[IMCY Activity Report]Deko Maki Sushi Workshop & Gathering for mothers on Dec.6th,2013

IMCYは2013年12月6日にデコ巻き寿司ワークショップ＆交流会をみなとみらい地区で開催しました。
 
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。）

予想以上のご応募があり、多く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、体調を崩すお子さんいて、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（今回はスノーマン＆鏡餅）をつくり交流しました。ママの中には、周囲に知り合いもなくしばらく孤独だったけれど、こういう集まりを知って、参加できてよかったという方もいらっしゃいました。お友達を作るには少し短い時間でしたが、これを機にFB等で繋がるきっかけになったと思います。また、参加者のママの中から、IMCYの活動をボランティアとしてお手伝いしたいという声も複数頂きました。

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、
16名のお子さんが保育のお部屋で過ごしました。最初は大きな泣き声が聞こえ、ママ達も少し心配になりましたが、小麦粉粘土やおもちゃで遊んだり、ママのお弁当を食べて、徐々に落ち着いてくれたようです。

今回もとても楽しいイベントとなりました。ありがとうございます！！！
次回は1月27日（月）開催です。

詳細、お申込みは下記URLよりお願いします。
■日本語ページ
http://international-mothers-in-yokohama.blogspot.com/2013/10/imcy-activity-dekomakiworkshop-japanese.html

それでは、よい休暇をお過ごしください。
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IMCY held the ‘Deko Maki Sushi Workshop & Gathering' at MInatomirai on Dec. 6th, 2013.

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 were so glad that a lot of people were interested in this event and there were far more applications than we expected.

Unfortunately, there were several absentees because of their children's sickness, but the rest of us enjoyed making Deko Maki Sushi (this time we made Snowman＆Kagami-mochi) as in the pictures.And it was good to hear that some mothers were so happy to find and join this event since they were new and hadn't had many friends here.There was not enough time to talk with other mothers, but we believe that this event provided a chance to know new people and some connection in real and on FB and so on.In addition, some people offered help to IMCY as volunteers.

While mothers were making sushi, 16 children were playing with the volunteer baby-sitters in the nursery rooms.Mothers got a little worried to hear children's loud cries in the beginning, butchildren gradually calmed down and got used to the new place by playing with flour clay and toys or eating their bento lunch.

We had a really fun time.Thank you very much !!!
Next Deko Maki Sushi Workshop & Gathering is on Jan.27th 2014.

For more detail and application, please check the URL below.
■English page
http://international-mothers-in-yokohama.blogspot.com/2013/10/imcy-activity-dekomakiworkshop-english.html

Please have a happy holiday!

[PLAYGROUP] IMCYフランス語＆多言語プレイグループのお知らせ☆

IMCYではフランス語＆多言語プレイグループを開催しています。
未就学児とその保護者の方なら誰でもご参加いただけます。
外国語ができなくても大丈夫です。

【場所】宮崎地域ケアプラザ３F多目的ホール

大きな地図で見る

第2回
1月11日（土）10:30~12:00
テーマ：ガレット・デ・ロワ（エピファニー：公現節）
＊東方三博士がキリストに会いに来たとされる日のお祝い。クリスマスから12日目に当たり、この期間を降誕節として祝う習慣があります。但し、IMCYは非宗教団体ですので、あくまで文化の１つとして扱っています。

フランスやヨーロッパの各地では、この日に特別なお菓子を食べる習慣があります。フランスの多くの地方ではガレットと呼ばれるパイとアーモンドクリームのお菓子を食べ、中にはフェーヴという陶器の人形やアーモンドなどが入っていて、グループの中で年少者が机の下にもぐり、切り分けたガレットを割り振ります。フェーヴが当たった人が「王」または「女王」となり、「女王」または「王」を指名します。また一部の地域ではガレットではなく冠型のブリオッシュを食べます。

 

お菓子代として¥100いただく予定です。
参加予定の方は、IMCYまでその旨をお伝えいただけますと幸いです。
imcy.info*gmail.com (*を＠に変えて下さい）

その他、歌、手遊び、読み聞かせ等

第3回
2月7日（金）13:30~15:00
多言語による歌、手遊び、読み聞かせ等
詳細は後日更新予定

[PLAYGROUP] French & Multilingual Playgroup by IMCY February Meeting

French & Multilingual Playgroup by IMCY #3
February 2014 meeting will be as follows:

Please read this article for the January meeting

Language skills are not required. Please feel free to join!!

[Place]

Yokohama Miyazaki Chiku Day Care Center 3F Multi-purpose room.

Larger Map

[Schedule]

7th February (FRI) 13:30-15:00

Stories, songs and finger plays (in French and other languages).
More detail will be updated later.
You may be asked to pay ¥100~ if there will be snacks for children.

