Guidebook for Foreigners Living in Neyagawa 外国人のための生活ガイドブック 英語版 First and Foremost This guide, a Guide Book for Foreigners Living in Neyagawa, was created in cooperation with NIEFA- (NPO)Neyagawa International Exchange and Friendship Association and it is available in 6 languages; English, Chinese, Korean, Tagalog, Spanish, Portuguese to assist international residents with daily living. It is hoped that with this those who come from other countries can live comfortably here in Neyagawa. This book provides valuable information on vital public services and resources Please note that his book is current as of March 2012. The information and schedules are subject to change. March 2012 Neyagawa City TABLE OF CONTENTS ◆ PLEASE◆ When inquiring at many of the following places, you will find that many individuals cannot respond in English, and as such, whenever possible, please inquire along with someone who understands Japanese. １ In Event of Emergency １ Contacting Police ・・・・ 1 ２１ Fire・Ambulance ・・・・ 1 １ ３ Gas Leak ・・・・ 2 １ ４ Earthquake ・・・・ 3 In Eve５ Typhoon ・・・・ 4 nt６ Lost or Left Behind ・・・・ 4 ２of Legal Procedures and Assistance Eme １ Status of Residence ・・・・ 6 rge ２ Foreigner Registration ・・・・ 7 ncy ３ Getting Married（Marriage Registration） ・・・・ 9 ４ Getting a Divorce（Divorce Registration） ・・・・10 ５ Loss of Life（Death Registration） ・・・・10 ６ Child Birth（Birth Registration） ・・・・10 ７ Registration a Personal Seal ・・・・11 ８ National Health Insurance ・・・・11 ３ Accommodation and Housing １ How to Find Housing ・・・・12 ２ Signing a Contract ・・・・13 ３ Rent ・・・・13 ４ Public Service １ Water ・・・・14 ２ Electricity ・・・・14 ３ Gas ・・・・15 ４ Garbage ・・・・16 ５ Telephone ・・・・22 ６ Postal Services ・・・・22 ５ Other Useful Information for Living １ Living in your Community ・・・・24 ２ Banks・Japan Post Bank（Yucho Bank） ・・・・24 ３ TV・Radio ・・・・26 ４ Express Home Delivery Services ・・・・26 ５ Pets ・・・・27 ６ Illness・Health １ Medical Insurance Plans ・・・・28 ２ In Case of Illness ・・・・31 ３ Medical Check-up ・・・・32 ７ Childbirth and Raising Children １ Pregnancy ・・・・33 ２ The Maternity Record Book ・・・・33 ３ Childbirth ・・・・33 ４ Support for Child Medical Expense ・・・・34 ５ Child Allowance・Assistance for Single Parent ・・・・35 ６ Day Care Services（Hoikusho etc.） ・・・・35 ７ Childcare Support ・・・・36 ８ School・Education １ The Japanese Educational System ・・・・39 ２ Kindergarten ・・・・39 ３ Elementary School・Middle School ・・・・40 ４ High School ・・・・40 ５ Foreign Children Attending Japanese Schools ・・・・41 ６ Japanese Language Instruction ・・・・42 ９ Transportation １ Train ・・・・43 ２ Bus ・・・・44 ３ Discount Tickets ・・・・45 ４ Taxi ・・・・45 ５ Car・Motorcycle ・・・・46 ６ Drivers’ Licenses ・・・・46 ７ Bicycle ・・・・47 １０ Tax・Pension・Insurance １ Tax ・・・・50 ２ Pension ・・・・51 ３ Insurance ・・・・53 １１ Where to Seek Assistance １ General Living Information ・・・・54 ２ Legal Consultation ・・・・55 ３ Visa Consultation ・・・・56 ４ Employment ・・・・57 ５ Housing ・・・・58 ６ Child Care ・・・・58 ７ Police Assistance ・・・・59 ８ Consultation with City Office ・・・・59 1. In Event of Emergency １ Matter・Accident （Available 24 hours） Call 110 to report a crime or an accident to the police. Say `Tasukete kudasai!` If possible, inform them of the time, the place, and what happened. Also, give them your name, address, and contact details (phone number.) ●If a Traffic Accident occurs, ・Confirm the name, address, phone number, and license plate number of all involved. ・Quickly get in touch with the police. Call 110. ・In order to claim damages from the perpetrator and his/her insurance company, a `Jiko Shomeisho` or official form regarding the accident, is required. For non-emergency inquiries, please contact the Neyagawa Police. Neyagawa Police Station 072-823-1234 ２ Fire ・Emergency （Available 24 hours） Call 119 to report a fire or to ask for an ambulance for example, sudden illness and injury, to the fire station. What to Say: ・They will ask: `Kaji ka kyukyu ka dochira ka` In case of fire, say `Kaji desu.` In case of a medical emergency, say `Kyukyusha onegaishimasu.` ・Tell them the location of the emergency or fire, and any nearby landmarks. ・Also let them know your address, name, and phone number. 1 ・In the event of fire, tell them exactly what is burning, and if people are trapped inside the structure. ・In the event of a medical emergency, let them know what state the injured person is in (conscious or unconscious, for example.) ※ If no-one present speaks Japanese, let them know over the phone that only non-Japanese speakers are present. An ambulance is used for transporting severely sick or injured people in need of urgent care to a hospital. Please refrain from asking for an ambulance unless there is an urgent need. For example, when the injury or illness is not serious, or when the sick or injured person can manage to get hospital by a private car or taxi, etc. For non-emergency inquiries, please contact the number below. Hirakata/Neyagawa Firefighting Association 072-852-9903 ●Dialing 110、119 from a public pay phone ・Can be used 24 hours a day. ・Before lifting the receiver from the phone, find the red button covered by a plastic cover. Firmly push the button through the cover, then, you can use the phone to dial for an emergency. ・When you call to report an emergency from a cell phone or pay phone, don`t hang up, and don`t leave the scene. 