だて市政だより３月号（英訳版） Public Relations Magazine DATE English Digest - March 2023
A New Spot, the “Poké Lid,” Emerges at Mt. Ryozen’s Trailhead
P20 霊山登山口に新たなスポット「ポケふた」が出現
A manhole cover with a Pokémon design on it, otherwise known as a “Poké Lid,” has been installed in front of the bulletin board located at the entrance to Mt. Ryozen’s trailhead. The cover was donated by The Pokémon Co. as part of their partnership agreement with the prefecture. It was designed with Date City in mind and includes the drumstick-wielding Pokémon “Rillabloom,” reminiscent of Ryozen Taiko, Fukushima’s Ambassadorial Pokémon “Chansey,” as well as Date City’s specialty product “Date Anpo-gaki.” The Poké Lid will be utilized in PR to promote the City.
Online Filing of Moving-Out Notifications, etc., Possible with My Number Card
P13 マイナンバーカードで転出届などがオンラインで提出可能に
As of February 6th, it has become possible to file notifications of moving out online through the “Mynaportal” site; in principle, it is no longer not necessary to visit the city hall.
Eligibility Those moving to a location within Japan, who hold a My Number card with electronic certificate validity.
Details This service is available not only when the cardholder is relocating singly, but also when the members of cardholder’s household move with them, or when other members of that household move without the cardholder.
※ After filing a Moving-Out Notification through the Mynaportal site, there is the separate requirement of filling out a Moving-In Notification, etc., at the destination municipality’s service counter.
Contact Resident Services Department’s Service Counter Section ☎ 024-575-0205
Apply within the Fiscal Year for High School Student, etc., School Commute Subsidies
P14 高校生等の通学補助年度内に申請を
Regarding school commute passes, the amount which exceeds the prescribed cost for each student will be subsidized (upper limits apply).
Monetary Amounts Eligible for Subsidy
Eligibility The guardians of students with an address in Date City, who buy a commuter pass and commute by rail and/or bus to a high school, special needs school's high school division, or technical college
※ The 1st through 3rd school years of a technical college are eligible
Application Method After the validity period of the commuter passes have expired, please submit the following documents within the same fiscal year as that of the commuter passes’ validity.
Please Take Note
For commuter passes with validity periods that fall between April 2022 and February 2023, subsidies will not be granted unless an application is submitted by March 31st. Please apply within April for those commuter passes with a validity period which ends in March.
Documents to Submit
① School Commute Expense Subsidy Issuance Application/Invoice (available for download from the City Homepage)
② Copies of expired commuter passes (together with copies of their receipts, if the passes are not inscribed with their valid range, period of validity, or monetary value)
③ Copy of a Certificate of Student Status, or of a Student ID Card
④ Copy of the passbook used to receive the payment through bank deposit transfer (only when applying for the first time, or when changing payment reception accounts)
Other Information
In the case of IC card commuter passes, please make a photocopy prior to purchasing the next period’s pass.
When multiple commuter passes are used, they can be added up together; but when the validity periods differ, only the period that is common is eligible for subsidy.
The prices for the commuter passes of siblings cannot be added together.
The 500 yen deposit for the IC cards of Fukushima Transportation (Fukushima Kōtsū) is not covered by the subsidy.
Ticket books are not covered by the subsidy.
Days beyond the standard periods are not covered by the subsidy. (For example: when the validity period is one month and five days, the five days are not subsidized.)
Contact General Education Department's General Affairs and Planning Section ☎ 024-573-5852
Validity Period Extended for Free Rubella Antibody Test/Vaccination Coupon
P14 風しんの抗体検査・予防接種無料クーポン券の期間延長
The validity period of previously issued coupons has been extended, and they now can be used until March 31st, 2024. Those who have them are asked to please use them as they are. The coupons can be reissued if lost, so please contact the Health Promotion Department.
Applicability Men born between April 2nd, 1962, and April 1st, 1979
※ The fees for a “Rubella Antibody Test,” as well as “Vaccination” become free.
