Public Relations Magazine DATE English Digest - December 2024 だて市政だより12月号（英訳版）
2024 Fukushima Prefecture Combined Disaster Response Training
A Wide Variety of Drills for Complex Disasters
On October 19th the Fukushima Prefecture combined disaster response training was conducted for the first time in Date City. A drill was conducted to simulate a situation in which heavy rain and a major earthquake occur simultaneously.
A The participants reviewed how to respond to a major disaster with the cooperation of the fire department, police, JSDF, and other related agencies, including drills for emergency stop of the Abukuma express line, rescue drills from the air using disaster response helicopters, and drills for dealing with a large number of wounded and sick people.
Citizens and Visitors Coming Together
Residents of the area cooperated in various drills, including assisting evacuees in wheelchairs and evacuees accompanied by their pets. Many disaster prevention exhibits and experience booths were set up at the venue, and visitors commented, “Being able to participate in something like this is a rarity and I learned a lot,” and “I was reminded of the importance of being prepared for disasters.”
Comments from Governor Uchibori
Fukushima Prefecture Governor Masao Uchibori, who served as the head of the Training Headquarters, said,
“I am very encouraged by the training, which achieved our objective of raising disaster prevention awareness and establishing a regional disaster prevention system. In recent years, severe disasters have been occurring frequently throughout Japan, and we are more determined than ever to protect our own lives by preparing for these disasters that may occur anywhere and at any time. Fukushima Prefecture will continue to improve its local disaster prevention capabilities by strengthening self-help, mutual aid, and public assistance abilities of its citizens.”
Illuminations to be Remembered
Jinya Street Illumination
Date & Time December 6th (Fri.) ~ January 31st, 2025 (Fri.) 5:00 PM ~ 12:00 AM
Note The lights will stay on until the next morning on the following days:
December 21st (Sat.) ~ 25th (Wed.), December 31st (Tue.) ~ January 1st (Wed.).
Location Hobara Town, Jinya Street & Shopping District
Contact Hobara Town Commerce and Industry Association ☎ 024-575-2284
Tennou Street Shopping District Event Plaza Illumination
Date & Time December 1st (Sun.) ~ January 31st, 2025 (Fri.) 4:30 PM ~ 10:00 PM
Location Tennou Street Shopping District Event Plaza
Contact Machi no Eki Date Community Development ☎ 024-573-2232
Kakeda Town Salon Yottemi Illumination
Date & Time November 30th (Sat.) ~ January 31st, 2025 (Fri.) 4:30 PM ~ 9:00 PM
Note The unveiling ceremony will be held on November 30th (Sat.) at 5:00 PM
Location Kakeda Town Salon Yottemi
Contact ☎ 024-572-3765
Smile Project 2024, Ray of Hope
Date & Time December 15th (Sun.) ~ January 15th (Wed.) 5:00 PM ~ 9:00 PM
Location In front of the Yanagawa Art Museum
Contact Secretariat of the Date Clan's Hometown Yanagawa Association ☎ 024-577-5300
Machi no Eki Yanagawa Illumination
Date & Time December 1st (Sun.) ~ 31st (Fri.) 5:00 PM ~ 10:00 PM
Location Machi no Eki Yanagawa
Contact ☎ 024-573-7235
A Merry Christmas with the Date CIRs
Contact Collaborative Community Development Division, Collaboration Promotion Section ☎ 024-575-1177
CIRs Yvonne and Cameron will be holding a Christmas event. Come enjoy a Christmas-themed craft, an English picture book read-aloud, and singing a Christmas song together!
Date & Time December 14th (Sat.) 1:30 PM ~ 2:30 PM
Location Date City Public Library
Eligibility Elementary school-aged children and their guardians
Price Free
Participant Limit 10 families (first-come, first-serve basis)
Application Please apply by scanning the QR code below, or calling the phone number listed above.
Be Sure to Get Vaccinated Well in Advance
Contact Health Promotion Division, Health Management Section ☎ 024-575-1116
*Those 60~64 years of age with heart, kidney, respiratory or immune disabilities caused by the human immunodeficiency virus and equivalent to Level 1 of the Physical Disability Certificate are also eligible (physical disability certificate must be presented).
Renewal of Waste Disposal Facilities
Briefing sessions and more will be held to discuss the impact of the waste disposal facility on the surrounding environment.
Public Display of the Methodology
Date 12/12 (Thu.) ~ 1/17 (Fri.)
Location Date Local Sanitation Association, Sanitation Center General Affairs Division Office
Methodology Briefing #1
Date & Time 1/9 (Thu.) at 6:30 PM
Location Kōri-town indoor pool, multi-use studio “Ikouze”
Methodology Briefing #2
Date & Time 1/11 (Sat.) at 2:00 PM
Location Hobara Central Exchange Hall, 3rd floor
(The content will be the same as Briefing #1)
Contact Date Local Sanitation Association ☎ 024-582-2051
Please Send a Notice to the City if You Tear Down Your House
Property tax is levied on land, houses, and depreciable assets owned on January 1st of each year. If you have torn down either a portion of, or your entire home in 2024, please send documents verifying this by the end of the year. Please prepare and send these documents (a certificate from the demolition contractor, a receipt, etc.) and submit them to either the Taxation Department or the nearest General Affairs Office branch. You may receive the necessary documents for the notice from the Taxation Department, a General Affairs Office, or our homepage via download.
