City Notices

There will be regular garbage collection till the December 31st, then no collection of garbage between January 1st to 3rd. For more detailed information, click here.

Emergency Medical Care during the New Year Holiday Period is between Dec 29th to Jan 3rd. Please refer to our After-hours Medical Help page for clinics that are open over New Year's Holiday period.

December will be the third appointed time for Fixed Property Tax and City Planning Tax. The deadline is December 25th. January will be the fourth appointed time for the City and Prefectural Resident Tax and Forest Environment Tax. The deadline is January 31st. Please pay at the nearest banking facility, convenience store etc. Payment can also be made using paidy, mobile payment methods and credit cards on regional tax payment sites. For those that use the automatic transfer, the payment for Fixed Property Tax and City Planning Tax will automatically be deducted on December 25th and the payment for the City and Prefectural Resident Tax and Forest Environment Tax will be deducted on January 31st so please check that you have sufficient funds.

From Dec 28th to Jan 5th the City’s business affairs will be closed. However, reception for the notice of family register, issuing of burial/cremation permits will still be accepted at the night and holiday reception counter at the east entrance of the city hall’s main building, and the security guard ward office will also be open. Plaza of Multicultural Exchange will also be closed from Dec 28th to Jan 4th.

World AIDS Day is an opportunity for people worldwide to raise awareness of the disease and fight against discrimination towards those that are affected by it. It is commemorated on December 1st and was first established in 1988. The red ribbon is a symbol of support against prejudice and discrimination towards those living with AIDS. Sakai City is implementing HIV testing.

[A request to those wanting a test]
Please refrain from coming if you have a fever, cough etc.
You will be turned away if you show such symptoms.

Sakai City offers free HIV tests, click here for more information.

January 13th (Monday, public holiday).

1-part system

• Sakai, Naka, Higashi, Minami, Kita, Mihara Wards

3-part system

• Nishi ward

Venue: Please join the venue of junior high school you went to or the school district you live in.
Eligibility: Those born between April 2nd 2004 (Heisei 16) to April 1st 2005 (Heisei 17) who are on the Sakai City basic resident register (those who are eligible will be posted an invitation by late November).
※Please check the homepage for more information (Japanese only)

Norovirus infects the human body and causes gastroenteritis which results in diarrhea, vomiting and more. It is particularly common in winter (November to March). The excrement and vomit of those infected is contaminated with the virus. The virus is spread by preparing food with unclean hands, or eating contaminated clams without heating them enough, or by airborne viruses through the hands to the mouth. Let’s prevent the spread of the virus by using appropriate measures.
To prevent food poisoning, please follow the measures below:

• Wash your hands thoroughly with soap after using the bathroom, before preparing and eating food.
• When eating clams such as oysters, heat them right to the center (85-90 degrees for over 90 seconds)
• Thoroughly clean the equipment used after cooking and disinfect them with boiling water or chlorine bleach.
• Refrain from dealing with food when you have symptoms such as diarrhea.

Moreover, in case someone in your family or workplace gets infected, deal with the stool and vomit properly by making sure the virus doesn’t go airborne to prevent the spread of infection.
Make sure to use disposable gloves and masks to avoid direct contact with dirtied bedding, clothes and toilets etc. when dealing with them. A mixture of commercial chlorine bleach and water in a 490ml:10ml ratio is very effective for disinfecting. Use 995ml:5ml ratio of chlorine bleach and disinfect doorknobs, cooking equipment and toys etc.