▼Process through the Rubella Antibody Test and Vaccination
① Use the coupon to receive an antibody test during your health exam or at a medical institution, etc. (Test results will be confirmed in approximately one week)
② If the results of the antibody test indicate that there is an insufficient amount of antibodies, use the coupon to receive vaccination
▼ Example of a coupon that has been sent out
Even if the validity period has expired, the ticket can be redeemed as-is through March 2024.
“Pre-Vaccination Examination Only” coupons cannot be used in Date City.
Contact Health Promotion Department’s Health Management Section ☎ 024-575-1116
Why not use the Digital Library?
P15 電車図書館を利用しませんか?
Reading can be enjoyed by borrowing e-books using your smartphone or computer, without needing to visit the library. A collection of approximately 1500 books for both children and adults has been assembled.
Applicability Date City residents who possess a library card
Utilization Method Please log in to the Date City D-Library webpage by entering the 9-digit user ID and password listed on your library card.
Other Information A library card can be created at the Date City Municipal Library, or at the library of any of the central exchange halls. Please bring a form of personal identification and apply at the service counter.
Contact Date City Municipal Library ☎ 024-551-2132
Discover Life in the Jōmon Period; Local History Course to be Held
P15 縄文時代の生活を知る郷土史講座を開催
Date Saturday, March 18th 1:30 ~ 3 PM
Location Multipurpose Hall of the Hobara Total Park Administrative Office
Details The appearance of a Jōmon-period community will be elucidated, while comparing the Nishihara ruins (Tsukidate) with the Miyahata ruins (Fukushima City).
Lecturer Mr. SAITŌ Yoshihiro (Director of Jōmopia Miyahata)
Admission Fee Free
Capacity 30 people (first to apply)
Application Method Please apply by telephone to Date City’s Hobara Museum of History and Culture
Now on Display: Exhibition of the Museum’s Collected Materials – The World of Tsukidate Town’s Nishihara Ruins
Date and Time Saturday, January 28th ~ Friday, March 31st
9 AM ~ 5 PM (Last admission at 4:30 PM)
Location Date City’s Hobara Museum of History and Culture
Details Introduces the results of an archaeological excavation, such as remains from tombs and other artifacts, that help us grasp the appearance of the community of the Nishihara Ruins, which flourished 3500 years ago
Contact Date City’s Hobara Museum of History and Culture ☎ 024-575-1615
As taken by the Date Photo Club
The 2nd “Charms of Date City” Photograph Exhibition
P17 第2回だてフォト部が撮影伊達市の魅力写真展
An exhibition will be held of photographs that are packed tight with the charms of Date City. With a focus on images taken by the “Date Photo Club”, a group of volunteer supporters who share the charms of the region through photographs, please enjoy these photographs that make you want to unknowingly say “Ii-nai!” (Translator's note; "Ii-nai" (いいない in Japanese) is a way of saying "iine" (いいね in Japanese, often translated to nice/awesome in English) in the Tohoku dialect. It is often used as a hashtag and promotional phrase for many of Date City's official social media activities.)
Exhibition Period Friday, March 17th ~ Thursday, April 6th
8:30 AM ~ 8 PM (Ends at 5 PM on Saturdays and Sundays)
Exhibition Location Silk Hall, on the 1st floor of City Hall
Exhibition Content
① Photos taken within Date City by the first and second incarnations of the Date Photo Club
② Photographs taken at the “I LOVE DATE” photo session, with the themes of “connection” and “gratitude”
③ Photographs of Date City’s scenery, as taken by the Public Relations and Secretarial Department
Contact Public Relations and Secretarial Department's Public Relations and Civic Virtue Section ☎ 024-575-1113
School Attendance Aid Program Available for Utilization
P22 就学支援制度が利用できます
Eligibility The guardians of children who are to attend a Date City municipal elementary or middle school, but for whom school attendance has been deemed difficult due to financial reasons
Details A program can be utilized to assist with all or part of the expenses necessary to attend school, such as for school lunch and school supplies, etc.
Application Method Application and an income examination are necessary to receive aid. Please enquire with the school currently attended (the school of planned attendance, for those newly attending school), or the School Education Department.
