5th grade
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What should you do if your house was damaged or you lost your passport/driver’s license because of a disaster like an earthquake or typhoon? You can receive relief money or have necessary documents reissued by following the required procedures.
Necessary Procedures if the House You Live in Is Destroyed or Burnt Down
Obtain a “Disaster Victim Certificate” at your local government office, which proves that your house was damaged due to a disaster. The disaster victim certificate can be obtained at a fire station if your house was burnt down because of a fire. A disaster victim certificate may be needed for various procedures, including application for reissuance of certificates, fire insurance claim and tax exemption. Only one disaster victim certificate will be issued per household. Make sure to keep it in a safe place.
What to Do if You Lose Your Passport, Visa or Alien Registration Card
For passport reissuance, you need to go through certain procedures at your country’s embassy. Contact the embassy for documents required for the procedures.
Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan; List of Embassies and Consulates in Japan:
If your visa has expired, follow the visa renewal procedures at an Immigration Bureau’s office. Contact (visit, call or email) the Immigration Information Center for details:
TEL:0570-013904
(IP, PHS, International call: 03-5796-7112)
Hours: Weekdays 8:30 am – 5:15 pm
Supported Languages: Japanese, English, Chinese, Korean, Spanish, Portuguese, Vietnamese, Filipino, Nepali, Indonesian, Thai, Khmer (Cambodian), Burmese, Mongolian, French, Sinhalese, Urdu
For Alien Registration Card reissuance, follow the procedures at your local government office. Go to a police station for driver’s license reissuances. Both procedures require your personal identification such as passport, alien registration card, driver’s license, insurance card, photo proof, student ID. Ask for advice at the service desk if you lost all your identification due to the disaster.
How to Receive Relief Money
Those who are registered as a resident (holding alien registration), are applicable to receive the relief money. Take your identification certificate to the local government office and follow necessary procedures.
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Japan is prone to earthquakes. Large earthquakes may occur. Typhoons and tsunamis may occur as well. Natural disasters, like earthquakes and typhoons, are called “saigai” in Japanese. Where should you evacuate if a natural disaster occurs?
The First Place to Evacuate to in the Event of a Disaster
Evacuation when a disaster occurs is called “hinan” in Japanese, and an evacuation site, a place to escape to, is called “hinan-basho”. Evacuation sites are normally large areas like parks and schools. Evacuate to an evacuation site near your home or workplace, following the instructions of people at the town hall, police officers, and firefighters. If children are at school when a disaster occurs, they will be kept safe at school.
What Do You Do if You Are Told That Tsunami Is Coming?
Japan is surrounded by ocean. In some areas, large tsunamis may occur after an earthquake. Run to a higher place without hesitation if you are told that Tsunami is coming. It is recommended that you always check the hazard map in your area. If the area you live in could get hit by a tsunami, make sure to check the location of your evacuation site.
What Do You Do if You Can No Longer Live at Home?
You can temporarily live in a shelter if your house collapses or is at risk of collapsing due to a disaster. Evacuation centers are usually nearby elementary and junior high schools, and community centers. At the evacuation center, you can receive necessities such as food, drinks, blankets, sanitary napkins, diapers, etc. Check with the person in charge of the evacuation center about rules to live there. Prepare disaster prevention goods needed when living in an evacuation center in advance
Is Disaster Information Available in Foreign Languages?
NHK news is available in both English and Japanese on TV. On radio, NHK Radio 2 (Tokyo, 693kHz 500kw) provides information on earthquakes with a seismic intensity of low 6 or higher, tsunami advisory, tsunami warnings, and emergency warnings in English, Korean, Chinese and Portuguese. AFN (American Forces Network Tokyo 810kHz) also broadcasts in English.You can listen to the radio from your mobile phone.
An application that allows you to listen to radio programs radiko
(Reference) “Q&A Manual to Support Foreigners in Case of Disasters” by Tokyo International Communication Committee:
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In Japan, omisoka, which means “New Year’s Eve”, is considered to be an important day to get ready to welcome the new year. Here is some information on how people spend New Year’s Eve in Japan.
When Is Omisoka?
