No. 194 July 1, 2013

http://www.city.urayasu.chiba.jp

PublishedbytheCityofUrayasu1-1-1Nekozane,Urayasu-shi,

Chiba279-8501047-351-1111

Population: 162,564

Male: 80,733

Female: 81,831

Households: 73,119

Foreign Residents: 3,123

(As of May 31, 2013)

Population and No. of Households in Urayasu

Café Terraceby the Sakaigawa River 2013

At Café Terrace by the Sakaigawa River 2013, the Sakaigawa River—which fl ows in the center of Urayasu City—will be likened to the Milky Way. Along with a café terrace located along the Sakaigawa River, there will be vendors from Urayasu hotels offering word-class top gourmet food and a yomeiri-bune (bride’s boat) event with an actual wedding couple in shiromuku (Japan’s traditional white wedding wear).

Date and Time: July 6 (Sat.) and 7 (Sun.), 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. (until 5 p.m. on July 6) Location: Urayasu City Hall area and Sakaigawa River area (from Akebonobashi Bridge to Egawabashi Bridge)Program:★Tanabata (Star Festival) decorationsIn celebration of the Tanabata Festival, visitors can write a wish on a strip of colorful paper and use the strip to decorate the bamboo branches located near the terrace along the Sakaigawa River.

★Yomeiri-bune (bride’s boat) eventDate and Time: July 6 (Sat.), from 12:30 p.m. and 1:30 p.m.; July 7 (Sun.), from 12:30 p.m., 1:30 p.m., and 2:30 p.m.

★Special stage performanceThere will be a performance of traditional Japanese drums on a special stage to celebrate the arrival of the yomeiri-bune.

★Floating stage performance and boat-riding experienceThere will be a net-throwing performance on a fl oating stage in the river and the opportunity to ride various boats.

★Gourmet and local productsUrayasu City hotels will offer popular local gourmet foods in the tents along the Sakaigawa River.

City Hall

Sakaigawa River

Egawabashi Bridge

Shinmeibashi Bridge

Shiokaze PedestrianOverpass

Akebonobashi Bridge

Sakaigawa East Water GateSakaigawa East Water Gate

Strengthening Community Ties for a Brighter Future

The 35th Fireworks Display� Date and Time: July 27 (Sat.), 7:30 to 8:30 p.m.

� Location: Hinode and Akemi areas (near Sogo Park)

� Number of Fireworks: Approximately 6,500

� Note: Please see Urayasu City’s website for more information.

� Inquiries: Urayasu Local Activities Promotion Council (inside the Local Network Section)

How to Get There: • A 15-minute walk from Shin-Urayasu Station on the Keiyo Line or a 20-minute walk from Urayasu Station on the Tozai Line

• Take a No. 6 or No. 7 bus and get off at the Shiyakusho-mae bus stop.• Take the Osampo Bus Iryo Center Line and get off at the Shiyakusho/Bunka Kaikan bus stop.

• Take the Osampo Bus Maihama Line and get off at the Shiyakusho/Kenko Center bus stop.

Note: Please see Urayasu City’s website for more information.

Inquiries: Commerce Industry and Tourism Section

Café Terrace map

urayasu1307.indd 1 13/06/21 10:01

Hello to all! Hideki Matsuzaki, Mayor of Urayasu

No. 194 July 1, 2013

●Recyclable Waste Disposal Schedule for July

Collection Area Bottles/Cans/PET plastic bottles

Newspapers/Magazines

Nekozane, Kitazakae, Todaijima Every Tue. Every Mon.

Horie, Higashino, Fujimi, Maihama Every Wed. Every Sat.

Kairaku, Mihama, Irifune, Hinode, Akemi Every Thu. Every Mon.

Tomioka, Imagawa, Benten, Tekkodori, Takasu, Minato, Chidori Every Fri. Every Sat.

