Towards a Society Whose Members Live in Harmony Fumiko Hayashi Mayor of Yokohama Human Rights Week begins on December 4. I would like to take this occasion to think once more with our citizens about what we can do to build a society in which all of its members can lead rewarding lives, regardless of age, gender, nationality, or disabilities. At present, Yokohama has about 87,000 residents who are foreign nationals. Some of them cannot communicate very well in Japanese, and many people are volunteering to serve as interpreters at information counters and in hospitals. Our Multicultural Community program, which is aimed at constructing communities that are friendly to both Japanese and non-Japanese residents and imbued with respect for each other’s cultures, is one of the approaches that Yokohama is taking as an internationally-minded city. An essay contest for junior high school students attracted many brilliant entries that provide much food for thought. One, for example, described how difficult it was to translate desires to cherish human rights into action in real life. It may sound simple to take that first step on the path to building a society in which all members can be themselves and pursue their own goals, but it is no easy task in reality. It means to feel for and offer help to people who are in trouble or have worries, or to put yourself in the other’s shoes and recognize each other’s differences. I hope to keep taking such steps with all of you. There is now only one month left again this year, and temperatures are dropping. Please take good care of yourself and have a wonderful holiday season! Places in Yokohama to visit in winter Yokohama has plenty of places that are fun to visit even on cold winter days. Experience destinations that are especially recommended in winter! TOWERS Milight In this light-centered event, which is held once a year, all of the office buildings in the Minato Mirai 21 district turn on all of their lights. 【Time】December 22 (Thurs.), 4:30–9:30 p.m. 【Place】Minato Mirai 21 district Contact: Yokohama Minato Mirai 21 Corporation Tel: 045-682-4403 Fax: 045-682-4400 Yokohama Marine Tower Winter Illumination 2016 The illumination is set up to produce a cascade of light flowing from the top of the tower’s center to the bottom, like falling stars. In the square around the tower is HIKARI GARDEN, a magical space where visitors can view works of art featuring light. It is perfect for taking photos. 【Time】 Until February 28 (Tues.) Stardust illumination, 5:00 p.m.–12:00 a.m. HIKARI GARDEN, 5:00–11:00 p.m. 【Place】 Yokohama Marine Tower (15 Yamashita-cho, Naka Ward) Contact: Yokohama Marine Tower Tel: 045-664-1100 Fax: 045-680-1656 ［写真キャプション］Stardust illumination Making winter memories at Yokohama Red Brick Warehouse Christmas Market & Art Rink Christmas Market is inspired by traditional German Christmas decorations. Art Rink offers enjoyment of a unique collaboration between art and skating. 【Time】 (1) Christmas Market: until December 25 (Sun.), 11:00 a.m.–10:00 p.m. (2) Art Rink: December 3 (Sat.)–February 19 (Sun.) Open 1:00–10:00 p.m. Monday–Friday and 11:00 a.m.–10:00 p.m. Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays (closed on rainy or extremely windy days) 【Place】 Yokohama Red Brick Warehouse event plaza (1-1 Shinko, Naka Ward) 【Fee】 Christmas Market: free admission Art Rink: 500 yen (a separate charge of 500 yen to rent skates), 200 yen for admission to accompany and watch (without skating) Contact (1) Red Brick Warehouse Building No. 2 Tel: 045-227-2002 Fax: 045-226-1916 Contact (2) Red Brick Warehouse Building No. 1 Tel: 045-211-1515 Fax: 045-211-1519 ［写真キャプション］Christmas Market ［写真キャプション］Art Rink ［写真キャプション］© Hideo Mori Blythe 15th Anniversary Exhibition Sweet Celebration The Yokohama Doll Museum is staging a big exhibition of Blythe dolls, which are marking their 15th anniversary this year. The Blythe dolls born so far number about 500. The exhibition centers around particularly outstanding ones. 【Time】December 3 (Sat.)–January 22 (Sun.), 9:30 a.m.–5:00 p.m. (no admission after 4:30 p.m.) 【Place】Yokohama Doll Museum (18 Yamashita-cho, Naka Ward) 【Closed】Every Monday (Tuesday if Monday is a holiday) and December 29 (Thurs.)–January 1 (holiday) 【Exhibition admission】300 yen (in addition to the Museum admission of 400 yen) Contact: Yokohama Doll Museum Tel: 045-671-9361 Fax: 045-671-9022 ［写真キャプション］A Blythe doll ［写真キャプション］© 2016 Hasbro. All Rights Reserved. Licensed by Hasbro A New Year’s stroll in Sankeien Garden Special opening of Kakushokaku to the public During the New Year’s holiday, Kakushokaku (formerly the residence of the distinguished Hara family) will be specially opened to the public. Located in Sankeien Garden, it was designated as a tangible cultural property by the City of Yokohama and is normally not open for viewing. Taikan Yokoyama and Kanzan Shimomura, eminent painters of the Japan Art Institute, once stayed at this precious historical edifice to pursue artistic activities. During the opening, visitors will be able to hear concerts of koto music and watch a ceremony with kitchen knives. 