EST. 1994 ISSUE 161 December 2020/January 2021 Edition Legend: Contents ity Life is a free English newsletter published every even month by the ☆ events New Year Notices 2 C International Division at the Sakai City Government to provide infor- mation to the residents of Sakai City. It is available at libraries, ward offic- ◆ exhibitions Notices 3 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 Events 4-5 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 ○♣ environment Important Info 6 following email address: [email protected] help lines Sakai Illumination 2020 Date: Until 15 January, 17:00~23:30 The annual illumination will go forward and light up this winter. The original 1.6km stretch of Oshoji Road from Sakai Station to Sakaihigashi Station will be joined by an extra 700m display along Daidosuji (from Hanadaguchi Station to Shukuin Station on the Hankai Tramway). This year, the city will be decorated with champagne gold LED lights. Neighboring stores will be offering special menus or services in collaboration with the illumination, and there will also be special events held. ★Other Light Displays★ ・Sakai Plaza of Rikyu and Akiko Light-up ・AEON Mall Teppocho Christmas Illumination (until 25 December) ・Hotel Agora Regency Sakai Portas Square Christmas Tree (until 25 December) ★Sakai Moat Night Festa★ Date: 19 & 20 December (17:00~21:00) Place: Uchikawa riverside (near Xavier Park) Come enjoy hot wine and toasty Sakai treats or a night cruise! 1000 yen a ride, max 15 people per round. First come first serve basis. ★Photo Contest★ Submission period: 1 December to 15 January Eligibility: Anyone living in Japan How to apply: Send photos of Sakai Illumination 2020 with your name, photo title, photo comment, photo location and address to send the prize to, to [email protected]. Make sure to tag #堺イルミ2020 if posting on Instagram. Photos are just a reference. For more, see the official Sakai Illumination 2020 website 1 Dec 2020 Jan 2021 New Year Notices There will be no collection of garbage between 1 to 3 January. For areas that would have had their garbage collected, no alternative day will be arranged. Garbage Type Area/Notes Collection Ends Collection Resumes Household Garbage, Can/ All areas within Sakai Collection as normal until 31 December. Glass Bottles, Plastic Con- *please only recycle plastic contain- Please be aware that the time of collec- tainers and Packaging*, PET ers and packaging that have the tion around the break may vary slightly. Bottles, Small Metal Goods special plastic mark. Paper Mihara Ward Only Large Garbage Reception Center (TEL 0120-00- Phone lines are open until 25 December. (arrangement only) 8400 or 06-6485-5048 from a cell- For collection before the new year, phone; 9:00~17:00, weekdays only) please apply by 17:00 on 18 December. To arrange pickup online: Homepage: https:// Online is open through New Year holi- www.eg-resource2.jp/ day break. sakai/ Irregular Garbage Garbage from moving houses etc. Collection as normal until 28 December. Collection as normal (Fees apply) For collection before the new year, from 4 January. please apply by 21 December. Please be aware that the time of collection Business Garbage Daily collection Collection as normal until 31 December. (Fees apply) around the break may vary slightly. Dirty mud/ sludge All areas Collection as normal until 28 Decem- ber. For special collection before until 28 December, please make a request by 18 December. Sewage All areas Collection as normal until 29 December. For special collection before until 28 December, please make a request by 24 December. Pet Remains Bring remains to the Sakai City Phone line for collection will close from Hall Main Building (Honkan) Main 15:30 on 31 December. Entrance and ask the security guard in the parking lot. Inquires: Public Sanitation Division (TEL) 072-228-7429 (For sewage: 072-228-7428) Regarding large garbage call the Public Sanitation Office (TEL) 072-273-2672 Waste Disposal Rubbish Resumption ※New Year Break Government Services Plant Drop-Off Times Open Accepted (fees apply) of Service Until From 29 December to 3 January, most of the services in Clean Center 11:30~16:30 the Sakai City Hall will be closed for the New Years Higashi Open from 8:30 during holiday break. Sakai International Plaza will also be 29-31 December closed (check back page for dates). Emergency 31 December 4 January inquiries should be directed to 072-233-2800. Clean Center 8:30~16:30 Rinkai Family register-related services and issuance for burial/cremation permits for the deceased fetuses Waste drop-off centers can become