This notice is not necessary in the event that you have already registered your home as lost (involuntarily destroyed).
You can receive the proper forms from the Taxation Department, any of the branch offices, or from the Date City website via download.
Contact Taxation Department, Property Tax Section ☎ 024-575-1235
Special Exhibition “The Matsumae Clan and Yanagawa” Gallery Talk
A curator will explain the contents of the special exhibition.
Date & Time 12/14 (Sat.), 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
Application Not necessary
Contact Hobara History and Culture Museum ☎ 024-575-1615
Date City Hall Winter Blood Drive
Pease assist us in collecting blood to be used for transfusions.
Date December 17th (Thu.)
Location
Date City Hall 10:00 AM ~ 4:30 PM
General Affairs Office, Yanagawa Branch 1:00 PM ~ 4:00 PM
Contact Health Promotion Division, Health Management Section ☎ 024-575-1116
A Class on Useful, Everyday Japanese for Non-native Speakers
Date & Time December 16th (Mon.) 6:15 PM ~ 7:30 PM (taught in English)
Price Free
Location Date City Hall, 1st floor, Silk Hall
Eligibility The first 10 non-native Japanese speakers to apply
Application Please apply by December 13th (Fri.), through the following QR code.
Contact Collaborative Community Development Department's Collaboration Promotion Section ☎ 024-575-1177
December 4th ~10th is “Human Rights Week”
A Special Human Rights Counseling Center Will be Run by Human Rights Commissioners
Feel free to consult with human rights commissioners.
Human Rights Hotline ☎ 0570-003-110
Children’s Rights Hotline ☎ 0120-007-110
Women’s Rights Hotline ☎ 0570-070-810
Available on weekdays from 8:30 AM ~ 5:15 PM
Contact Human Rights Protection Division, Fukushima District Legal Affairs Bureau ☎ 024-534-1994
December Facility Guide
Date City Hometown Hall
The hometown hall will be closed for renovations from December 1st (Sun.), to March 31st (tentative).
To be renovated: Repair/replacement of stage suspension equipment (e.g., stage curtain, light winders, wire ropes, etc.)
*Rooms other than the Hall are available for use
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
Date City Hobara History and Culture Museum
Exhibitions (admission charged)
Exhibition “Matsumae Domain and Yanagawa”
Now open!
Starting December 7th (Sat.) Winter Break Museum Festival
Christmas wreath, tree, and silk cocoon craft
*Please visit the Date City website for further details
December 14th (Sat.) Special Exhibition
Gallery talk
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
Ote Village “Kitemi~na”
Turn your goals into reality
12/7 (Sat.) 10:00 AM ~ 3:00 PM
Taking your bicycle on public transportation, creating a route online, basic maintenance
Realize your goals at the maintenance space
12/22 (Sun.) 10:00 AM ~ 3:00 PM
Try all sorts of things related to bicycles
*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
Updates from the Date City Public Library
Book of the month
“Solo Hot Springs, Delicious Food”
Author: Mayumi Yamazaki
Publisher: Kawade Books
A solo trip you can enjoy at your own pace. The author who has taken over 1000 trips talks about the art of solo trips. Not to mention essays on the author’s trips to each region of Japan? This book will make you yearn for a trip of your own.
As of 12/1 the Library Has Reopened with New Lighting!
The renovations that began late September have completed and the library is now outfitted with new LED lights!
December Events
1st (Sun.) Library festival
13th (Fri.) Mini-discussion (application not necessary)
22nd (Sun.) Winter discussion (application not necessary)
28th (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)
Closure Mondays
Contact ☎ 024-551-2132
This Month’s Payment Deadlines
The payment deadline is Wednesday, December 25th
・Property tax (3rd payment)
・National Health Insurance (6th payment)
・Nursing Care Insurance (6th payment)
・Late-stage Elderly Health Insurance (5th payment)
Coordinator for International Relations’ Monthly Column by Cameron Schiesler
Christmas Food in America
Christmas is quickly approaching and while spending time with family and the exchanging of presents are popular traditions, many people look forward to the food. A number of times I have asked the kids at the schools we visit what they think Americans eat on Christmas and the answer is a bit tricky. Despite Fried Chicken having such a powerful Christmas presence in Japan, generally Americans do not eat chicken on Christmas. Should Americans eat chicken on Christmas, it would have to be home made as the majority of stores and restaurants are closed on Christmas Day.
So what do we eat? For a main protein generally we eat either ham or turkey. If turkey is the meal of choice, then it will be made with stuffing. Stuffing is usually breadcrumbs, onion, celery, spices, and herbs that are stuffed and cooked inside the turkey. There are also people who purchase ready-made stuffing from the store.
The other common food is mashed potatoes and gravy. I’m sure you all can imagine how the mashed potatoes are but the gravy is maybe less common in Japan. Gravy is made using the juices of meat being cooked, for example roast beef. To make a comparison, gravy is similar to demi-glace.
While Christmas is not as big of a holiday in Japan as in America, I hope you all can enjoy some delicious food with loved ones.