本Hon

当t o u

ですか d e s u k a

？/そうs o u

なんn a n

ですd e s u

かk a

？

A： 4Shi

月gatsu

からk a r a

消費税Shouhi-zei

がg a

上がりましたa g a r i m a s h i t a

。 (Consumption tax increased from April.)

B：本Hon

当t o u

でd e

すs u

かk a

？ (Really?)

B：はい H a i

、 8hachi

%paasento

にn i

なりましたN a r i m a s h i t a

。

(Yes. Up to 8%.)

本Hon

当t o u

にn i

？/そうなのs o u n a n o

？/マジm a j i

でd e

？

A：風邪K a z e

がg a

流行ryuukou

しているねs h i t e i r u n e

(Cold is going around.)

B：そうなのS o u n a n o

？(Really?) A：宝くじ

Takara-ku j i

当たっちゃった a t a t c h a t t a

！ (I won a lottery!)

B：マジM a j i

でd e

!? (Really!? : Very light expression)

2014/2015

In the title “Culture Pot MITO,” Mito city is likened to a pot stuffed with various cultures which resembles a multicultural city loved by every citizen. We are hoping that this newsletter will be useful in your daily life and that you will feel more attached to Mito City in the near future. ▼ Photo: Japanese Harp Performance (Otsukimi Party, Oct.18)

Living Information for Foreign Residents in Mito online version http://www.mitoic.or.jp/jp/ass/shiryo/cpm.php Dec/Jan

ＣＡＳＵＡＬ With your friends

ＦＯＲＭＡＬ In a business situation or with someone you do not know well

ちょっと Japanese

Expression to make sure if it’s true when you are surprised at someone’s story.

Events

Illumination From December to January, luminaries glitter in the town. Here are some Illumination spots in Mito and its neighboring towns. WHERE: 茨城

Ibaraki 県民Kenmin

文化Bunka

センターC e n t e r

(水戸市M i t o -s h i

千波Senba-

町cho

東久保Higashi-kubo

697)

WHEN: Nov.4 - Dec.25

WHERE: 水戸M i t o -

芸術館Geijutsu-kan

(Art Tower Mito)

(水戸市M i t o -s h i

五軒町Goken-cho

1-6-8)

WHEN: Dec.1 – Jan.12

WHERE: Around Hitachi Station

(30min from Mito Station on

outbound train)

WHEN: Nov.22 – Dec. 25

WHERE: Around Katsuta Station

(One stop from Mito Station on

outbound train)

WHEN: Dec.3 – Jan.12

International (Early Spring) Party

Experience Japanese cultures, Stamp Rally, meet new people… Come celebrate the New Year at International Center! WHEN Jan.24 (Sat) 112:15pm-2:30pm FEE ¥500 WHERE Mito International Center SIGN-UP & INQUIRIES Mail/ mcia@mito.ne.jp FAX/ 029-221-5793 〒310-0024 水戸市

Mi to -sh i 備 前 町

Bizen-machi 6-59、水戸市

Mito-shi 国際Kokusai

交流-koryu

協会-kyokai

二十三夜尊桂岸寺Nijusan-ya-son-keigan-j i

Addr. 水戸市Mi to -sh i

松 本 町Matsumoto-cho

13-19

from around 11:50pm

祇園寺 Gi -on j i

Addr. 水戸市Mi to -sh i

八 幡 町Hachiman-cho

11-69

from around 11pm

和光院 Wako-in

Addr. 水戸市Mi to -sh i

田島町Tajima-cho

415

from around 11:50pm

除夜J o y a

のno

鐘kane

On December 31, Buddhist temples ring their bells a total of 108 times (除夜J o y a

のno

鐘kane

) to get rid of the 108 vices(bonno※) You can ring a bell by yourself. ※Bonno = A state of mind which provides suffering, such as anger, doubt, jealousy, desire and so on.

