だて市政だより３月号（英訳版） Public Relations Magazine DATE English Digest - March 2024
Beniya Pass Senbon Sakura Festival
Starts March 23rd (Sat.)
P8 ３月23日㊏から開催！紅屋峠千本桜まつり
Contact General Affairs Office, Hobara Branch, Disaster Prevention Section ☎ 024-575-2111
We invite you to visit Beniya Pass, where more than 1,000 cherry trees are in full bloom all over the pass. On weekends when the cherry blossoms are in bloom, there will be stalls you can take a break at and enjoy the cherry blossoms. It’s also fun for families too!
Period March 23rd (Sat.) ~ Early April
*The period when the cherry blossoms are in bloom. There will also be illuminations at night.
Location Beniya Pass Senbon Sakura Forest Park
(Hobara-machi, Tokorozawa, Higashi Hatake 100. Near the Hashirazawa Regional Exchange Hall.)
Parking Hashirazawa Elementary School field and Hashirazawa Regional Exchange Hall will be available for use. Please follow the directions of the traffic directors upon arrival.
Shops On weekends during this period, there will be stalls selling "Beniya" accessories and postcards created by locals using cherry blossom petals from the Beniya Pass, in addition to snacks and drinks.
For those who are unable to go or just want to take a look, we will also set up a live camera where you can monitor the current status of the cherry blossoms. The live broadcast will begin in mid-March so please look forward to that!
Enjoy Fukushima’s Cherry Blossoms at the Photo Contest Exhibition
P8 福島の桜を楽しむフォトコンテスト写真展
Contact Yanagawa Art Museum ☎ 024-527-2656
The winning and other selected works from the 12th NHK Fukushima Cherry Blossom Photo Contest will be exhibited. A variety of works featuring the beautiful cherry blossoms and rich nature from all over Fukushima Prefecture will be on display. Photos from Date City residents will also be included so be sure to check them out!
Period March 2nd (Sat.) ~ 20th (Wed.)
9:30 AM ~ 5:00 PM (Entry to the facility will be closed off at 4:30 PM)
*Facility is closed on Mondays
Location Date City Yanagawa Art Museum 2nd Floor Exhibition Room
Price Free
Contest sponsors NHK Fukushima Broadcasting Station, Fukushima Minpo Newspaper, Fukushima Minyu Shimbun, Fukushima Prefectural Photography Federation
Apply for the Commuter Pass Subsidy for High School or Similar Students During this Fiscal Year
P9 高校生等の通学補助 年度内に申請を
Contact General Education Department, General Planning Section ☎ 024-573-5852
We are providing subsidies for High School or similar students’ school commuter pass fees. Any amount that exceeds the amounts listed below will be covered by the city (up to a certain amount).
Eligibility Parents of students who reside in Date City and commute to high school, senior high school for special needs, or technical college with a bus or train commuter pass.
*Only the first through the third years of technical college will be covered
Application After the commuter pass has expired, the following documents must be submitted within the same fiscal year as the expiration date.
Please be sure not to miss this deadline
Commuter passes with expiration dates from April 2023 to February 2024 must be submitted by March 31 to be considered for subsidy. Those with a validity period ending in March should be submitted by the end of April.
Required documents
①Application form and request form for the commuting expenses subsidy (downloadable from the city website)
②A copy of the expired commuter pass (if the commuter pass does not indicate the commute area, time period, or cost, a copy of the receipt must also be submitted)
③A copy of the student's enrollment certificate or student ID card
④A copy of the bankbook of the applicant's financial institution (only for the first application or when the payee changes)
Other
・If you are using an IC card commuter pass, please make a copy of the pass before purchasing the next commuter pass.
・If you are using multiple commuter passes, they can be combined, but if they are for different periods, only the overlapping period between the two is eligible for subsidy.
・The cost of commuter passes for siblings cannot be combined.
・The 500 yen deposit for the Fukushima Public Transport IC card is not eligible for subsidy.
・Coupon tickets are not eligible for the subsidy.
・Individual days are not eligible. (e.g., in the case of 1 month and 5 days, the portion of 5 days is not eligible)
School Aid Programs are Available
P18 就学援助制度が利用できます
Eligibility Guardians experiencing financial difficulty sending their children to a Date City public elementary or middle school.
Details Partial and full subsidies are available for necessary school fees such as lunch and school supplies fees.
Application An application and income screening are required to receive assistance. Please contact your current school (or the school you plan to enter for new students) or the School Education Division.
Contact School Education Division, General Affairs and Administration Section ☎ 024-573-5824
Providing Financial Aid to Combat Rising Prices
P18 物価高騰対応重点 支援給付金を給付
Eligibility Households that meet all of the following requirements
As of December 1st 2023, you must have been listed on the Date City resident ledger.
