Why on earth do you live in Futsukaichi?

Is what I was asked yesterday.  As if Futsukaichi is the Deadwood of Japan!!  Futsukaichi has many fine points and while Tenjin may be a very nice place to live, Futsukaichi 'aint no slouch either!  So, without further ado, here are my top 5 things about living in Futsukaichi...

Location, Location, Location...   Tenjin?  12 minutes.  Kurume?  15 minutes.  Tosu?  14 minutes.  Dazaifu?  A ishii's throw!  JR and Nishitetsu are main express stops and are 5 mins walk from each other!
The food!...  Danbou ramen, (nr. JR) voted best on Kyushu, and many other awards!  Son House, (nr. Nishietetsu) a Tex-Mex restaurant with all-you-can-drink!  Four Seasons (mmm...far) an Indian/Nepalese place.
Kobayashi Curry, (nr. JR)  and so many more!!
The Nightlife! ...  5am seems to be the chucking out time in Futsukaichi!  No shortage of bars, including Barco on shotengai...
Onsen! from 8th century, used by govt. officials many moons ago...get it?
Aeon Chikushino Mall  Yeah, a mall!  It's massive...MASSIVE!!

Summer is here

Well, as the cherry blossoms are out it seems a good time to revamp this page.  Out with the old posts and in with the new.  This season brings warmer weather, a new school term and therefore new JETs, new University students, more roadworks - shotengai "trench" being one prime example, end of the tax returns, electioneering...loudspeakers, much bowing and thanking all and sundry, and of course the Shinkansen (which bypasses Futsukaichi completely - must get a famous politician in Futsukaichi one day to get a stop put in...)