The Least Useful Guide to Fukuoka

You are extremely lucky if you happen to come across this event while you are in Fukuoka. You will find genuinely made-in-Japan items because everything sold here has been made in jails all over the country.  I don’t know if the product could be a nice souvenir, though. 

This is a market event that sells goods made by prisoners who are working in factories attached to their prisons.

The products are known for good quality and reasonable price. A part of (a part of!) the profit from selling these goods is donated to the victims. And the prisoners are protected under labour-standard laws. You see, they don’t have to work overtime, can get proper break, and will not get sucked without reasons. Apart from their reportedly low wage, the prisoners are working on a condition where no one outside jail could be in Japan now. A fair-trade or conscience shopping, in a way?

The products covers a quite wide range, from plainly designed but solid-looking funitures and shoes that Jimmy Choo would never design,  to everyday products such as soy sauce and washing soaps. Maybe association of jails can set up an all-jail-product department store.

Downside of this event is that it is held once in a blue moon. Some jails have on-site saleroom, but unfortunately, Fukuoka jail doesn’t have one. The sales assistant (can I use this term in this context?) told me that if their jail has been rebuilt they might have a sales facility. But the jail is currently under rebuilding and no one could tell you when the building work is completed. So we have to wait for this irregularly held (once a year or something) to come to somewhere near you. In fact, I have waited for this 2-day event for ages!

On the top of that, this event wouldn’t be held in the metropolitan area because, according to the shop assistant, for some reasons they can’t find the premise to run the event.  But if you are happy with online shopping, they do have their own online store.

My husband shows an apparent reluctance to introduce these product to his life. I know what he means in many ways.

Respecting his opinion (a good relationship between a husband and a wife!) I got a bag with a “prison”logo on it (JPY1,980) and teacloths(JPY105 each), both of which my husband will rarely touch.

I guess the real good buy in this sale should be furnitures. Actually they are all hand-made with great care. I find it quite difficult to give up getting this step (JPY3,850)

and magazine rack (forgot the price, but probably between JPY3,000 and 4,000).

If only I hadn’t been there on foot and the premise hadn’t been far from the nearest station (and I had had a plenty of money, as usual)!