Announcements in the October 1st Issue

Kindergartens and Certified Childcare Centers are Accepting Applications for April of 2023

Kindergartens and certified childcare centers are accepting applications for children to enroll. (a “certified childcare center” or “kodomo-en” is facility that is a combination of a daycare center and kindergarten). There are applications for children aged 4-5 (born from April 2nd, 2017 to April 1st, 2019) and also for children who are 3 years old (born from April 2nd, 2019 to April 1st, 2020).

1）Applications for 4-5 Year Old Children
All children who apply will be able to enter a kindergarten or a certified childcare center.
You can receive the necessary documents to apply at your nearby kindergarten on certified childcare center. Please submit the documents from November 8th until November 11th.

2）Applications for 3-Year Old Children
This is divided into two groups, the “General” family and the “Working Household” family.

A）General
Anyone can apply for the “general” group. If there are too many applications, then the eligible children will be determined randomly by a lottery.
You can receive the necessary documents to apply at your nearby kindergarten on certified childcare center. Please submit the documents from November 8th until November 11th.

B）Working Household
Only families where the parents are working can apply for this group. If there are too many applications, then the eligible children will be chosen based on which households are in a difficult situation and most in need of childcare services.
Warning: You may only apply as either a “General” or “Working Household” family, not both.

You can receive the necessary documents to apply at the Akashi Child-Rearing Room, the Akashi Multi-Purpose Service Window, the Citizen’s Center, or the Akashi City Service Corner. Please submit the documents to the manager of the Akashi Child-Rearing Room from November 11th until November 25th, 2022.
If you have any questions, please ask the manager of the Akashi City Child-Rearing Room. Their phone number is 918-5093. Their fax number is 918-5650.

The “After-School Children’s Club” is Accepting Applications

The After-School Children’s Club is looking for children who want to join starting from April of 2023. The “After-School Children’s Club” is a place where elementary school children can go after school to spend time safely. It can also be used during the summer, winter, and spring vacation.

This club is for children whose parents or guardians are working or busy during the day and can’t be home when school is finished. However, the club is only available to families living in Akashi or who have children who go to school in Akashi. There is a fee to join the club, and the fee changes depending on the income level of the family who wants to join. The After-School Children’s Club is available at every elementary school in Akashi.

You can use the club from April 1st, 2023. However, it is closed on Sundays and public holidays. It is also closed from August 13th until August 15th, as well as from December 29th until January 3rd.

On weekdays, it is open from the time when classes end until 5:00 pm. On Saturdays and during vacation days (such as summer vacation), the club is open from 8:30 am until 5:00 pm. If you request it, it is possible for your child to stay at the club until 7:00 pm. However, on Saturdays the club is only open until 5:00 pm, with no exceptions.

Please apply to join the After-School Children’s Club between November 1st to November 25th, 2022. Please carefully read over the “application guidelines” for more information about the application. You can get the “application guidelines” or the application form for the After-School Children’s Club at the Akashi Multi-Purpose Service Window.

If you have any questions, please ask the “Foundation for Children, After-School Children’s Club.” Their phone number is 915-8170. Their fax number is 915-8175.

Notifications about the Coronavirus Vaccine

First are the notifications for those aged 12 years old and above.

・Vaccinations for Omicron have begun
Omicron is a new Coronavirus variant that first appeared last fall.
Anyone aged 12 years old and above and who has received their 1st and 2nd vaccinations is eligible for the vaccination. If you received your last vaccination 5 months ago or more, then you can receive the Omicron vaccine. Currently the Omicron vaccine is limited to people who have had the vaccine 5 months ago or more, but in the future the required time may be reduced.

・A ticket is required to get vaccinated
If you have a ticket for your 3rd or 4th vaccination, please use that ticket.
Akashi City will send tickets to those who have received their 2nd, 3rd, or 4th vaccination.
If you have lost your ticket, or you have just moved to Akashi, then please call and apply for a ticket.

・How to make a reservation
You cannot make a reservation if you don’t have a ticket. When you make your reservation, please be sure to confirm the date and location of your vaccination.

Next are the notifications for children aged 5 years old to 11 years old.

・The 3rd vaccination has started
Children aged 5 to 11 years old can receive a 1st and 2nd vaccination.
They can get the 2nd vaccination three weeks after they’ve received the 1st one.
For those children aged 5 to 11 years old who received their 2nd vaccination 5 months ago or more, they can now receive a 3rd vaccination.
A ticket is required to receive the vaccine. Please call to apply for the ticket. The phone number to apply for a ticket is 0120-712-160.
Please make a reservation directly at the hospital. Even if you contact Akashi City by phone or over the internet, they cannot make a reservation for you.

In order for children aged 5 to 11 years old to be vaccinated, they need permission from their parent or guardian. In addition, a parent or guardian must be present when they receive the vaccination.

This announcement document is prepared by
Specified Non-profit Corporation Multicultural Center Manmaru Akashi.
(We provide foreign residents with Japanese language study services and life support.)