Minato MonthlyPublished by Minato City Hall

Minato Monthly is delivered with The Japan Times/International New York Times on the fi rst of each month. It is also available at municipal facilities, post offi ces and subway stations (Akabanebashi, Akasaka, Akasaka-mitsuke, Aoyama-itchome, Azabu-juban, Daimon, Gaien-mae, Hiroo, Kamiyacho, Mita, Nogizaka, Omotesando, Roppongi, Shimbashi, Shiodome, Shirokanedai, and Shirokane-Takanawa) in Minato City.

Published monthly by: Minato City Hall TokyoTel: 03-3578-2111Edited by: Public Relations Subsection,

Offi ce of the Mayor, Minato City Hall1-5-25, Shibakoen, Minato-ku, Tokyo 105-8511

Tel: 03-3578-2992, Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Fax: 03-3578-2034E-mail: kuminkoho@city.minato.tokyo.jpURL: http://www.city.minato.tokyo.jp/Monthly circulation: 11,000 copies

The articles appearing in the Minato Monthly are also found on Minato City Web:

Minato CallCITY INFORMATION SERVICE

03-5472-3710E-mail: info@minato.call-center.jp Fax: 03-5777-8752

January, 2016 No. 347

A Happy New Year

As the Mayor of Minato City, I would like to wish everyone a Happy New Year.

Last year, Dr. Satoshi Omura, the Distinguished Emeritus Professor at Kitasato University won the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine and Japan’s rugby squad showed us the excellent performance at the Rugby World Cup 2015 in England. Both Kitasato University and the Japan Rugby Football Union have cooperative agreements with Minato City, and I would like to offer my congratulations for these outstanding achievements.

The population of Minato City is growing across all generations, in particu-lar the number of children. The average birth rate per woman in the city is 1.39, which is the highest number of all Tokyo’s 23 cities. It is a wonderful thing to have our city fi lled with the voices of children. Minato City will make efforts to support the child-rearing project complete as becoming a role model across the country which has been worked for the issue of long waiting lists for nursery schools with a pioneer spirit.

While Japan continues to become the long-lived society, Minato City is working closely with local organizations and experts in the areas of medicine, long-term care, health, and welfare to build an appropriate and comprehen-sive community care system for the city so that senior citizens can live in peace in the familiar community and enjoy an active life.

The Act on Promotion of Elimination on Discrimination by Occasion of Disabilities will come into force on April 1. Minato City is striving to elimi-nate discrimination based on disabilities, aiming to realize a community in

New Year’s Greetings from the Mayor

which all individuals are equally respected, regardless of any disability. Minato City was established on March 15, 1947 by unifying former Shiba,

Azabu, and Akasaka districts. In March 2017, the city will celebrate its 70th Anniversary. Minato City is planning a number of commemorative events to celebrate this anniversary with residents from this April.

The national government is promoting the policy of “regionally revitalized” to keep up “vibrant Japan’s society.” Minato City has deepened exchanges with local shopping street associations and organizations of sightseeing, commerce, and industry and then made arrangements with local governments around the country, for example, using of thinned wood resources. Working to strengthen exchanges and cooperation while leveraging attractive local resources that will benefi t Minato City and other localities around the country and bring about growth and development on both sides, while enriching the lives of Minato City residents.

It has been 10 years since the April 2006 reforms to the city hall and regional city offi ces, which were enacted with the aim of realizing a city government that is “trusted, familiar, and the pride of its residents.” I will implement the new Basic Plan steadily based on the solid, trusting relationship with the local residents and community that has been built up through the city hall and regional city offi ces reforms, participation, and collaboration. In addition, I will address the achievement of the concept of “All Residents are Proud of Our Mature Cosmopolitan City,” where diverse people and cultures co-exist together with the united efforts of residents.

I heartily wish all city residents a bright and joyful New Year.

Masaaki Takei Mayor of Minato City

Kids and staff of shibaura Nursery School and Mayor Takei

2 Minato Monthly January 1, 2016

Minato City is widely known for its many tourist spots. Here, tour-volunteers in Minato City highlight a few of them. Some of the pictures provide access to video footage if you pass your smart-phone over them. There is also a quiz which you have a chance to win a bookstore gift card.

Visit Tourist Spots in Minato City

It is a precious woody space where people enjoy various flowers and observe insects and other creatures for all seasons. It is also famous for its cherry trees.

