The Akashi Newsletter (Koho Akashi) is a newsletter published by Akashi City. It releases on the 1st and the 15th of each month. There are many announcements in each issue of the Akashi Newsletter. We have selected five of the most important or useful announcements and translated them into English.
Announcements in the July 15th Issue
From 2027, Akashi City Garbage Collection Rules Will Change
Starting from March of 2027, you will have to use special garbage bags when you dispose of burnable garbage in Akashi.
These bags are called “Akashi City Designated Garbage Bags” (明石市 指定ごみ袋, Akashi-shi shitei gomibukuro).
- “Akashi City Designated Garbage Bags” are only for burnable garbage.
Any non-burnable garbage, items to be recycled, etc., can not be put into the same bag. They must be disposed of separately.
- Akashi City is currently deciding on the design and details of the garbage bags, so it has not been finalized yet.
- The price of the designated garbage bags should be about the same as the garbage bags that you buy now at the supermarket and other stores.
- “Why did Akashi decide to start using these garbage bags?”
Akashi City decided to start using them to make people more aware of garbage disposal rules.
- There will be illustrations showing what trash needs to be thrown away in the designated garbage bags, so people will have a better understanding of the garbage disposal rules.
- Akashi City believes that if people are more conscious of what they throw away, that will lead to a reduction of garbage across the city.
“When will the ‘designated garbage bags’ system start?”
From September of 2026 until February of 2027, there will be six months of “preparation” time where people can get used to using the new garbage bags. During this time, you can still use the old style of garbage bags instead of the new designated bags.
From March of 2027, you must use the new designated garbage bags.
In other cities that use designated garbage bags, the cost of the bags also includes the cost of garbage collection, burning, etc. However, the price for the Akashi City Designated Garbage Bags will be the price for the bags alone, without any additional cost.
If you have any questions about this article, please contact the Environmental Resources Division. Their phone number is 078-918-5794. Their fax number is 078-918-5793.
You Can Take a Test That is the Equivalent of Passing Junior High School
In Japan, you are unable to go to high school unless you graduate from junior high school. But some people are unable to go to junior high school for various different reasons. To help those people, Japan has a test known as an “Examination for Granting an Equivalency Certificate of Lower Secondary School Graduation.” In Japanese, it’s called 中学校卒業程度認定試験 (chuugakkou sotsugyou teido ninteishiken). If you pass this test, then it is the same as if you had graduated from junior high school. This means you can go to high school.
For more details, please check the QR code on the right.
Test Date: Thursday, October 16th.
How to Apply: Please send the documents you need to apply for the test by Friday, August 29th. Send them to the address below by simplified registered mail (簡易書留, kani kakitome):
“Ministry of Education (MEXT) Lifelong Learning Promotion Division”
Address: 〒100-8959 Tokyo, Chiyoda-ku, Kasumigaseki 3-2-2
As for the documents you need to make the application, you can get them from the following place:
“Hyogo Prefectural Board of Education, Compulsory Education Division”
Address: 〒658-0081 Kobe, Higashinada-ku, Tanaka-cho, 5-3-23
Phone number: 078-362-3771
If you have any questions about this article, please contact the School Education Division. Their phone number is 078-918-5055. Their fax number is 078-918-5111.
