[USEFUL INFO] Price Changes after Consumption Tax Raise

A summary of price changes after consumption tax raise from April.
1. Postal and Delivery Service, 2. Transportation, 3. Utility Charges and 4. Others.

1. Postal and Delivery Service

Japan Post

Postcard	JPY50 → JPY52	No price change for international delivery service. 0.8% rate will be applied for additional service charge if any.
Stamp	JPY80 → JPY82

http://www.post.japanpost.jp/lpo/tax2014/

Yamato Transport

2kg from Kanto to Kanto

JPY740 → JPY756

No price change for international delivery service. 0.8% will be applied for additional service charge if any.

http://www.kuronekoyamato.co.jp/info/info_140213_02.html

Sagawa Transport

2kg from Kanto to Kanto

JPY740 → JPY756

No price change for international delivery service. 0.8% will be applied for additional service charge if any.

http://www.sagawa-exp.co.jp/information/detail/tax/sagawa_faretable/

Fedex

No price change for international delivery service. But consumption tax for import declaration will be raised to 8%.

http://www.fedex.com/jp/news/custom.html

DHL

No price change for international delivery service. But handling charges to reimburse custom duty and sales tax will be set as below. JPY 700 > amount put up by DHL= JPY0 JPY 50,000 > amount put up by DHL= JPY1,080 JPY 50,000 <= amount put up by DHL= JPY amount put up by DHL*2%*1.08

http://www.dhl.co.jp/ja/important_information.html

2. Transportation

Paying by IC Card is cheaper than in Cash in general except JR.

JR

Minimum Fare: IC Card	JPY130 → JPY133, JPY66 for kids
Minimum Fare: Cash	JPY130 → JPY140, JPY70 for kids

http://www.jreast.co.jp/kaitei2014/index.html

・Set Price*1.08. Amount under JPY1 to be rounded off for payment by IC Card. Within Tokaido from Tokyo to Ofuna, Yokohama, Negishi and Yamanote line, JPY1 to 9 to be rounded up for payment in Cash and Commuter Pass. Within other area, JPY 1 to 4 to be rounded off and JPY 5 to 9 to be rounded up for payment in Cash and Commuter Pass.

・Fare for Kids is a half of fare for Adults in that payment method. Amount under JPY1 to be rounded off for payment by IC Card. Amount under JPY10 to be rounded off for payment in Cash.

・Fare for adults is cheaper in IC Card within Tokaido from Tokyo to Ofuna, Yokohama, Negishi and Yamanote line. Fare in other line and fare for kids depend on set price.

Yokohama Municipal Subway

Minimum Fare: IC Card	JPY200 → JPY206, JPY103 for kids
Minimum Fare: Cash	JPY200 → JPY210, JPY110 for kids

http://www.city.yokohama.lg.jp/koutuu/kigyo/newstopics/2013/news/n20131226-8181-1.html

Keikyu Railway

Minimum Fare: IC Card	JPY130 → JPY133
Minimum Fare: Cash	JPY130 → JPY140

http://www.keikyu.co.jp/report/detail/004731.html

Tokyu Railway

Minimum Fare: IC Card	JPY120 → JPY124, JPY62 for kids
Minimum Fare: Cash	JPY120 → JPY130, JPY70 for kids

http://www.tokyu.co.jp/railway/menu/tariff.html

Sotetsu Railway

Minimum Fare: IC Card	JPY140 → JPY144
Minimum Fare: Cash	JPY140 → JPY150

http://www.sotetsu.co.jp/train/search/pdf/kaitei_2014.pdf

Yokohama Municipal Bus

Flat Price: IC Card	JPY210 → JPY216, JPY108 for kids
Flat Price: Cash	JPY210 → JPY220, JPY110 for kids

http://www.city.yokohama.lg.jp/koutuu/kigyo/newstopics/2013/news/n20131226-8181-1.html