Institute of Nature Study, National Museum of Nature and Science

The Rainbow Promenade is a scenic 1.7km walk-ing path. The walking path provides commanding views of Tokyo Bay as well as spectacular night-scapes.

Rainbow Bridge

The statue was placed at Odaiba in the commem-oration of "the French Year in Japan" during 1998 to 1999. Once the statue was returned to France, some organizations applied for a permit to place a replica to Paris. Today’s Statue of Liberty was brought from Paris in 2000.

Statue of Liberty

Zempuku-ji is the second oldest temple in Tokyo. The temple is also home to a big ginkgo, called Sakasa-icho that is 750 years old and designated as a Natu-ral Monument by the na-tional government.

Zempuku-ji

The Antarctic Expe-dition Monument is found in Futo Park because Japan’s first expedition to the Antarct ic lef t from Shibaura Pier in 1910.

Futo Park

1-6-21 Moto-azabu5-21-5 Shirokanedai

*Fee

2-11-1 Takanawa

1-4-1 Daiba

AzabuareaTakanawa

area

Takanawaarea

Daibaarea

Sengaku-ji was built in 1612. Every year in April and December the temple also hosts the 47 Ronin Festival.

Sengaku-ji

Aoyama Cemetery

Aoyama Cemetery was the first public cemetery in Japan. The cemetery’s walking path is cov-ered in beautiful cherry blos-soms during the spring.

They are official tour guides of Minato City and have completed a training course for tour guides by Minato City in order to share the city’s many tourist spots.

View from World Trade Center Building

Minato City

Tour-volunteers

東京ARTokyo AR

1

2 Minami-aoyama

3-14-34 Kaigan

Aoyamaarea

Shibaura-konanarea

Shibaura-konanarea

Download the Tokyo AR

app from the App Store or Google Play.

*The app may not start up for transmission situation, certain OS versions, or other reasons.

Visit Tourist Spots in Minato City

東京ARTokyo ARRediscover Minato City

Minato Monthly January 1, 2016 3

Prince Chichibu Memorial Stadium

Akasaka Palace was constructed in 1909 as the Togu Palace which is a residence for the prince family. Since 1974, it has been used as a state guest house. It was designated as a National Treasure in 2009.

State Guest House,Akasaka Palace

The graves of six of the 15 Tokugawa Shoguns are main-tained here. One gate is one of the oldest wooden structures in Tokyo and is designated as an Important Cultural Property.

Zojo-ji 4-7-35 Shibakoen *Fee for certain parts

Shibaarea

This park offers verdant na-ture, a waterfall and tranquil stream, as well as unique fac-es for each season.

In 1899 a British professor of Keio University established the first rugby team in Japan. They played rugby at the Minami-azabu area. The Rugby Top League 2015- 2016 is held here until January 24.

Arisuganomiya Memorial Park

5-7-29Minami-azabu

2-8-35 Kita-aoyama

2-1-1 Moto-akasaka

Azabuarea

Aoyamaarea

Akasakaarea

Tokyo Tower was built in 1958. At the time it was the highest free-stand-ing telecommunica-tions tower in the world, passing the Eiffel Tower. In 2013, it was registered as a Tangible Cultural Property.

Tokyo Tower4-2-8 Shibakoen *Fee

Shibaarea

oyama Cemetery

Q u i z

Ｑ1

2

Which was the world highest free-stand-

ing telecommunications tower when Tokyo Tower was built?

Where is the Antarctic

Expedition Monu-ment located?

What is the Gingko tree

at Zempuku-ji called?

1. Tokyo Tower2. Tokyo Sky Tree3. Nishi-tokyo Sky Tower

1. At the foot of the Statue of Liberty

2. Futo Park3. Aoyama Cemetery

1. Zempuku icho 2. Oh-icho 3. Sakasa-icho

Ｑ2 Ｑ3

52

How to enter the quiz50 winners selected from entries with correct answers in the random drawing will receive a small gift. Fill out the postcard as shown on the picture right.*The collected personal information will be used exclusively for mailing the prize.*You can also answer from the website.

Deadline: January 15

Search Minato Monthly

Open the Tokyo AR app. Hold up the smart phone to any image with an logo and bring it into focus. Touch the screen to start the video related to the photo.

Minato Monthly

New Year's Quiz

Office of Mayor

Minato City Hall

Front side

105-8511

Back side

1) Your zip code, address, and name

2) AnswersQ1.Q2.Q3.