congested at the end of the year services will be continuing during this time. so please come early These services will be handled at the after-hours recep- tion at the east entrance to the City Hall main building Inquiries: Clean Center Administrative Division (TEL: 072-252- (honkan). At ward offices, these services will be handled 0815) through the security office. ☺ Emergency Medical Care TEL & Field 30 Dec to 4 Jan 072-272-0909 Pediatric Care 9:30~11:00, 12:45~16:30, Sakai Children’s Emergency Medical Center *junior high & under 17:30~4:30 (of next day) Semboku Emergency Medical Center 072-292-0099 Internal Medicine 9:30~11:00, 12:45~16:30 Sakai Dental Health Center 072-243-0099 Dentistry 9:30~11:00, 12:45~16:30 Osaka Central Emergency Medical Clinic 06-6534-0321 Eyes, ears, nose & throat care 10:00~21:30 *from 29 Dec to 5 Jan Please make sure to bring official certificates, such as health insurance card, child and elderly medical cost support certificates. 2 City Notices Dec 2020 Jan 2021 ※City and Prefectural Tax Notice ☺1 December: World AIDS Day Minami Public Health Cen- ter & Naka Public Health Cen- January marks the fourth appointed time for World AIDS Day is an opportunity for payment of city and prefectural tax. The dead- ter people worldwide to raise awareness of Dates: 10 Dec line is Monday 1 February. To pay, please go the disease and fight against discrimi- to the nearest banking facility, post office, Time: 18:00~20:00 nation towards those that are affected *Syphilis and chlamydia test also avail- convenience store, Tax Payment Division by it. It is celebrated on the 1 December (City Hall Mikunigaoka Branch) or by internet able for free if taken at the same time. and was first established in 1988. The or mobile banking. Please make sure red ribbon is a symbol of support to pay before the deadline. 3. HIV Screening Test (standard ex- against prejudice and discrimination amination): For those that use the automatic towards those living with AIDs. Sakai transfer, payment will automatically Results ready in a week at the same time City is offering the following HIV tests. and place of the test. Complete anonym- be deducted on Monday 1 February so please check that you have sufficient funds. ity. No fee or reservation needed. Tests [A request to those coming for tests] for syphilis and chlamydia in the same - Please refrain from coming if you have appointment will also be free. a fever, cough etc. You will be turned ☺ Influenza Vaccinations for the El- away if you show such symptoms. derly Place Examination Time - Please wear a mask Day Contracted medical institutions in Sakai will 1. Same Day Results (Weekday): be administering subsidized influenza vaccina- Sakai Public 2nd Thursday Complete anonymity. No fee or reser- Health Center tions for 1500 yen until 31 January 2021. vation needed. Limited to 20 people. - Sakai City Public Health & Medical Naka Public 3rd Monday Eligibility: Those registered as Center 1st Floor Health Center Sakai residents on the day of the (3-2-6 Kanino-cho Higashi, Sakai-ku) vaccination who are 65 years or Dates: 24 Dec & 25 Feb Higashi Public 4th Tuesday Health Center 9:30 older, or are between 60~64 and Time: 10:00~11:00 ~ *results will be released from 13:15 have heart, kidney, lung or im- Nishi Public 1st Tuesday 11:00 mune system impairments that meet physical at the same place of the test Health Center disability certificate level 1 criteria. 2. Night Testing: Minami Public 3rd Wednesday Please bring the appropriate documents with Results available in a week at the same Health Center you, such as your Health Insurance card, proof time and place of the test. Complete Kita Public 2nd Tuesday of disability documents and anonymity. No fee or reservation need- Health Center proof of age, etc. ed. No limit of people. *This subsidy is only available Sun Square Sakai Bldg. B Basement Chinugaoka 1st Wednesday 1F 5th Meeting Room (2-1 Tadei-cho, for ONE vaccination Public Health 13:30 Sakai-ku) Center ~ Please scan the QR code to find out which Dates: 20 Jan & 17 Mar 15:30 medical institutions are participating (Japanese Time: 18:30~20:00 Mihara Public 3rd Thursday only). *Syphilis test also available for free if Health Center taken at the same time. ※COVID-19 related tools ※December is Traffic Accident Pre- ※Take Caution With Heat- vention Month ing Equipment Osaka COVID-19 Tracing System This is Osaka Prefecture's system to send an Traffic accidents around sunset and at night ● Do not hang laundry or any- alert email to those registered in case they had increase towards the end of the year.