[ACTIVITY REPORT] French & Multilingual Playgroup December 2013

IMCY held French & Multilingual Playgroup on 13rd December.

Mothers from various countries like India, China, Morocco and of course Japan participated in this event. We enjoyed sharing ideas about child raising.



We did some activities such as singing and finger plays in Hindi and French.

These lyrics below are the songs we sang together.
・head, shoulders, knees, and toes Hindi version

・French song: Frère Jacques
Frère Jaques Frère Jacques Dormez-vous dormez-vous 
Sonnez les matinées sonnez les matinées
Ding dang dong ding dang dong


We're going to have a next French & Multilingual Playgroup on 11th January. Please come and join!

Report by Tomoyo

[PLAYGROUP] French & Multilingual Playgroup: change in contents

I'm so sorry to announce that the first meeting of French&Multilingual Playgroup will be no "French" contents because of the health problem of the child.

However, the room is still there and there will be another multilingual activities, so please come and join to play and communicate!

[EVENT] Santa Greeting Info in Yokohama

Santa Greeting Information in Yokohama
*18 December update

Toysrus/Babysrus

14 Dec (SAT)
Kohoku Newtown, Odawara, Machida Tama Sakai

15 Dec (SUN)
Minatomirai, Fujisawa

At each store, from:
10:00~/11:00~/13:00~/14:30~/15:30~
for about 30 minutes

Source: http://www2.toysrus.co.jp/rm/HTML-MAIL/1210/html1.html

Yokohama Red Brick Warehouse

The Santa's room on the 3F of 2nd building of Red Brick Warehouse.

Santa will visit on 11, 14, 19, 22, 25th December.

Snow Wednesday: artificial snowing on wednesdays 13:00~/15:00~/19:00~
Snowing everyday from 21st to 25th.

Source: http://www.yokohama-akarenga.jp/event/index/2013/11#event90

Yokohama Bay Quarter

22 Dec (SUN), 23 Dec (MON)
12:00~/14:00~/16:00~
each time for about 30 minutes, he is going to walk around inside the Bay Quarter so you gotta find him!

Source: http://www.yokohama-bayquarter.com/page/event/

Colette Mare

21 Dec (SAT), 22 Dec (SUN), 23 Dec (MON)
12:00~/14:00~/16:00~
ON the 1F
Official site:http://www.colette-mare.com
Source: http://www.enjoytokyo.jp/shopping/event/933710/

Yokohama Takashimaya

22 Dec (SUN)
11:30~/13:30~/15:30~
On the 6F Kids' Patio
Photos with Santa: 30 families each time, reservation tickets from 10:00.
Source: http://www.takashimaya.co.jp/base/yokohama/top/img/info_131218_yokohama.pdf

[ACTIVITY REPORT]IMCY Booth at Hodogaya International "Tsudoi" Festival 2013

I

IMCY admin members joined the Hodogaya International Festival "Tsudoi" 2013 on Sunday, 17th November.

This time, in addition to the bazaar,  we served Indian Hena Hand Paint and we also sold cookies like kinako macarons and pain d'epices (ginger cookies).

Three of our members also helped the ethnic costume exhibition at the gallery wearing their traditional costumes. They were really appreciated.

Since this was an international festival, there were various people - different nationalities/origins and age, which was nice, too. Just next to our booth was the Kimono Try-On room, where many foreign visitors (even our members!) tried on gorgeous Kimono (Furisode) and the staff also arranged their hair for kimono style, too. Some kids also put on the kimono and were really cute.

We've got positive comments from many people that they were impressed by the fact that we, the mothers of young children, do this kind of activity by ourselves.

We would like to show our gratitude to the HIEC (Hodogaya International Exchange Center) staff for all their support to our booth.

Thank you!!

[EVENT] Children's Bento Class by HIEC, 23rd February 2014

HIEC (Hodogaya International Exchange Center) will provide a one-day class of Children's Bento for foreign people.

Date: SUN 23rd February, 2014 (time has not been indicated yet)
Place: Hodogaya Chiku Center 2F Kitchen
Charge: ¥500
Targets: Foreign people (18 years old and up), 20 people at max

Application: Call 045-337-0012 from 23rd January, 2014


Larger Map

Scenes from last year.

Website of HIEC

[PLAYGROUP] French & Multilingual Playgroup by IMCY

IMCY is going to have a French & Multilingual Playgroup in December and January. This playgroup is open for every family with preschool children and younger.

