Announcements in the  December 15th Issue

 Library Festa 2023

The Library Festa is a festival celebrating books.  As part of the festival, the picture book author Hasegawa Yoshifumi will be in attendance to read from his own picture books.  There will also be ukulele music and a Recycled Book Fair.

• The reading event will be held on Saturday, January 28^th, 2023 from 10:30 am until 12:15 pm.  The front desk will open to start accepting people at 10:00 am.
• It will be held at With Akashi, on the 8^th floor of the Aspia Akashi North Building.
• Anyone is free to join the event.  The reading event will be limited to about 50 people in total.
• Please apply by December 28^th using the QR code, a postcard, e-mail, or a fax.  Please write the name of the main person who will join, along with their postal code, address, and phone number.  If you would like to bring along other people, then please write their names as well.  You can bring up to 3 other people.  If anyone needs to use a wheelchair, please write that in your application.
• Please send applications and any questions to the Town of Books Promotion Division, “Picture Book Live Performance Section”.  Their address is “673-8686, Inside the Akashi City Hall”.  Their phone number is 078-918-5209.  Their fax number is 078-918-5155.  Their e-mail address is hon_event@city.akashi.lg.jp

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• On the same day, there will be a Recycled Book Fair.  This is an event where the library will be giving away for free any books or magazines that it no longer needs.  The giveaway will happen three times on Saturday January 28^th, 2023.
• From 1:00 pm until 1:45 pm
• From 2:00 pm until 2:45 pm
• From 3:00 pm until 3:45 pm

One person is able to take home up to 20 books.  Please bring your own bag.  Anyone is free to apply to join the event.  The limit on the number of people is expected to be 60 people for each of the three giveaways.  You may only participate in one of the three giveaways, and you cannot choose which time you want to join.

Please apply using a return postcard (a postcard with a paid reply card attached).  Be sure to apply so that your postcard arrives by December 27^th.  Please write your name, postal code, address, and phone number on the return postcard.  Only one person may apply for each return postcard.  Please send the postcard to “673-8567 Akashi City Ooakashi-cho 1-6-1 Akashi City Library  Recycle Book Fair Section”.

For both the picture book event and the Recycled Book Fair, if there are too many people who want to join, the people who can join will be decided by lottery.  The lottery results will be sent by mail in the middle of January.  For the picture book event, this notification will only be sent to those who will be able to participate.

Hospitals that are open at the end of 2022/beginning of 2023

During the holidays at the end of 2022 and beginning of 2023 (from December 30^th until January 3^rd), many hospitals and clinics will be closed.  However, the following hospitals will still be open.

• If you have a fever, please call the hospital before you go and consult with them.
• If you want to go to an ear, nose, and throat clinic, please consult the Night-time/Emergency Medical Clinic (their phone number is 078-937-8499, and their fax number is 078-937-8400).
• If you want to go to a surgical clinic, please contact the fire department (their phone number is 078-921-0119 and their fax number is 078-927-0119).
• The hospitals which will stay open during the holidays may change.  Please confirm this information at the Akashi Medical Association website.

*Notes on medical terms:

Internal medicine: For colds, stomach pains, and that kind of medical problems.

              Pediatrics:  For children’s medical problems.

              Dental:  For problems with your teeth and gums.

              Orthopedics:  For pain in the bones or muscles.

Ophthalmology:  For problems with your eyes.

• If your child is injured or sick, you can consult someone even at night.  The Children’s Emergency Medical Hotline is 078-937-4199.  They are available to call every day from 8:30 pm until 11:30 pm.
• For issues dealing with the Coronavirus, you can consult someone even during the holidays.  The phone number is 078-918-5439, and the fax number is 078-918-5441.  Consultation is available every day from 9:00 am until 6:00 pm.

 Be aware of the dates for garbage collection at the end of December and the beginning of January

The days for garbage collection will be different for the end of December and the beginning of January.  Be careful about special or changed collection days such as December 31^st (Saturday), January 4^th (Wednesday), and January 8^th (Sunday).  Below is a list of days to put out your garbage during the holiday season:

• For those who live in the Eastern District (東部地区) of Akashi in an area that has burnable garbage collection on each Monday and Thursday:

Burnable Garbage:  Will be collected on 12/29 (Thursday), 12/31 (Saturday), 1/5 (Thursday), and 1/9 (Monday).

Non-burnable Garbage: Will be collected on 12/21 (Wednesday) and 1/8 (Sunday).