【Time】January 1 (holiday)–3 (Tues.), 9:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m. 【Place】Sankeien Garden (58-1 Honmoku Sannotani, Naka Ward) 【Admission】(to Sankeien Garden) - Adults: 500 yen - Elementary school students: 200 yen Contact: Sankeien Garden Tel: 045-621-0634 Fax: 045-621-6343 ［写真キャプション］Hochoshiki, a ceremony in which foodstuffs are sliced without being touched, using only a knife and chopsticks Come - Learn - Enjoy A festival of safety and security 2017 Yokohama New Year’s Fire Review Besides showcasing Yokohama’s skills in firefighting and disaster response, this citizen-participation event has plenty of parts for firsthand experience of the operation of fire extinguishers and other equipment. It also allows children to board a hook-and-ladder truck (for the winners of a drawing from a list of advance applicants). For details, see the website. 横浜消防出初式 2017 Search 【Time】January 8 (Sun.), 10:30 a.m.–3:30 p.m. (held as scheduled in the event of light rain) 【Place】In the area of Yokohama Red Brick Warehouse (1-1 Shinko, Naka Ward) Contact: General Affairs Division, Fire Bureau Tel: 045-334-6516 Fax: 045-334-6517 ［写真キャプション］The spray of fire hoses all at once is a spectacular sight. The first holding of a running event Hamasta Ekiden 2017 Hamasta Ekiden is a citizen-participation event featuring a race on a special course in Yokohama Stadium. It consists of not only the ekiden relay race but also many other events that can be enjoyed by visitors who do not enter the race. The stands will be open to spectators free of charge, and visitors will also find stalls selling food and a free running class open to children as well. For details, please visit the website. ハマスタ駅伝 Search 【Time】January 22 (Sun.), 8:30 a.m.–3:00 p.m. (held as scheduled regardless of the weather) 【Place】Yokohama Stadium (Yokohama-koen, Naka Ward) Contact: Secretariat (within Sportsone) Tel: 0570-00-2107 Contact: Sports Promotion Division, Civic Affairs Bureau Tel: 045-671-3584 Fax: 045-664-0669 ［写真キャプション］Special guest: Toshihiko Seko, general manager of the DeNA Running Club ［写真キャプション］Free running class Change in the window for picking up My Number cards beginning in January Effective December 28 (Wed.), ward offices will no longer have temporary windows for distribution of My Number cards. Beginning in January, please pick up your card at the window of the Family Registry Division in the ward office in the ward where you live. (* Please note that you must perform advance application procedures for picking up your card.) The window at the Family Registry Division may be crowded beginning in January due to performance of procedures by people who are changing their address etc., so it may take considerable time for you to receive your card. Once preparations have been completed for distributing the My Number card, a distribution notification (postcard) is sent to the person in question. When you receive this notification, we recommend that you pick up your My Number card while the temporary window is open. What can you do when you get your My Number card? You can obtain a resident certificate at a convenience store. Beginning in late January (the starting date is still tentative), you can use your My Number card to obtain a transcript of your resident certificate and various other official certificates at a convenience store. Moreover, the fee for obtaining certificates at a convenience store will be 50 yen less than that charged at the windows of ward offices and other such offices. Certificates able to be obtained Resident certificate transcript Certificate of items on the resident certificate Seal registration certificate Transcript of address history attached to the family register Certificate of the entire family register or individual items Fee for obtaining transcripts/certificates Windows at ward offices etc. 300 yen per transcript/certificate Convenience stores 250 yen per transcript/certificate 450 yen per certificate *For family register certificates, the price is the same as at ward offices etc. Contact: Yokohama My Number System Call Center, until December 28 (Wed.) Tel: 0120-045-505 Fax: 045-664-5917 Monday–Saturday, 9:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m. (closed on Sundays and holidays) * The toll-free service is not available for IP phones and certain other types of phones. If you have such a phone, dial 045-367-5272 (for a charge). The aforementioned Call Center will no longer operate after December 28 (Wed.). After this date, please use the following contact numbers for questions about the My Number system. Contact: City Call Center Tel: 045-664-2525 Fax: 045-664-2828 Contact: My Number toll-free dial (national government) Tel: 0120-95-0178 (not open during the holiday season at December 29–January 3) 横浜市 マイナンバーカード 予約 Search ［写真キャプション］My Number mascot “Maina-chan” Information on services at the end of this year and beginning of next year Collection of garbage and resources