Omisoka means New Year’s Eve. The word “misoka” is originally written as “三十日” in kanji, which means 30th day of the month. December 31st is called “omisoka”, which is written as “大晦日” in kanji (30 days with the word “dai – 大”), and it means the last day of the year.
What Do People Do on Omisoka?
On New Year’s Eve, people do some deep cleaning to welcome the new year comfortably. It is the tradition to clean your home and heart to welcome kami, which is the Shinto god of the new year. After finishing cleaning, people eat Toshikoshi soba; the long soba noodles represent a long and healthy life. Later in the evening, people also go to the temple to ring the New Year’s Eve bell, to get rid of the year’s troubles and welcome the new year feeling refreshed.
Enjoy the last day of the year and have a happy new year!
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The Family Support Center Project is a system where community members help each other raise children. Types of members include people who want to receive assistance (“requesting members”), and people who want to provide the assistance (“providing members”). The available assistance includes child’s transportation and temporary childcare. It is sometimes called “fami-sapo” which is a Japanese style abbreviation of family support..
Who Is Eligible to Receive the Family Support Service?
Parents of children between 6 months and 12 years of age, who live in the community or work there (*As applicable age of child varies depending on the community, check with your local government).
To receive the assistance, you are required to participate in the membership orientation meeting (about 2 hours). Check with your local government about the time and place of this event.
The family support center will connect the requesting members and the providing members.
Who Is Eligible to Provide the Assistance?
Residents in the community who have a good understanding about child-rearing and are able to take care of the child responsibly are eligible to become providing members. The providing members are required to take the provided training upon member registration (7 days training).
When Can You Receive the Assistance?
Child care:
-Before and after preschool hours
-After elementary school hours or after after-school childcare hours
-Illness or emergency of parents/guardian
-Ceremonial occasions or school events of your other child
-Parents/guardian going out for shopping, etc.
Child’s transportation:
-Transportation to and from childcare facility
-Transportation to and from afterschool club
-Transportation to and from child’s lessons
How Much Does It Cost?
The cost of receiving assistance is approximately 500 to 1,000 yen per hour, although it varies depending on the day of the week and the time of day. The members requesting to receive the assistance are required to pay the actual transportation expenses for pick-up and drop-off.
How Do You Use the Service?
If you wish to use the service, you need to register as a requesting member and receive the training. After that, you will have a meeting with the providing member who was introduced to you by the family support center. Apply to the family support center for the assistance with information such as date and type of assistance. The support center will then contact the providing member to request assistance. The receiving members will pay the applicable fee to the providing member after the assistance service is completed.
Use this family support service if there is no one nearby to ask for child care help. Some communities have only a few providing members. Check with your local government if you are considering using the service.
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In Japan, the period from the end of December through the first three days of January is called the Year-End and New Year holidays, and many companies will be closed during this period. Cultural facilities and government offices will be closed as well as commercial facilities such as department stores and restaurants. Children also have winter break from around Christmas until around January 7th.
When Is the New Year Holiday?
Most companies will be closed for the New Year Holiday for 6 days from December 29th to January 3rd. If a holiday happens to precede or proceed the weekend (depending on the year), the number of holidays will increase. December 28th is usually the last day of work for the year which is called “shigoto-osame”, and the first day of work for the new year is called “shigoto-hajime”.
Are All Facilities Closed on New Year’s Day?
Most commercial facilities like department stores and restaurants are open through December 31st and some of them will be closed for New Year’s up to around January 3rd. Check their business schedule in advance if you plan to visit these places during the holidays as the schedule varies depending on the facility. Be sure to check the winter holidays of the facilities you often visit, such as supermarkets and drugstores. Public facilities including libraries and city halls will be closed during the Year-End and New Year holidays.
Customer service counters at post offices and banks will also be closed from December 31st through January 3rd. Plan ahead if you need cash as ATM may not be available for money withdrawal during this period.
Places to Visit During New Year’s Holidays
In Japan, some people go to visit a temple on New Year’s Eve and ring the New Year’s Eve bell. When the new year begins, there is a custom of going to shrines to pray for health and safety for the coming year. Therefore, temples and shrines from New Year’s Eve to New Year’s Day can often be visited throughout the day.
