The Gunma Guide – January/February 2013
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英語版 TThhee GGuunnmmaa GGuuiiddee January/February 2013 Free Legal Consultation for Foreigners “SOS” in Oizumi When: February 17, 2013 (Sunday) Where: Oizumi-machi Bunkamura 1F (5-24-1 Asahi, Oizumi-machi) Consultants: Lawyer Gyoseishoshi (Visa specialist) Shakai Hoken Romushi (Labor issue specialist) Prior reservations are strongly recommended. Call us at (027) 243-7271 for reservations and inquiries Income Tax & Tax Return All income earners in Japan, residents and non-residents alike, are required to pay income tax, which is a national tax. Your 2012 income tax will be levied on your earnings from January 1 to December 31, i.e. the amount of your total earnings minus deductions from income and multiplied by the appropriate tax rate. The period for receiving filing assistance from the tax office is from Monday, February 18 to Friday, March 15, 2013. Income tax is calculated and paid by employers by way of withholding income tax from employees’ monthly pay and bonuses and then filing a year-end adjustment. Any deficits that resulted from withholding an earner’s income tax after deductions for the year will be refunded. All employed residents are required to file a tax return if any of the followings apply: 1. Your total income from employment exceeded JPY20,000,000 in 2012. 2. You received salaries, etc. from one source only, and your total amount of various types of income (excluding employment and retirement income) exceeded JPY200,000. 3. You received employment income from two or more sources, and the total amount of earnings from employment, etc. not subject to the year-end adjustment or withholding tax and various types of income (excluding employment income and retirement income) exceeded JPY200,000. Tax Refunds Available by Filing Even when a person is not legally required to file a final return, if a person has overpaid as a result of taxes withheld at the source or through the prepayment of estimated taxes, a tax refund can be claimed by filing a return for the sake of a refund (refund returns). For instance, if you have bought a home by mortgage or paid a large amount of money for medical expenses, you are advised to see if you are qualified for refund return. For more details, please ask your nearest tax office. Gunma Association of Tourism, Local Products & Int’l Exchange Gunma Kaikan 3F, 2-1-1 Ote-machi, Maebashi-shi, Gunma 371-0026 TEL: 027-243-7271 FAX: 027-243-7275 Email: [email protected] URL http://www.gtia.jp/kokusai/english/ Hours: 8:30a.m.-5:00p.m. The Gunma Guide – January/February 2013 Cancer Screening Cancer is one of the leading causes of death in Japan. In Gunma, more than 5,000 people die annually because of cancer. However, thanks to advanced medical technologies, there is an increasing number of cancer cases that can be treated by early detection. Therefore, checkups for cancer are very important. Did you know? Most municipal governments conduct annual medical checkups for their residents. Usually, these municipal governments provide coupons for cancer checkups. Those who wish to get a cancer screening may be charged a small fee of 500 yen ~ 1,500 yen. Cancer screenings are effective! Cancer can develop without showing symptoms, and it can be life-threatening for all age groups. It is very effective to make a habit of getting regular checkups for cancer for early detection. Early diagnosis may lead to higher rates of successful treatment. We hope you will take advantage of cancer screenings available in your community. *The municipality where you are registered as a resident will send you a medical consultation form for cancer screening. Statistically, one out of every 16 women has been diagnosed with breast cancer. Also, there is a growing number of young women who have recently been diagnosed with cervical cancer. Getting vaccinated for cervical cancer is very effective among young girls and many municipalities provide vaccination for cervical cancer for girls between the ages of 13 (the 1st grade of junior high school) and 16 (the 1st grade of high school) as part of their public grant programs. Please inquire at your municipal office about their grant programs that cover the cost of vaccination for cervical cancer. For more information, please contact your municipality. Training course for volunteer interpreters in times of disaster The course comprises of classroom lectures and practice sessions. Applicants must meet the following qualifications: - Must be interested in acting as an interpreter and will be able to help in times of disaster - Foreign applicants must be able to communicate in Japanese in daily life and to read and write simple Japanese including Kanji. - Must be able to attend all three sessions listed below. First (Preliminary Session) Jan. 20 (Sun.) 13:00-16:00 th Room #4, 5 Floor, East Bldg., Isesaki City Hall Second (Practice Session) Jan. 27 (Sun.) 10:00-16:30 North Community Center, North Elementary School Gym Third (Review Session) Feb. 2 (Sat.) 13:00-16:00 Room #4, 5th Floor, East Bldg., Isesaki City Hall For registration and inquiry, please contact International Section, Citizen’s Dept., Isesaki City Hall at the following numbers: Phone: (0270) 27-2731 FAX: 0270-23-9800 The Gunma Guide – January/February 2013 Events Hatsuichi & Darumaichi (First Market of the Year/Daruma Market) Shorinzan (Takasaki) Maebashi When: January 6 (Sun.) & 7 (Mon.) When: January 9 (Wed.) Where: Shorinzan Darumaji Temple Where: Honmachi and Contact: 027-322-8800 Central Shopping Area Contact: 027-235-2211 Isesaki When: January 11(Fri.) Shibukawa Where: Honmachi-dori When: January 12 (Sat.) and its vicinity Where: Shibukawa Post Office Contact: 0270-24-5111 and its vicinity Contact: 0279-25-1311 Numata When: January 16 (Wed.) Kiryu Where: Honcho-dori and When: January 20 (Sun.) Central Shopping Area Where: Fumonji Temple Contact: 0278-23-1137 Contact: 0277-46-1111 International Party in Oizumi International Potluck Party in Kiryu When: January 27 (Sun.) 14:00 – When: February 9 (Sat.) 12:30 – 14:00 Where: Oizumimachi Kominkan Hall Where: Sky Hall B., 4th Floor (Community Center) Kiryu Performing Arts Center Admission: JPY500 Capacity: 70 people Admission: Free with dishes For registration and inquiry, please contact JPY1,000 without dishes Oizumi International Association at For reservation and inquiry, please call Kiryu 0276 - 62 -6066 International Exchange Association at 0277-46-1111 Ski Resorts in Gunma Ski Resort Phone No. Ski Resort Phone No. Tanigawadake Tenjindaira 0278-72-3575 Marunuma Kougen 0278-58-2211 White Valley 0278-72-5094 Ogna Hotaka 0278-58-2133 O-Ana Ski Resort 0278-72-2354 Hotaka Bokujo 0278-58-3756 Okutone Snow Park 0278-72-8101 Caetla Ski Resort Oze 0278-58-4111 Minakami Houdaigi 0278-75-2557 Manza Onsen 0279-97-3117 Fujiwara Snow & Spa Resort 0278-75-2321 Kazawa Snow Area 0279-98-0611 Minakami Kogen Ski Resort 0278-75-2222 Palcal Tsumagoi 0279-96-1177 Norn Minakami Ski Resort 0278-72-6688 Karuizawa Snow Park 0279-84-1227 Akasawa Ski Resort 0278-66-1254 Kusatsu Kokusai 0279-88-8111 White World Oze-Iwakura 0278-58-7777 Kawaba 0278-52-3345 Snow Park Oze Tokura 0278-58-7510 Tambara Ski Park 0278-23-9311 The Gunma Guide – January/February 2013 Michi No Eki (Roadside Stations) What is a roadside station? A roadside station is a rest stop facility located at a roadside that is run by the local government or its equivalent. A roadside station has two main functions. One is to offer travelers on the road a place to rest (with a parking lot, restroom, and telephone), and the other is to provide them with local information as well as to link them with the local community where it is located. There are certain facility and service requirements a roadside station must offer as a rest stop. The parking lot must be free, have enough space for a large number of vehicles, and must be available 24/7. Restrooms must include those for physically-handicapped people and must be available 24/7. Telephones also must be available 24/7. In principle, it should have someone on duty who answers questions/gives local information. As facilities focusing on its locality, roadside stations offer a variety of services centering on linking the local area and travelers, including events related to the local culture and history. Each roadside station has its own unique characteristics. Many have restaurants and sell special products. Some have a park and even a museum. As of April 2012, there are 26 roadside stations in Gunma. The facilities are built to be friendly to children, senior citizens, and physically-handicapped people and are conveniently-located for travellers on the road. Different roadside stations have different features, so why not visit one or two from the list below? List of Roadside Stations in Gunma (As of April 1, 2012) Name of Roadside Station Phone Number Address UENO 0274-20-7021 127 Oaza Katsuyama, Ueno-mura, Tano-gun GREEN FLOWER BOKUJO OGO 027-283-5792 1369-1 Takikubo-machi, Maebashi-shi KUNI 0279-95-3342 22 Oaza Kosame, Nakanojo-machi, Agatsuma-gun ONOKO 0279-59-2839 1980 Onoko, Shibukawa-shi JOUSHU ONISHI 0274-52-3300 1089-2 Yuzurihara, Fujioka-shi DEN-EN PLAZA KAWABA 0278-52-3711 385 Oaza Hagimuro, Kawaba-mura, Tone-gun MINAKAMIMACHI MIZUKIKOKAN 0278-72-1425 1681-1 Yubara, Minakami-machi, Tone-gun SHIRASAWA 0278-53-3939 1297 Hiraide, Shirasawa-machi, Numata-shi KUSATSU UNDOU CHAYA KOUEN 0279-88-0881 2-1 Oaza Kusatsu, Kusatsu-machi, Agatsuma-gun KUROHONE・YAMABIKO 0277-96-2575 91-4 Shimotazawa, Kurohone-cho, Kiryu-shi FUJIOKA 0274-24-8220 1131-8 Naka, Fujioka-shi KOMOCHI