City Life August/September 2021（PDF：3325KB）

EST. 1994 ISSUE 165

August/September 2021 Edition

Legend: ity Life is a free English newsletter published every even month by the ☆ events Contents International Division at the Sakai City Government to provide infor- C ◆ exhibitions Events 2-4 mation to the residents of Sakai City. It is available at libraries, ward offices and other city facilities, or you can view it online at the Sakai City Gov- ※ important notices City Notices 4-5 ernment English website. Don’t forget to also sign up for emails to know △ campaigns when each new edition is published! There is more information on the back ☺ child & healthcare page. If you have any questions or feedback, please contact Ellen at the Reference 6 ○♣ environment following email address: [email protected]  help lines

 New! Plaza of Multicultural Exchange Sakai (nicknamed POME Sakai)

Officially opens on 1 August.

Business hours: 9:00-17:30 Closed: Saturday & public holidays TEL: 072-340-1090 or 072-228-7499 (trio-phone) Email: [email protected]

The Sakai International Plaza has changed its name and moved to a new location. You can now find them on the 5th floor of the Sakai City General Welfare Hall (2-1 Minamikawara-machi, Sakai-ku). It’s only moved one block away so it is still close to the Sakai City Hall and Sakaihigashi Station.

They have boosted their multilingual phone service and can help you in 8 languages on Monday to Friday from 10:00-16:00. Available languages include Japanese, English, Chinese, Korean, Vietnamese, Tagalog, Spanish, Portuguese and Thai. These languages are also available for in person consultations, with the addition of Indonesian and Nepali as well.

You can also apply for a volunteer interpreter and search for Japanese language classes as usual. The library corner will also be available to borrow resources and there are also meeting rooms to reserve.

Feel free to drop by anytime!

The nickname POME is an abbreviation of Plaza Of Multicultural Exchange. It also refers to fruit consisting of a fleshy enlarged receptacle and a tough central core containing the seeds, e.g. apple or pears.

August/September 2021 Events

The information listed in this newsletter is accurate up till 21 July. Details may change depending on the COVID-19 situation and other factors so always check the latest information via websites, etc. We appreciate your understanding!

☆ Daisen Park Japanese Garden ◆ Sakai Alphonse Mucha Museum ◆ Chusen (hand-dyed cloths) Flower Viewing Exhibitions at the Townhouse Address: 2F Belle Marge Sakai (1-2-200 History Musuems Time: 9:00-17:00 Tadei-cho, Sakai-ku) Closed: Monday (open if public holi- Nearest Station: Sakaishi Station (JR Seigakuin and Yamaguchi Residences day) Hanwa Line) will be holding the “Coloring Our Life; Address: 17 Daisennaka-machi, Sakai Cost: Adult 510 yen Senior high/ Chusen Exhibition”. Chusen is one of -ku University student 310 yen Elementary/ Sakai’s traditional crafts so why not Cost: Adult 200 yen, primary & Junior high 100 yen drop by to see the refreshing colors junior high school students 100 yen. *preschoolers, Sakai residents aged 65 and dance in the breeze. Free for preschoolers and Sakai resi- over and those with disabilities can enter for Date: until 23 August dents aged 65+ free. Time: 10:00-17:00 (last entrance at Hours: 9:30-17:15 (last entrance 16:30) 16:30) Morning Glory Exhibition Closed: Mondays (open if a public holi- Closed: Every Tuesday (asagao) day), the day after a public holiday (open if a Cost: 100 yen (Seigakuin) 200 yen Date: Until late August Sat, Sun or public holiday) (Yamaguchi Residence) 250 yen for Come and see large flowered both morning glories and other varieties. Special Exhibition: Mucha Art Expo *free for junior high school and Date: Until Sunday 14 November In September, tiny flowers of quintes- younger, Sakai residents 65 years of Mucha was an artist who produced art using age and older, and those with disabil- sentially autumn plant bush clover many mediums, including woodcuts, paint- ities (hagi) will start to bloom. ings and sculptures. This exhibition will be Access:

themed after the Grand ・Seigakuin: 5 minutes walk from The Japanese garden is the perfect Palais and Petit Palais ven- place to enjoy a cup of matcha and Takasu Jinsha Station (Hankai Line) ues of the 1900 Paris Expo or Shichido Station (Nankai Line) Japanese sweet (450 yen) while enjoy- and feature various genres ・Yamaguchi Residence: 3 minutes ing the beautiful view. In of Mucha’s works. In addi- the hot summer, they also tion, you can experience the walk from Ayanocho Station (Hankai serve a chilled and sweet- fusion of his art with mod- Line) ened matcha set (500 yen). ern technology through VR! No car parking is available so please Available 9:30-15:30 use public transport.

☆ Harvest Hill: (TEL) 072-296-9911 (URL) http://farm.or.jp ☆ Thanaka-infused Soap Online Workshop Time: 10:00-17:00 (last entrance 16:00) International Animals Exhibition Entry Fee: Adult 1000 yen You can touch a variety of insects, reptiles In Myanmar, the Thanaka tree is turned Child (4 years old to elementary school) and amphibians, such as Heracles beetles, into powder and mixed with water to 600 yen Neptune beetles, whiptail lizards and Mex- use as sun protection and is said to be Access: 20 minutes by Nankai bus ican walking fish! Cute small animals, good for the skin. Men and women of (Habesutono-oka Bus Stop) from Izumi- including call ducks all ages have used this on their faces gaoka Station on the Semboku Rapid Line and chipmunks are and bodies for more than 2000 years. Closed: Open every day in Aug & Sept also waiting! In this Zoom workshop, you will hand- Date: Every day Jabu Jabu Hiroba Waterpark craft your own soap using Thanaka Time: 10:00-16:00 powder. The instructor has prepared the The always very popular facility will be (until 16:30 on open this year as well! soap to have a “South East Asian aro- weekends and public holidays) ma” so you can also Date: Every day until 26 September Cost: 600 yen (3 year old and older) *closed on rainy days use it as a fragrance.

Dragon Fruit Ice Cream Making Sunflower Summer Festa Date: 7 September Date: Weekdays in August Time: 14:00-15:30 Date: Until 22 August Time: 14:15 Come see the impressive Capacity: 20 people Cost: 900 yen (by raffle) 60,000 sunflowers! Best Duration: 40 minutes viewing is expected to be Cost: 1000 yen (transaction costs Capacity: 36 people may apply) until early August (may change depending (reservations required) on weather conditions). There will be a Please make a reservation through the online reservation system (scan the QR limited sunflower-themed menu in restau- Maple & Nuts Ice Cream Making rants and photo contest held on Instagram! code below) Date: Every day in August Reservation period: 2-16 August Dinosaur Adventure Forest Time: Weekdays 13:00 Inquiries: Sakai Explore the forest with realistic robotic Weekends & public holidays 14:15 ASEAN Week Exec- dinosaurs and have a look Cost: 900 yen utive Committee at the fossil exhibition. Duration: 40 minutes TEL: 072-222-7343 Date: until 29 August Capacity: 36 people (reservations re- Time: 10:00-16:30 quired) Cost: 600 yen