It may be a good idea to check what you need and prepare ahead of time, so that you can spend the Year-End and New Year’s holidays without any troubles.
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There are services where you can consult about children’s bullying. If you have concerns about your child’s condition, talk to a specialist about it instead of trying to deal with it on your own.
What Is Bullying?
Bullying includes physically hurting someone by hitting or kicking them, or mentally hurting someone by doing something that they are uncomfortable with, such as saying mean things about them or ignoring them. Making someone feel embarrassed or taking money from them is also considered bullying.
Bullying can occur not only one-on-one, but also in groups. “Nakama-hazure” which means leaving someone out, includes ignoring them, not talking to them, and not playing with them. Recently there is also a type of bullying called “net-ijime; cyberbullying” which is harassment that takes place online and it is difficult for teachers and parents to notice.
What to Do if You Want to Know if Your Child Is Involved in Bullying
Children who are bullied are often distressed but unable to talk about it to their teachers or parents. They can become reluctant to go to school, become quiet, or lose their appetite. Children who are bullying can start talking rough. In either case, you may start to notice unusual behavior. When in doubt, use the following check sheet to help you be aware of your child’s situation:
Bullying Checklist (Ministry of Education)
What to Do When Your Child Is Being Bullied
If you find out that your child is being bullied or is bullying, listen to your child carefully first, then talk to their teachers and ask for their advice.
Where Can You Talk About Bullying?
There are some consultation services outside of schools, where children or their parents can talk about bullying. There are also places where children can directly talk about bullying. Do not hesitate to use these services if it is difficult for parents/children to talk to the teachers.
-24-hour children SOS helpline TEL:0120-0-78310
Telephone counseling available from anywhere in the country, 24 hours a day, when you are in trouble due to bullying or when you are worried about your safety or the safety of your friends. Dialing this number will connect you to the counseling service organization at the board of education in your area.
https://www.mext.go.jp/ijime/index.htm
-Children’s rights hotline TEL:0120-007-110
Toll-free and dedicated telephone counseling for children with human rights problems including bullying and abuse. Parents/guardians can use this service as well as children.
https://www.moj.go.jp/JINKEN/jinken112.html
-Human rights hotline TEL:0570-003-110
Telephone counseling of various human rights problems including discrimination, abuse and harassment, provided by legal affairs bureaus nationwide.
https://www.moj.go.jp/JINKEN/jinken20.html
-LINE (SNS) human rights counseling
Counseling available via SNS (LINE).
https://www.moj.go.jp/JINKEN/jinken03_00034.html
-Children’s rights SOS e-mail
Counseling available for elementary and junior high school aged children via email or phone.
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If your child becomes unwell on holidays or at night, you can seek advice via phone. Pediatricians or nurses are available to help you decide whether or not to go to a hospital.
What to Do if Your Child Suddenly Becomes Unwell on Holidays or at Night?
Children’s health phone consultation services are available even on holidays and at night. Pediatricians or nurses are available to answer questions such as how to deal with your child’s condition and which hospital to visit. Call the following number if you have trouble making decisions about your child’s sudden illness:
Children’s Health Phone Consultation: #8000 (from push-button land lines and cell phones)
Tokyo: 03-5285-8898 (from all phones including dial lines and IP phones)
Operating hours:
- Monday through Friday (other than national holidays, and year-end and New Year’s holidays): 6:00 pm to 8:00 am
- Saturday, Sunday, national holidays, year-end and New Year holidays: 8:00 am to 8:00 am on the following day
Daytime Consultations About Your Child
Consultation services are available at health centers in your local ward/city, if you have any concerns about your child’s growth or health but you do not think it requires a hospital visit. Childcare consultation is available on a fixed date. Phone consultations and home visit consultations are also available. Check with each health center for their operating dates and hours.
-Tokyo Health Center
Special Ward Public Healthcare Center
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Tokyo 018 (zero-ichi-hachi) support is a child allowance to provide seamless support for the upbringing of all children residing in Tokyo. To start receiving the allowance in January, 2024 (Reiwa 6), applications must be submitted by December 15, 2023.
