1

Date: Dec. 2 (Sun.), 2012 8:00 am Start at the east parking of Misato City Hall 8:15 am Start at Kita Kominkan Destination: “Ibaraki Nature Museum”,

Tsukuba-san, Ibaraki Pref. Participants: Those who wish to participate in the

friendship tour of Japanese and non-Japanese

Capacity: 40 persons (20 non-Japanese and 20 Japanese)

Fee: 1,500 yen for junior high school age and over, 500 yen for elementary school age and under ※Please bring your own lunch

Application: please apply by sending the postcard stating ①postal code ② your address ③ all participants’ name and age ④ tel. no. which we can contact in the daytime ⑤ your nationality (not later than Monday, Nov. 5) to the ‘Misato International Association’, Assistance for Citizens’ Activity Division, Misato City Hall (〒341-8501).

- Contents - One Day International Friendship Bus Tour Please make use of your nearby Misato-danchi Shutchojo or Renrakujo for your convenience! A New Residency Management System Notice on the renewal of the National Health Insurance Card

page 1 page 2-3 page 4 page 5

Start of Quadruple Combined Vaccination New Year’s Special Dishes, “Osechi” Bulletin board Industrial festival 2012 (Commercial and Industrial festival / Agricultural Festival) The Year-end＆New-year Trash Collection

page 5 page 5 page 6 page 6 page 6

Published by: The Assistance for Citizens’ Activity Division, Misato city Hall, 648-1 Hanawada, Misato-shi, Saitama 341-8501 Telephone: 048-959-1111 (ext. 2303)

MISATO VIEW Issued Quarterly No. 78 November 2012

(Image photo)

One Day International Friendship Bus Tour - Event of Misato International Association –

Mount Tsukuba (筑波山 Tsukuba-san) is a 877m-mountain located in the middle of Kanto Plane. It is composed of double peaks, Nantai-san (871 m.) and Nyotai-san (877 m) and is selected as one of ‘the 100 venerable peaks in Japan’ because of its beauty even though it doesn’t reach 1000m above sea level. It is called “purple mountain” as it changes its surface, indigo blue in the morning, green in the daytime and purple in the evening. Mt Tsukuba has been admired and ranked with Mt Fuji by saying ‘Mt Fuji in the west, Mt Tsukuba in the east’.

Ibaraki Nature Museum: As this museum has a good access from Tokyo, it is advertised as ‘Great Nature in commutable area’ and hosts about 400 thousands visitors a year. The museum has an indoor exhibition area as well as outdoor facilities. Symbolic exhibits of Mammuthus and dinosaur skeletons near the entrance, though replicas, should surprise visitors. Each 5 galleries has a theme such as universe, the earth, nature etc. and is well organized using diorama, exhibits, model or projection etc. to learn each theme with pleasure. The vast part with nature observation facilities and flower gardens offer visitors opportunities to watch plants, birds or insects.

NOTES: 1 application may contain basically up to 4 members. If the number of the applicants exceeds the quota, admission will be decided by a draw. A notice to pay the fee and itinerary will be sent to those who are chosen. Those who are not chosen will be also informed. Inquiries: ‘Misato International Association’, Assistance for Citizens’ Activity Division ☏ 048-930-7714

2

PPlleeaassee mmaakkee uussee ooff yyoouurr nneeaarrbbyy MMiissaattoo--ddaanncchhii SShhuuttcchhoojjoo ((bbrraanncchh ooffffiiccee)) oorr RReennrraakkuujjoo ((lliiaaiissoonn ooffffiiccee)) ffoorr yyoouurr ccoonnvveenniieennccee!! The documents such as certificates listed below will be issued at your nearby

Misato-danchi Shutchojo (branch office) or Renrakujo (liaison office) other than Misato City Hall. Misato-danchi Shutchojo (Service items)

Your application will be accepted for: notice of address change, notice of family register, registration of one’s name seal, enrolling in and withdrawing from the National Health Insurance Plan, issue of a Boshi-techo (Mother and Child Health Handbook), enrolling in and claiming for the Mutual Aid Traffic Accident Insurance Plan.