水戸 Mito

観光Kanko

協会Kyokai

029-224-0441

Food poisoning may occur in winter as well as the rainy season (June – July). “Noroviruses” are the most common cause of food poisoning in winter. Once you are infected with the viruses, there is no effective way of cure. So “prevention” of infection is important. 1. Wash your hands well with a lot of lather Soap foam itself cannot kill viruses, but if you wash your hands, the viruses are rinsed off with the foam. Washing hands is not only good for prevention of food poisoning by noroviruses, but also prevention of cold. Wash your hands well, especially between your fingers, under your fingernails, and your wrist. 2. Heat the food It is said that noroviruses are mainly transmitted from clams, such as shijimi or asari. Their infectiousness can be weakened by heating up over 85 degrees C for more than a minute. 3. Take nutritious food and sleep well It is important to improve immunity against viruses. Foods to boost immunity are: onions, garlics, gingers, tomatoes, etc. Let’s take these vegetables and build a body strong enough to overcome the viruses. It is also crucial to take a sound sleep to rest your body.

Beware of Food Poisoning in Winter

National Health Insurance/Municipal and Prefectural Tax National Health Insurance : The 6th & 7th phase payments for fiscal year are

due Dec.25 and Jan.30, respectively. Municipal and Prefectural Tax :The 4th phase payment is due Jan.30. Payment can be done by taking the payment notice to bank counters or convenience stores.

＊see Culture Pot online ver. (2014 June&July issue) for details (Culture Pot online version ⇒ http://www.mitoic.or.jp/jp/ass/shiryo/cpm.php)

INCOME TAX

Around this time of the year, you may often encounter the word “所得

shotoku” or “所得税

shotoku-zei”.

所得shotoku

= income The money that you earn from your work or that you receive from investments, the government, etc. 所得税shotoku-zei

= income tax Tax paid on the money that you earn

(from Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English) ▼Who needs to pay income tax?

Those who live in Japan and have income. ▼How is the income tax calculated?

※ See the next page for an explanation of 所 得

Shotoku 控除Kojo

額gaku

⇒ ⇒ ⇒ ⇒ ⇒ ⇒

※ A tax called 復興Fukko

特 別 Tokubetsu

所得税Shotoku-zei

, a tax to help the victims of Great East Japan Earthquake, is imposed. Please note that 2.1% of the amount of your income tax will be deducted together with income tax.

▼How do we pay income tax? In most cases, company deducts (= “源 泉

Gensen 徴収Choshu

”) from your monthly wage in accordance with Japanese law, and pays to the Japanese government. However, the actual amount of your income tax cannot be determined until the amount of B (untaxable portion) becomes clear at the end of the year. This is why, at the year-end, your actual amount of income tax needs to be calculated and adjustments should be made.

→ deducted amount ＞ actual amount of income tax … you will receive a tax refund → deducted amount ＜ actual amount of income tax … you will need to pay the shortfall

Taxable portion

（A‐B）× tax rate rate : 5%～40%, depending on the

amount of income

A：Your amount of income earned in 1 year (2014 Jan.1-Dec.31)

B：Untaxable portion（= 所 得Shotoku

控除Kojo

額gaku

）

▼所 得Shotoku

控除 Kojo

額gaku

～ UNTAXABLE PORTION ～ In the following cases, for example, your “untaxable portion” will increase. This means that the amount of income tax you pay will be REDUCED. 1. you have paid for premiums of life insurance, earthquake insurance and such 2. you have paid for premiums of social insurance (health, nursing care, pension) 3. your spouse has an yearly income of less than ￥380,000 4. you have a dependent family other than your spouse 5. you had a lot of medical fee to pay Receipts (in case of 5.) or certificates called 控除

Kojo 証明書Shomei-sho

(in case of 1&2.) will become necessary on the occasion of Year-end Tax Adjustment or Filing of the Income Tax Return.

控除Kojo

証明書Shomei-sho will be sent to your home by the end of the year, so be careful not to

lose them. And… DO NOT THROW IT WAY!

MITO TAX OFFICE (水戸M i t o

税務Zeimu

署-sho

)

Address: 水戸市Mi to -sh i

北見町Kitami-cho

1-17 (near Ibaraki Prefectural Library at 三 の 丸San-no-maru

). Inquiries: automated voice service 029-231-4211

→select 1 (call center)→select 1 (income tax)

If you have worked for only one employer in the year 2014…

↓

年 末 調 整Nenmatsu Chosei

(Year-end Tax Adjustment) When: December 2014 How: Fill in the form that will be distributed from your employer.