Events August/September 2021

◆☆ Sakai City Museum Haniwa Making ☆Sophia Sakai (TEL) 072-270-8110 Learn about this ancient decoration and Access: 2-cho, Mozusekiun-cho, Sakai- then make one yourself out of clay. You Access: 1426 Fukaishimizu-cho, Naka- ku can choose to put it on dis- ku Nearest Station: 7 min walk from Mo- play at the museum! Located 12 minutes walk from Fukai zu Station (JR Hanwa Line) Date: Sunday 24 October Station (Semboku Rapid Line) Time: 9:30-17:15 (last entrance 16:30) Time: 13:00-16:00 Closed on: Mondays (however open if a Closed: Monday (however open on 9 Place: Basement Hall public holiday) and on 21 September Aug & 20 Sept) Capacity: 20 people Admission: Adult 200 yen, university & (elementary school level or older) Star Gazing senior high school 100 yen, junior high & Cost: 320 yen Date: August 7, 13, 21, 27 elementary school 50 yen Things to bring: mask, cloth and bag to and September 4, 10, 18, 24 TEL: 072-245-6201 carry the haniwa home Time: 19:30-21:00 Reservations: Open at 22 September Magatama Making Place: 6F Astronomical Observatory from 10:00. Please call to reserve (first Why not come see the starry summer sky Using talcum stone, try making this ac- come first serve basis) cessory that was popular in the ancient through one of the largest telescope in Osaka Prefecture! A free event, just come times Special Exhibition: “Sakai Carpet Sto- Date: Saturday 9 October straight to the venue. No ry -It began in 1831 with Sakai reservation is needed but Time: 10:00-12:00 & 14:00-16:00 DANTSU handwoven rugs-” Place: Basement Hall an entry ticket is required. Date: until 3 October They will be available Capacity: 20 people (elementary school This exhibition showcases the history of and older) from 17:30 on the day Sakai’s rug-making industry through from the ticket machine Cost: 280 yen displays of from Sakai DANTSU hand- Things to bring: mask and cloth at the planetarium on the woven rugs to machine crafted carpets, 2nd floor. Reservations: Please call from 10:00 on hooked dantsu rugs and tube mats that 8 September (first come first serve basis) *there may be changes developed later on. depending on the coronavirus situation, please check the website for more. *may be cancelled due to bad weather. ☆◆ Mihara History Museum Sakai residents 65 years and older or Decision made at 17:00, please check those with disabilities can enter for free the website Address: 281 Kuroyama, Mihara-ku River Creatures Exhibition Nearest Station: Daiho Bus Stop “Journey of the Stars – World Edition” Date: Until 31 August (Kintetsu-Nankai Bus) or Kurohimeyama The Southern Cross, Milky Way and star- Learn about the creatures living in the -kofun Bus Stop (Nankai Bus) ry sky reflected in the water mirror of local Ishikawa river through photo panels. Opening hours: 9:00-17:15 Salar de Uyuni. This is a show filled with Closed: Monday (unless a public holi- footage of starry skies that took years to day), the day following a public holiday Try Ringing a Buddhist Temple Bell produce. (unless a weekend or public holiday) (bonsho) Date: Weekends & public holidays until Cost: Per manent exhibition 200 yen, Date: 5 September 30 September special exhibition 500 yen Time: 10:00-15:00 Time: 18:00 Junior high school students and younger, Cost: Free, come straight to the venue Place: 6F Planetarium Cost: Adult 510 yen Child (4 years to junior high) 250 yen ☆ 29th KIX Senshu International Marathon

Date: Sunday 13 February 2022 ☆ English Rakugo (storytelling) Time: 10:30 start Reservation: 13-30 September. Scan the QR code for the official Date: Sunday 24 October website (in English). Time: 15:00 (doors open at 14:30) Place: Fenice Sacay Small Hall (8 mi- Category Full Marathon Challenge Run nute walk from Sakaihigashi Station (Nankai Koya Line) Time limit 5 hours 2.5 hours (approx. 20km) Cost: 3000 yen Course Hamadera Park – Ohama – Rinku Hamadera Park – Ohama – Reservation: Cultural Promotion Foun- Park Kishiwada Castle dation Ticket Center (TEL) 0570-08-0089 or through the Fenice Sacay website. Participants 5000 people (decided by raffle if 1000 people (first come first Target: Elementary school level & over needed) served basis) Capacity: 312 people 1 of the 3 performances will Requirements Must be over 18 on the day of the Must be over 18 on the day of be in English! It has been marathon and able to finish the the marathon and able to finish well received in 21 countries, course within the time limit. High the course within the time limit. 101 cities for a total of over school students cannot enter. High school students can enter. 300 times. Why not take this chance to enjoy this tradition- Fee 14,000 yen 7000 yen al form of Japanese culture?

