EST. 1994 ISSUE 159

August/September 2020 Edition

Legend: Contents ity Life is a free English newsletter published every even month by the ☆ events International Division at the City Government to provide infor- C City Notices 2-3 mation to the residents of Sakai City. It is available at libraries, ward offic- ◆ exhibitions Events 4 es and other city facilities, or you can view it online at the Sakai City Gov- ※ important notices ernment English website. Don’t forget to also sign up for emails to know △ campaigns

Puzzles 5 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 ○♣ Important Info 6 following email address: [email protected] environment  help lines

☆Alphonse Mucha and Czech Republic Related Events

Mucha was a Czech painter who was active in Paris towards the end of the 19th century as a representative artist of the Art Nouveau period. Sakai City is home to a world-famous collection of over 500 of his works. The collection was donated to the city by the family of Mr. Doi Kimio, the founder of a defunct camera retail store. His wife had fond memories of Sakai from when they spent their newly-wed period here. This year marks the 160th anniversary of Mucha’s birth and is also the 100th anniversary of exchange between and the Czech Republic. In celebration, there will be special exhibitions of his work at different places around Sakai. Please check them out if you can!

◆Exhibition A: – 160th Birth Anniversary of Alphonse Mucha – Self portrait of Alphonse Place: Sakai Alphonse Mucha Museum Mucha 1888. From Nearest Station: Sakaishi Station (JR ) collection of Sakai

Dates: First period: Until 13 September Mucha Museum Second period: 17 September to 8 November Time: 9:30~17:15 Closed: Monday (however closed the following day instead if a public holiday) and exhibition change days (15 & 16 September) Admission fee: Adult 510 yen Senior high/university student 310 yen Elementary and over 100 yen ☆Sakai Marché ◆Exhibition B: “My First Mucha” In collaboration with “My First Mucha” Place: Sakai Plaza of Rikyu and Akiko exhibition, there will be a marché (market) Nearest station: Sakai Station (Nankai themed after the homeland of Czech Line), Shukuin Station ( painter Mucha! There will be a concert, Line) or Shukuin Bus Stop Czech beer, organic cosmetics, traditional Date: Until 10 August crafted goods and more. Time: 9:00~18:00 Date: Sunday 9 August Cost: Free (admission fee is required: Time: 11:00~16:00 Adult 300 yen, senior high school 200 Place: Sakai Plaza of Rikyu and Akiko yen, elementary and over 100 yen) *cancelled in case of bad weather

◆Exhibition: “Sakai Alphonse Mucha Museum Collection” Place: Sakai City Museum (near Mozu Station on the JR Hanwa Line) Date: Until 4 October Time: 9:30~17:15 (last entrance 16:30) Closed: Monday (however open if a public holiday) Admission fee: Adult 200 yen, senior high school/university student 100 yen, elementary and over 50 yen

1 August/September 2020 City Notices & Services

※Reminder about Special Cash ※2020 National Census ☆Beginners’ Japanese Lessons Payments The national census will take place from 1 Date: 4 September to 30 October, Have you applied for the Special Cash October this year. The national census is every Tuesday and Friday Benefits yet? The deadline is slowly conducted every five years according to the Time: 14:00~16:00 Statistics Law and is the most important approaching. Place: 6F Sakai International Plaza Applications must be postmarked by survey for the country. Various statistics August 31, meaning that the return can be collected and used as fundamental Eligibility: This course is for people envelopes must be placed inside a post- data for administrative purposes on every living, working or studying (at university box before or on August 31 at the latest. governmental level. etc.) in Sakai City If you need help filling in the form, the Content: Study useful everyday con- Sakai International Plaza is available to All persons registered as residents are versational Japanese assist (details on page 6). required to participate, regardless of Cost: Free nationality which means foreign resi- dents are also included. It will be availa- To apply: Fill in the application form △Tuberculosis Prevention Week ble in 27 languages, 6 of which are availa- and fax, mail, email or hand it in to Sakai (24~30 September) ble online. Please contact the census exam- International Plaza iners or Sakai International Plaza if you 1-4-24 Nakakawara-machi, Sakai-ku require it in a different language. 〒 Every year in Japan, roughly 17,000 590-0077 (TEL) 072-228-7499 people catch the disease and about 2,000 The census examiners people die from it. Also, every year over (FAX) 072-340-1091 will send out the papers (Email） [email protected] 1,000 people born outside of Japan catch and IDs for online ac- the illness and the number is rising cess between 15 to 20 amongst younger ages. September. Answers are Initial symptoms of tuberculosis include required by 7 October (paper documents coughing, phlegm, slight fever, chest must be posted between 1 and 7 October). pain and fatigue. To prevent the spread of COVID-19, the If the cough continues for more than 2 census will be non-contact. It would be weeks, it is important to have it appreciated if you answer via the internet. checked at a medical institution. Early The information provided in the national Application Form detection not only prevents the illness census will not be used for any other pur- from getting worse for the patient but poses. also prevents the illness from spreading. ※City & Prefectural Tax Notice In Sakai City, persons at the age of 40 and over can receive tuberculosis screen- ※Cancellations ing for free once a year. For time and August will be the start of the 2nd ap- place, please contact the Infectious Dis- The Sakai Festival, ASEAN Hiroba and pointed time for payment for the city and eases Division (感染 Sakai Grand Evening Fish Market (ouo prefectural tax. The deadline is Friday 31 yoichi) have been cancelled due to influ- August. Please pay at the nearest 症対策課 kansensho ences of COVID-19. banking facility, post office, convenience taisakuka) (TEL) Ohama Park Pool and store, or by internet or mobile banking. 072-222-9933 Shinkanaoka Park Pool are Please make sure to pay before the dead- (Japanese only) closed to prevent the spread line. of infections. For those that use automatic transfer, payment will automatically be deducted on Friday 31 August so please check that ☺ Available Hospitals during the Obon Holiday (8/13~ 8/15) you have sufficient funds.