*Pleaseputoutyourgarbagebetween7a.m.and8a.m.Itisagainsttherulestoputitoutearlierorlaterthanthisdesignatedtimeasitcouldbecomeanuisanceinyourneighborhood.

*Bulkyitemswillbecollectedseparatelyonrequestbyphone.CalltheBulkyItemsReceptionCenter, 305-4000. Forinquiries,contacttheGarbage-FreeSection.

(ext. 1665)

The Urayasu International Friendship Association (UIFA) provides a Japanese language program. It’s a once-a-week, 90-minute private lesson for beginners. Tuition for one term of six months (April to September or October to March) is ¥1,800 paid in advance at the time of application.

A new registrant who wants to start in the middle of the term should pay a monthly-calculated tuition (¥300 a month). Application forms are available at the Local Network Section on the fourth floor of the Urayasu City Hall. Current vacancies are shown below. Sign-ups are on a first-come, first-served basis.

For up-to-date information, please look at the UIFA homepage or contact the City Hall.

Classes and Vacancies (as of June 5, 2013)

Class Location Time Vacancy

Monday morning Urayasu International Center 10:00–11:30 a.m. 1

Wednesday afternoon Urayasu International Center 1:00–2:30 p.m. 1

Thursday morning Urayasu International Center 10:00–11:30 a.m. 5

Note: Urayasu International Center is located on the second floor of Shin-Urayasu Il Mare.

Invitation to Japanese Language Program

Summer-Evening Fireworks Display

This year will mark the 35th summer-evening fireworks display, an event that has become a summer tradition of Urayasu City.

The first fireworks display was held in 1979. At that time, Urayasu was not yet a city, but a town that was part of Higashi-Katsushika-gun. In March 1978, the population reached 40,000; in May of 1979, it reached 50,000; and in April of the following year, the popula-tion reached 60,000. With the popula-tion increasing by ten thousand with each year, Urayasu experienced the most rapid growth across Japan during this period.

As a result, Urayasu had the number 1 growth rate in Japan for seven consec-utive years starting in 1978. This was the start of the development of Urayasu as a residential suburban area with con-venient transportation and smooth ac-cess to Tokyo.

Most of the residents of the reclaimed areas of Nakamachi and Shinmachi did not know each other at first. At that time, the top priority of the city administration was to nurture a sense of community among the residents. For this reason, Urayasu City has continued to conduct various programs that are unheard of in other municipalities. For example, the city government has been engaged in the acquisition of the land, handling of construction costs, and even maintenance fees (including utility ex-penses) for meeting places of resident associations and senior citizen clubs. In addition, the city constructed at least one large community center per junior high school area, with the purpose of creating places that serve as centers for local communities.

The fireworks display was started by the Urayasu Local Activities Promotion Council, which was formed as an alli-ance of many local groups, as part of the “Hometown Urayasu” project for ensuring that as many residents as pos-

sible would have a sense that Urayasu is their hometown.

Each year, elaborate plans are made to delight the large audience, and the fireworks are launched by Kagiya, a pyrotechnician guild that was started in the Edo era. Although the fireworks were first launched in the Irifune area (today’s Hinode and Akemi areas) and then in the Takasu area, with the expan-sion of residential areas, the launching site was moved to the Hinode area. Finally the viewing location that was used until last year was developed as a residential area and sold out in lots, so it has become impossible to launch fire-works from the land.

For the past four or five years, we have been saying, “this year may be the last,” like the boy who cried wolf. However, inspired by the words of en-couragement we received from many city residents, we considered various options and came to the conclusion that this year we would try to launch the fireworks from the ocean for the first time.

Final approval was received at the general meeting of the Urayasu Local Activities Promotion Council, which was held on May 14, and it was decided that the fireworks would be launched from two floating launching pads on Tokyo Bay, 350 meters offshore from the end of Yanagi-dori Street and Sym-bol Road.