If you have worked for two or more employers in the year 2014. (includes foreign income if Permanent Resident)

↓

確 定 申 告Kakutei Shinkoku

(Filing of the Income Tax Return) When: February～March, 2015 How: Go to the tax office and follow necessary procedures. Consult below for details.

▼Making adjustments (applies to those who have an address or are planned to stay in Japan continuously for 1 year or more)

or National Tax Agency telephone support (English): 03-3821-9070 weekdays 9am-12am, 1pm-5pm

Japanese Class The Japanese classes that are held by volunteer groups at Mito International Center, will be closed during the following dates. Day Name of Group Class Levels Last Class First Class

Tue Orbis Beginners, Intermediate Dec.16 Jan.20

Wed Friendly Neighborhood

Beginners, Upper Intermediate Dec.17 Jan.14

MESA Friendship Free Conversation Dec.17 Jan.7

Thu Sophia Beginners Dec.18 Jan.8

Fri MESA Friendship Beginners, Intermediate Dec.19 Jan.9

Sat L’avenir Beginners, Intermediate, Advanced

Dec.20 Jan.10

TIME: 10am – 12pm (2 hours) FEE per class: ￥300～￥500 ・No reservation necessary. ・Classes are held in Japanese based on nationally accredited teaching method. ・There are several volunteer teachers each day (1 teacher per 1 to 3 students). ・You can join the class whenever you wish, and as much as you wish. For example, just one particular day of the week, or even every day!

●Students’ voice● “Japanese class is so much fun.” (male, Hong Kong) “The teachers are very attractive. I am happy that my Japanese is improving.” (female, Philippines)

●Annual Holiday Schedule● Mondays, National Holidays Spring recess

(mid March – early April) Summer recess

(late July – early September) Winter recess

(mid December – early January)

Precise holiday schedules can be checked through Culture Pot Mito, or the homepage of Mito City International Association. http://www.mitoic.or.jp/jp/ass/ent/ j_school/index.php

KANJI HIRAGANA

日にち

時じ

：2014年ねん

12月がつ

6日にち

( 土どようび

) 12:30p.m.～ Date : Dec. 6th(Sat.)12:30p.m.～

場ば

所しょ

：水戸市み と し

国際こくさい

交流こうりゅう

センターせ ん た ー

Place : Mito International Center

参加費さ ん か ひ

：無料むりょう

Fee : Free

申込もうしこ

み：不要ふ よ う

。当日とうじつ

、直接ちょくせつ

センターせ ん た ー

に 来き

てください Reservation : Unnecessary

人にん

数ずう

：30人にん

（当日とうじつ

、先 着 順せんちゃくじゅん

） Limited to 30 persons

主催しゅさい

：みと男女だんじょ

平 等びょうどう

参画さんかく

を 考かんが

える会かい

・水戸市み と し

地域ちいき

安全課あんぜんか

・水戸市み と し

国際こくさい

交 流こうりゅう

協 会きょうかい

Hosted by Mito Danjo Byodo Sankaku o Kangaeru Kai (Mito Gender Equality Association), Mito City Regional Safety Section and Mito City International Association(MCIA).

防災ぼうさい

グッズぐ っ ず

や 非 常 食ひじょうしょく

を 体験たいけん

しましょう！

Let’s try emergency goods and emergency foods !

防災ぼうさい

に ついて 学まな

びましょう！

地震じしん

や 火事か じ

になったら、どのように 避難ひなん

しますか？

Let’s learn about disaster preparedness together ! How do you evacuate in the case of earthquake or fire?