[Overview]
This playgroup is conducted mainly in French with some help of English and Japanese. French skills are not required, so please feel free to visit and enjoy the French culture. We also add "multi-lingual" as we will have some families who speak other languages. It will be greatly welcomed if you can introduce stories (picture books), songs or finger plays in your other language(s) to us.

[Place]

Yokohama Miyazaki Chiku Day Care Center 3F Multi-purpose room.

Larger Map

[Schedule]

13th December (FRI) 13:30-15:00
Theme: Saint Nicolas
Stories, songs and finger plays (in French and other languages).







Saint Nicolas is one of the saints and his birthday, 6th December is celebrated as "La Saint Nicolas" in some areas in France and in other European countries. He is said to be a model for Santa Claus. A little donkey brings gifts and cookies for children while the Santa's mates are reindeer. 

11th January (SAT) 10:30-12:00
Theme: L'Epiphanie (La Galette des Rois)
Stories, songs and finger plays (in French and other languages).

 




The Epiphany is another Christian holiday which is the 12th day from the Christmas. This is also the day when three Wise men (Rois mages in French) visited the baby Jesus in Bethlehem.

In France, they eat "Galette des Rois", which is a pie with almond cream filling. There is also a brioche version (the very left photo). There is a little porcelain called la fève (literally means "broad bean") inside the cake. The cake is cut in pieces and the youngest person hides under the table and choose a piece for each one. The one who gets la fève will be a king/queen and choose a queen/king.

*IMCY is not a religious group, so we deal with these holidays as a part of culture.

[Charge] ¥100/child
*We are going to prepare some snacks for children. You don't have to pay if your child is not old enough to eat them.

[Reservation]
Reservation is NOT required. You can come and leave anytime you want. However, since we are going to prepare snacks, it would be nice if you could e-mail us beforehand so that you will surely enjoy the shack.
e-mail: imcy.info*gmail.com (please replace * with @)

[IMCY ACTIVITY REPORT] Kandaiji Chiku Center Festival (Bazaar)

We, six of the admin members, joined Kandaiji Chiku Center Festival （神大寺地区センターまつり）on 27th October.

We got the chance to join this event thanks to an international exchange group "Kokusai Koryu Jyuku Kanagawa". When we are looking for some festivals or bazaar where we can sell goods to earn some money for our new activity (this time, for Deko Maki Sushi workshops), they kindly offered us a part of their place at the festival.
*Kokusai Koryu Jyuku Kanagawa (国際交流塾かながわ) is a group that encourage communication between locals and international people through parties, cooking classes etc...

We were there from 10:30 to 15:30 and sold 38 items!!
We sold handmade goods (hair accessories, otedama balls, wood and leather crafts and knits) and souvenirs from India (bindis, cotton stoles and necklaces) as below.

We also handed out the flyers of IMCY and the Deko Maki Sushi workshops.

It was the very first experience for us, and we enjoyed it a lot, too. However there are also some things that we should improve:

-Presentation and service: we didn't bring mirrors, so people who wanted to try on the necklace or stole had to go to a restroom to see if it suit them or not. Also, who we are and what we sell were not clear enough for passers-by.
[lesson] We should bring mirrors and hangers for things like stoles. We should prepare more posters explaining IMCY and the items.

-Goods for everyone: Most of our goods were for girls and women. ¥100 hair accessories were popular among school girls and so were Indian stoles and necklaces among elderly ladies. Maybe it would be nice if we have something for boys and men, too.

-Advertising: We were too busy selling goods and couldn't advertise IMCY enough. Our current flyer is more for would-be members (mothers of young children) and we'd better prepare another for "everyone".

Our booth was in the entrance hall, with food booths just outside in the patio, it smelled good all the time and we enjoyed some of the foods, too.

The profit (the sales with the cost subtracted) will be used for the Deko Maki Sushi workshop.

We're looking forward to the next festival at Iwama Shimin Plaza on 17th November. Please come and join us!

[IMCY Activity] Deco Maki Sushi Workshop & Gathering for mothers

Let’s get together with local and foreign mothers and enjoy  Deco Maki Sushi!

This workshop is provided by IMCY mothers for women who live and raise children in Yokohama, to make our lives happier and more comfortable.　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　
　　　
★Date1★　Friday, December 6th 2013   10:30-12:30　
※Application Deadline：Nov.25th 　
Snowman＆Kagami-mochi　（for the holiday season♪）

★Date2★　Monday, January 27th 2014    10:30-12:30　　
※Application Deadline：Jan.14th
Baby Panda　（easy to make but so cute♪）











 【Instructor】
Maeda Emi （JLL Japan Deco Sushi Association　Master Instructor）　Blog(in japanese)
She is also a mother of four daughters and lives in Yokohama.
※Her classes are usually in Japanese, but we will prepare recipes and instructions in English.