August/September 2021 City Notices & Services

☆ Beginners’ Japanese Lessons ※ Sakai City Official Instagram ☆ International Student EXPO

Date: Every Tuesday & Friday from Follow @sakaicity_official to see eye- Date: 21-22 August 10 September to 5 November catching pictures taken in Sakai! Time: 10:00-17:00 Time: 14:00-16:00 Hashtag your own pictures of scenery Place: Osaka City Central Hall Place: Plaza of Multicultural Ex- and daily life in Sakai with #堺歩き Free entry however reservation is neces- change Sakai (sakai aruki) for a chance to have them sary (first 1000 people) Eligibility: This course is for people reposted. living, working or studying in Sakai City Experience Japanese culture and food, (at university etc.) talk to Japanese students and learn about Content: Study useful the products and services of Japanese everyday conversational companies. Make your reservations Japanese ASAP! Cost: Free ● Fish fileting show; learn about Japa- To apply: Fill in the nese cuisine application form and ☺ COVID-19 Contact Confirm- ● Culture of Osaka through water cruise fax, mail, email or hand it in to the Plaza. ing Application (COCOA) ● Try sword fighting, shamisen and tea Please scan the QR code to ceremony! download the form. This is a smartphone app supplied by ● Learn about the 600 year history of Capacity: 12 people (first Japanese Ministry of Health, Labour Sakai through Sakai Forged Blades! come first served basis) and Welfare. Install the app, turn Blue- ● Interview of Global Presidents: Global tooth on, and you'll be notified if you Presidents Conference Enquiries/applications: have had close contact (1m distance for ● Symposium: Learn about job hunting Plaza of Multicultural Exchange Sakai more than 15 minutes) with someone and working in Japan from former (Sakai City General Welfare Hall 5F) infected with COVID-19 in last 2 students 2-1 Minamikawara-machi, Sakai-ku 590- weeks. Scan the QR code below to ● Experience Japanese pop culture! 0078 download it to your smartphone. (TEL) 072-228-7499 (FAX) 072-340-1091

※ Watch out for food poisoning! Google Play App Store

There are many cases of food poisoning across the country from June to October ※ Public Holidays in August every year. Please take the following 2021 measures to prevent it happening to you. Please be reminded that When buying food: Mountain Day has also ● Check the expiration date been moved to August 8 and level of freshness for this year to match ※ Cancellations & Closures ● Only buy what you need the dates for the Tokyo ● Aim to purchase refrigerat- Olympics. As a result, 9 Shinkanaoka & ed and frozen foods last and August is also a public holiday. Ohama Park Pools store away as soon as possible Harayama Water ☆ Pamphlets on Banking in Ja- Storage: Park Closed ● Don’t leave fridge door open for long pan periods of time Mihara B&G The Financial Services Agency has ● Try not to fill up your fridge or freezer Marine Center Pool prepared pamphlets in multiple lan- ● Keep meat and fish wrapped up well to guages for long-term foreign residents. prevent the liquid leakage Sakai Festival (Oct) Cancelled Please scan the QR code below to find When cooking: some useful information on account opening and overseas remittance. Sakai Citizens’ ● Cancelled Always wash your hands before cook- Olympics (Oct) ing ● Wash your chopping board and knives Sakai Agricultural Cancelled in hot water to kill germs before you Festival (Nov) start cooking ● Make sure food is cooked thoroughly and to eat it as soon as possible ● Keep chopsticks used for handling the raw meat separate from the ones used for eating