Keikyu Bus

Yokohama Flat Price Area: IC Card	JPY210 → JPY216
Yokohama Flat Price Area: Cash	JPY210 → JPY220

http://www.keikyu-bus.co.jp/fare/index.html

Kanagawa Chuo Bus

Yokohama Flat Price Area: IC Card	JPY210 → JPY216
Yokohama Flat Price Area: Cash	JPY210 → JPY220

http://www.kanachu.co.jp/news/pdf01/news/pdf_201312/12.19unchin.pdf

Tokyu Bus

Yokohama Flat Price Area: IC Card	JPY210 → JPY216, JPY108 for kids
Yokohama Flat Price Area : Cash	JPY210 → JPY220, JPY110 for kids

http://www.tokyubus.co.jp/top/news/000724.html

Sotetsu Bus

Minimum Fare: IC Card	JPY170 → JPY175
Minimum Fare: Cash	JPY170 → JPY180

http://www.sotetsu.co.jp/mt/bus/news/pdf/busunchin20140304.pdf

Taxi within Yokohama and Tokyo

Minimum Fare

JPY710 → JPY730

http://www.asahi.com/articles/ASG1X5TD4G1XULFA028.html

・A distance counted as one meter will be also shortened.

3. Utility Charges

Gas Charge

Ex. 32m3/month

JPY5,619 → JPY5,780

http://www.tokyo-gas.co.jp/Press/20140221-03.pdf

Electricity Charge

Ex. 30A 290kWh/month

JPY7,315 → JPY7,524

http://www.tepco.co.jp/e-rates/individual/basic/charge/kaitei2014-j.html

Water Charge

Ex. 15m3/month

JPY1,749 → JPY1,799

http://news.kanaloco.jp/localnews/article/1311260021/

Sewerage Charge

Ex. 15m3/month

JPY1,323 → JPY1,360

http://news.kanaloco.jp/localnews/article/1311260021/

4. Others

Drinks in Vending Machines

Most of drinks in vending machine will be marked up by JPY10 except mineral water.

http://www.ssnp.co.jp/articles/show/1403240002810763

ATM Charge

Ex. Withdrawal

JPY105 → JPY108

http://mainichi.jp/select/news/20140312k0000m020028000c.html

Mobile Phone Monthly Payment(docomo, SoftBank, au)

0.8% of consumption tax to be applied.

http://www.nikkei.com/article/DGXNASDD250QA_V21C13A2TJ1000/

Apartment Rent

Rent for apartment is duty free. There should be no payment increase due to tax raise.

http://www.chintai.net/news/201311/12-01/

[NEWS] MLIT: Rules and Understanding for the Baby Stroller Use in Public Means of Transportation

Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism released new signs for baby stroller users.

*Image captured from MLIT news release
Source: http://www.mlit.go.jp/common/001032706.pdf

Press Release from MLIT (in Japanese)
http://www.mlit.go.jp/report/press/sogo09_hh_000082.html

The News Article on the Asahi Digital (News/ in Japanese)
http://www.asahi.com/articles/ASG3V5JHHG3VUTIL034.html?iref=com_rnavi_srank

Summery of the discussion at the council (in Japanese)
http://www.mlit.go.jp/common/001032707.pdf
-As the number of families with young children getting out and using public means of transportation is increasing, the troubles between the other passengers are increasing. For the safe use and understanding for the use of the stroller, it is necessary to fix "rules of the stroller use" and "universal signs (mark) to urge the understanding for the use of the stroller".

(Brief Translation)
-For the safe use of the stroller
Spread copies of the flyer on safe use of the stroller for the users (fastening the seatbelt, using the brake/stopper, getting off the baby from the stroller when using an escalator etc.).

-For understanding and consideration for the use of the stroller
Put up posters to urge the understanding and consideration on the use of the stroller for both the users and other passengers.

-For the parties concerned in the transpiration and facilities etc.
Give detailed information on how to create a comfortable environment for the users.

-The universal signs 
The left in the photo above: a safe and authorized place to use the stroller
The right: a place where the use of stroller is not allowed

[USEFUL INFO] Multilingual Life Information Application by CLAIR

CLAIR (Council of Local Authorities for International Relations) released a useful application that provides us daily life information in 13 languages (English, German, Chinese, Korean, French, Spanish, Portuguese, Tagalog, Vietnamese, Indonesian, Thai, Russian and Japanese with furigana) Please download from here:

AppStore
https://itunes.apple.com/jp/app/duo-yan-yu-sheng-huo-qing-bao/id833314457?mt=8

Google Play
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=jp.co.rcsc.livingguide.android

[GOVERNMENT] Temporary Allowance for Families with Young Children (2014)

As the consumption tax is raised to 5% to 8% from the first April, 2014, the government decided to offer ¥10,000 per child for families with young children (under some conditions) to financially support them.
Here is the link to the official announcement by the ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare.