Contact School Education Department’s General Affairs and Management Section ☎ 024-573-5824
Wednesday, March 15th the submission deadline for the Temporary Home Repair Program’s Report of Work Completion
P22 応急修理完了報告提出期３月15日
Those who made use of the Temporary Home Repair Program for homes damaged by the 2022 Fukushima Offshore Earthquake, and well as construction contractors, are asked to please submit the Report of Work Completion by the deadline.
Submission Deadline Wednesday, March 15th
▼ Details Here
Contact Construction and Housing Department's Facility Maintenance Section ☎ 024-573-5064
Application Deadline Nearing for 2022 Fukushima Offshore Earthquake Financial Aid
P22 令和4年福島県沖地震支援金申請期限間近
Eligibility Households residing within the city in a home which, due to the 2022 Fukushima Offshore Earthquake, incurred Complete Destruction, Large-Scale Partial Destruction, or Mid-Scale Partial Destruction; or underwent Demolition Following Partial Destruction, or Demolition Following Damage to Land.
Details The application deadline to receive funding from the Program to Support the Reconstruction of Victim’s Livelihoods is nearing.
Application Period ① Basic subsidy … Until Saturday, April 15th, 2023 ② Additional subsidy …Until Tuesday, April 15th, 2025
▼ Details Here
Contact Disaster Preparation & Crisis Management Department’s Crisis Management Section ☎ 024-575-1197
Women’s Health Support Call Service
P24 女性のミカタ健康サポートコール
Public health nurses, etc., will respond to the mental and physical distresses of women (such as menstruation, pregnancy, mental health, menopause, etc.).
Counselling Contact North Fukushima Health and Welfare Office’s Designated Call Service (Weekdays, 9 AM ~ 5 PM) ☎ 024-535-5615
March Events at the Hometown Assembly Hall
Classic Guitar Concert: INOUE Jin-Ichirō vs. NOJIMA Fumiyuki
Date Saturday, March 11th Concert begins at 3 PM (Doors open at 2:30 PM)
Admission Fee Advance Tickets, ¥2000; Same-Day Tickets, ¥2500
MDD Live
Date Tuesday, March 21st Concert begins at 11 AM (Doors open at 10:30 AM)
Details A large number of rock/pop bands active in the Kenpoku region are scheduled to perform
Admission Fee Advance Tickets, ¥1000; Same-Day Tickets, ¥1500
Contact Date City Hometown Assembly Hall ☎ 024-583-3244
Coordinator for International Relations’ Monthly Column by Anthony Gillan
P31 連載コラム国際交流員の活動日誌
Student Loans
In March there are likely many students excited about continuing their studies at a college or university, yet I think there are probably many among them who are worried about paying for tuition. This is also true in America, where college education is relatively expensive; and for many students, using student loans is a matter of course. I went to a local private university, where the price of a year of education was the same as buying a new car. Even though I received some financial support from both my parents and university, taking out federal loans was a necessity. Paying these loans back was as formative a part of my college education as any of the classes that necessitated them.
In America, the lender behind almost all student loans is the U.S. Department of Education. Like most students, I applied for need-based aid from the federal government, and based on the results I received various forms of assistance, including subsidized loans. Studying with borrowed money instilled a sense of responsibility, and thankfully after three years I was able to graduate with a bachelor’s degree. Afterwards I was eventually able to come to Japan and Fukushima, but I didn’t leave that sense of responsibility behind. In order to repay my loans as quickly as possible, I lived a frugal life, without either a car or cellphone. As a result, I was able to pay back all my loans within my first two years of work. Though I was no longer in debt, I was still stingy, and continued my austere lifestyle for the next three years. When my term as an ALT ended, I had saved up enough money to attend graduate school without taking out loans.
Though graduating with tens of thousands of dollars in debt felt like a heavy burden at first, successfully paying it off gave me a sense of accomplishment and instilled confidence. I came to see federal student loans as the United States investing in me, with the faith that I would return to society something of greater value than what was spent on me. As I’ve spent most of my life post-graduation working in Japan for Japanese society, for America those loans might have ended up being a form of foreign aid!