City Notices & Services August/September 2021

※ City & Prefectural Tax Notice ☺ COVID-19 Vaccine  Posters Regarding Renewed Evacuation Information August will be the start of the 2nd ap- Vaccination tickets have pointed time for payment for the city and been sent to all residents From 20 May, 2021, natural disaster prefectural tax. The deadline is Tuesday registered in Sakai over the evacuation warning levels were revised 31 August. Please pay at the nearest age of 12. If you haven’t and simplified. banking facility, post office, convenience received your tickets yet, The new Level 4 Evacuation Instruction store, or by internet or mobile banking. please contact the Sakai (避難指示 hinan shiji) now requires Please make sure to pay before the dead- City Multilingual Call everyone to evacuate. Level 3 Evacua- line. Center at 0570-048-567. tion of Elderly etc., (高齢者等避難 For those that use automatic transfer, *Tickets will also be sent to those koureishatou hinan) requires those who payment will automatically be deducted working in the health/nursing sectors need more time to move to evacuate. on Tuesday 31 August so please check who have already finished receiving the The poster is available that you have sufficient funds. vaccine, so please dispose of the tickets in 13 languages. and don’t make further appointments. For more details, please ☺ Tuberculosis Prevention Week visit the Sakai City (24 - 30 September) Government English website. Every year in Japan, roughly 15,000 people catch the disease and about 2,000 people die from it. Also, every year over 1,000 people born outside of Japan catch ※ Recycling box for lithium bat- the illness and the number is rising amongst younger ages. teries Initial symptoms of tuberculosis include coughing, phlegm, slight fever, chest Small rechargeable batteries (e.g. lithium batteries) can become a fire hazard pain and fatigue. ※ Sakai Naka Police Station If the cough continues for more than 2 if damaged or deformed and there have weeks, it is important to have it been several cases of fires in garbage trucks or clean centers. On 1 July, a new police station opened checked at a medical institution. Early in Naka Ward. It is located next to the detection not only pre- You can find designated recycle boxes at electron- Sakai Naka Post Office and a conven- vents the illness from ient 5 minute walk from Fukai Station. getting worse for the pa- ic store and home centers etc., to use to dispose of tient but also prevents the Address: 2470-17 Fukaisawa-machi, illness from spreading. unnecessary lithium batteries. Naka-ku Phone: 072-242-1234 In Sakai City, persons at the age of 40 and over can receive tuberculosis screen- ing for free once a year. For time and place, please contact the Infectious Dis- eases Division (感染症対策課 kan- sensho taisakuka) (TEL) 072-222-9933 (Japanese only).

☺ Available Hospitals during the Obon Holiday (8/13 - 8/15)

Don’t forget to bring necessary documents with you (National Health Insurance card etc.) Sakai Children’s Emergency Medical Semboku Emergency Medical Center Center (TEL) 072-272-0909 (TEL) 072-292-0099 1-1-2 Ebaraji-cho, Nishi Ward, Sakai 1-8-1 Takeshiro-dai, Minami Ward, City Sakai City Field: Pediatric Care Field: Internal Medicine Hours: 9:30-11:30, 12:45-16:30, 20:30- Hours: 9:30-11:30, 12:45-16:30 4:30 (of the next day) *for junior high school students and Osaka Central Emergency Medical younger Clinic (TEL) 06-6534-0321 4-10-13 Shinmachi, Nishi Ward, Osaka Sakai Dental Health Center City (TEL) 072-243-0099 Field: Eyes, ears, nose, and throat 18-3 Daisen naka-machi, Sakai Ward, care Sakai City Hours: Field: Dentistry 13 Aug: 10:00-0:30 (midnight) Hours: 9:30-11:30, 12:45-16:30 14 Aug: 15:00-21:30 *there will be no surgeries performed 15 Aug: 10:00-21:30 during this time