No collection from December 31 (Sat.) to January 3 (Tues.) For the detailed collection schedule, please check the sign posted at the garbage collection point. At the end of this year and beginning of next year as well, take garbage and resource articles to the collection point no later than 8:00 a.m., and definitely do not discard any more articles there after the last collection has been made. Collection of combustible garbage, non-combustible garbage, spray cans, and batteries Districts where garbage is collected on Mondays and Fridays This year: until December 30 (Fri.) Next year: beginning on January 6 (Fri.) Districts where garbage is collected on Tuesdays and Saturdays This year: special collection on December 29 (Thurs.) Next year: special collection on January 5 (Thurs.) Plastic packaging, cans/glass bottles/plastic (PET) bottles, and small metal articles will be collected on the usual days, except during the period December 31 (Sat.)–January 3 (Tues.). Group collection of newspapers, cloth articles, and other resources Because arrangements vary depending on the district of residence, please check for information at the resource group collection point or directly contact the collection company. Oversized garbage: advance application system It may not be possible to collect oversized garbage before the end of the year because of the many applications for collection received in December. Oversized Garbage Reception Center For calls using ordinary cable phones Tel: 0570-200-530 For calls with mobile phones, IP phones or other fixed-rate services, or toll-free or other discounted phone services Tel: 045-330-3953 Monday–Saturday (including holidays), 8:30 a.m.–5:00 p.m. Closed December 31 (Sat.)–January 3 (Tues.) 《Contact by Internet》 横浜市 資源循環局 粗大ごみ Search *People who make applications from noon on December 30 to January 3 will receive a reply no earlier than January 4. Air conditioners, TV sets, refrigerators, freezers, washing machines, clothes driers Yokohama Appliance Recycling Promotion Council (in the case of request for pick-up) Tel: 0120-632-515 Tel: 0120-045-669 Tel: 0120-014-353 Inquire in advance about days when service will be unavailable at the end of the year and beginning of the new year. Other collection methods: 横浜市 家電製品 Search Computers Contact the manufacturer. 横浜市 パソコン Search Contact: the Resources and Waste Recycling Bureau office in your ward or the Resources and Waste Collection Operation Division, Resources and Waste Recycling Bureau Tel: 045-671-2557 Fax: 045-662-1225 Sudden illness or injury Yokohama City Emergency Medical Center Dial #7119 (mobile phone, PHS, or push dial) or 045-222-7119 (all types of telephones). Follow the taped voice guide in pushing a number for connection to the following services. Selection of 1 on the telephone Guide to medical institutions Provision of information on hospitals and clinics ready to receive patients at that time. *Fax: 045-212-3808 (exclusively for people with hearing impairments) Selection of 2 on the telephone Emergency call consultation Provision of advice by a nurse on the degree of emergency and need for seeing a physician, based on the symptoms. If the degree of emergency is high, the caller will be immediately connected to 119. If it is low, the nurse will provide information on hospitals and clinics. Nighttime emergency medical centers, reception desk open every day from 7:30 p.m. to 12:00 midnight Sakuragi-cho (1-1 Sakuragi-cho, Naka Ward) - I, P, O, Ot - Tel: 045-212-3535 Hokubu (1-23-4 Ushikubo-Nishi, Tsuzuki Ward) - I, P - Tel: 045-911-0088 Nanseibu (1-9-8 Nakatakita, Izumi Ward) - I, P - Tel: 045-806-0921 Medical service departments I: internal medicine P: pediatrics O: ophthalmology Ot: otorhinolaryngology *In the event of sudden illness during the day on holidays, please visit the holiday emergency clinics in your ward. Dental pain on holidays or at night Yokohama Dental Health and Medical Center (6-107 Aioi-cho, Naka Ward) - Tel: 045-201-7737 - Sundays, holidays, and December 29–January 4: 10:00 a.m.–3:30 p.m. - Night: every day, 7:00–10:30 p.m. Contact: Director for Emergency and Disaster Medical Care, Medical Care Bureau - Tel: 045-671-2465 - Fax: 045-664-3851 Contact: Cancer and Disease Control and Prevention Division, Medical Care Bureau - Tel: 045-671-2444 - Fax: 045-664-3851 City hall, ward offices, and administrative service counters Closed for the holiday season - December 29 (Thurs.)–January 3 (Tues.) Ward offices to be open on certain Saturdays in December December 10 (Sat.) and 24 (Sat.) 9:00 a.m.–12 noon - Certain services in the Family Registry, Health Insurance and Pension, and Children and Families Support divisions * Distribution of My Number cards: 9:00 a.m.–4:45 p.m. Certain services, such as those requiring contact with other cities or other institutions, will not be available. For detailed information on available services, please contact the City Call Center (045-664-2525). Contact: Service Window Division, Civic Affairs Bureau Tel: 045-671-2176 Fax: 045-664-5295