Don’t forget to bring necessary documents with you (National Health Insurance card etc.) Domestic Violence Hotline Plus Sakai Children’s Emergency Medical Semboku Emergency Medical Center Center (TEL) 072-272-0909 (TEL) 072-292-0099 Chat messaging availa- 1-1-2 Ebaraji-cho, Nishi Ward, Sakai City 1-8-1 Takeshiro-dai, Minami Ward, Sakai ble in 10 languages, 24 Field: Pediatric Care City hours a day. Hours: 9:30~11:30, 12:45~16:30, Field: Internal Medicine Depending on the

20:30~4:30 (of the next day) Hours: 9:30~11:30, 12:45~16:30 situation, you may be *for junior high school students and transferred to phone or younger Sakai Dental Health Center (TEL) 072- email correspondence. 243-0099 Central Emergency Medical Clin- 18-3 Daisen naka-machi, Sakai Ward, Sa- ic (TEL) 06-6534-0321 kai City 4-10-13 Shinmachi, Nishi Ward, Osaka Field: Dentistry City Hours: 9:30~11:30, 12:45~16:30 Field: Eyes, ears, nose, and throat care *there will be no surgeries performed Hours: during this time 13-14 Aug: 10:00~0:30 (midnight) 15 Aug: 15:00~21:30

2 For Your New Lifestyle August/September 2020

 Sakai City English Website ※ Extra caution when throwing out rubbish

In the ever-changing situation due to The amount of rubbish produced increases as we spend more time at home. Our COVID-19, the best place to find the most rubbish includes things like used face masks, tissues, food waste and other things up-to-date information is either the English that have our respiratory droplets on page of Sakai City Government website. them. The International Divi- sion strives to update it Please put all items that may spread the at least once a week or infection in a separate bag and squeeze when new announce- all the air out before tightly tying it shut ments by Sakai City are when throwing it out. This not only prevents the spread of infection within your made. family, but also protects the workers who collect, separate and dispose of the rubbish from risk of infection. Thank you for your cooperation.

 English Facebook Page ☺ Exercising Regularly ○♣ No More Free Plastic Bags

Check out our page! We appreciate every We tend to lack getting enough exer- From 1 July, free plastic like we get! The Facebook page run by the cise the more we spend time at home. bags were made no Sakai International Plaza and it’s main func- A recommended daily amount of steps longer available across tion is to provide information on emergency for an adult is 8500 for men, and 7500 the country. Let’s start situations, like natural disasters. But there for women. Walking for 10 minutes is bringing reusable bags are also other interesting resources and roughly 1000 steps. Choose a cool, off and reduce plastic to events shared which peak time and start with just 1000 help the environment! could be relevant for steps. Moving your body during your residents in Sakai. Please regular day, like vacuuming, washing Some people may be unaware of how search “Sakai Interna- the bath tub, garden- dirty reusable bags can become if not tional Plaza” on Face- ing, cleaning the regularly cleaned. Designate certain book or scan the QR veranda and playing bags for different categories of food code. with kids all count (meat, vegetables, dry goods etc.) and as exercise and can avoid using them for other purposes! be a good change of pace. ※Watch out for food poisoning!