For Your Reference

 Plaza of Multicultural  Sakai City CIR Facebook Page

Exchange This is run by yours truly! I mainly post information

TEL 072-228-7499 on what’s happening in Sakai, from upcoming ublished by the Inter- Email: events to emergencies & disas- national Division, Sa- [email protected] ter warnings. It’s operated P Address: 2-1 Minamikawara-machi, completely in English. Please kai City Government. like the page by 3-1 Minamikawara-machi, 5F Sakai City General Welfare Hall from 1 scanning the QR Sakai-ku, Sakai, Osaka August code! 〒590-0078 Opening Hours: Sunday to Fri- (TEL) 072-222-7343 day 9:00-17:30 (closed on public (FAX) 072-228-7900 holidays and New Year’s break 29 December to 3 January) This issue was compiled  Emergency Numbers General Consultations for Foreign Residents by Ellen Xiong, Coordina- 110: accident or require police tor for International Rela- Please drop by in person or call during these 119: fire or medical emergency tions. Published on the first hours if you have any queries regarding daily (available in English, Chinese, working day of every sec- life. Korean, Spanish, and Portuguese) ond month. Mon to Fri 10:00-12:00 & 13:00-16:00 - Ambulances are free to use however, they are only for emergencies, not Japanese, English, Chinese, Korean, Vietnam- Pick up your next copy ese, Portuguese, Spanish, Tagalog, and Thai. for minor illnesses or injuries. - When you call 119, the operator can from the International Di- *Indonesian and Nepali is only available for vision (6F Sakai City Hall) in person consultations. set up a three way call with an interpreter. It can or from: *Languages other than Japanese/English will be take up to 10 seconds to connect, during which the conducted through a 3-way call or caller should wait on the line.  Ward Offices through the use of translation de-  Libraries vices and interpreting services.  Sakai City Museum

○♣ Smoking and Littering Ban Free Confidential Consultation  Public health centres In Sakai City, there is a ban on smoking and litter-  Public gyms 18 August & 15 September, 14:00-17:00 ing stretching from around Sakai Higashi station,  Cultural halls Consultations on naturalizations and immigra- the City Hall and Oshoji road to Sakai tions with an administrative procedure special- station (East to West). There is a 1000  Or read it online! ists are available for discussing the status of or yen penalty fee if caught. changes to applications. Three slots available The areas of western Sakaihigashi sta- Foreigners living in Sakai (Reservations required). Those that require an tion, Nakamozu station, Mikunigaoka are eligible for free deliv- interpreter must apply at least 10 days before station, JR Sakaishi station and the ery. Please email us with the date of the consultation. shopping arcade in front of it have been marked as your name and address to: priority areas for improvement. We appreciate your [email protected] Volunteer Interpreter Service cooperation. Those who need interpretation can Readers can also sign up apply for a volunteer interpreter at for an email notification as ♣ the Sakai International Plaza. ○ Storing Water in Case of Disaster each new City Life is pub- Please make sure to apply 10 days It’s important to store drinkable water for at least 7 lished. Use the QR Code or in advance using the form availa- days in case of a disaster. One person drinks about 3 the link on the City Life ble for download from the QR liters of water for one day. It is necessary to save homepage to go to the reg- code. Please hand it in via post, water in case of a large earthquake that could result istration website. The reg- fax or email. in water pipes being damaged, causing filthy or istration process is all in sewage water not being properly disposed. If this Japanese but there is an やさしい日本語 Facebook Page happens, it is recommended that English guide on the page. The Sakai International Plaza has you refrain from using the water started a new Facebook page which from the pipes. By doing this, posts about emergencies, disaster you can reduce the sewage up to warnings, upcoming events, etc., in about 70%. Easy Japanese. This is a great re- source for those who want to attain information in Japanese. ○♣ Waterworks & Sewage Bureau Reminder

Please contact the center when you need to start or ○♣ Parking Ban-Zones for Bicycles & Mini stop your water supply. Also, please make sure to

Bikes pay your water bill on time. If not, the water supply Each railway station in Sakai city may stop.

(except for the Hankai Line) is des- Waterworks & Sewage Bureau Cus- ignated as a parking ban zone. Bi- tomer Center cycles and mini bikes left in the (TEL: navi-dial) 0570-02-1132 zone will be removed. In addition, (TEL) 072-251-1132 (Japanese only) we will collect the removal & storage fee for the Weekdays: 8:45-19:00 return of a removed bike or mini bike. Please use Weekends & public holidays: 9:00-17:00 the parking lot to park a bicycle or mini-bike.