{"id":3864,"date":"2023-06-30T09:42:06","date_gmt":"2023-06-30T00:42:06","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.gg.design.kyushu-u.ac.jp\/?post_type=prospective_students&p=3864"},"modified":"2023-06-30T09:44:34","modified_gmt":"2023-06-30T00:44:34","slug":"four-similar-cultural-activities-between-fukuoka-and-singapore","status":"publish","type":"prospective_students","link":"https:\/\/www.gg.design.kyushu-u.ac.jp\/en\/prospective_students\/four-similar-cultural-activities-between-fukuoka-and-singapore","title":{"rendered":"Four similar cultural activities between Fukuoka and Singapore"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

As a Singaporean who had never set foot in southwestern Japan before, I had no idea what to expect about Fukuoka before starting my exchange with Kyushu University. After spending a few weeks here, however, I was pleasantly surprised to discover many similar cultural activities between Fukuoka and my home country, Singapore! These bring back memories of home, easing my homesickness whenever I get the opportunity to participate in them. Without further ado, here are four cultural activities in Fukuoka that you\u2019ll also find in Singapore: <\/p>\n\n\n\n

1. Cultural Parades and Street Festivals\u00a0<\/strong>
Fukuoka: Hakata Dontaku Parade\u00a0<\/span>
Held annually during Japan\u2019s Golden Week, the Dontaku Parade showcases the vibrant diversity that defines the traditions and culture of Fukuoka. People from all walks of life take to the streets of Hakata, showcasing an impressive array of attire ranging from traditional garments to colourful costumes. Interestingly, past events have been said to feature special appearances by popular characters like Mickey Mouse! The parade is a lively and inclusive occasion where locals and visitors alike come together to celebrate Fukuoka\u2019s unique heritage.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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People from all walks of life throng the streets of Hakata during the Dontaku Parade.\u30d5\u30a7\u30eb\u30b9 via Wikimedia<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Singapore: Chingay Parade\u00a0<\/span>
Originally held to celebrate Chinese New Year, the Chingay Parade is now a grand spectacle that takes place on the streets of Singapore, displaying her multi-racial and dynamic identity. Performers from Singapore\u2019s myriad ethnic groups express their creativity and talent through captivating dances and elaborate costumes, representing the unity that underpins Singapore\u2019s multicultural society.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"
Brightly-lit floats are a mainstay of the Chingay Parade. toonman via Shutterstock<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

2. Sharing a late-night meal together\u00a0<\/strong>
Fukuoka: Yatai<\/em> Food Stalls\u00a0<\/span>
Translated as \u201cfood stalls\u201d or \u201cstreet stalls\u201d, Yatai<\/em> stalls serve tasty, affordable street food during the evenings till the wee hours of the morning. Local specialties such as Hakata Ramen<\/em> and Yakiramen<\/em> are popular offerings. Yatai<\/em> stalls are also known for their lively, intimate atmosphere \u2013 after all, it\u2019s hard to keep to yourself when you\u2019re seated shoulder-to-shoulder in a tiny shop!\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"
Yatai<\/em> stalls like these boast a bustling atmosphere that few other places can match. Yoshikazu Takada via Wikimedia<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Singapore: Supper culture\u00a0<\/span>
Bonding over good food is an inseparable part of Singaporean culture. After work, friends and family often get together to \u2018makan\u2019<\/em> (Malay for \u2018eat\u2019), drink, and be merry till well past midnight. Be it wallet-friendly hawker centres or extravagant mala xiangguo <\/em>(spicy Chinese hotpot) restaurants, there are options to suit every taste and budget. A diversity of cuisines is enjoyed, ranging from hearty Indian flatbreads like roti prata <\/em>to savoury Chinese dimsum<\/em>. Regardless of the food chosen, though, you can be sure of a good time with your companions!\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"
Similar to Fukuoka\u2019s Yatais<\/em>, Singapore\u2019s supper places are often bustling with people. ProjectManhattan via Wikimedia<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

3. Exploring the city by traditional rivercraft\u00a0\u00a0<\/strong>
Fukuoka: Yanagawa Canal Boat Tours\u00a0<\/span>
Located on the outskirts of Fukuoka, the quaint town of Yanagawa boasts an extensive network of canals, earning it the title of \u201cthe Venice of Kyushu\u201d. Visitors have the opportunity to take in the sights and sounds of this picturesque locale by means of a guided boat tour. During these tours, skilled boatmen demonstrate their technique of \u201ckawakudari<\/em>\u201d \u2013 Japanese for river rafting \u2013 by navigating the narrow canals using long poles. I personally think that this mode of travel offers a far more interesting (and romantic!) perspective compared to travelling on foot.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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The boatmen are clad in traditional attire, giving the tour a much more authentic feel. 663highland via Wikimedia<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Singapore: River Bumboat Cruises\u00a0<\/span>
Wooden bumboats, also known as tongkang<\/em> (or \u201cseagoing barge\u201d) were traditionally used as a means of transporting goods via Singapore\u2019s main rivers, which was no small role given Singapore\u2019s economic dependence on trade and commerce. Singapore\u2019s River Bumboat cruises offer an experience of Singapore\u2019s past before the modernization of the country\u2019s transportation system. These tours cover scenic riverine areas such as Marina Bay and Collyer Quay, allowing tourists to appreciate culturally-significant and iconic locales from a uniquely authentic perspective.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"
Although not quite as romantic as Yanagawa\u2019s Venice-esque gondolas, Singapore\u2019s bumboat cruises boast picturesque views like this. Jpatokal<\/em> via Wikimedia<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

4. (Bonus) Karaoke!\u00a0<\/strong>
Both Fukuoka and Singapore share a strong passion for karaoke. A pastime widely enjoyed in both cities, the freedom of expression afforded by singing unabashedly amongst one\u2019s loved ones offers a unique, stress-busting experience few others can match. Family-friendly karaoke establishments are found in abundance, offering a wide selection of songs that appeal to different generations. Popular Karaoke establishments like Big Echo<\/a> in Fukuoka and Teo Heng<\/a> in Singapore allow friends and family to create cherished memories through music.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Despite being worlds apart, Fukuoka and Singapore share much more in common than you might think. Who knows, maybe I\u2019ve inspired you to consider visiting Singapore after your time in Fukuoka.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

About the Writer\u202f\u00a0<\/span>
I’m Daniel Toh, a third-year exchange\u202fstudent from the School of Humanities, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore. When I’m not puzzling over how to apply literary theory in a design context, I’m thinking up the next big day out around Fukuoka (though I’ve only gotten round to following through with half of them). Join me as I learn more\u202fabout this wonderful part of Japan!\u202f\u00a0<\/p>\n","protected":false},"featured_media":3869,"template":"","prospective_students_category":[57],"class_list":["post-3864","prospective_students","type-prospective_students","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","prospective_students_category-students-experiences-en"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\nFour similar cultural activities between Fukuoka and Singapore - For Prospective Students - Geiko Global<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.gg.design.kyushu-u.ac.jp\/en\/prospective_students\/four-similar-cultural-activities-between-fukuoka-and-singapore\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Four similar cultural activities between Fukuoka and Singapore - For Prospective Students - Geiko Global\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"As a Singaporean who had never set foot in southwestern Japan before, I had no idea what to expect about Fukuoka before starting my exchange with Kyushu University. 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