【Time Schedule】
10：30-11：00　Reception & Babysitter service starts,Kankankyo Introduction Video（5 min),self‐introduction
11：00-12：00　Making(rolling) sushi
12：00-12：30　Tasting time
12：30-12：45　Piking up children

【Target Persons】
Mothers/expecting mothers who would like to try making Decorative Sushi Rolls  and get together with other mothers/expecting  mothers regardless the nationality.

【Place】
 観環居（Kankankyo） Official website(in Japanese)
This place is an Experimental House of Smart Network Project by Sekisui House,LTD.
They kindly offer us their place for this event, and it's a modern Japanese style house standing among the high-rise buildings in Minatomirai.

 【Access】1min walk from the Minatomirai  Line  Shintakashima
Station Exit #3,
or 7min walk from Yokohama Station East Exit.
The place is catercorner of Nissan Global Headquarters Gallery.
Official website(in japanese)







【Charge】
1,000yen/each time
Materials, the recipe and insurance charges included.
Please pay in cash on the day.

【Babysitter service(NPO Hagutto)】
Free of charge
Reservation required: Please let us know your child’s name and age.

【Class size】
16 people at max /each time
Please note that if the number of applications exceeds the capacity, participants will be
selected through a drawing.

【Others】
Please let us know if you have food allergies or anything you can't eat.
(We are going to use sushi rice with vinegar and nori seaweed as basic ingredients for both workshops. Please let us know if you don't like them).

【Inquiries and application】
Please  e-mail us your name, residence area(City and Ward),phone number, email address and on which day you would liketo attend (you can also apply for both).
We will reply to you within three days for confirmation.
Feel free to ask any questions!

e-mail:   imcy.info【at】gmail.com  (Please change 【at】 to @)

Organizer ：International Mothers Community in Yokohama（IMCY）　
IMCY is a group of international mothers providing a place to share information related to child-care on the Facebook  and the blog in English.

This activity is supported by Nikomachi Subsidy.                                                                 

[IMCY Activity] 保育付き♪デコ巻き寿司Workshop & 交流会

国籍を問わず、子育て中のママたちの日々の生活がより楽しく快適に、困った時には助け合えるようにとＩＭＣＹの子育て中のママたちが企画したワークショップ＆交流会です。無料の保育付きなので、少し子どもと離れて自分の時間、ママたち同士の時間を楽しむことができます。

今回の内容は、外国につながるママにも日本のママにも人気のある『デコ巻き寿司』！
一緒に巻き巻きしながら、子育ての話はもちろん、食文化に対する違いを感じたりもできると思います。

★日程１★　2013年12月6日（金）10：30-12：30　　
※申込み締切は11月25日（月）　
クリスマスやお正月にぴったり♪　『スノーマン＆鏡餅』

★日程２★　2014年1月27日（月）10：30-12：30　　
※申込み締切は1月14日（月）
簡単だけどカワイイ♪　『子パンダ』











講師は前田恵美さん（JLL 日本デコずし協会認定　マイスターインストラクター　ブログはコチラ）です。先生もまた横浜に住む子育て中のママ（しかも4姉妹の！）です。ワークショップは日本語で進行します。（作り方などの当日の資料は日本語・英語で用意する予定です。）

★対象者★
国籍を問わず同じママ・プレママとして情報交換したり、デコ巻き寿司を体験してみたい方、是非ご参加ください！

★場所★
観環居（Kankankyo）
今回の開催場所として、大変ありがたいことに積水ハウスさんのスマート・ネットワークプロジェクト実証実験住宅をお借りできることになりました。日産本社のはす向かい、みなとみらいのビルの中にひっそりとたたずむ素敵な一軒家です。

【アクセス】　みなとみらい線「新高島駅」3番出口より徒歩1分又は、JR「横浜駅」そごう側出口より徒歩7分程度



★当日のスケジュール（予定）★
10：30-11：00　受付開始、保育預け、観環居さんのご紹介ビデオ（5分ほど）、自己紹介等
11：00-12：00　巻き巻きしながら交流
12：00-12：30　試食しながら交流
12：30-12：45　保育お迎え、終了

★料金★
1,000円/回　
（食材・材料費、レシピ代、保険料等を含みます。当日現金にて支払い下さい。）

★保育（特定非営利活動法人 はぐっと）★
無料　
保育に関するヒアリングシートや当日の持ち物等は別途ご案内させて頂きます。

★定員★
各回16名　（定員を超えた場合は各締切日に抽選となります。予めご了承ください。）

★お申込方法★
氏名(ふりがな)、お住まいの区、電話番号、メールアドレス、希望日（両日でも可）
保育希望の方は子どもの氏名（ふりがな）・年齢をメールでお送り下さい。
3日以内に折り返し確認の連絡（基本メールにて）をさせて頂きます。