※COVID-19 related tools There are many cases of food poisoning across the Osaka COVID-19 Tracing System country from June to Octo- This is 's system to ber every year. Please take send an alert email to those registered the following measures to in case they had close-contact with prevent it happening to someone at the same event or facility you. who later tested positive for COVID- When buying food: 19. ● Check the expiration date and level of freshness COVID-19 Contact Confirming Ap- ● Only buy what you need

plication (COCOA) ● Aim to purchase refrigerated and fro- This is a smartphone app supplied by zen foods last and store away as soon Japanese Ministry of Health, Labor and as possible Welfare. Install the app, turn Bluetooth Storage: on, and you'll be notified if you have ● Don’t leave fridge door open for long had close contact (1m distance for periods of time more than 15 minutes) with someone ● infected with COVID-19 in last 2 Try not to fill up your fridge or freezer weeks. Scan the QR code below to ● Keep meat and fish wrapped up well download it to your smartphone. to prevent the liquid leakage When cooking:

● Always wash your hands before cook- ※Reduced Summer Break ing

● Wash your chopping board and knives Municipal schools and kindergartens will in hot water to kill germs before you shorten their summer break period in order Google Play App Store start cooking to secure more learning time. ● Make sure food is cooked thoroughly ・Elementary, junior and senior high and to eat it as soon as possible school: 8~18 August ● Keep chopsticks used for handling the ・Special needs school: 8~25 August raw meat separate from the ones used ・Kindergarten: 1~31 August for eating

3 August/September 2020 Events

☆Harvest Hill: (TEL) 072-296-9911 (URL) http://farm.or.jp

‘Skip’ Musical Group Performance Time: 10:00~17:00 *subject to change Date: 29 August Entry Fee: Adult 1000 yen, student (junior high and over) & Time: 11:00 & 14:00 senior (65yrs+) 700 yen, 4yrs & over 600 yen Place: Space next to the Food Hall Access: 20 minutes by Nankai bus (Habesutono-oka Bus Stop) Cost: Free from Izumigaoka Station on the Semboku Rapid Line. Sausage Bread Class Sunflower Festa Date: Every day in August 80,000 sunflowers to bloom in Time: 15:00 the flower field. A definite Cost: 900 yen picturesque photo spot! There Duration: 60 minutes is also sunflower picking expe- Capacity: 48 people (in 12 rience planned for mid-August. groups) There is also a photo contest on Instagram where the winners Mango Sherbet Class will receive prizes. Date: Every day in August Date: Throughout August Time: 14:00 Best viewing: Mid August (predicted) Cost: 900 yen Duration: 30 minutes Jabu Jabu Hiroba Water Park Capacity: 48 people (in 12 Open every day until the end of September. groups) *closed if rainy Peach Ice Cream Class Harvest Summer Vegetables Date: Every day in August Pick your own green capsicum, eggplant and small green peppers Time: 13:00 Date: Weekends in August Cost: 900 yen Time: 15:00~16:00 Duration: 30 minutes Cost: 300 yen for one bag Capacity: 48 people (in 12 groups)

