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Fireworks are a seasonal feature of summer, and the history of fireworks in Japan dates back more than 400 years. There is a record that in 1589, the 17th year of the Tensho era, the Sengoku warlord Date Masamune watched fireworks at Yonezawa Castle.

There is also a record that Tokugawa Ieyasu watched fireworks during the Edo period, and it is said that the origin of fireworks is the Suijin Festival held on the Sumida River in 1733, the 18th year of the Kyoho era, to commemorate the many people who died from famine and epidemics at that time and to ward off evil diseases.

Fireworks became established in the culture of Edo townspeople as a way to cool off in the evenings while enjoying the summer night breeze, and are still loved by many people today.

You can search for information on fireworks festivals across the country using search terms such as "fireworks festival 2024," so please enjoy it.

As the rainy season turns to summer, it is now the season when we start to worry about natural disasters such as heavy rains and typhoons. It is very important to get the right information when a disaster occurs, so we would like to introduce a multilingual site that can also be found on the Kawasaki City homepage.

■ Kawasaki City "Disaster Prevention Portal Site"
This is a disaster prevention and disaster information for Kawasaki City and the surrounding area. It also links to the web version of "Prepare Kawasaki".
https://portal.kikikanri.city.kawasaki.jp/

In Japan, where natural disasters are common, the old saying "Be prepared and you will have no worries" has been passed down, conveying the importance of being prepared. It is a good idea to check disaster prevention information regularly.

Japan has a rainy season between spring and summer. It is called "Tsuyu" and gradually moves north from the south across the long Japanese archipelago. Although the period differs slightly depending on the region, it lasts for about a month from June to July in the Kanto region.

At this time of year, blue, purple, pink, and white hydrangeas, wet with the rain, add color to the rainy sky scenery. Enjoy this moment before midsummer.

The Center will hold a public housing application seminar on Saturday, June 15th.
We will provide individual support on choosing an area or apartment convenient for school or work, how to fill out an application form, etc.

Date: Saturday, June 15th, 2024 10:00-12:00
Venue: Reception Room, 1st floor of Kawasaki International Center
Items required for application: Proof of income for 2023 (tax withholding slip or tax return, etc.)
Capacity: 20 people (those who live in Kawasaki City or have worked in Kawasaki City for more than one year)
Application: Please make a reservation by phone, email, or in person by Thursday, June 13th.
*If you need an interpreter, please let us know immediately.

Inquiries: Kawasaki International Center
Telephone: 044-435-7000
Email: soudan39@kian.or.jp

we are going to have an information session. We will provide individual support on choosing a region and residence convenient for school or work, and on how to fill out the application form.
Time: Saturday, June 15th, 10am to noon
Venue: Kawasaki International Center 1st floor Reception Room
What to bring: Proof of 2023 income(e.g. certificate of income and withholding tax or taxation certificate)
Capacity:20 people (residents of Kawasaki City or who have been working there for over a year)
Application: by phone, email, or in person, no later than Thursday, June 13th
＊If you need an interpreter, please let us know early

Kawasaki International Center
Tel: 044-455-8811
E-mail: soudan39@kian.or.jp

Various courses for the new academic year have begun at Kawasaki International Center.
You can start the Japanese language course even in the middle of the term, so if you are
interested, please don't hesitate to contact us. For more information, please click on the link:
https://www.kian.or.jp/kic/004.shtml

The Japanese name for May is Satsuki, and the name of the flower "Satsuki Azalea" that
blooms at this time of year is named after the Japanese name for May.
https://www.hana300.com/satuki.html

Please enjoy the colorful flowers of the Satsuki month in the pleasant weather.

From the end of April to the beginning of May, there is a consecutive holiday period called "Golden Week" in Japan. Today, let's talk a little about the holiday on May 5th, which is known as "Tango no sekku" （Children's Day）

May 5th is traditionally called 'Tango no sekku,' and is also currently called 'Children's Day.' On this day, we celebrate boys' health and growth; while the Girls' Festival is known as Hina-matsuri (literally Doll's Festival) on March 3rd.

Tango no sekku originally started in the Nara period （710-794） at the Imperial Court of Japan, on the day of Tango, which was May 5th of Japan's old lunar calendar and marked the change of seasons, as a habit of taking a Shôbu-yu (bath in which bundles of Japanese iris are floating) and drinking Shôbu-sake (liquor in which an iris leaf is soaked), because it was believed that iris was good for health and had apotropaic effects.

Later, with the rise of the samurai (warrior) class, Tango no sekku came to be celebrated because the Japanese name of iris (Shôbu) is a homophone of their martial (Shôbu) ethos.

Eventually this event became prevalent in townsman society in the middle of the Edo period (1603-1868) as a celebration of the birth and growth of boys, and the custom of displaying a "kabuto" (helmet), which is also a symbol of samurai, has been passed down to modern times.

The cherry blossoms are blooming late this year and they are finally in full bloom in the Tokyo area.
Spring brings a renewed sense of freshness, perhaps because many schools and workplaces are starting a new semester or a new fiscal year.

At Kawasaki International Center, courses for the new fiscal year will begin in April.
The "Japanese language course for foreigners" will begin on April 9th for the daytime session and the evening session on the 10th. You can join after the first day, so please contact us if you are interested.

For more information, please visit this website link:https://www.kian.or.jp/kic/004.shtml

At last we have reached the long-awaited season of cherry blossoms. It is expected that the cherry blossoms will be in full bloom around the end of March and the beginning of April in Kawasaki and its vicinity.
On this occasion, we would like to introduce two spots where you can enjoy viewing cherry blossoms.