宛先：imcy.info【at】gmail.com (【at】を＠に変更してください。)

★その他★
食べられないもの、アレルギー等のある方は教えてください。
（酢飯、のりは基本的にどの回にも使用しますが、苦手な方はお教えください。）

ＩＭＣＹは、日本語を話さず、情報を入手しにくいママ向けに英語での子育て情報をこのブログやFacebookで提供・共有している子育て中のママによる市民活動団体です。2013年の3月に発足して以来、ネット上での情報提供・情報交流に力をいれてきました。今後はさらに国籍を問わずママたち同士や地域がつながることができる場をワークショップやイベント等を通して創っていきたいと考えています。

※この活動は、「にこまち助成金」の交付を受けています

 

[EVENT] Yokohama Farming and Green Festival 3rd November 2013

Place: Yokohama City Environmental Activity Support Center, Yokohama Jido Yuenchi park, and Yokohama Municipal Children's Botanical Garden.
These facilities are next to each other (The botanical garden is in Minami-ku, but just across the road from the park.) There is also the Common Wealth War Cemetery Yokohama next to the Jido Yuenchi Park, which is nice place to visit.
*There is a parking for 50 cars, but as there will be a lot of visitors on that day, we are requested to come by public means of transportation.

Larger Map


Date and hours: 3rd November 2013, 10:00-14:00 (-15:00 at the botanical garden for children)
Schedule (in Japanese)

Canceled in case of storm.

<Yokohama Farming and Green Festival 2013> at Jido Yuenchi Park

Reaping experience of vegetables, craft workshops (wood, acorns, pressed flower etc.), food stands (yakisoba, pork soup, sausages etc.), fresh vegetable market, garbage/firefighter truck presentation etc.

<Yokohama Stockbreeding Festival 2013> at Yokohama City Environmental Activity Support Center

Food stands, sales of Yokohama pork and beef, eggs, ice-cream etc... everything from Yokohama.
Some photos from the official website (the link is below).

The milking experience machine.

There will be some cows.











Yokohama porc / beef.

Yakitori (Yokohama Chicken)

Source: Official site of Yokohama City (in Japanese)

<Thanks Giving of Fallen Leaves> at Yokohama Municipal Children's Botanical Garden

Herb tea, dried flower wreaths, fruits (kaki) etc... The original rose of Yokohama, Hamamirai will be sold.

Official site (in Japanese)

[EVENT] Yokohama Market Festival 2013 on 27th October

There will be the Yokohama Market Festival on Sunday, 27th October.
*IMCY will join Kandaiji Chiku Center Festival on the very same day, so please visit us, too!!

Yokohama Market Main Place Fish market is also open to public on 1st and 3rd Saturdays every month, 9:00-11:00 (the webpage in Japanese).

Yokohama Central Market Main Place (Kanagawa ward) 9:00-14:00　横浜中央卸売市場本場

Fresh Bazaar of vegetables, fruits and meat, trying and sales of vegetables, meat etc.. Taiko, dance and juggle performances.


Larger Map

Access: Yokohama Municipal Bus #48, to Cotton Harbor, get off at Chuo-Shijo Mae(about 10 min).
Bus schedule (revised July 2013)
15 min walk from Keikyu Line Kanagawa station, 20 min walk from Yokohama station, 25 min walk from Keikyu Nakakido station or JR Higashi-Kanagawa station.

Yokohama South Market (Kanazawa ward) 8:00-13:00　南部市場

Fresh Bazaar of vegetables, fruits, meat and flowers, sanma (fish of autumn) grill, tuna cut-out show, dance, taiko performances..


Larger Map

Access: Seaside Line Nanbu Shijo station (one stop from Shin-Sugita station)

Photos from last year:
http://www.city.yokohama.lg.jp/keizai/shogyo/orosi/topics/ichibamaturi2012kaisaikekka.html


Source: Official website of the city of Yokohama (in Japanese)

[PLAYGROUP] Yokohama Weekend English Club Halloween Party on 20th October, 2013

Sorry for the short notice.
Yokohama Weekend English Club (YWEC) will have a Halloween party on Sunday, 20th October, 2013. It will be their last monthly meeting since the regular members got too busy at the moment.

Date: 20th October (SUN) 10:00-12:00
Place: Near Kannai (please e-mail to IMCY)
Fee: The room charge (1500 yen) will be split by families. If you need materials for the craft, 50 to 100 yen will be added to it. It is usually less than 500 yen.

*Please bring candies for trick-or-treating, too. And feel free to come in costume, especially kids!