Offial announcement by Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare
http://www.mhlw.go.jp/stf/seisakunitsuite/bunya/kodomo/kodomo_kosodate/rinjitokurei/index.html?utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=twitter

Summery

Targets: Those who received the Child Allowance of January 2014 and whose income is below the limitation of the Child Allowance.

Target Children: Basically the target children of the Child Allowance of January 2014, except the recipient of the temporary welfare allowance or the welfare benefit.

Amount: 10,000 yen per child

Procesure (Application): Go to the counter of your local ward/city office where you belonged on 1st January 2014*.  Then the local government will judge if the person in question has right to receive the allowance.

*Even if you live in Yokoahama now (in April 2014 for instance), if you lived in some other city on 1st January 2014 and registered as the citizen there at that time, you must apply to the city, not Yokohama.

Here is the link to the webpage of the city of Yokohama, but no detail is updated at the moment (26th March 2014) and is written "We will update the detail as soon as it is decided". So we have nothing to do right now.
http://www.city.yokohama.lg.jp/kodomo/katei/kosodate/kosodatekyuhu/

[ACTIVITY REPORT] French & Multilingual Playgroup March 2014

We had the French & Multilingual Playgroup on 12nd March. 10 members with children joined this playgroup. We changed the place and this was held at Furocho Chiiki Care Plaza near JR Kannai station. The room was big and there was a kitchen next to the room. Children could play actively.

 

Some mothers brought picture books for us. The English books were "My Daddy", "I love my mummy" and "Everybody Loves Chiristmas!". The Japanese ones were "Inai inai baa (いないいないばあ　It's like Peek-a-boo)" and "Shirokuma no pantsu (しろくまのぱんつ　It means polar bears' underpants.)". The stories of some books were humorous and refrains of the words attracted the childrens' interest. These books are very popular and available at bookstores in Yokohama and online.

 



  

We also enjoyed singing "Twinkle Twinkle Little Star" in Hindi. A mother from India introduced it to us. It was very interesting to sing the same song in various languages! If you're interested in the pronunciation, you can listen to it on You Tube("Twinkle Twinkle Little Star in Hindi").

 

 

We will be able to announce the date of the next playgroup soon.

Please come and join us!

 

 

 

[ACTIVITY REPORT] Sewing & Knitting Meeting #4

We had the 4th sewing & knitting meeting on 7th March. This meeting had started for the bazzar in Feburuary, but we decided to comtinue to get together and make items. 7 members in the community participated and 5 were new at this meeting. We were so happy to have new members and enjoyed having time with them.

The mothers from foreign countries were interested in making Hina decoration ornaments. These ornaments are for Hinamatsuri, the Doll's Festival for girls, in March. The dolls called Hinaningyou are more common and these ornaments called Tsurushikazari were originally peculiar to Izu area in Shizuoka prefecture, but now they are seen in some other areas in Japan. People make them to pray for girls' good health and good relationships. They are made by Chirimen, crepe fabric. We tried to make them. They are not so difficult and so cute!

Monkeys & Hoozuki (a kind of fruit)

We could have time to feel refreshed while children were playing freely. It was also a nice opportunity to make friends with other mothers and share information. I want to see you all next time!

【IMCY Activity Report】Deko Maki Sushi Workshop & Gathering #2 on January 27th and #3 on 25th February, 2014.