Nikaryo Yosui(approximately a 2-minue walk from Shukugawara Station, JR Nambu Line in Tama Ward)
This is a historical irrigation canal built in the early seventeenth century of the Edo period. It is still used for irrigation or environmental water. Along the canal there is a 2-kilometer-long row of about 400 cherry blossom trees.

Asaogawa(approximately a 3-minute walk from Kakio Station, Odakyu Line in Asao Ward)
A row of about 250 cherry blossom trees creates a pink tunnel along the river.

I cannot wait beautiful cherry blossoms in spring, can you?

We offer free counseling with an administrative scrivener once a month here in Kawasaki International Center on the following matters: Visa issues, Extending the period of stay, Changing the status of residence, Naturalization, Permanent visa, Long-term resident visa, Certificate of eligibility, Naturalization, International marriage/divorce, Nationality of a child, Establishing a company/branch of a foreign company, Employment of foreign nationals, etc. Please feel free to contact us.

Furthermore, the counseling services are offered in Japanese only. Please bring someone who speaks Japanese in case you don't. If you need an interpreter that requires a fee, contact the Kawasaki International Association two weeks before your reservation date.

Date: 3rd Sunday from 2:00 P.M. to 4:00 P.M.
Place: Kawasaki International Center / Please ask the receptionist on the first floor where to go.
Inquiry:
Kawasaki International Center Tel: 044-435-7000
Watanabe Law Firm Tel: 044-750-0764

`Hinamatsuri', 'the Grils' festival' is celebrated on March 3rd in Japan. It is also called 'Momo no Sekku', which means 'Peach Blossom Festival.' Originating in the latter half of the 8th century during the Heian period, it is an occasion to pray for young girls' growth and happiness. Since ancient times, Peach Blossoms have been believed to ward off evil spirits.
Most families with girls display Hina dolls dressed in Heian period court costumes, peach blossoms, sweet rice crackers (Hina arare) and diamond-shaped rice cakes (Hishimochi). We celebrate the day by drinking sweet white liqueur (Shiro-zake) and eating mixed sushi with colorful ingredients (Chirashi-zushi).
Please enjoy the Hina Matsuri, which heralds the arrival of spring.

The Kawasaki International Center will be holding a disaster drill to prepare for an earthquake or fire.

Date and Time: Thursday, February 29, 2024, 10:15 am - 11:50 am (participants admitted from 10:00 am)

Content:
・Emergency report experience (tsuho kunren)
・AED experience (AED taiken)
・Fire extinguisher experience (mizu shoukaki taiken)
・Earthquake simulation truck experience (kishinsha taiken)
・Smoke experience (kemuri taiken)
・Prepare meals outdoors (taki dashi)
・Display of emergency kit/supplies

Detailed information on our website: https://www.kian.or.jp/topics/bousai2402.shtml

No reservations are required, just come to the reception on the first floor of the Kawasaki International Center.
As we will speak in easy Japanese, feel free to join even if you have difficulty understanding Japanese!
We will prepare onigiri (rice balls) and hot misoshiru (miso soup).
The first 50 people can receive a survival kit, so, please come and join us.

There is a traditional Japanese calendar called Koyomi, in which days of seasonal changes such as twenty-four sekki are indicated.　　February 4th is known as Risshun and considered to be the first day of spring according to the koyomi calendar.　　The previous day, February 3rd is called Setsubun, whose literary meaning is 'seasonal division' (between winter and spring). 　On the day of Setsubun, there is a traditional custom of mame-maki (bean scattering). It is a ritual to purify the home by driving away oni (evil spirits) that bring misfortune and bad health with them.

New Year started with the tragic occurrences: the Noto Peninsula Earthquake Disaster and the collision accident involving two aircrafts at Haneda airport. However, we hope to drive all the evil spirits away and to bring much good luck in by throwing beans during Setsubun.

The Japanese Red Cross Society is soliciting donations for the 'Reiwa 6 Noto Peninsula Earthquake Disaster Relief Fund.'

https://www.jrc.or.jp/contribute/help/20240104/

Kawasaki City Branch of Japanese Red Cross is also accepting donations for the 'Reiwa 6 Noto Peninsula Earthquake Disaster Relief Fund'.
https://www.city.kawasaki.jp/350/page/0000157376.html

Reminder：
On Saturday, January 27th, at 13:30, We will hold 'Information session for enrolling a foreign child in elementary school'
For application, call: 044-435-7000, email: soudan39@kian.or.jp, Free of charge

The Kawasaki International Center will hold an elementary school admission guidance for parents and children related to foreign countries, which has been well-received every year.

We will answer your concerns and questions about entering elementary school, such as "What is an elementary school like?" "I don't speak Japanese and have difficulty understanding the school information session..." etc.

A former elementary school principal will explain school life through an animated video and a multilingual guidebook.

We will also explain what to prepare before enrollment and have a Q&A session with experienced foreign guardians. For more details, please check our website or flyers.
https://www.kian.or.jp/evenko23/event/admission-guidance.shtml

Date: Saturday, January 27, 2024 / 13:30～16:00
Place: Kawasaki International Center, Hall
Participation Fee: Free (Interpreters and childcare available, reservation required)
Reservation & Inquiry:
Tel 044-435-7000, visit the Center, e-mail soudan39@kian.or.jp

We're looking forward to your application!