City Notices & Services

For payments other than through pension, the national health insurance payment period will be at the end of each month from June until March the next year (December is on 25th), and the payment period for the medical health insurance for the elderly is also at the end of every month from July to March (December will be next year January 4th (direct debit is December 28th)). Furthermore, the deadline for June and July is as follows.

June: July 1st (Monday)

July: July 31st (Wednesday)

Since April 2019, Sakai City supports the ‘Partnership Oath System’ and is striving to achieve a society where those who identify as LGBTQIA+ can live freely as themselves. From April, it is not only the partnership oath, but the vow now includes their children (including adopted kids) and parents (including foster parents).
You can utilize this system when applying for a municipal apartment and for visitation and consent to operate at Sakai City Medical Center. It is pride month in June. Using this opportunity lets think about the LGBTQIA+ community.

Until September, photochemical smog is very common. When smog forecasts and warnings are issued, color-coded flags (forecast is green, warning is yellow, alarm is orange) are posted at ward offices, schools and other public facilities.

Please avoid doing intense exercise outdoors during an issuance. If you have symptoms such as irritated eyes and pains in the throat area, please rinse your eyes and gargle.

For households with financial difficulties sending their children to senior high school etc., assistance of maximum 60,000 yen a year is available. Financial assistance is granted following the results of a screening process with assistance administered to the 500 students most in need.
The following are eligible to apply:
● Students enrolled in one of the following senior high schools as of July 1st 2024, and has been commuting from a residence in Sakai.
Senior high schools, private schools (senior levels only), technical colleges (1st -3rd grades), vocational schools (senior courses only), support schools (senior levels only)
● Total income of all persons in parental authority in 2023 must be within the criteria:
However, those who can receive Osaka Prefectural Government’s *“Support Payments for Attending School” (奨学のための給付金 shogakuno tameno kyufukin) aka those who receive public assistance (生活保護 seikatsuhogo/ 生業扶助 seigyofujo) or are exempted from municipal tax income-based portion) are not eligible for this assistance
*Excluding the advance payment portion and the payment for household with sudden change in economy.
Application period: July 1st-10th (excluding weekends)
Applicants can apply at their local ward office with their name seal (印鑑 inkan) and documentation showing a bank account in their child’s name. Applications by post or city’s e-application system are also valid.
Applicants will be notified in around December by mail on whether or not they will receive the assistance.
People who intend to apply but who have not made an income declaration should do so. People who moved into Sakai on or after January 2nd 2024 should provide a FY2023 tax certificate (課税証明書 kazeishomeisho) from their previous municipal government around August.

Summer is here, so why not cool off at the pool? They are set to open this year. Please click here for more information.

There are many cases of food poisoning across the country from June to October every year. Please take the following measures to prevent it happening to you.

When buying food:

• Check the expiration date and level of freshness
• Only buy what you need
• Aim to purchase refrigerated and frozen foods last and store away as soon as possible

Storage:

• Don’t leave fridge door open for long periods of time
• Try not to fill up your fridge or freezer
• Keep meat and fish wrapped up well to prevent the liquid leakage

When cooking:

• Always wash your hands before cooking
• Wash your chopping board and knives in hot water to kill germs before you start cooking
• Make sure food is cooked thoroughly and to eat it as soon as possible
• Keep chopsticks used for handling the raw meat separate from the ones used for eating

Starting early from June, the Payment Notice of City and Prefectural Residential Tax and Forest Environment Tax (納税通知書 nozei tsuchisho) will be sent out. Taxation description (課税明細書 kazei meisaisho) attached to the notice and other documents you may receive separately, such as city and prefectural special taxation amount notice (市・府民税・森林環境税特別徴収税額通知書 shiminzei fuminzei shinrinkankyozei tokubetsu choshuzeigaku tsuchisho), can be used instead of income or taxation proof (所得・課税証明書 shotoku kazei shomeisho) in applying for moving to public housing or school expense subsidy (就学援助 shugakuenjo) etc. Please keep and use them if necessary.

June will be the first appointed time for the City and Prefectural Resident Tax and Forest Environment Tax. The deadline is July 1st. July will be the second appointed time for fixed property and city planning taxes. The deadline is July 31st.
Please pay at the nearest banking facility, convenience store etc., or through mobile payment methods.
For those that use the automatic transfer, payment will automatically be deducted on July 1st for resident, prefectural taxes and forest environmental taxes on July 31st for fixed property and city planning, so please check that you have sufficient funds.

June is Sexually Transmitted Infection Prevention Month. Public health centers regularly offer free tests for syphilis, chlamydia and HIV antibodies.

Please go directly to the public health center from 9:30-11:00 (9:15-10:45 for Sakai Public Health Center). You will be notified of the results roughly a week after at the same place and time.
Click here for more information.

My Number Card Application

Make a card to get the following benefits:

● Using it as your health insurance card

● Use it to print certificates at convenience stores

● Allows you to do administrative procedures online

With many functions, it makes your life so convenient with just one card!

Why don’t you apply for the card at Sakai My Number Promotion Center?

Using translation tools, we support foreign language speakers to apply for the My Number Card. Using your residence car and another form of personal identification, we can send your card directly to your place. Please click here for more information.

For foreign residents, the My Number Card expiration date is the same as the date of expiration on your visa. It does not renew automatically so please visit your local government to renew your My Number Card after renewing your visa.

June 4th is Cavity Prevention Day. At certain ages, adults can receive a subsidized dental health exam of 500 yen to know the condition of their oral health. Reservations are required.

Eligibility: citizens aged 20, 25, 30, 35, 40, 50, 60, 70-74 and those receiving public assistance (生活保護 seikatsuhogo) aged 75 and over

*Those from households receiving public assistance or exempted from city tax can receive the exam for free upon application in advance through public health centers.

Please check here for more info on available medical institutions and application methods (Japanese).

Summer in Japan is very hot and humid. There are around 400,000 cases of heatstroke reported every year, with over 40,000 of those people needing to be hospitalised. Please seek help if you start to feel unwell in the extreme heat. Make sure to
stay hydrated and avoid the sun during the hottest times of the day.

If someone loses consciousness or is unable to drink water themselves, call 119 for an ambulance.

Things to bring to the hospital: cash and credit card, any prescription medicine they are taking and their health insurance card (if enrolled) or passport

The Plaza of Multicultural Exchange Sakai are offering free online consultations using Zoom for foreign residents living, working, or studying at school in Sakai City, in 13 languages. Get advice from immigration and law experts. Please make an appointment by phone or e-mail one week in advance of your consultation day.

Labour: July 1st 13:30-16:30

Immigration: July 24th 13:30-16:30

Law: July 26th 18:00-21:00

Clinical Psychologist: July 28th 13:30-16:30

Daily life: July 23rd & 25th 13:30-16:30