問合といあわ

せ：水戸市み と し

国際こくさい

交流こうりゅう

協会きょうかい

Contact :Mito City International Association(MCIA)

TEL : 221-1800 FAX:221-5793

E-mail : mcia@mito.ne.jp

がい こく じん し みん

Procedure to Enter a Childcare Center

A: REGULAR

Month you wish to enroll

Where to get leaflets and application form

Where to apply When to apply

Jan - Mar 2015

幼児 Yo j i -

教育課kyoiku-ka

幼児 Yo j i -

教育課kyoiku-ka

by Dec 12, 2014

April 2015

(distributed from Oct 27, 2014) 幼児 Yoj i-

教育課kyoiku-ka

, childcare centers, branch offices in 内原

Uchihara, 常 澄

Tsunezumi

and 赤塚Akatsuka

幼児 Yoj i-

教育課kyoiku-ka

or childcare centers

Dec 1 – Dec12

2014

May – Dec

2015 幼児 Yo j i -

教育課kyoiku-ka

幼児 Yo j i -

教育課kyoiku-ka

by 15th of the

previous month

※幼児 Yo j i -

教育課kyoiku-ka

: see the back of this page for contact info. ※Nursing fee differs depending on households. It is calculated and decided by Mito City based on the amount of guardian’s income tax, resident tax and the child’s age.

Examples of the things you may need when applying - application form, 家庭状況等調べ

Katei-jokyo-toh Shirabe(family situation survey sheet)

- a document that proves your inability to take care of the child, such as certificate of employment or medical certificate.

- a document that serves as a base upon calculating the nursing fee, such as a photocopy of 源泉徴収票

Gen-sen-cho-shu-hyo (certificate of income & withholding tax).

In order to enroll your child into a childcare center, you need authorization of Mito City. See Oct & Nov issues for details. Parent/guardians who cannot take care of a child are applicable. (Application will not be processed if a family member who lives together can take care of the child.) Requirement: 1. Mito City resident 2. Child is below school age.

Hours you need childcare Type Refer to

More than 4hrs/day & 4days/wk 「通常t s u - j o

」Regular A

64 – 119 hours/month 「特定tokutei

保育 ho-iku

」Partial B

Just one day, half day, etc. 「一時預かりi c h i j i - a z u k a r i

」Temporary C

B: Partial FACILITY ひばり保育園

H i b a r i H o i k u - e n, すみれ保育園

Sumire Hoiku-en,

すみれ Sumire

第二Dai-ni

保育園Hoiku-en

APPLICATION Application form is available at 幼児

Yoj i -教育課kyoiku-ka

. Fill it in and submit by the deadline shown in chart A. FEE ￥9,400～￥26,000 / month