All members of the household are not subject to the municipal inhabitant tax for the fiscal year 2023.
All members of the household have filed their tax returns.
All members of the household are not dependents of resident taxpayers.
Details Financial assistance of 100,000 yen will be provided to qualifying households to help alleviate the difficulties brought on by rising food costs. *Households eligible for the 70,000 subsidy are not eligible.
Application The necessary documents were sent out to qualifying households in February. Please mail your forms back or deliver them by hand (general affairs branches will also accept the documents) by April 30th (Tue.).
Other Households including those who moved in on or after January 2nd, 2023 will be sent paperwork as soon as it is confirmed that they are tax-exempt households.
Contact Social Welfare Department, Regional Welfare Section ☎ 024-575-1264
Trivia Night: Get to Know People Through a Quiz
P21 クイズで交流トリビアナイト
Date Friday, March 8th 6:00 PM ~ 8:00 PM (doors open at 5:45 PM)
Eligibility 32 people (first come first serve); open to expats as well as residents of the city
Location Date Central Exchange Hall’s Multipurpose Hall
Application Please apply using the QR code below.
Deadline March 1st (Fri.)
Contact Collaborative Community Development Department's Collaboration Promotion Section ☎ 024-575-1177
Date Cycling Training Space
P21 だてなサイクリングinメンテスペース
Practice riding a bike in a safe indoor environment. Beginners welcomed!
Date & Time March 24th (Sun.) from 10:00 AM ~ 12:00 PM, 1:00 PM ~ 3:00 PM
Location Ote Village “Kitemi~na”
Participant Limit None
Price Free
Registration Please call the Tsukidate General Affairs Branch or scan the QR code below to access the signup form.
Contact Tsukidate General Affairs Branch, Community Affairs Section ☎ 024-572-2111
March Facility Guide
P22 ３月の施設案内
Date City Yanagawa Art Museum
12th NHK Fukushima Cherry Blossom Photo Contest Date Exhibition (Free)
March 2nd (Sat.) ~ 20th (Wed.)
Regular Maintenance Closure
The facility will be closed from March 26th (Tue.) ~ 31st (Sun.) for maintenance.
Facility hours 9:30 AM ~ 5:00 PM
Closure Mondays (if Monday is a holiday, the facility will be closed the following day)
Contact ☎ 024-527-2656
Date City Hobara History and Culture Museum
Special Exhibition (admission charged)
Date City Excavation Survey Preliminary Exhibition: Nagakura Estate Ruins
Ends on March 31st (Sun.)
Special Exhibition Tie-in Event
Local history lecture to be held on March 16th (Sat.). Details can be found on the city website.
Former Kameoka Residence (admission charged)
Hina decorations, Hina dolls display from the Edo Period
Ends on March 3rd (Sun.)
Facility hours 9:00 AM ~ 5:00 PM (closed on Tuesdays)
Price 210 yen (100 yen for elementary, middle, high school students)
Contact ☎ 024-575-1615
Date Hometown Hall
March 3rd (Sun.) Karaoke contest (Zenka-ren Friendship Association)
March 9th (Sat.) Lecture (Miraimu Forum)
March 15th (Fri.) Dance recital (Fukushima Sports Promotion)
March 17th (Sun.) Recital (Shokodo Music Center)
March 31st (Sun.) Recital (Hikichi Piano School)
Hometown Hall hours 9:00 AM ~ 10:00 PM (reception desk open until 5:00 PM). Closed Mondays (if Monday is a holiday, the facility will be closed the following day)
Contact ☎ 024-583-3244
Coordinator for International Relations’ Monthly Column by Lara Justice
P27 連載コラム 国際交流員の活動日誌
Birthdays
My birthday is in March, so when the month rolls around, I can’t help but think about birthdays. Whenever I ask my Japanese friends if they will do anything for their birthday, they usually answer along the lines of “nothing” or “just eat some cake.”
As someone who grew up having birthday parties every year, hearing this makes me feel a bit sad. When I was little, I would invite all of my friends to exciting places like the zoo or bowling alley. After enjoying the planned activities there, I would open presents as we all shared an absurdly large birthday cake, before everyone went home.
Even as an adult I feel the need to celebrate in some way, otherwise it feels as though something is missing. When I celebrate my birthday, I do it with the intention of telling myself, “Great job this year! Let’s make this next one a good one too!” Even if I don’t throw a huge party like when I was little, I can think of no better way to celebrate than being surrounded by the people that mean most to me.
More than anything, the reason I love celebrating birthdays is that they are an opportunity to convey gratitude towards loved ones for being in my life and a day to celebrate them as an individual.
However you celebrate this year, I hope you choose to do it with heartfelt gratitude towards yourself and those around you!