◆☆Sakai City Museum (TEL) 072-245-6201 ☆Sophia Sakai (TEL) 072-270-8110

Access: 2-cho, Mozusekiun-cho, Make Magatama Access: 1426 Fukaishimizu-cho, Naka-ku Sakai-ku Try making this popular Located a 12 minutes walk from Fukai Station 7 min walk from Mozu Station (JR accessory from the Kofun period (Semboku Rapid Line) Hanwa Line) yourself from talcum stone. Closed on: Mondays Time: 9:30~17:15 (last entrance Date: Sunday 19 September (however open if a public 16:30) Time: 10:00~12:00 & 14:00~16:00 holiday) Closed: Monday (however closed Place: Basement Study Room the following day instead if a public Capacity: 15 students (elementary Star Gazing holiday) school and older) Date: August 1, 7, 15, 21, 29 Admission: Adult 200 yen, universi- *up to one adult is allowed to ac- and September 5, 11, 19, 25 ty & senior high school 100 yen, company per child Time: 19:30~21:00 junior high & primary school 50 yen Cost: 200 yen Place: 6F Astronomical Ob- Things to bring: Face mask, old servatory Museum Pass cloth Why not come see the starry An accompanying adult can enter free Reservations: Please call from summer sky through largest telescope in Osaka Pre- with an elementary or junior high 10:00 on 19 August. (first come first fecture! A free event, just come straight to the ven- school student! serve basis) ue. No reservations needed. Period: 8 August to 29 November *may be cancelled due to bad weather. Decision Applicable facilities: Sakai City Let’s Explore Treasures of the Mu- made at 17:00, please check the website for more Museum, Mihara History Museum, seum! From the collection of Sakai details Sakai City Historical Townhouses City Museum－Part 1: Modern *primary school children and younger must be (Yamaguchi Residence and Sei- accompanied with an adult Period gakuin) Sakai Plaza of Rikyu and Date: Until 4 October Planetarium Show “Night Akiko, Alphonse Mucha Museum, The museum will reach its 40th anni- on the Galactic Railroad” Sakai Traditional Industrial Museum, versary in October! To celebrate, Miyazawa Kenji’s most fa- Bicycle Museum there will be an introduction on mate- mous fantasy novel is per- Eligibility: Elementary/junior high rials on modern history from the mu- fectly visualized. school students living or attending seum’s collection. You can enjoy Date: Weekends and public holidays in August/ schools in Sakai paintings of Sakai before the war by a September, as well as during summer break (8~18 Where to receive: Sakai-born painter, August) Through elementary and textbooks used at the Time: Weekdays 11:15~12:00 & 15:00~15:45 junior high schools in end of the 19th centu- Weekends 12:30~13:15 & 15:30~16:15 Sakai. Eligible students ry, bird-eye views of Place: Planetarium can also receive them at Japan and more. Cost: Adult 510 yen applicable facilities. Child 250 yen (4 years old to junior high school)

4 Fun Activities August/September 2020

☆No Pot Needed! Mackerel and Method: Tomato Dish ● Lightly mix all ingredients in a microwave-safe dish (don’t drain the liquid from the mackerel!) In the hot summer, why not try using ● Loosely wrap with plastic wrap and your microwave for an easy dish? Not microwave for 5 minutes at 600W. to mention, it’s full of nutrition! Leave for 5 minutes to let the steam further cook it. Serves 2 ● Arrange on a plate and top with 1 can of mackerel in water your choice of cheese, pepper or Quarter onion, thinly sliced (60g) parsley. 1/3 can of tomato (150g) ● You can also further mash the Garlic mackerel to turn this into a pasta 2 Tbsp oil sauce or cook with rice to make risotto!

©2010 ARA ☆Step-by-step Vietnamese Number Link Cooking Recipe ● Menu: Summer rolls (there will also Connect lines between the matching items be a version like temakizushi where without letting any of them cross! You can only you eat as you roll) and kofun Recipes with step-by-step photos by use each square once and they all must be used. shaped chè (sweet pudding/soup Lines cannot move diagonally. Tomizawa Yuki from the Vietnamese dessert) cuisine research lab ‘foodlab.asia’ will ● Recipes will be released at 9:00 on be released on the Sakai City Govern- 1 September until the end of Oc- ment website. tober. As we are celebrating the 1st anniver- DID YOU HEAR THE JOKE sary of the inscription of the Mozu- Furuichi Kofungun as a UNESCO ABOUT THE GERM? World Heritage Site, this will be a NEVER MIND, I DON’T collaboration between Vietnamese cuisine and kofun, with Director Hani- WANT IT TO SPREAD! wa appearing in the recipe. Please try making it yourself at home!

Summer Crossword

Down 1. Smash this fruit open with a stick! 2. Hottest season of the year 3. A sea creature with five arms/ legs 4. A cold treat on a cone

Across 5. Grilling food outdoors 6. Colorful flowers in the sky 7. Come here to get sand between your toes!