◆MUNICIPAL (保H o

育i k u

所sho

)◆ ◆PRIVATE (保H o

育i k u

園e n

)◆

なまえ TEL(029-) なまえ TEL(029-) なまえ TEL(029-) ●

白 梅Shira-ume

221-2070 ●ひのでH i n o d e

248-3584 ●けやき台K e y a k i - D a i

304-3311 ●

杉 山Sugi-yama

221-7219 ●すみれS u m i r e

252-2781 ●つばさT s u b a s a

257-0303 ●新 原Shin-hara

251-2262 ●ひかりH i k a r i

221-0301 ●小吹Kobuki

305-4154 ●

緑 岡Midori-oka

241-0707 ●千波Senba

241-7347 ●スワンS w a n

303-3337 ●城東J o t o

231-5972 ●こばKobato

と 353-6155 ●ほうH o -

とくt o k u

306-8860

平須Hirasu

241-1172 ●こばとK o b a t o

分園branch

244-0020 ●聖光Seiko-

学園Gakuen

221-3973 ●渡里Watari

224-8908 葉山Hayama

243-0296 ●見和Miwa-

めぐみM e g u m i

252-2583 ●

若 宮Waka-miya

226-3923 ひばりH i b a r i

243-1410 ●すみれS u m i r e -

第二Dai-n i

251-0515 ●河和田Kawa-wada

253-1482 ●すみよしS u m i - y o s h i

247-8144 夜間Yakan-

めぐみM e g u m i

252-6410 ●双葉台Futaba-dai

252-8749 ●石 川Ishi-kawa

252-4007 ●はーとぴあH e a r t - p i a

251-1670

一の牧Ichi-no-maki

243-8899 ●こばとK o b a t o -

東Higashi

226-4555 ●笠 原

Kasa-hara 243-2439

●常 澄

Tune-zumi 269-4592 ●

こばと Kobato-

東Higashi

分園branch

231-2095 ちゃいるどはうす C h i l d H o u s e

241-5007 ●内 原Uchi-hara

259-4656 ●のぎくN o g i k u

225-6692 ●第二Dai-ni

めぐみ Megumi

303-5007

●わかなW a k a n a

231-8237 ●ときわの杜Tokiwa-no-mori

306-8296

●堀あさひH o r i - A s a h i

303-5551 ●ルミエール L u m i e r e

239-3806

○認定にんてい

こども園えん

なまえ TEL(029-) なまえ TEL(029-)

○●プリンセスリリーP r i n c e s s L i l y

ヴィクトリアナーサリーV i c t o r i a N u r s e r y

253-5553

○プリンセスリリーP r i n c e s s L i l y

ヴィクトリアナーサリー分園V i c t o r i a N u r s e r y b r a n c h

254-2711

C: Temporary

FACILITY Those marked with a「●」in the chart below.

APPLICATION Apply directly at the facility when in need.

FEE Public: ￥2100/day Private: depends on facility

【Inquiry】 幼児 Yo j i -

教育課kyoiku-ka

(Preschool Education Section) : Mito City Hall Sannomaru

Branch, 2F TEL / 029-232-9243 Add / 三の丸San-no-maru

1-5-48, Mito City.

※Some childcare

centers are newly

opened. Inquire

“幼You

児j i -

教kyo

育i k u

課-ka

” for

details.

○ Nintei-Kodomo-En: Submit the form there directly.

Mito City International Association Tuesday-Sunday, 9am-9pm (Closed : Mondays, Dec. 23, 30, 31,

Jan. 1, 2, 3, 13) Add 〒310-0024 水戸市

Mito-shi 備 前 町

Bizen-machi6-59

Mito International Center Tel 029-221-1800 Fax 029-221-5793 Mail mcia@mito.ne.jp

Please forward us any opinions or suggestions you may have!

Feel free to drop by! (MCIA)

Take a bus from Mito station North exit, bus terminal #4～7 ⇒ 5mins ⇒ “泉 町Izumicho

一丁目 Icchome

”

Japanese Customs

5. Write a recipient’s name and address. 6. Write your name and address. The postcards will arrive on Jan. 1, if you mail them between Dec 15 – 24.

干e

支t o

is 12 zodiac animals which are used to represent calendar, time and directions in ancient China. Nengajo We have a custom to send 「年

nen

賀g a

状j o u

」(postcard). Here is a procedure for sending 年

nen

賀g a

状j o u

. How to send 年

nen

賀g a

状j o u

Buy 年

nen

賀ga

はがきh a g a k i

at post office. 1. Write a phrase to celebrate a new year (賀

g a

詞s h i

). 2. Write gratitude for the past year or request for continuous friendship and so on. 3. Write era name (平

h e i

成s e i

27年nen

= 2015) and date (元gan

旦t a n

= Jan. 1) 4. Draw an illustration of animal of the year (干支

e t o

) to please the recipient.

Eto in 2015 is

sheep!

<Front>

④

干支e t o

<Back>

Postal

Code

3 1 0－0 0 2 4

3 1 0－8 6 1 0

2015 年 賀

Bizen – machi 6-59, Mito City

Mr. Kokusai Taro

Chuo 1-4-1, Mito City Mito Hanako

⑤

⑥

明けまして A k e m a s h i t e

おめでとう o m e d e t o u

ございます g a z a i m a s u

Happy New Year!

平成H e i s e i

27年n e n

元旦g a n t a n

January 1, 2015

③

①

②

旧年中 Kyunen-chu

は wa

お世話 o - s e w a

に ni

なりましたn a r i m a s h i t a

Thank you for your kindness during the last year

今年 Kotoshi

も mo

よろしく yoroshiku

お願いo - n e g a i

いたしますi t a s h i m a s u

I look forward to your continued goodwill in this year.