Service Hours: Sunday through Friday, from 8:30 am to 5:15 pm ※ On Sundays, the services are limited to issue of certificates (except “Resident Taxes” matters),

issue of a Boshi-techo (Mother and Child Health Handbook) and application for enrolling in Mutual Aid Traffic Accident Insurance Plan. (Certificates regarding “Resident Taxes” can be issued on Monday through Friday.)

※ The office is closed on Saturday, National Holidays (but open if it falls on a Sunday) and Year-end & New Year’s Holiday (from Dec. 29 through Jan. 3).

＜Note＞ ・ If you are leaving Japan and are required to take some procedure(s) for adjustment(s) at some

section(s), please visit the City Hall as the Danchi Shutchojo does not accept these procedure(s). Please note that there is no interpreter support at Misato-danchi Shutchojo.

Renrakujo There are 4 Renrakujo (liaison office) in the city where you can apply for issuance of several certificates. Service Hours: Sunday through Friday, from 8:30am to 5:15 pm

※These offices are closed on National Holidays and Year-end & New Year’s Holiday (from Dec. 29 through Jan. 3), and also when its facility building is closed.

※ Hikonari Renrakujo is closed on Mondays as the facility is closed. ※ No certificate regarding “Resident Taxes” will be issued on Sundays.

What kinds of services are available?

Items Misato-danchi Shutchojo Liaison Offices

Issue of Koseki Touhon （a Certificate of Family Registry of all items）・

Koseki Shouhon (a Certificate of Family Registry of individual items) ○ ○

Issue of a copy of Jumin-hyo (Certificate of Residence) ○ ○

Issue of a Inkan-toroku Shoumei-sho (Certificate of Seal Impression) ○ ○

Issue of certificates regarding Resident Taxes ○ (Except Sundays) ○ (Except Sundays)

Report of Koseki (Family Register): Birth, Death, Marriage, Divorce etc. ○ Not accepted

Report of Jumin-kiroku (Resident Record) matters ○ Not accepted

Inkan Toroku (Seal Registration) ○ Not accepted Acquisition or Loss of qualification for National Health Insurance etc. ○ Not accepted

Acquisition or Loss of qualification for National Pension etc. ○ Not accepted Acquisition or Loss of qualification for Latter-stage Elderly Medical Care etc. ○ Not accepted Acquisition or Loss of qualification for Long-term Nursing Care etc. ○ Not accepted Issue of Boshi-techo (Mother and Child Health Handbook) ○ Not accepted Application for an acquisition of qualification for Kodomo Iryo-hi (Medical Expense Subsidy for Children) ○ Not accepted

Application for receiving Jido Teate (Child Allowance) ○ Not accepted Issue of Permission for Burial, Cremation or Reburial, or permission for use of the Municipal Funeral Hall ○ Not accepted

Claim for Medical Expense Subsidy for Children, for a Single Parent Families or for a Heavily Mentally or Physically Disabled ○ Not accepted

Application for enrollment in the Mutual Aid Traffic Accident Insurance Plan and claim for solatium benefit. ○ Not accepted

3

Location of Branch Office or Liaison Office

● Misato-danchi Shutchojo 3-7-3-102 Hikonari ℡ 048-957-2121 ◆ Waseda Renrakujo (at Waseda Library) 5-6-15 Waseda ℡ 048-958-4822 ◆ Hikonari Renrakujo (at Hikonari-chiku Bunka Center) 1-161 Hikono ℡ 048-954-2088 ◆ Togasaki Renrakujo (at Community Center) 2-654 Togasaki ℡ 048-956-9066 ◆ Takano Renrakujo (at Takano Bunka Center) 4-70 Takano ℡ 048-956-3477

Inquiries: Management Section, Residents’ Affairs Division ℡048-930-7700

★ What types certificates refer to the certificates regarding“Resident Taxes”?

