Public Relations Magazine DATE English Digest - January 2025 だて市政だより1月号（英訳版）
Renovation of Dilapidated Date City Hall Ryozen Branch Office
We will begin construction on the premises of the Date City Hall Ryozen Branch Office. During this period usage of the parking lot at the Exchange Hall and Gymnasium will be limited. We appreciate your cooperation and understanding.
Contact Date City Hall Ryōzen Branch Office ☎ 024-586-3401
Occurring January through November 2025
Medical Checkup Period for Obstetrics and Gynecology to Close Soon
For: Women of Even Numbered Ages (Cervical Cancer Screening for ages 20 and up, Breast Cancer Screening for Ages 40 and up)
*Please contact us if you’re an odd numbered age and didn’t get a screening last year or if you haven’t received a sticker for your exam.
When: Through February 28th (Friday)
Contact: Health Promotion Division, Community Health Section ☎ 024-575-1116
Return All Unused Medical Exam Containers by the end of March
For: Anyone that couldn’t make their scheduled screening for colon cancer
We appreciate your understanding and cooperation as the city will have to bear the cost of any unreturned unused medical containers.
Location: Date Health Center, National Health Insurance and Pension Division (1st Floor of the Central Building) or any of the Central Exchange Halls (excluding Hobara)
Contact: Health Promotion Division, Community Health Section
☎ 024-575-1116
Individuals with Depreciable Assets Must File a Tax Return
For: Corporations within Date City and Sole Proprietors (Private Business Owners)
Details: Even depreciable assets are subject to property tax. Don’t forget to file anything applicable.
When: Jan. 1st (Mon.) through 31st (Fri.)
What to Bring: Declaration of depreciable assets, classification statement
In Addition: Please contact us if you started a new business or installed solar panels (more than 10 kW) and your tax return has not arrived.
Contact: Taxation Division, Property Tax Section ☎ 024-575-1235
Premium Gift Certificates Available for Use through January 9th (Thursday)
We will not offer refunds for paper or digital gift certificates.
Contact:
Date City Society of Commerce & Industry ☎ 024-577-0057
Hobara Society of Commerce & Industry ☎ 024-575-2284
Late-Stage Elderly Medical Insurance System Disability Certification
Disabled individuals aged 65 to 74 can apply to join the Late-Stage Elderly Medical Insurance System.
People with Disabilities Includes:
・Some individuals with a physical disability certificate at level 3 or 4
・Individuals receiving disability pension at grade 1 or 2
・Individuals with a mental disability certificate at grade 1 or 2
・Individuals with a developmental disability certificate indicating a severity level of "A"
How to Apply
Please bring the following documents to apply at the National Health Insurance and Pension Section or the respective general branch:
Disability certificate or National Pension certificate, bankbook, health insurance card from the National Health Insurance or Social Insurance (if you have one), proof of identity
Additional Notes
If you join the Late-Stage Elderly Medical Insurance System, you must withdraw from your current medical insurance.
Even after joining, you can withdraw from the Late-Stage Elderly Medical Insurance System upon request, until you reach 75 years old.
The date of acquisition or loss of eligibility is after the application date and after your 65th birthday.
Differences from other Medical Insurances
①Medical Cost Burden (Regular assessment every August)
1: Individuals with a taxable income from municipal or prefectural taxes of 1.45 million yen or more
2: Individuals with a taxable income of 280,000 yen and "pension + other total income" of 2 million yen or more
②Insurance Premium Burden:
Once enrolled in the Late-Stage Elderly Medical Insurance System, the enrollee will be responsible for paying the insurance premiums themselves. Those who were previously dependents under social insurance or other systems will need to start paying premiums, but there is a measure to reduce the average premium amount by 50% for two years.
Late-Stage Medical Care for the Elderly (Notice of Medical Expenses)
What is a notice of medical expenses? In order to deepen your understanding of medical expenses and your health, we send you a "Notice of Medical Expenses" once a year based on the bills from the medical institutions you have visited. When you receive this notice, please check the contents and contact us if you have any questions.
Recipients Persons insured by the Fukushima Prefecture’s Regional Association for Latter-Stage Elderly Medical Insurance who received medical treatment between January and December 2024.
Notice date To be mailed out starting late February
Contact Fukushima Prefecture’s Regional Association for Latter-Stage Elderly Medical Insurance ☎ 024-528-9025
Seeking 2025 City Scholarship Students
Eligibility Someone who has lived in Date City for at least a year and falls under one of the two following categories.