Agenda

Songs: This Is My Favorite Pumpkin



Hello My Friends (Let's go Trick-or-treating!)


 Craft: Let's make a bag for trick-or-treating!

This is a sample bag made of milk carton. 

There are some extra materials but there may not be enough milk cartons (in that case, you'll use a small paper shopping bag). So if you would like to make this type of bag, please bring a milk carton for yourself.

Stories: My First Halloween and Mr. Tickle and Scary Halloween

Free chat time for moms and dads.

[IMCY ACTIVITY] The IMCY Booth at Local Festivals

There are many festivals in autumn, and we will have a booth at two of the local festivals!!! We have to purposes: 1) to advertise our group and activities and 2) to get some money to do more activities.
Please come and visit our booth!

1) Kandaiji Chiku Center Festival, Sunday 27th October (11:00-15:00)

Our booth will be in the entrance hall (shared with another international organization) and we will sell handmade goods (hair accessories, wooden charm, otedama, and knits) and accessories from India.

The official notice in Japanese

Place: Kandaiji Chiku Center （神大寺地区センター）
7 min walk from Katakura-cho station, Yokohama Municipal Subway Blue Line

View in Larger Map

2) Hodogaya International Festival, Sunday 17th November (11:00-14:40)

Our booth will be on the 4th Floor. We are going to offer Hena hand paint and sell handmade goods and cookies.

The official flyer of the event (English)

Place: Iwama Shimin Plaza （岩間市民プラザ）
2 min walk from Tennocho station, Sotetsu Line (local train)


View in Larger Map

[GOVERNMENT] The Notice of the Child Allowance Payment

A sealed postcard from the city of Yokohama arrived. It was a notice of the Child Allowance payment. So if you receive this, the allowance will be transferred to your account soon (or already transferred).

① the sum of the allowance

② the adjustment amount

③ the amount of money to be paid this time

④ the scheduled date of transfer (of the allowance)

⑤ the year and month of payment (H25 means Heisei 25 = 2013)

⑥ the number of children

⑦ the amount of allowance

⑧ the category of allowance （児童手当 jido teate : child allowance / 特例手当 tokurei teate : special allowance)

⑨ For the recipient of the Child Allowance

You are requested to declare (to turn in the documents) in the following cases:

-when the number of children (to receive the allowance) increased, for example, a new baby was born

-when the recipient moves out of the city

-when the recipient becomes a civil servant

-when the recipient no longer take care of the children (to receive the allowance)

-when the number of children decreased, for example, the children move to a child care institution or foster parents', or when the children are gone.

-when there is a change in the account information or the name of the recipient

-when the recipient lives separately with the children in question, but continues taking care of them.  

[SHOP] WE Shop -A Reuse/Recycle Shop for Charity

Have you ever noticed an orange colored "WE Shop" in your neighborhood?

WE21 Japan is an NPO which consists of 36 local NPOs that manage WE Shops throughout Kanagawa (and some parts of Tokyo).

"It is our mission to end the globally recurring problems of fighting over natural resources,　environmental destructions, poverty, and promote focusing on the environment and human rights and increased local awareness. To connect those activities to the next generation, we promote local activities within local community." 

(a citation from WE21 Japan official website)

For more details about the organization and their activities, please visit their website:
WE21 Japan English page

WE Shops are one of their activities and they sell donated goods and use the profit to support women and children, mainly in Asian countries, become independent. They also support the Great East Japan Earthquake reconstruction, especially Fukushima (Fukushima Poka Poka Project by FoEJAPAN).
WE Shop List in English

How to Donate goods

*Goods to be accepted may be slightly different at each shop. Please contact and confirm them beforehand.

They accept:
Clothes in good condition and of on season. Please wash before bring in.
Under-wears, socks and pyjamas must be new or unused.

Tablewares, kitchenwares without scratch, crack, chip, nor stain. Pots must be new.
Shoes and bags in good condition.
New or unused towels and handkerchiefs.
Cloths and yarns.
Accessories, scarfs and toys (almost new).

New or unused stationaries.

They cannot accept:
Detergents, soaps, medicines, cosmetics, electric devices, strollers, baby seats, ski goods, golf goods, furniture, books, video tapes, CDs, DVDs, stuffed toys.

[Update]
Some of the WE Shops collect used vegetable oil.
http://www.we21japan.org/we21/2013/01/we15.html (in Japanese)
The collected oil will be turned into VDF (vegetable diesel fuel) etc.

How to donate
Pour used (or unused but expired) vegetable oil in a plastic bottle with a lid.
Visit your closest WE Shop (in the list below) and place the bottle(s) in the pail at the shop.