What Is 018 (Zero-Ichi-Hachi) Support?
018 support provides 5,000 yen per month (60,000 yen annual) per child who is a resident in Tokyo and is 18 or under. The purpose of this allowance is to provide steady support to children’s learning and development, and to create a child-rearing friendly environment.
Tokyo Child/Child-rearing Support
Who Is Eligible?
There is no income limit to receive 018 support. Children who meet following requirements are eligible.
1.If the child was born between April 2, 2005 (Heisei 17) and March 1, 2024 (Reiwa 6).
2.If the child has or has had an address in Tokyo during the fiscal year 2023 (in principle).
* This includes those who were born, those who moved into Tokyo, and those who moved out of Tokyo, during the fiscal year 2023
* Residence status as of the 1st of each month will be confirmed.
What Is the Amount and Timing of Payment?
The amount paid by 018 support is 5,000 yen per child per month. A lump-sum amount will be paid in January, 2024, if applications are submitted by December 15, 2023.
How to Apply for 018 Support
Applications can be submitted online:
-If the eligible person (child) is under 18 years old, a guardian/parent must apply.
- If the eligible person (child) is 18 years old, a guardian/parent or the eligible person themselves must apply.
* As the age of 18 is considered an adult, a letter of attorney from the eligible person (child) is required when a guardian/parent is submitting the applications.
If you are unable to submit applications online, applications by postal mail are accepted. As a special application form is required to apply by mail, call the call center to ask for the form.
Documentations Required to Apply for 018 Support
To apply for 018 support, the following documentations are required; “identity verification document for applicant”, “documents that confirm the family relationship between the applicant and the child (eligible person)”, “documents that can confirm the bank account for the transfer”. Make sure to prepare these documents in advance.
Points to Note When Applying
018 support allowance is considered part of the eligible person’s (child’s) income. If the eligible child’s income for the year is only the 018 support allowance, it is not taxed. If the eligible child has a temporary income other than the 018 support allowance, or lives outside of Japan, it may be taxed.
Call the call center if you have any questions. For those who are receiving public assistance, the 018 support allowance will not be recognized as income.
Call the call center if you have further questions. If you wish to receive this allowance, apply immediately.
Tokyo Metropolitan Government 018 Support Benefits Call Center
Navi Dial:0570-082-018
* Operating hours: 9:00 am to 6:00 pm (including Saturdays, Sundays and holidays except for year-end and New Year holidays)
○Easy Japanese and multilingual versions of the flyer
-Easy Japanese version
018 Support Flyer (Easy Japanese version) (PDF:1,429KB)
018 Support Online Application Guide (Easy Japanese version)(PDF:1,710KB)
-English version
018 Support Flyer (English version) (PDF:1,456KB)
018 Support Online Application Guide (English version) (PDF:1,746KB)
-Chinese version
018 Support Flyer (Chinese version) (PDF:1,585KB)
018 Support Online Application Guide (Chinese version) (PDF:1,859KB)
-Korean version
018 Support Flyer (Korean version) (PDF:1,490KB)
018 Support Online Application Guide (Korean version) (PDF:1,755KB)
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Tokyo metropolitan housing refers to rental housing for people with low incomes who are having trouble finding housing. There are housing types for families and single persons. Below is information on Tokyo metropolitan housing, such as eligibility and how to apply for it.
Who Qualifies for Tokyo Metropolitan Housing?
Eligibility Requirements for Family Housing:
1.The applicant must live in Tokyo as of application date.
2.The applicant must have family members living with them (*this also applies to those in partnership).
3.The applicant must be having difficulty finding housing.
4.The income of the household must be within the specified criteria.
Total income of the applicant’s household must be within the income criteria:
-Income Criteria (since April, 2009)
“Salary income” is applicable only if one person of the household has an income and the income is a salary. “Income amount” is an amount in the column “amount after deduction of employment income” on the salary withholding tax slip, or an amount in the total income column of the final tax return. If you receive a pension, check the taxation certificate (or tax exemption certificate).
When Can You Apply for Tokyo Metropolitan Housing?