3) Your comment about Minato Monthly

©JRFU

4 Minato Monthly January 1, 2016

JanuaryFS: Film Screening, D: DVD, ST: Storytelling, BS: Book-start

Date Day Time Program Place/capacity

5 Tue. 1:30 to 2:30 p.m. BS Minato

5 Tue. 2:40 to 3 p.m. ST D.A.

6 Wed. *2 to 3:50 p.m. FS: Jumanji T.A./50

9 Sat. 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. BS Takanawa

9 Sat. 11 to 11:20 a.m. ST Minato

9 Sat. 11 to 11:30 a.m. ST: Jump Rope Mita

9 Sat. 2 to 2:30 p.m. ST Takanawa

9 Sat. *2 to 3:55 p.m. FS: Happy Go Lovely Konan/45

9 Sat. 3 to 3:30 p.m. Kids' comic storytelling Minato

10 Sun. *2 to 2:30 p.m. FS: Harry, the Dirty Dog Azabu/30

10 Sun. 2 to 3:30 p.m. Picture card game Takanawa

10 Sun. *2 to 3:45 p.m. FS: Tenamonya Tokaido Minato/90

10 Sun. 2:40 to 3:40 p.m. Picture card game Azabu/20

11 Mon. 2 to 3 p.m. BS Azabu

11 Mon. *2 to 3:25 p.m. FS: Keaton's Speak Easily Takanawa/40

13 Wed. 2:30 to 3 p.m. ST Konan

13 Wed. 3 to 3:30 p.m. ST Akasaka

14 Thu. 10:30 to 11 a.m. ST Takanawa

14 Thu. *Noon to 1 p.m. D Mita/60

14 Thu. *6 to 7:20 p.m. FS: Kimimaro Live Minato/90

16 Sat. 11 to 11:20 a.m. ST Minato

16 Sat. *2 to 3:25 p.m. FS: Jacques Demy's Collection Akasaka/35

16 Sat. 3 to 3:30 p.m. ST Minato

17 Sun. *2 to 3:45 p.m. FS: A Hunt Man Mita/60

17 Sun. 2:30 to 3 p.m. ST Azabu

19 Tue. 1 to 2 p.m. BS T.A.

20 Wed. 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. BS Akasaka

20 Wed. 2 to 3 p.m. ST Azabu

22 Fri. *2 to 3:25 p.m. FS: Yaji and Kita's Journey Takanawa/40

23 Sat. 2 to 2:30 p.m. ST Akasaka

23 Sat. *2 to 3:10 p.m. D Azabu/30

23 Sat. 2:30 to 3 p.m. ST Azabu

24 Sun. 11 to 11:30 a.m. ST Takanawa

24 Sun. *1:30 to 3:50 p.m. FS: Turtles Can Fly Minato/90

26 Tue. 11 to 11:30 a.m. ST T.A.

27 Wed. 10:30 to 11 a.m. ST Konan

27 Wed. 3:15 to 4 p.m. BS Konan

28 Thu. 10:30 to 11 a.m. ST Mita

28 Thu. 11 a.m. to noon BS Mita

29 Fri. *6:30 to 7:20 p.m. D Akasaka/30

30 Sat. *1 to 2:30 p.m. Recitation Minato/80

31 Sun. *2 to 3 p.m. Whistle Concert Azabu/50

Japanese language class ●Please attend our Japanese classes. Mi-nato City will pay half of the tuition for residents, workers, and students in Mi-nato City.STEP1: 12 Saturdays, Jan. 9 to Mar. 26, 9:45 to 11:45 a.m. at MIATuition; ¥9,000 for MIA members and ¥10,000 for non-membersSTEP2: 12 Saturdays, Jan. 9 to Mar. 26, 9:45 a.m. to 11:45 a.m. at Mita NN Hall Space B12 Wednesdays, Jan. 13 to Mar. 30 from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. at MIATuition; ¥9,500 for MIA members and ¥12,000 for non-membersSTEP3: 12 Saturdays, Jan. 9 to Mar. 26, 1:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. at MIATuition; ¥9,500 for MIA members and ¥12,000 for non-membersApplication and inquiries: MIA

MIA Minato International Association

Toei Kita-aoyama 1-chome Apt. No.3 1-6-3-B1 Kita-aoyama 107-0061Tel: 03-6440-0233 Fax: 03-6440-0234office@minato-intl-assn.gr.jphttp://www.minato-intl-assn.gr.jp/Programs may change without notice.