3 Gas Leak In the case of a gas leak, contact the gas company mentioned below and say, `Gasu more desu. Sugu kite kudasai.` Call from, and wait in, a location that is a safe distance away from the leak.. They respond 24 hours a day, 7days a week. ・If Connected to City Gas, contact Osaka Gas 0120-5-19424 (Center for Reporting Gas Leaks) ・If a Propane Leak Occurs, There should be a sticker attached to the gas tank with a phone number. Dial this number to reach the appropriate company. ※ If an abnormal situation exists, put the gas cap on, and open doors and windows to let the gas out. If you still notice a gas leak, ventilate the area, but under no circumstances should you use electric appliances or power. 2 4 Earthquake Japan is a country where many earthquakes occur, and in the past many large earthquakes have occurred in the Osaka-Kyoto-Kobe area. Earthquakes can occur at any time so it is essential to be prepared. ●If An Earthquake Occurs ・Act calmly and don`t rush outside; protect your body. ・If you are inside and you feel swaying, quickly dive under the table, protecting your head with a cushion. ・Wait for the swaying to stop. ・After the swaying has stopped, check to all appliances, such as cooking and heating appliances which may ignite causing a fire. ●Earthquake Preparation ・Securely attach cupboards, shelves and drawers to the wall to prevent them from falling over. ・Take cover in cupboards and drawers, near walls or pillars. ・At least 3 days` worth of food and drinking water (average 3 liters per person per day) should be prepared and stored in advance. ・Prepare food and other items for emergencies (preserved or canned food, cookies, flashlight, etc) in an easy-to-carry bag and make it easily accessible during emergencies. ●During Major Earthquakes, Floods and Other Disasters May Occur. Flee to the places called ~`Disaster Evacuation Shelters`, `Temporary Gathering Sites` or `Wide-area Evacuation Sites.` Disaster Evacuation Shelters These shelters are the places you can flee temporarily to from dangerous situations such as your house collapsed. Local elementary schools,junior high schools and other public facilities are designated as disaster evacuation shelters. Temporary Gathering Sites These shelters are the places you can stay temporarily and you will see how the disaster is going. Where you go depends on where you live. 3 Wide- area Evacuation Sites These shelters are the places to evacuate and protect yourself when an earthquake occurs and a fire spreads through the town. Large scale areas have been designated. Please take the time to confirm the location of the Area Disaster Shelter for the area in which you live. Contact info the City Office Crisis Management Center 072-824-1181 5 Typhoon The Typhoon Season in Japan runs from June to September. If a typhoon nears Japan, make sure to pay close attention to warnings from weather forecasters. ●Preparing for a Typhoon ・Make sure the power and gas mains are cut off, and water lines and phones are disconnected. ・Have flashlights, candles, drinking water for emergencies, and medicine prepared in advance. ・A portable radio is most useful to check outside conditions; it is recommended that you have one. To Confirm City Office Crisis Management Center at 072-824-1181 6 Lost or Left Behind ●When you notice that you have lost money or an item ・Report it to the nearest police station or police box (`koban`). ・If you lost the item while riding a taxi, train, or in a department store, try to report it to those places. ●If you pick up something that has been dropped ・Report it to the nearest police station or police box and inform them about the circumstances and time when you picked it up. ・If picked up in a department store or while taking a train or bus, please take it to the nearest clerk or person in charge. 4 ・Don‟t forget to pick up a receipt for proofing that you picked it up when you submit it. ●If your lost item is recovered by someone else ・Thank the person who picked it up for you. According to law, you are obligated to pay them 5-20% of the value of the item. ●Reporting that you`ve lost something ・“Gaikokujin Toroku Shomeisho” or “Foreigner ID Card`”is lost: pick up a “funshitsu shomei” or a “lost form at the police station, fill it out, and deliver it to the City Office.