IMCYは2014年1月27日と2月25日に第2回、3回目のデコ巻き寿司ワークショップ＆交流会を開催しました。

このワークショップは横浜で子育てするママたちが国籍に関係なく繋がり、より楽しく子育てができるようにとIMCYのママ達が企画したものです。（この活動は、横浜市西区社会福祉協議会の「にこまち助成金」の交付を受けています。）
両回とも多くのご応募を頂き、沢山のママたちに興味を持って頂けたことをうれしく思います。
季節がら、インフルエンザ等で数名欠席がありましたが、写真のとおりにぎやかにデコ巻き寿司（第2回は子パンダ、第3回はクマ）をつくり交流しました。

第2回目の子パンダは比較的作るのが簡単だったこともあり、参加者同士のおしゃべりをする時間がとれました。ママの交流の場の情報共有などをしたり、ＦＢで繋がるきっかけとなりました。ママたちのワークショップの間、保育ボランティアの皆さんの協力を得て、14名のお子さんが保育のお部屋で過ごしました。今回は事前に子どもたちの好きなおもちゃをヒアリングして保育者へ伝えたり、音楽を用意してもらい子どもたちがより楽しめるようにしました。最初は少し鳴き声が聞こえていましたが、その後は落ち着いて遊んでくれたように思います。

また第3回目は、これまでの2回で定員から漏れてしまった方を優先的に参加して頂きたいという想いから急きょ開催を決定しました。この回は保育付きではなく、子ども達もママと同室でおもちゃで遊びながらのデコ巻きワークショップでした。ママ達が寿司を作ったり交流することに集中できないのではという懸念もありましたが、ママがみえる範囲にいる安心感からか新しい環境・お友達の中でも比較的穏やかに遊んでくれました。

両回ともとても楽しいイベントとなりました。
参加して下さった皆さん、運営スタッフとしてお手伝い下さった皆さん、本当にありがとうございました♪

IMCY held Deko Maki Sushi Workshop & Gathering #2 on January 27th and #3 on 25th February, 2014.

The IMCY mothers planned this workshop for women who live and raise children in Yokohama, to get to know other mothers regardless the nationality and make our lives happier and more comfortable (This activity is supported by the Nikomachi Subsidy).

We received a lot of applications for both workshops and are happy to find that many mothers are interested in our activity.

Unfortunately, it's the flu season and some people couldn't join due to their sickness. As in the pictures, participants enjoyed making Deko Maki Sushi (Baby Panda at #2 and Bear at #3) and communication.

At the workshop #2, the Baby Panda was comparatively easier and there was enough time to talk with other participants to share information on the places for mothers or get connected on Facebook etc. During the workshop for mothers, 14 children spent time in the nursery room with the help of babysitting volunteers. This time we asked each child's favorite toys beforehand and tell the babysitters, and we also asked the volunteers to prepare some music so that children can enjoy the stay. At first, we heard crying voices of some children but in a while they stopped and it seemed that they played in peace.

We decided to have the workshop #3 mainly for those who couldn't join the previous workshops. This time there was no babysitting and mothers and children stayed in the same room and mothers learned to make Deko Maki Sushi while children playing around them. There was a fear that mothers might not be able to focus on Deko Maki Sushi with children around, but in fact children rather looked happy that they can see their mom and played comparatively in peace under new environment and friends.

Both workshops were so much fun.

We would like to show our deep gratitude to the participants and volunteer staff.

[CAFE] Co-machi Cafe in Totsuka (Baby/Child-Friendly)

The co-machi Cafe is run by mothers (an NPO named Comachiplus) and a very baby/child-friendly place, located 5 minutes on foot from Totsuka station*.

*The cafe will be closed from 15th March and moved in May. The detail will be updated later.
The lunch reservation until 14th March is almost full, so please call and ask them if you wish to have lunch there. (Updated 10th March)

Co-machi Cafe Webpage (in Japanese)

 

It is decorated with pretty ornaments and there are also a space for kids to play and a changing table.

It is open from 10:00 to 16:00, from Monday to Friday.

Lunch time is 11:00-14:00 and it would be better to make a reservation (please call the reservation number on the official website, 10:00-16:00)

In addition, the lunch reservation is either 11:00-12:30 or 12:30-14:00.

There are menus for children, too!

[PLAYGROUP] IMCY Multilingual Playgroup in March 2014

Sorry for the short notice.
We are going to have the Multilingual Playgroup on Wednesday, 12th March, 13:30-15:00.

Attention! The place is changed to Furocho Chiiki Care Plaza (3F Multipurpose room).
About 10 min walk from JR/Blue Line Kannai station or 5 min from Blue Line Isezaki-Chojamachi station.

We are going to let children play freely, sing songs, do some finger play and read books.
Please feel free to bring books in your own language(s).