Embrace life-Yukiko Fujikura / 高雄的樂活一族-藤倉由季子
◎By Ya-ting Hou ◎Photo by Chung-hui Pao
After living in Kaohsiung for 38 years, Yukiko Fujiku remarked that although she carries a Japanese passport, she does, in a way, consider herself just like an authentic resident of Kaohsiung, holding as much affection for the city as any native Taiwanese. She first moved here when married her Taiwanese husband, being drawn by Kaohsiung's good weather and blue skies. She now also appreciates having the mountains and ocean nearby which offer citizens a varied choice of leisured activity.
Yukiko is warm-hearted and friendly temperament, a fact which has helped her make new friends. It may not surprise you to know that she maintains close friendships with the students that she taught 10 years ago. She even extended friendship to her students' families. When her Japanese friends visit her, she often recommend that they visit Lotus Pond in Zuoying, Sizihwan Bay, Chaishan Nature Park, Meinong, Liouguei and Cishan. Yukiko has discovered a very amusing fact, which is that her Japanese friends do not always enjoy the taste of betel nut; however, they all adore the slim appearance of the betel nut tree and take lots of pictures.
Yukiko has seen how Kaohsiung has transformed its landscape, from rural scene to modern city. She praised the remarkable progress that the city has made in developing its infrastructure. She thinks Kaohsiung has lots of potential even though it has, along with many other cities, encountered the problem of losing its distinctiveness. Therefore, Kaohsiung should emphasize its cultural assets and cultivate its uniqueness. With this in mind, it is to get local resident involved in local festivals and cultural events, so that they will have a sense of participation. On the another hand, Yukiko noticed that since people from around the world seem to be concerned about leading a healthy and fulfilled lifestyle, it is crucial to create a friendly environment for every citizen, especially for minority groups, elderly people and children. With this in mind, she hopes that the city government will reconstruct the uneven sidewalk. Moreover, when dealing with the kind of sophisticated society that exists in Kaohsiung, the city government should appreciate the increasing demand for further education, and thus provide abundant opportunities for its citizens to develop in this way.from around the world seem to be concerned about leading a healthy and fulfilled lifestyle, it is crucial to create a friendly environment for every citizen, especially for minority groups, elderly people and children. With this in mind, she hopes that the city government will reconstruct the uneven sidewalk. Moreover, when dealing with the kind of sophisticated society that exists in Kaohsiung, the city government should appreciate the increasing demand for further education, and thus provide abundant opportunities for its citizens to develop in this way.
◎文.攝影/侯雅婷
今年是藤倉由季子居住在高雄的第38年,從門前有農田的景象到現代化的建設,藤倉看見了高雄地貌的改變,在藤倉心中,除了她的護照上國籍為日本之外,自己就是高雄人,跟所有的市民一樣,關心這塊土地上所發生的每件事。
藤倉最喜歡高雄的好天氣以及熱情的市民,而高雄擁有山、海的資源,能提供市民豐富的休閒選擇,這也是她很享受居住在高雄的原因之一。藤倉的日本朋友來訪時,她總會推薦朋友到左營蓮池潭、西子灣、柴山、美濃、六龜和旗山去走走,還透露來訪的日籍友人每每看到身形苗條的檳榔樹,都連聲誇讚,隨後就會拿起相機拍個不停。對於高雄城市景觀的改變,特別是碼頭的開放感到認同,使得民眾能更親近海,她拿出在「漁人碼頭」遊玩時拍攝的照片,指著照片裏高雄的藍天說,真得很漂亮!
藤倉肯定的表示,高雄的基礎建設有目共睹,在硬體建設有成之餘,她希望市政府能持續,在建設體貼人性的友善城市這方面也交出一張漂亮的成績單,例如,政府能重視騎樓間高低不平的地面,此外,民眾對於活到老、學到老會有越來越強烈的需求,這都須仰賴政府規劃、提供更豐富的社會教育與市民學院的資源。
她也觀察到,高雄正面臨與國際上其他城市一樣的問題,有越來越相似的市景與街容,城市的獨特性也逐漸模糊,因此,她建議從加強人文方面著手,建立屬於自己獨有的文化或節慶活動,最重要的是,這樣向下扎根的活動一定要讓所有的民眾一起參與,才能發展成具備鮮明特色的地方文化或節慶活動,這個融入地方特色的活動發展至相當的規模之後,對的遊客也會產生無比的吸引力,進而帶動整個高雄旅遊產業的蓬勃發展。