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KYC Newsletter - English Language Edition
February 2015
KNOW Your City
KNOW Office
c/o: Domestic and International Affairs Division
Wakayama City Hall
23 Shichibancho, Wakayama City
Wakayama Prefecture, 640-8511
TEL. 073–432–0037 FAX. 073–435–1252
Kokusai Volunteer Network of Wakayama (KNOW)
News and Information
Japanese Cooking Class!
This month KNOW will be putting on a cooking class especially for foreign residents in Wakayama City
who want a chance to learn how to make Japanese food!
Date and Time: Sunday, February 22, 2015, 11 AM
Place: Wakayama City Workers Center (勤労者総合センター), 4th floor Cooking Classroom
Parking: Please use the North City Hall Parking lot (free)
Menu:
ChirashiOsumashi Mizu-yokan - soft,
zushi Soup with
sweet bean jelly
‘scattered’
clear broth,
(dessert)
sushi
egg and
spinach
Cost: ￥1,000 for regular foreign residents, ￥500 for students and researchers
Class Size: 20 (Spots will be filled on a first come, first serve basis)
Please bring: An apron, a bandana and a dishcloth.
To apply, call the Wakayama City Hall Domestic and International Relations Division (English OK) Tel. 435-1010
Don’t Forget that the Deadline for Filing your Income Tax Return is Coming Up!
Some helpful information from Wakayama City
On February 22 and March 1, tax counseling will be held
and applications will be accepted at the Wakayama Tax
Office. It is expected to be crowded, we appreciate your
understanding. There will also be tax counseling held at
the following locations on the dates on chart on the right.
Place
Dates Open
Kasai Community
Center
Wakayama Big Ai
2/3 - 2/5
Kahoku Community
Center
2/18 - 2/20
2/24 - 26
Other Important Dates:
February 16 - Applications open
Deadlines:
March 16 - Income Tax, Reconstruction Special Income Tax, Donation Tax
March 31 - Consumption Tax, Private Business Consumption Tax, Local Consumption Tax
For more information: Wakayama Tax Office Tel. 424-2131
Yoga Workshop with Giri
This class is a great chance to experience authentic,
Indian style yoga with a class by yoga instructor Ganesh Giri!
This class is appropriate for both beginners and people who have tried yoga before.
Location: Kasei Community Center
Date and Time: Tuesday, March 24, 10:00 AM - 11:30 AM or 7:00 PM - 8:30 PM
Class Size: 20 (Applications will be accepted on a first come, first serve basis)
For more information: Kasei Community Center 480-1171
Free Website Design Class
This website design class is exclusively for volunteer and volunteer organizations.
Date and Time: Saturday, February 28, 2015 1 PM - 4:30 PM
Place: Non-profit/Volunteer Salon - (Forte Wajima 6 Fl.)
Class size: Up to 10 organizations total, up to 2 people per organization.
Applications accepted on a first come, first serve basis.
Inquire/apply by phone: Citizen Cooperation Promotion Division Tel. 402-1213
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KYC Newsletter - English Language Edition
February 2015
Upcoming Classes at Nishinosho Fureai no Sato Herb Garden
These classes will show you how to use flowers and herbs in craft projects!
Soap Making With Herbs
Date at Time: Friday, February 27, 10:30 AM - 12:00 PM
Class Size: 20, Cost: ￥1500
Pressed Flowers
Date and Time: Friday, May 13, 20, or 27, 1:00 PM - 4:00 PM
Class Size: 10 (each), Cost: ￥1000
To apply, send a postcard with your name, age, telephone number, address and date of desired class. 1 person per
application only. Applications should be postmarked no later than Feb 16 for the soap making class and Feb 27 for the
pressed flower class.
More information/applications: Nishinosho Fureai no Sato Herb Garden, 1107-36 Nishinosho, Wakayama City, 640-0112
A Message for Pet Owners
Owning a pet is a commitment of responsibility and love!
Please make sure that if you are going to get a pet, you fully understand what is involved
in keeping your pet. It is important that you are willing to make the commitment to
take full responsibility of your pet and take of it for its entire lifetime before you
make the decision to get a pet.
For Dog Owners:
Make sure your dog is registered and has received its rabies vaccinations.
For Cat Owners:
Keep your cat in the house and put a name tag on their collar.
For more information: Healthy Living Division Tel. 488-5114
March Nutrition Classes
Cooking Delicious Food with less Salt, etc.
Day and Time: Friday, March 13, 1:30 P M - 3:30 PM
Location: West Health Center
Class Size: 20 (Chosen by random drawing)
Please apply no later than March 5.
For more information or to apply:
West Health Center 455-4181
Maternity Cooking
Day and Time: March 23, 1:30 PM - 3:30 PM
Place: Central Health Center
Class Size: 25 Members (Chosen by random drawing.)
Please apply no later than March 19.
For more information or to apply: 488-5122
**Please note that for both of these classes, first time participants will be given priority in the drawing.
Wakanoura Bay Seafood Cooking Class
Enjoy the fresh seafood and beautiful view of Wakaura and learn to cook something new!
This one day cooking class will be held at Wakanoura Bay on three different dates.
Dates and Time: 10 AM - 1 PM, February 21, 28, March 21
To apply, send a postcard with your name, address, age, telephone number, and desired
day to:
Fishery Promotion Office (Also the location of the class)
101-3 Tano, Wakayama City, 641-0061
Up to two people may apply together on the same application.
For more information: Tel. 447-0327
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KYC Newsletter - English Language Edition
February 2015
Did you use your Free Cancer Screening Coupon?