*Other restrictions may apply
Students planning to enter high school or currently enrolled in high school
Students planning to enter university or currently enrolled in university (High school graduates or those who have passed the high school equivalency examination, etc.)
Details Assistance with loan interest, forgiveness of loans
Application The paperwork will be distributed by the Educational Affairs Division from Wednesday, January 8th ~ Friday, January 24th. Please bring the completed documents to us between Monday, January 27th, and Friday, February 7th.
Scan the QR code below for further details
Contact General Affairs and Planning Section, Education and General Affairs Division ☎ 024-573-5852
January Facility Guide
Date Hometown Hall
The hall will be closed until March 31, 2025 (pending) due to scheduled repairs.
*The other rooms will be available for use.
Business Hours: 9AM-10PM (information desk until 5PM), Closed on Mondays (if Monday is a holiday, the following weekday will be closed).
Contact: ☎ 024-583-3244
Hobara History and Culture Museum
Special Exhibition “The Matsumae Clan and Yanagawa”
Through January 27th (Monday)
Winter Break Museum Festival Jan. 5th (Sun.), 6th (Mon.)
Craft (more details on City Website)
Special Exhibition Talk
A curator will explain the contents of the special exhibition.
Date & Time 2025/1/11 (Sat.) at both 10:30 AM and 2:30 PM each day
Location Hobara History and Culture Museum
Price Standard entry fee to the museum
Registration Not necessary
Business Hours 9AM to 5PM (Closed Tuesdays)
Entrance Fee 210 yen (Elementary through High School Students 100 yen)
Contact Hobara History and Culture Museum
☎ 024-575-1615
Ote Village “Kitemi~na”
Turn your goals into reality
1/11 (Sat.), 1/26 (Sun.)10:00 AM ~ 3:00 PM
Learn about taking your bicycle on public transportation, creating a route online, basic maintenance as well as trying all sorts of things related to bicycles at the Maintenance Space. Four different types of exercise bikes available.
*Participation is free
Kitemi~na Hours 9:00 AM ~5:00 PM (for those not staying the night).
Closed on Tuesdays
Contact ☎ 024-573-0753
Medical Clinics Open on Weekends and Holidays for January
(Evaluations Available from 9AM-5PM)
Please call ahead to confirm the location is open and accepting patients as some changes can occur.
Fukushima Prefecture Emergency Hotline #7119
Hotline Hours: 24/7
☎ 524-3020 (speed dial #7119)
Fukushima Prefecture Child Related Emergency Hotline #8000
Hotline Hours: Every day from 7PM-8AM
☎ 521-3790 (speed dial #8000)
Water Repair Open on Weekends and Holidays for January
This Month’s Payment Deadlines
The payment deadline is Friday, January 31st
・Property tax (4th payment)
・National Health Insurance (7th payment)
・Nursing Care Insurance (7th payment)
・Late-stage Elderly Health Insurance (6th payment)
Updates from the Date City Public Library
12/1 Enjoying the Library Festival
The LED light renovations have completed and the library is now much brighter! We had 1600 people join us on our reopening day and enjoyed a mini concert, storytime, and book recycling.
January Events
10th (Fri.)Mini Mini Storytime (Date/ No registration needed)
18th (Sat.) Winter Storytime (Hobara/ application not necessary)
12/26th (Sat.) ~ 1/4 (Sat.) End-of-year closure
Date City Public Library
Facility hours 9:00 AM ~ 7:00 PM (open until 5:00 PM on Sundays and holidays), Closed Mondays
☎ 024-551-2132
Coordinator for International Relations’ Monthly Column by Yvonne Takahashi
Checking In and Living our Best
Happy New Year! We are lucky to spend these first few days of the year with my in laws in Tokyo. Typically, the school winter break in the states is short and we tend to stay local. We do enjoy o-sechi ryori, traditional New Year’s foods, even in D.C. though! There are several restaurants that our friends as well as ourselves order from and we all compare the offerings.
Every new year, I like to reflect and think about what I want for the year ahead. This year was especially full of big changes. We packed up our home in the U.S. and moved here to Date City. After not working so much, I took on a full time job. We all made new friends and embraced our new normal.
I imagine this year will have less change. We will settle in and feel more grounded. My ideal New Year wishes are to write postcards to old friends, enjoy coffee in my favorite Bizen-yaki mug, read more, visit onsen and savor even everyday life with my family. And I most definitely look forward to pouring more effort into creating fresh programming to offer Date City residents. If there is any way I can help support you, please get in touch!