Applications for Tokyo metropolitan housing are accepted several times a year. There are two ways that the government selects residents: a lottery and point system. The point system is used to give priority to some households if the level of their financial distress is determined to be high after reviewing their existing conditions listed on the special application form. There is a preferential lottery system that allows the household to apply for a better chance of winning in May and November, if they are applying for the housing unit for two or more people and meet specific eligibility requirements.
How to Apply for Tokyo Metropolitan Housing
(1)Online
Tokyo Metropolitan Housing Information Website:Apply here:
(2)By postal mail
-Where the housing guidelines/application forms can be found:
The housing guidelines for applicants and application forms are distributed for free at Tokyo Metropolitan Government office, ward offices, city hall, town/village office, Tokyo Metropolitan Housing Supply Corporation head office and customer support center, during the application period (excluding Saturdays and Sundays).
The guidelines and application forms can also be downloaded from the “Metropolitan Housing Application Information” page on Tokyo Metropolitan Housing Supply Corporation website during the application period.
* Tokyo Metropolitan Housing Supply Corporation head office, customer support centers
(choose desired language at the top of the page)
* “Housing Guidelines” and “Application Forms” can be downloaded Metropolitan Housing Application Information”
How Much Is the Rent for the Metropolitan Housing?
The rent for the metropolitan public housing is determined by the household’s income, the area it is in, the size of the housing and the age of the building. As an example, the rent for housing unit (Minami-tanaka apartment) for two people in Nerima ward (1-1, Shakujiimachi, Nerima-ku) is as listed below:
Contact the numbers below if you have any questions about metropolitan housing:
Tokyo Metropolitan Housing Supply Corporation, Housing Registration Center (9:00 am – 6:00 pm)
03-6418-5546 (automatic voice guidance)
Metropolitan Housing Application Information
(choose desired language at the top of the page)
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In Japan, there are medical examinations and necessary procedures that both mothers and children undergo from pregnancy to postpartum. There is also financial support that you can receive when you give birth. In addition, vaccinations and checkups for the baby are provided after giving birth. Records of vaccinations and health checkups need to be provided when entering elementary school. Below is information about procedures that you need to go through after giving birth until your child enters elementary school.
Things to Do During Pregnancy
Decide where to give birth once you know you are pregnant. In Japan, it is common to give birth in a hospital or midwifery clinic. Ask for advice at your local government office, if you do not know which hospital you would like to use. Maternal and child health handbooks and prenatal checkup assistance tickets can be provided at your local government office. A maternal and child health handbook is a notebook for managing the health of the mother and child from pregnancy to postpartum. Keep it in a safe place until after your child grows up, as you may be asked to check what is written in your handbook. A prenatal checkup assistance ticket is used when you visit the hospital to have your baby checked during pregnancy. Examination fees will be slightly cheaper if you use this ticket. Arrangements to receive the childbirth lump-sum allowance can be made at the hospital where you plan to give birth.
Important Procedures for a Newborn Child
In Japan, you will stay at the hospital for about 5 days after giving birth. During this time, your baby will receive some medical examinations at the hospital. A Notification of Birth needs to be submitted at your local government office within 14 days following your child’s birth. Arrangements for health insurance, a pediatric medical certificate and child allowance should also be made. Additional necessary procedures include registration of birth in the home country of the parent(s) at the embassy/consulate, and an application for a status of residence in Japan at the immigration office.
Medical Examination and Vaccination
Newborn children will receive a one-month checkup at the hospital where they were born. A 4-month checkup, 8-10-month checkup (not applicable in some areas), 18-month checkup, and 3-year checkup will follow. Make sure to take your child in for the checkups as you will receive notifications for these checkups from your local government office. Vaccinations begin at 2 months of age. Take your child to your child’s primary care doctor for vaccinations when you receive vaccination tickets from the government office. Vaccination records will be checked when entering kindergarten, nursery school, and elementary school.
Child’s Infant Stage
It is common to send children to a nursery school, kindergarten or early childhood center according to family circumstances. There are private and public facilities available. School information will be sent to your home during the year before entering elementary school. Follow the school guidance and make sure to attend informational sessions and health checkups at the elementary school.
(Reference) Kanagawa International Foundation “Parenting in Japan Support Website”