Fureai Concert at the Valentine’s ●DayDate & time: Feb. 14, from 2 p.m. *Doors open at 1:30 p.m.Place: Akasaka Civic HallProgram: Gospel and violins and pia-no performanceCapacity: 400 peopleEligibility: Elementary school students and overFee: ¥500 *Admission free for 18-year-olds and under No reservation is required.Inquiries: 03-5413-2711

Japanese Language Class ●Class: 8 Sundays in Jan. to Mar.Place: Azabu Civic CenterPlease see the Minato Monthly Web-site or December issue of Minato Monthly.Inquiries: azabu@kissport.or.jp

Kissport Events and Announcements

Minato Sports, Community, Culture, and Health FoundationTel: 03-5770-6837 Fax: 03-5770-6884http://www/kissport.or.jpPrograms may change without notice.

*Doors open 30 min. before the starting time. Programs may change without notice. For more information, pleease see the Minato Monthly Web.

T.A.: Takanawa Annex, D.A.: Daiba Annex

Minato Public Health Center Schedule for January Himawari Medical Facilities Consultation ServiceTEL 03-5285-8181 9 a.m. to 8 p.m.

http://www.himawari.metro.tokyo.jp/qq/qq13enmnlt.asp

Appointment for HIV test: 03-6400-0081 The result is the next check-up day at the Minato Public Health Center

Eligibility Examination date Time Place

HIV/STD test8 (R) Open to all Thursdays, 1/21, 2/4, 2/18 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. Minato Public Health Center

Other examinations

Eligibility Date Time Place

Stomach, colon cancer Residents aged 35 or older Capacity: 20 people

Date of preference in Weekdays in February 8:30 to 9:30 a.m Kokoro to karada no Genki plaza

3-6-5 Iidabashi, Chiyoda-ku

Osteoporosis*individuals receiving osteoporosis treatment are not eligible

Minato City residents aged 20 and over who have not received this exam. in the past 5 years. *capacity 20 people

Wednesdays, 2/10, 2/24 2 to 2:45p.m. Minato Public Health Center

Checkup and consultation for babies/infants in February

An eligible must receive the notification- 4-month-old: Born in October, 2015- 18-month-old: Born in July, 2014- 3-year-old: Born in January, 2013

Note: You need to apply and make an appointment in advance.Inquiries and appointment: Health Service Center, tel. 03-6400-0083Kokoro to Karada no Genki Plaza: 3-6-5 Iidabashi, Chiyoda-ku For inquires in English, contact Minato Call, tel. 03-5472-3710

Eligibility: Registered residents or registered foreign residents of Minato City

Minato City Resident Health Checkup　All residents to undergo a physical examination, urine analysis, chest X-ray, blood-pressure check, and blood test. Certain residents are to undergo an electro-cardiogram examination.Additional checkup: Osteoporosis examinations for female recipients of the Mi-nato City resident health checkup who are 30 or 35 years old or have not had a med-ical checkup in five years.

EligibilityExam. date

Check in time: 8:45 to 10:30a.m.

Exam. resultsavailable

Check in: 1 to 2 p.m.Location

City residents aged between 30 and 39 born in FebruaryLimited to 70 people daily

Wed. 2/10 Wed. 3/9Minato Public Health Center

Wed. 2/24 Wed. 3/23

Minato Health Service Center: 1-4-10 Mita, 03-6400-0083

Total: 244,231Japanese residents .........................................225,413

Male 105,125 Female 120,288

Registered foreign residents ............................18,818

Male 10,050 Female 8,768As of December 1, 2015

Populationof

Minato City

Minato VoiceTime: 6:26 to 6:29 a.m. and 5:56 to 5:59 p.m., 3 min. programMonday & Thursday: English, Tuesday: Japanese, Wednesday: Chinese, and Friday: Korean <Note> Programs may change without noticeInquiries: Public Relations Subsection, tel 03-3578-2041

89.7Minato Quick Journal : *20 min. program w/partly sign language and bilingual 10:30 a.m., 1:30 p.m., 3:30 p.m., 5:30 p.m., and 9:30 p.m.Minato-ku Koho Topics, Topics in Minato City *30 min. program10 a.m., 1 p.m., 3 p.m., 5 p.m., 9 p.m.Inquiries: J:COM Minato-Shinjuku, tel.0120-914-000

J:COM Minato-ShinjukuCh. 11

January

Sunrise view from Sibaura-Pier