What is Futsukaichi's favourite colour?

And by that intro question, any eagle-eyed reader will have seen that yes, the author (typer) is from the British Isles (God Save the Queen, Fish and Chips, game of rugger, anyone?)

Anyway, the answer, as if you didn't already know, is Purple.  Yes, truly, it is. (I know, I know, you're probably shouting at your screen, "but Futsukaichi's emblem is green, the symbol is red, the city flower and tree are red too..."  and you'd be right, they are.  But I wonder if things are changing...

April 29th 2011 (Showa day) event?  Wisteria viewing...Purple

Murasaki (Purple) Station (1 yr old last month!)

A Hotel?  Yes.  Futsukaichi Purple hotel!!!

And the Community Centre?  Purple Plaza!!!! 

What does Futsukaichi mean?

二日市 or Futsukaichi to the Romans, is pronounced "footsakaichee" going by the train drivers, so it's safe to say thats the best way to say it!  However, what does it mean?  

Well, if we break it up into parts, i.e. 二 = ni, 日 = day ...but 二 and 日together = futsuka, which means "second-day".  市 usually means city however in this instance it means "market."  

Therefore, as Sherlock Holmes would say, "London, that great cesspool into which all the loungers and idlers of the Empire are irresistibly drained."  when you have eliminated the impossible, whatever remains, however improbable, must be the truth, so... Futsukaichi means "Second-day Market."  Riveting stuff, I know!! *dusts off pulitzer-prize speech*   

However, there is a tangible element to it.  Hakata is the Sea Port of Fukuoka, and as such, much trade would be conducted there.  In time, market towns began to spring up, to capitalise on their location between Sea Ports and the more remote villages.  They would often take the name from which day of the month they would open.  For example, if as in Toyama Prefecture, Mikkaichi was so named because it was the third day of the month they opened.  Mie Prefecture has Yokkaichi, and so on.  Futsukaichi is just the same, a market town that opens on the second-day of the month.


Nowadays, little of this tradition remains, except... Aeon Mall is  definitely the market of choice for the Futsukaichi public and  people from all the smaller villages come to Aeon's massive market.  It is open everyday but if you can imagine what it would be like if it was open just for a short period, on the second day of the month - I wonder if that is what it would have been like long ago in Futsukaichi?

International Pool Competition

2 minutes from JR Futsukaichi station

Friday 15th April 2011, 7.30pm - Late

Doubles Pool Competition

1000 yen table/cue hire (for 2 people)

The first pool competition of the year from the Futsukaichi Pool Circle is this time being held at a pool hall near JR Futsukaichi station.  Friday 15th has been dubbed "Newcomer Night" which means anyone can turn up and play in the round-robin format.  The Futsukaichi Pool Circle said "The pool hall is a lot larger than previous venues, this one has 9 tables, so anyone can turn up at 7pm or 7.30pm and be put in the round-robin tournament.  It is open to absolutely anyone, regardless of level, rules will be explained, help will be on hand from more experienced players, and the emphasis is on people enjoying the game in a relaxed, fun, casual style."

 The pool competition is expected to finish before the trains stop running to allow people living further afield to compete too.