Recyclables (Plastic bottles, empty cans, empty bottles, etc): Will be collected on 12/28 (Wednesday) and 1/11 (Wednesday)

• For those who live in the Eastern District (東部地区) of Akashi in an area that has burnable garbage collection on each Tuesday and Friday:

Burnable Garbage:  Will be collected on 12/27 (Tuesday), 12/30 (Friday), 1/4 (Wednesday), and 1/6 (Friday)

Non-burnable Garbage: Will be collected on 12/21 (Wednesday) and 1/8 (Sunday)

Recyclables (Plastic bottles, empty cans, empty bottles, etc): Will be collected on 12/28 (Wednesday) and 1/11 (Wednesday)

• For those who live in the Western District (西部地区) of Akashi in an area that has burnable garbage collection on each Monday and Thursday:

Burnable Garbage:  Will be collected on 12/29 (Thursday), 12/31 (Saturday), 1/5 (Thursday), and 1/9 (Monday).

Non-burnable Garbage: Will be collected on 12/28 (Wednesday) and 1/11 (Wednesday)

Recyclables (Plastic bottles, empty cans, empty bottles, etc): Will be collected on 12/21 (Wednesday) and 1/8 (Sunday)

• For those who live in the Western District (西部地区) of Akashi in an area that has burnable garbage collection on each Tuesday and Friday:

Burnable Garbage:  Will be collected on 12/27 (Tuesday), 12/30 (Friday), 1/4 (Wednesday), and 1/6 (Friday)

Non-burnable Garbage: Will be collected on 12/28 (Wednesday) and 1/11 (Wednesday)

Recyclables (Plastic bottles, empty cans, empty bottles, etc): Will be collected on 12/21 (Wednesday) and 1/8 (Sunday)

If you have any questions about this article, please call the Waste Collection Division.  Their phone number is 078-918-5780, and their fax number is 078-918-5181.

Notifications About the Coronavirus Vaccine

The last day that you can get the Coronavirus vaccine is on March 31^st, 2023.

1. The Omicron vaccine
2.  The following people are eligible to receive the Omicron vaccine:
3. Anyone who is 12 years old or older, received the 1^st and 2^nd vaccinations, and had their last vaccination over 3 months ago can receive the Omicron vaccination.

*You can only receive the Omicron vaccination one time.

•  Where to get vaccinated

You can receive the vaccination at 120 hospitals and clinics all over Akashi.  You can also receive it at the Akashi Book Mark Square or the Akashi Public Health Center.  Check this QR code to see where you can be vaccinated.

  (3) Ticket to receive vaccination

• Anyone who has a ticket to get their 3^rd, 4^th, or 5th vaccination, please use that ticket.
• If you have already received your 2^nd, 3^rd, and 4^th vaccinations and no longer have a ticket, Akashi City will send you another ticket.  It may take a little while, but please wait for your ticket to arrive.
• If you received the Omicron vaccination for your 3^rd, 4^th, or 5^th vaccine, then that is the end of the vaccinations.  So there will be no ticket sent to you.

1. For Those Who Are Over 12 Years Old and Haven’t Gotten Their 1^st or 2^nd Vaccinations

• You can get the vaccines at the Akashi Public Health Center on Sunday, January 15^th.
• Please call 0120-712-160 to make a reservation.

• Vaccinations for Infants and Children

• Children from 6 months to 11 years old are eligible to receive the vaccine.
• You must call 0120-712-160 and apply for a vaccination ticket first.
• Please call a hospital or clinic that gives Coronavirus vaccinations and make a reservation.  If you check this QR code, then you will be able to see which hospitals and clinics can give Coronavirus vaccinations:

• In order to be vaccinated, children need permission from their parent or guardian.  In addition, a parent or guardian must be present when they receive the vaccination.

1. For People Who Just Moved to Akashi

If you want to receive the Omicron vaccine, the please call 0120-712-160 and apply for a ticket.

• Akashi Coronavirus Vaccine Telephone Number

The number to call to reserve a Coronavirus vaccination in Akashi is 0120-227-710.  You can also make a reservation over the internet.

To apply for a vaccination ticket, please call 0120-712-160.  If you can’t talk over the phone, then you can send a fax instead.  Their fax number is 0120-655-695.

*The phone number is available every day from 9:00 am until 5:00 pm.  However, it will be closed from December 29^th until January 3^rd.