaa” during P.E.
when given commands like “sit” or “stand.” There are several theories about the origin: one links it to the shout “yaa” used in Hakata’s representative festival, the Hakata Gion Yamakasa.
Another traces it to the 1940 Tripartite Pact among Japan, Italy, and Germany, after which German educational ideas spread to Japan; the German word for “yes,” which sounds like “ja,” may have been heard as “yaa.” By the way, outside of Fukuoka, there are also regions in Osaka, Shikoku, and Hyogo where “yaa” is used.
Hakata is the birthplace of udon, soba, and manju.
Did you know that Hakata is the birthplace of udon, soba, and manju—foods that often appear on our dining tables? It is said that the monk who founded Jotenji Temple in Fukuoka City brought back milling technology when he returned from China in 1241.
This was a groundbreaking milling technique that had never existed in Japan before.
As a result, the flour-based food culture of udon and soba spread throughout the country.
There is also a tradition that the monk from Jotenji taught the method for making sake manju to the owner of a teahouse who had kindly hosted him.
At Jotenji, there is even a stone monument marking it as the birthplace of udon and soba.
There is the largest seated wooden statue in Japan.
The largest Great Buddha in Japan is located in Fukuoka Prefecture.
Some of you might be thinking, “Isn’t the largest Great Buddha the one in Nara?” Or perhaps the Ushiku Daibutsu in Ibaraki Prefecture came to mind.
In fact, what counts as the “largest” Great Buddha varies by type—whether the statue is standing or seated, for example.
They can also be categorized by materials and construction methods.
The Buddha statue in Fukuoka, among seated wooden statues, is the largest in Japan.
Carving began in 1988 (Showa 63) and was completed after four years.
Inside the Buddha’s pedestal, there is a “Hell and Paradise Tour,” where visitors can experience depictions of hell, such as terrifying illustrated scrolls displayed in the darkness.
If you have a chance to visit Fukuoka Prefecture, be sure to see Japan’s largest Great Buddha and try the tour inside the pedestal.
The origin of White Day is Fukuoka Prefecture.
Although Valentine’s Day is said to have originated overseas, White Day was born in Fukuoka Prefecture.
It is said that a long-established Japanese confectionery shop in Hakata Ward, Fukuoka, which has been in business since the Meiji era, first started it as Marshmallow Day.
The company president, who was reading girls’ magazines to look for new product ideas, was inspired by a particular line he came across.
It reportedly read, “It’s unfair that there’s no return gift for Valentine’s Day.” Thinking, “Could we create a day when men give marshmallows to women, based on the products we sell?” they developed an item consisting of chocolate wrapped in marshmallow.
It began as Marshmallow Day, a day to sell the marshmallows they had created.
To turn it into a broader culture of returning gifts for Valentine’s Day, the name was changed to White Day, inspired by the white color of marshmallows.
The boundary between JR Kyushu and JR West is located within Hakata Station.
When you visit Hakata Station, be sure to look for the boundary line between JR Kyushu and JR West.
If you look closely at the floor near the Shinkansen entrance, you’ll find a small marker indicating the border! In fact, the floor color and even the logo colors can change right at that line.
It’s easy to miss if you’re just walking without thinking, but once you notice it, it’s pretty fun.
Why not check it out with your own eyes and see what differences you can spot? By the way, the areas inside the station are clearly divided by jurisdiction as well, so take care to ask the appropriate staff if you need assistance.
Hakata Port Tower is a sibling of Tokyo Tower and Tsutenkaku.
Standing in Hakata Port as a symbolic presence, the Hakata Port Tower offers views from its observation deck of the islands floating in the sea, the ships coming and going through the port, and the cityscape of Fukuoka lined with buildings.
Did you know that among the towers in Japan, including the Hakata Port Tower, there are some that are considered siblings? After the war, architect Tachu Naito designed six towers, which came to be known as the Six Tower Brothers of Japan.
After working on projects such as the Nagoya TV Tower, Tokyo Tower, and Tsutenkaku, Naito designed the Hakata Port Tower last.
In other words, the Hakata Port Tower is the youngest of the six brothers.
One of the charms is that each tower’s design has its own unique character.
In Fukuoka City, garbage is collected at night.
Isn’t it common knowledge that taking out the trash means doing it in the morning? I think many people only realize it’s trash day after stepping out the front door when they’re in a hurry, then rush back inside.
However, in Fukuoka City, Fukuoka Prefecture, trash is collected at night.
Nighttime collection helps avoid morning traffic jams and reduces damage caused by crows.
Depending on the neighborhood, there are also unique Fukuoka City practices such as door-to-door pickup and fewer sorting categories.
There’s “Kawabata Zenzai,” said to be the sweetest zenzai in Japan.
In Kamikawabata-machi, Hakata Ward, Fukuoka City, there’s a tourist spot called Kawabata Zenzai Plaza where you can enjoy a festive atmosphere year-round.
There, you can taste “Kawabata Zenzai,” said to be the sweetest zenzai in Japan.
It originally came from a shop, but after the shop closed and the zenzai disappeared, it was revived at Kawabata Zenzai Plaza thanks to nostalgic demand.
You can eat it on the spot, and it’s also sold as a souvenir.
If you have a sweet tooth, why not stop by?