15 WE Shops Collecting Vegetable Oil
Izumi-Nakata, Izumi-Ryoke, Izumi-Ogimaru, Fujisawa, Shonandai, Kugenuma-Kaigan, Hodogaya-Hoshikawa, Hodogaya-Tennocho, Isogo, Tuzuki, Yamato, Samukawa, Tsurumi, Hiratsuka-Daikancho, Hiratsuka-Asahi

Report

I visited the WE Shop Hoshikawa the other day and talked with the manager of the shop. This shop is run by WE21 Japan Hodogaya (they also manage Tennocho shop). Hoshikawa shop collects and sells kimonos, which can be said to be their specialty.

"No Poverty Campaign" was going on when I visited there. 16th October is the "World Food Day" and 17th October is "International Day for the Eradication of Poverty" (both recognized by the United Nations). The shop supports an NGO ACE (Action against Child Exploitation, Japan) who work in India and Ghana. 

Girl's kimono accessories for Shichi-Go-San (7-5-3), the celebration for kids at the ages of three, five and seven. They are going to hold "Kimono Fair" on 21st and 22nd October, 2013.

Japanese tablewares. I bought some nice Japanese dishes the other day (¥10 and ¥100/piece). There are also western-design tablewares, too. 

Toys for kids. My child found some for himself, too. There are clothes for kids in the shop.

Kimono "remake" accessories. They also provide Kimono remake workshops every month.

(Sakiori method, 2nd Thursday, ¥300. Zori Japanese slipper with cloth, 3rd Wednesday, ¥500. Small accessories, 4th Wednesday ¥300. Each workshop is 13:00-16:00. Reservation needed: 045-334-5140 We Shop Hoshikawa) 

They hope that a lot of people get to know their activities and visit the WE Shops, especially young people. 

In the end, I would like to show my gratitude to the president of WE21 Japan and the manager of WE Shop Hoshikawa to have kindly accepted this interview.

【Event】Telescope Observation of the Waxing Moon

There will be an event which you can look at the waxing moon through a telescope at Minatomirai.Of course with kids! If you bring your digital camera, you can take photos of the moon.(In case of single-lens reflex camera,only Nikon)

Date: Saturday,12th October,2013 16:30-20:00
※You can come and go anytime during 16:30-20:00.
16:30-17:15 Lecture(in Japanese)...
17:15- Obsevation and taking photos
※maybe canceled due to bad weather
Charges：free
Place：観環居（Kankankyo）This is a showroom of Sekisui House,LTD.
MAP:http://www.sekisuihouse.co.jp/snpj-kankankyo/kankankyo04.html
The place is catercorner of Nissan Global Headquarters Gallery.
@How to get there@
The nearest station is '新高島 Shintakashima'
★From Minatomirai Rine Shintakashima Station 1min walk
★From Yokohama Station East Exit 10mins walk

[EVENT] Yokohama Station Festival 2013, 4-14 October

Yokohama Station Festival 2013（2013横浜えきまつり）started around Yokohama station!!
The 14th of October is the Day of the Train in Japan since the first passenger train started to run on that day in 1872 (from Shimbashi to Yokohama, but to be precise, both stations at that time situated in different places of the present time, the Yokohama station at that time was now called Sakuragicho station).
And the Yokohama Station Festival 2013 is from 4th October to 14th October.

Source:
Official Website of the festival in Japanese

There are various events and here are some pick-ups. All of them are free of charge (except for goods sales).

MUSIC EVENTS

Nishi-guchi (West Exit) Live
At Takashimaya
5th and 6th October 11:00-15:30, 13th October 11:00-14:00
1F  main entrance stage at Takashimaya Yokohama store
5&6th : a Vietnamien singer, Hien Thuc, a idol dance group from Laos, Over Dance and other performance of ASEAN countries
13th : Yokohama Firefighter Band, Yokohama F Marinos cheer leading team, Japanese drum performance etc.

At Joinus
5th and 12th October, 13:00-, 15:00-, 17:00
B2F square
Smile Song (a free live held every saturday, Station festival special version)

TRAIN EVENTS

YOKOHAMA Train Festival 2013
5 and 6th October
At Yokohama Shintoshi Hall (Sogo 9F) Plaza (in front of Sogo, B2F) 5th:9:45-17:00, 6th 10:00-17:00
Photo with the stationmaster (on 5th only), Panel Quiz Rally, Craft workshop etc.
At Porta Shopping Mall 9:45-16:00
Train goods and the local specialties will be sold.