The fireworks display has been scheduled to be held on the same day as the Sumida River Fireworks on purpose in order to ease congestion. The fire-works will be held once again this year on Saturday, July 27. Please enjoy the seaside fireworks of the mid-summer night’s festival. These fireworks will be launched by Ms. Akiko Amano, a 15th-generation pyrotechnician of Souke Kagiya, and will represent our hopes for a speedy recovery for Urayasu.

■ Municipal Swimming Pools Open▶Higashino Pool

Higashino Pool will open on July 13 (Sat.). The pool has a two-hour use system.

In public pools, the use of inner tubes is permitted, but all other toys, glass goggles, suntan oil, alcoholic beverages, and food are not allowed. Children who are not toilet-trained are not allowed to use the pool.

Because the parking lot is expected to be crowded, please come to the pool using public transportation, such as buses.Date and Time: July 13 (Sat.) to September 8 (Sun.), 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. (admission until 4 p.m.; up to two hours per person per session)Fees: ¥150 for adults, ¥50 for junior high school students and younger childrenNote: Chi ldren in the third grade of elementar y school or younger must be accompanied by an adult (16 years of age or older).Inquiries: Higashino Pool (Tel: 352-6891; inquiries are handled only during the season in which the pool is open)

▶Outdoor PoolAt the Indoor Swimming Pool, the outdoor

pool can also be used during summer.Date and Time: Until September 15 (Sun.), 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Fees: ¥510 for adults, ¥260 for junior high school students and younger children (for two-hours of use during the abovementioned dates; for each additional 30 minutes, ¥120 for adults, ¥60 for junior high school students and younger children)Note: Ch i ldren in the 3rd gr ade of elementary school and younger children must be accompanied by an adult (18 years of age or older). Up to two children can be accompanied by one adult.Inquiries: Indoor Swimming Pool (Tel: 304-0030)

Starting from July 8 (Mon.), foreign residents will become part of the Basic Resident Registration Network System (Juki Net). Accordingly, foreign resi-dents will be able to receive a basic resident registration card at the municipal-ity of their registered residence, and they can also use the public certification service for individuals (electronic certificate).

After people are incorporated into the Juki Net, they will be notified of their residence record code. Please note that on July 7 (Sun.), moving notifications for foreign residents and households with foreign resident members will not be accepted, because system adjustments will be made in preparation for the in-corporation of foreign residents into Juki Net.

Please see the Urayasu City website for more information.

Inquiries: Civic Affairs Section

■ Change in the Opening Hours of Sports Facilities

During summer, the opening hours for the following facilities will change.●Sports Park Opening Hours: Saturdays, Sundays, and national holidays from July 1 through August 31, from 5 a.m.Applicable Facilities: Baseball grounds, soccer field, sports court, and tennis courtsNote: The tennis courts are open from 7 a.m., Monday through Friday.●Sports Park Gymnasium and Indoor Swimming PoolOpening Hours: July 20 (Sat.) through August 31 (Sat.), from 8 a.m. Applicable Facilities: Training room and indoor swimming poolInquiries: Sports Section

■ International Center Exhibition: HawaiiDate and Time: July 4 (Thu.) through 26 (Fri.) Location: International Center (inside Shin-Urayasu Il Mare)Program: Ethnic costumes and folk crafts of Hawaii will be on exhibit.Inquiries: International Center, Tel: 306-5181(Local Network Section)

■ Seeking a Thousand Cranes to Be Donated

Urayasu City issued a peace city antinuclear proclamation in March 1985 and is currently working on var ious antinuclear peace programs. One such program being carried out again this year is the solicitation of origami cranes, which will be donated to Hiroshima and Nagasaki.How to Submit Your Donation: Bring a string of 50 origami cranes directly to the Local Network Section (Urayasu City Hall Main Bldg. 4F) by July 31 (Wed.).Note: Name tags are not necessary. All donations will be marked “Donated by Urayasu City.”Inquiries: Local Network Section

Use of Juki Net by Foreign Residents

urayasu1307.indd 2 13/06/21 10:01