Title of Certificate Certificate of Taxation / Certificate of Tax Exemption Certificate of Tax Payment

Romaji (Roman alphabet) Kazei-shomeisho / Hikazei-shomeisho Nouzei-shoumeisho

Proving items

These certificates prove your taxation (or non-taxation) status based on the previous year’s income etc. ・ Amount of the previous year’s

earnings (income) of a specified year that you need.

・ Categories of deduction(s) and the amount from earnings

・ Amount of tax base (= total income earnings ‒ total income deductions)

・ Amount of the annual taxation on the Resident Tax

・ Total number of the dependent family member(s)

This certificate proves the tax amount you paid.

Tax items ① Certificate of Taxation ② Certificate of Tax Exemption

① Certificate of Resident Tax Payment ② Certificate of Fixed Asset / City Planning

Tax Payment ③ Certificate of Light Automobile Tax

Payment ④ Certificate of National Health Insurance

Tax Payment ⑤ Certificate of Corporate Inhabitant Tax

Payment

Issuing place At the municipality you resided on January 1 in the specified year you need

At the municipality you paid the tax to

Case(s) which makes it

impossible to be issued the

certificate(s)

・Not have yet declared your income to the City Hall or to a tax office.

・ Not have submitted the your payroll statement from your employer

・ Not have submitted a payment statement for public pension(etc.)

・Not subjected to a dependent ⇒ You need to declare your income.

Please take the procedure at No.9 counter of the Resident Tax Section in Misato City Hall.

・Not have paid for the above ① through ⑤ tax(s)

What to bring

・ID card (e.g., Residence Card or Alien Registration Card, a driver’s license or a health insurance certificate)

・Fee: 300 yen (for one person per one year)

・ Letter of attorney (If someone else besides a family member living together come to apply.)

・ ID card (e.g., Residence Card or Alien Registration Card, a driver’s license or a health insurance certificate)

・ A representative’s name seal is needed when asking for the Certificate of Corporate Inhabitant Tax Payment

・Fee: 300 yen (for one tax item per one year) (Free of charge: If it is used for an inspection

to use the light automobile continuously.) ・Letter of attorney (If someone else besides a family member living together come to apply.)

Inquiries Resident Tax Section, Resident Tax Division

Management Section, Tax and National Health Insurance Premium Collection Division

Phone 048-930-7706 (direct line) 048-930-7710 (direct line)

4

A New Residency Management System

For Reference：Issuance of “Residence Card” to A New Comer at Airport

If a foreign national who is allowed to stay in Japan for more than 3 months will be issued a “Residence Card” at the airport when he or she newly arrives at Narita, Haneda, Chubu or Kansai international airport. (A foreign national who landed an airport other than the above 4 international airports will be given a statement "A resident card is to be issued later" near the landing permission seal on his or her passport.) ＊ Those procedures will be taken at the airport: card printing, confirmation of the

items on the description, guidance to register at a municipality he or she will reside.

【Special Re-entry Permit】 “A special re-entry permit system is introduced.”： A foreign national, in possession of a valid passport and resident card (or an alien registration certificate deemed to be equivalent to the resident card) who re-enters Japan within 1 year after departure, in principal, is not required to apply for a re-entry permit. However, if you plan to stay overseas for more than one year and re-enter Japan or if your status of residence expires in less than one year of your departure, you are required to obtain an ordinary “re-entry permit” as before. (The maximum period of “re-entry permit” was extended from 3 years to 5 years.) What is the procedures to get a “special re-entry permit”: On a new type of ED (Embarkation and Disembarkation) card for re-entry, there is a section to request for “Departure with Special Re-entry Permission” with a check box □. You have only to mark the same box to re-enter Japan in the same way as before. However, at some airports, an immigration inspector may orally inquire or /and explain about the new system when you are leaving Japan.