Train Characters Gathering
5th October 11:00-16:00
At JR Yokohama Station Central Concourse

 

From left to right:
Keikyun from Keikyu Line
Norurun from Tokyu Line
Hama no Denchan from JR East Yokohama branch
Hamarin from Yokohama Municipal Transport
Hyo-chan from Kiyoken (nothing to do with trains though specialty of Yokohama)

Come on Kids! Get on a mini-train!!
14th October 11:00~13:00, 14:00~16:30
At 2F Terrace in Sogo Yokohama
Kids can get on a 6-car mini train running around the terrace
Canceled in case of heavy rain

Yokohama Station Festival Walking Day
14th October
Admission at Sakuragicho station Concourse, from 9:00 to 11:00
It will take about 4hours 30min (including the sightseeing time, walking time around 2hours, about 7km). You are supposed to arrive at the Goal (JR Yokohama Station Concourse) by 16:00.
Course: JR Sakuragicho, The First Railway Monument, Dockyard garden, Nihonmaru, Kisha michi street, Zou no hana park, Red Brick Warehouse, Rinko Park, Yokohama Museum of Art, Hara Model Train Museum, JR Yokohama Station.

[EVENT] HALLOWEEN EVENTS 2013

Yamate Halloween Walk 2013

(Stamp Rally in costumes, Free of charge)
Sunday, 27th October, 2013
10:00-16:00
http://www2.yamate-seiyoukan.org/event/event/2013harowin (in Japanese)

Place: 7 Western Houses in Yamate, Yamate 68, YITC, Iwasaki Museum, America yama Park, Marine Tower and Yokohama Doll House

Start place: anywhere above, but you must be in costume to get the stamp card
Goal: British House Yokohama, Bluff 18 and America yama Park

Prize: Effort Prize (9 stamps, first 2000 people)
Perfect Prize (13 stamps, first 100 people)

Open Cafe in front of Ehrisman Residence and Diplomat's House
Open Garden at Yamate 234, 10:00~ free tulip for first 100 people
Face Painting at Yamate 111, British House, Yamate 234, Berrick Hall, and Diplomat's House
10:00-15:00 100 yen, first 150 people

Kitchen Cars (food stands) at America yama Park
Costume and goods sales at 7 Western houses

Costume Contest at Italia yama Garden. Application from 13:30, first 50 groups, 14:00 the contest starts (grand-prix, the president's prize and unique prize)

(1-hour free parking at Yamashita Parking with 9 stamps)

Halloween decorations at 7 western houses from 19th October.

Kawasaki Halloween 2013

Date: 26-27th October, 2013
English Page
http://lacittadella.co.jp/halloween_english/#stacktitle1

Motomachi Halloween 2013

Date: Thursday, 31st October, 2013 (trick-or-treating from 16:00~)
Place: Motomachi Shopping Street
http://www.motomachi.or.jp/html/event/halloween2013.html (in Japanese)

Peko and Poko (Fujiya characters) will come in costume, too!
Kids in costume can enjoy trick-or-treating at shops.

Takarajima Halloween Rally 2013

Date: Sunday, 27th October, 2013
Target: Children under 12, in costume
Place: Minatomirai Area

*Official details has not been released online yet.

HAPPY HALLOWEEN in Minatomirai 21 Shintakashima 2013

Date: Saturday, 26th October, 2013
Place: Shintakashima

*Official details has not been released online yet.

[IMCY] IMCY Event Calendar Started

We added a page of "Calendar" on this blog.
Please click the "Calendar" tab to see the calendar. (or click here Calendar page)

Events are added whenever we find fun events in/around Yokohama. Please click each event to find more detail. We try to post an article in case if it is a big event or if it needs to be described in detail (programs etc...), but other events should be just added to the calendar. So please check it out time to time to find something interesting!

[LIVING TIPS] Tracking Your Parcel Through Japan Post

When you sent a parcel to your family or friend in outside Japan and it hasn't arrived even after a month  or vise versa. You can track your parcel through Japan Post.

[Check Online with a Track Number]

If you used have a track number, you can check it immediately on this page:
Serial Search by Item Number (Japan Post)

[An Inquiry to Track the Mail]

If the case of EMS and you can't get a result from the Serial Search above, you can turn in an inquiry to the post office where you sent the parcel within six months from a day after your sending.
Please read the notices concerning EMS Track & Trace Service.

Download EMS Inquiry file (with a sample) :
Word
PDF

And the cases of registered mail, mail with insurance or international parcel, you can turn in an inquiry to the post office where you sent them within six months (a year in case of South Africa). You can also ask for the search for mails sent to you from foreign countries (except South Africa). However, the receipt is required for the search of registered mail or mail with insurance from overseas.

Download International Mail Inquiry:
Excel
PDF

Please prepare an ID to prove that you are the sender/recipient.

*Please note that this article was written on 24th September, 2013. The forms may have been changed.