5 For Your Reference

 Sakai International Plaza ○♣ Smoking and Littering Ban

TEL 072-228-7499 FAX 072-340-1091 In Sakai City, there is a ban on smoking and Email: [email protected] littering stretching from around Sakai Hi- Address: 1-4-24 Nakakawara- gashi station, the City Hall and Oshoji road ublished by the Inter- machi, Sakai-ku 〒590-0077. to Sakai station (East to West). There is a P national Division, Located 300m from Sakaihigashi 1000 yen penalty fee if caught. Sakai City Government. Station (Nankai ) The areas of western Sakaihigashi station, Nakamozu 3-1 Minamikawara-machi, Opening Hours: Sunday to Friday 9:00~17:30 station, Mikunigaoka station, JR Sakaishi station and Sakai-ku, Sakai, Osaka 〒 (closed on public holidays and New Year’s the shopping arcade in front of it have been marked as break) priority areas for improvement. We appreciate your 590-0078 cooperation. (TEL) 072-222-7343 General Consultations for Foreign Residents (FAX) 072-228-7900 Please drop by in person or call during these  Emergency Numbers This issue was compiled hours if you have any queries regarding daily life. 110: accident or require police by Ellen Xiong, Coordina- Japanese/English Mon to Fri 10:00~12:00 119: fire or medical emergency tor for International Rela- (available in English, Chinese, Korean, tions. Published on the 13:00~16:00 Spanish, and Portuguese) first working day of every Portuguese Mon 13:00~16:00 ・Ambulances are free to use however, they are only second month. Fri 9:00~12:00 for emergencies, not for minor illnesses or injuries. ・When you call 119, the operator can set Pick up your next copy Spanish Mon & Fri 13:00~16:00 up a three way call with an interpreter. It can from the International Korean Tues 9:00~12:00 take up to 10 seconds to connect, during Division (6F Sakai City which the caller should wait on the line. Chinese Wed 13:00~16:00 Hall) or from:  Ward Offices Fri 9:00~12:00 ○♣ Parking Ban-Zones for Bicycles & Mini  Libraries *Languages other than Japanese/English will Bikes  Sakai City Museum be conducted through a 3-way call Each railway station in Sakai city  Public health centres The Sakai International Plaza provides support (except for the ) is desig-  Public gyms with daily life enquiries in 11 languages through nated as a parking ban zone. Bicycles  Cultural halls the use of translation devices and interpreting and mini bikes left in the zone will be services. Residents can come by between removed. In addition, we will collect  Or read it online! 10:00~12:00 and 13:00~16:00 on Monday to the removal & storage fee for the return Friday for advice. Languages include English, of a removed bike or mini bike. Please Foreigners living in Sakai Chinese, Korean, Vietnamese, Nepali, Indone- use the parking lot to park a bicycle or mini-bike. are eligible for free deliv- sian, Tagalog, Thai, Portuguese and Spanish. ery. Please email us with your name and address to:  English Facebook Page Free Confidential Consultation [email protected] The Sakai International Plaza’s Face- 19 August & 16 September, 14:00~17:00 book page is a great source for the Consultations on naturalizations and immigra- newest information on what’s happen- Readers can also sign up tions with an administrative procedure specialists ing in Sakai. Things like emergencies, for an email notification as are available for discussing the status of or disaster warnings, upcoming events each new City Life is pub- changes to applications. Three slots available written in English are regularly posted. lished. Use the QR Code (Reservations required). For those that require an Please like our page by scanning the QR code! or the link on the City Life interpreter must apply at least 10 days before the homepage to go to the date of the consultation. registration website. The ○♣ Storing Water in Case of Disaster registration process is all Volunteer Interpreter Service It’s important to store drinkable water for at least 7 days Those who need interpretation can in Japanese but there is an in case of a disaster. One person drinks about 3 liters of English guide on the page. apply for a volunteer interpreter at water for one day. It is necessary to save water in case the Sakai International Plaza. of a large earthquake that could result in water pipes Please make sure to apply 10 days in advance being damaged, causing filthy or sewage water not using the form available for download from the being properly disposed. If this happens, QR code. Please hand it in via post, fax or email. it is recommended that you refrain from using the water from the pipes. By doing this, you can reduce the sewage up to  FM COCOLO about 70%.

This FM radio station (76.5MHz) provides living information in Sakai City and information in the case of disaster. ○♣ Waterworks & Sewage Bureau Reminder

It is on air on the weekdays of the 2nd and 4th Please contact the center when you need to start or stop week of the month at the following times: your water supply. Also, please make sure to pay your Monday 19:15– Japanese water bill on time. If not, the water supply may stop.

Monday 20:40– Korean Waterworks & Sewage Bureau Customer Tuesday 20:40– Chinese Center Wednesday 20:40– English (TEL: navi-dial) 0570-02-1132 Thursday 20:40– Spanish (TEL) 072-251-1132 (Japanese only) Friday 05:28– Vietnamese Weekdays: 8:45~19:00 Friday 20:40– Portuguese Weekends & public holidays: 9:00~17:00

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