If you were sent a coupon in the mail, you might be able to get screened for free!
In June of last year persons within the target age were mailed coupons for free
cancer screenings. Now, the expiration date of these coupons is drawing near. The
closer we get to the expiration date, the more crowded the screening facilities become, so it is highly
recommended to get tested as early as possible.
Expiration dates:
Uterine Cancer/Breast Cancer Screening - March 31
Colon Cancer Screening - February 28
The deadline for refunds for persons who had uterine, breast, or colon cancer screenings is also March 31.
For more information: Regional Health Division Tel. 488-5121
Do you Know What ‘Phishing’ is?
Don’t get ‘Phished’! Watch out for fake and suspicious e-mails.
Did you know that February is Information Security Awareness Month?
If you have a computer or a smart phone, than make sure you are taking sufficient
care to make sure your personal information is secure.
‘Phishing’ is when someone sends you a fake e-mail that has been carefully
designed to look like it came from an actual company or bank, and then if you click
on that e-mail it will send you to a fake version of their website (sometimes these
look very real) and then when you try to log in to their website, they steal your log
in information, install viruses and spyware, etc. Even just clicking on a link can
flood your inbox with piles of junk mail.
Some things you can do to help protect yourself:
- Keep your OS and virus software constantly up
to date.
- If you get something strange - an unexpected email from your bank, a shopping website, a delivery company, someone claiming to be a
family member, DON’T write back or click on any links, but instead contact them directly first.
Even the link addresses and e-mail addresses can be faked to make them look very real.
Especially be wary of links in unexpected or suspicious e-mails.
Don’t reuse passwords and usernames.
For more information:
Wakayama Prefecture Police Department Living Environment Division: 423-0110
Women’s Health Lecture
Date and Time: Wednesday, March 4, 2:00 PM - 4:00 PM
Place: Health Center
Includes lecture by a doctor and a ‘vegetable sommelier’
To attend, apply no later than February 20 by sending a postcard
or calling with the name of the lecture, you r name, address, and telephone number.
For information or to apply: Wakayama City Regional Health Division
5-2-15 Fukiage, Wakayama City 640-8137, Tel 488-5121
Wakayama Work Fest 2015
Are you looking for a job in Wakayama? This might help you in your search!
This career fair will be held for persons who want to work in Wakayama. 80 companies are
expected to be in attendance.
Day and Time: Friday, February 20, 1:00 PM - 4:00 PM
Place: Hotel Granvia Wakayama (5-18 Tomoda-cho, Wakayama City)
For more information: Wakayama Prefecture Employer’s Assocation
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KYC Newsletter - English Language Edition
February 2015
Helpful Information for Everyday Living
Watch out for infectious diseases!
Wakayama Prefecture Health Promotion Division Tel. 441-2643
Starting in winter and continuing on through the summer infectious diseases are common.
Vaccinations, careful hand washing, gargling, and other preventative measures can help you protect yourself.
The Flu
When the influenza virus starts to spread, it can quickly spread to many people in a short time.
This year’s flu season is expected to last from December until around March.
Things you can do to keep from catching it:
Getting vaccinated in advance, having proper coughing etiquette, taking measures
against airborne infections (cold masks, etc.), keeping appropriate room temperature and humidity,
regularly gargling thorough hand washing, getting sufficient rest, having balanced nutrition,
and avoiding crowded areas during high risk times are all things you can do to avoid catching the flu.
What to do if you catch the flu:
Make sure you drink enough fluids and get plenty of rest. And if you feel really bad, you should visit a doctor as soon as
possible. Also, you should wear a cold mask and if possible stay home to help prevent infecting other people.
Measles
Two years ago there was an outbreak of measles starting in the spring and continuing
through summer. Infected persons spread it to Tokyo and Osaka and it caused the 3rd
largest warning (estimated 1 million persons) to date. Outbreaks of the measles are said
to last a few years, so there is a high probability that this spring could bring a continuation
of that outbreak.
Also, it is said that if a pregnant woman comes down with measles it can cause serious problems for the unborn child
including blindness, deafness and heart defects. Therefore vaccinations are not only important to protect yourself, but
they are important to protect your family and peple you come into contact from irrevocable harm.
How to avoid catching the measles:
Vaccinations are effective. Free vaccinations are available until the end of this fiscal year for women between the ages of
19 and 50 who want to become pregnant and their husbands. In some cases recipients are required to cover a portion of
the cost, please contact the individual institutions for more information.
Have you Paid your City Taxes for the 2014 Fiscal Year?
If you haven’t paid your city taxes yet, please take note the deadlines have already passed!
If you still haven’t paid, Compact Vehicle Tax, Citizens’ Tax, or Fixed Assets Tax,
the payments are be past due. If you are worried you might be missing a payment, don’t hesitate to visit the city hall Tax
Payment Division or contact them by phone.
Automatic payments from your bank account are a convenient way to pay,
you can apply at your financial institution of choice.
For inquiries or more information: Wakayama City Tax Payment Division Tel. 435-1038
和歌山市役所内外交流課
和歌山国際ボランティア組織
〒６４０－８５１１
和歌山市七番丁 23 番地
A note about the content: The “KNOW Your City” English language
newsletter is put together using articles and announcements from the
Japanese language publications: “Shiho Wakayama” and“Wakayama Kenmin no Tomo.”
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電話：073-432-0037/073-435-1010
FAX: 073-435-1252
https://twitter.com/w_city_kokusai
E-Mail: [email protected]