【Important notes when you leave Japan with “Special Re-entry Permit”】 ● If you leave Japan for more than one year, you will lose the status of residence. ● You cannot extend the term of validity of “Special Re-entry Permit” abroad.

You have to obtain “the status of residence in Japan” and new “entry visa” at the Japanese Diplomatic Missions abroad to get the landing permission again, if you wish to re-enter Japan.

● Once you leave Japan with “Special Re-entry Permit”, you cannot switch it to “Re-entry Permit” even if you possess one.

Inquiries / Contact: Tokyo Regional Immigration Bureau: 5-5-30 Konan, Minato-ku, Tokyo; TEL 03-5796-7111 Tokyo Regional Immigration Bureau Saitama Branch Office: 5-12-1 Shimo-ochiai, Chuo-ku, Saitama City, Saitama Pref; TEL 048-851-9671 http://www.immi-moj.go.jp/newimmiact_1/index.html

Carrｙ your “Residence Card” at all times!

A foreign national of age 16 or over who is allowed to stay in Japan more than 3 months is required to carry always the “Residence Card” with you. When an inspector or a security officer of the immigration office or a police officer asks you to show it, you have to obey the instruction. Even if you carry your passport with you, it won’t serve as a substitute for the residence card. ※ It is not necessary for those 16 years old or

less to carry their residence card at all times.

【Residence Card】

★Note★ You will be required to present your residence card in various situations in everyday life such as: ・Seeking for a job

or part-time work ・Making a contract

for a mobile phone or to rent an apartment

・ Opening a bank account, etc.

5

Notice on the renewal of the National Health Insurance Card The National Health Insurance Card is renewed from 1 Oct. 2012. This new Insurance card is valid until Sep. 30, 2013 (short-term certificate is until 31 Mar. 2013), but for a foreign national, the card is valid until the expiry date of the period of stay. If you have stayed in Japan beyond the period of stay, you are required to take the procedure to extend the validity of stay period at the immigration office. After the Immigration Office informs Misato City Hall your prolongation of period of stay, the Insurance Premium Section of Misato City will send you a new National Health Insurance Card. Please proceed to obtain a National Health Insurance Card when you have already prolonged the period of stay and need the National Health Insurance Card with following necessary documents at the desk of National Health Insurance and National Pension Division. (Necessary Documents) ① Certificate which shows the prolongation of the period of stay (Passport or residence card) ② Insurance Card of which the validity has expired Inquiries: The Insurance Premium Section, National Health Insurance and National Pension

Division of Misato City Hall Call: 048-930-7703

Start of Quadruple Combined Vaccination

Quadruple Combined Vaccine, which is a mix of inactive Polio vaccine and Triple Combined Vaccine of DTP (Diphtheria-Pertussis-Tetanus combined vaccine), will be administered from November, 2012. Eligibility: Age 3 months to less than 7 years and 6 months Number of vaccinations: 1st Term – Initial 3 doses (with an interval of 20 – 56 days from each dose)

1st Term- 1 booster (at least 6 months after the 3rd dose) ※ If your child has been already given even one dose of DTP vaccine, as a general rule, you ought to have him or her receive the rest of DPT vaccine(s) and solo inactive Polio vaccines. Inquires: Health Promotion Section, Health Promotion Division Call: 048-930-7771

NNeeww YYeeaarr’’ss SSppeecciiaall DDiisshheess,, OOsseecchhii A variety of commercial posters displayed at many public places starts to urge passers-by to reserve “Osechi “ foods sold by major department stores, supermarkets or prestigious restaurants from November… When the end of the year approaches, the stores offer various kinds of food to be packed in the piled boxes (Jyu-bako) of Osechi. What is Osechi (ryori)? Originally the food offered to God at every seasonal festival is named Osechi. As Shogatsu (New Year) is the most important festival of the year, only the New Year's food has become to be named Osechi. Osechi is the food to bring good luck. Most Japanese enjoy traditional New Year Osechi dishes only at this time of the year. Most of Osechi dishes are cooked to be preserved for at least three days so that household women do not have to cook during that period. Various kinds of beautifully prepared foods are placed in four-tiered lacquer boxes. Although there are some regional differences in the contents of Osechi, most of them are common in all parts of Japan. Each prepared food has some auspicious meaning which reflects people's wishes at the start of the year. For example, Kazunoko, herring roe, symbolizes a wish to be gifted with many children as Kazunoko has a lot of roes, Kuromame, cooked black beans, is a symbol for health (Mame also means healthy in Japanese), and lobsters are wish for longevity because their bodies are bent like an old person's.

Datemaki (sweet omlet) Kazunoko (salted herring roe)

Kuromame (sweet black beans) Kamaboko (steamed fish paste)

Kobumaki (rolled kelp with fish) Ebi no sakamushi (shrimp steamed with sake)

6

Industrial Festival 2012 Date: November 17 (10am-4pm) & 18 (10am-3pm) Venue: Kinrosha Taiikukan & Citizen’s open square at Misato City Hall ※ Free Shuttle bus from Kobo Elementary School will be serviced. <Misato Commercial and Industrial Festival> Shops, factories and various organizations join in this festival. ＊Sales of products ＊Exhibition of industrial products ＊Free consultation services ＊Raffles offering prizes ＊Stage shows ＊Sales of special products of Misato’s friendship cities (wine and apples from Azumino City, and

orthopedic sandals and tea from Sango Town in Nara Pref. and apples from Maki-ku, Jyoetsu City) Inquiries: Misato City Society of Commerce and Industry Call: 048-952-1231

<Agricultural Festival> ＊Fair of local vegetables, fruits, flowers and bonsai grown by the farmers and residents of the city with much affection. ＊Sales of locally grown vegetables, tasting of Komatsuna dishes and give away of popped rice crispies made from

Misato rice. ＊Give away of Misato-grown Komatsuna: On Nov.17&18 11am at Kinrosha Taiikukan, offered free to the first 500

people each day who visit the agricultural fair. ＊A “Treasure ship” loaded full of vegetables, displayed and broken for sale: On Nov 18, 1:30-2:00 pm in order

of arrival at Kinrosha Taiikukan Inquiries: The Agricultural Administration Section、Industrial Promotion Division

Call: 048-930-7722 <The year-end and new-year Trash Collection >

Combustible Bottles & Cans Noncombustible/recyclable Toxic waste

Course Last in 2012

First in 2013

Last in 2012

First in 2013

Last in 2012 First in 2013

Mon Dec. 31 Jan. 7 Dec. 17 Jan. 7 Dec.24 Jan.14

Tues Dec. 28 Jan. 4 Dec. 18 Jan.8 Dec.25 Jan.15

Wed Dec. 29 Jan. 5 Dec. 19 Jan.9 Dec.26 Jan.16

Thu Dec. 31 Jan. 7 Dec. 20 Jan.10 Dec.27 Jan.17

Fri Dec. 28 Jan. 4 Dec. 21 Jan.4 Dec.28 Jan.11

Sat Dec. 29 Jan. 5 Dec. 15 Jan.5 Dec.22 Jan.12

＊Self-delivery of bulk refuse to the Incombustibles Sorting Facility business ends on Dec. 29 and opens on Jan. 4, 2013.

★ Illegal dumping of waste materials will be fined by the law. Inquiries: Environmental Sustainability Division; Call: 048-930-7718

● Bulletin board for all readers ● This is a place for you to post your messages. However, we will not place any commercial, political, religious or job-seeking matters. Please send your comments to us; 648-1 Hanawada, Misato-shi, 341-8501. Email address: shien@city.misato.lg.jp

● Misato View Distribution ● If you would like to receive this publication periodically for free, please call us on 048- 953-1111, ext. 2304. An English-speaking staff offers assistance between 9 am and 4 pm from Monday through Friday.

The next Misato view will be issued in February, 2013.

BULLETIN BOARD From November 2012 to January 2013

to to