Urasoe City English Newsletter
March 2008

Hello everyone! In Okinawa, as in the rest of Japan, Spring is a time for big changes. April is the beginning of the school and fiscal year, so many people change schools or jobs around this time. With this in mind, I have put together a guide for finding a job in Okinawa. Even if you are not looking for a job now, I hope this information will come in handy in the future. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me. Good luck! -Hilary

The Immigration Bureau Is Moving

Okinawa has two immigration offices, both of which handle re-entry visas, visa status changes, and other immigration-related procedures. The Naha office remains unchanged, but as of April 14, 2008, the Okinawa City office will move to Kadena. The new office is located in the Kadena Rotary, and is accessible from the Kadena and Mizugama bus stops. Its address is Rotary Building 1, 290-9 Kadena, Kadena-cho and its telephone number is 098-957-5252.

Notice from the Citizens' Affairs Section

February 12, 2008
To: Foreign Residents of Urasoe
From: Toshio Higa, Section Chief, Citizens’ Affairs Section
Re: Apology Regarding the Automated Document Vendor　

In January, we published a notice in this newsletter stating that foreigners registered in Urasoe would be able to use City Hall’s Automated Document Vendor to print Inkan Registration Certificates. We had planned to begin this service in February, but unfortunately the start date has been pushed back due to further system updates. If you were planning to sign up for a PIN so that you could use this service, we apologize for any inconvenience we have caused, and for the lateness of this notice. We will announce the new start date in the Urasoe Koho as soon as the system is ready.

Inquiries: Ms. Akamine, Citizens’ Affairs Section, Tel.: 098-876-1234 (ext. 3068)

Looking for Work

Looking for work in Okinawa? As the prefecture with the lowest wages and the highest rate of unemployment in Japan, this can be a challenge. But do not despair! There are jobs available for foreigners. What follows is a list of resources that may help you in your job search.

Hello Work　(Harō Wāku　ハローワーク)
The most important resource available to job seekers on Okinawa is Hello Work, a program run by the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare. Hello Work provides job databases, assistance with resume writing, interview advice, and many other services. The Okinawan branches do not offer English-language assistance, so if you do not speak Japanese, please bring someone along to interpret for you. Your passport and Alien Registration Card are necessary when you first register to use their services. There is a small Hello Work office in Urasoe City Hall, and larger offices in Naha and Okinawa City. Hello Work offices are open Monday-Friday 8:30am-12pm and 1pm-5pm.

• Hello Work Urasoe - Located on the 1st floor of City Hall.
• Hello Work Naha - Located on the 3rd floor of Co-op Appletown in Shintoshin.
• Hello Work Okinawa City - Located on the 1st & 2nd floors of the Okinawa Labor Building, 1-23-1 Sumiyoshi, Okinawa City.

Language Teaching
Many towns hire foreign residents to teach English in public elementary and junior high schools. Selection for jobs usually takes place at local Boards of Education (BOEs) from January through March, but it is always worthwhile to inquire at other times. Urasoe, Naha, Ginowan, and Okinawa City are the largest cities and have the most opportunities. Inquire at their BOEs, which are located in their respective city halls.

If you would like to teach a language other than English, high schools may be your best option, as some of them offer instruction in languages such as Chinese and Spanish. For high school teaching positions, consult with the Okinawa-ken BOE, located in the Naha Kencho.

Teaching jobs are also available at private language schools. There are too many such schools for me to even begin to list them. I recommend looking in the phone book, “Hello Work”, asking friends, and trying the Internet-based searches listed below.

Jobs on U.S. Military Bases
The U.S. military is one of the biggest employers of local residents in Okinawa. Some jobs are only open to Japanese citizens, but there are many which can be filled by local residents of other nationalities. Here are some military-specific job websites:

• Jobs on Kadena Airbase in Chatan
• Jobs on Marine Corps bases in Okinawa
• Jobs at the Naval Hospital located on Camp Lester in Chatan

Jobs for Japanese Speakers
If you speak Japanese above the 2kyu level on the JLPT, you may be able to work in the translation/interpretation fields. There are several translation companies located in Okinawa, mostly in Okinawa City and Urasoe. Consult the phone book for specific information.

There are also a plethora of Japanese job search websites. Help Wanted ads are called 求人情報 (kyūjin jōhō), and an online search of 沖縄　+　求人情報 will bring up a lot of useful websites.

English Language Job Search Websites
Several search engines allow you to search the Internet for jobs in Okinawa in English:

• Japan Update - Click on "Classifieds" in the upper right-hand corner, and then select "Help Wanted" from the pull-down menu at the top.
• Gaijin Pot - Click on the "Japan Jobs" tab near the top of the page, and then select "Okinawa" from the "Areas" pull-down menu.
• Okinawa Craigslist
• Indeed - Set "Okinawa" as the location.

Events

Ryukyu Lacquerware Special Exhibit, until March 16 at the Urasoe Art Museum
During the age of the Ryukyu kings, Okinawan artisans developed the craft of laquerware to new heights, creating pieces that were both functional and beautiful. This exhibit gathers together exceptional examples of their work from inside Okinawa and from abroad.

Sanshin Day Celebration, March 4, 12pm- at the Yomitan-son Culture Center (Yomitan)
The sanshin so central to Okinawan music that the prefectural government created an official "Sanshin Day" in 1992. They chose March 4 (3月4日) because three is pronounced "san" in Japanese, and four is pronounced "shi." (It's not quite "sanshin", but it's close enough.) Every year this event is marked by special sanshin performances. No more tickets are available, but the event will be broadcast over the radio on RBC.

Sanba Day Celebration, March 8, 6:30pm- at the Okinawa Shimin Kaikan (Okinawa City)
The sanba is a small Okinawan percussion instrument, similar to castanets, made of three connected pieces of wood. Like eisa drumming, sanba performances combine music and dance. This event will feature performances, and a chance to try the instrument yourself! Tickets are ¥2000 at the door.

Tidaju Performance, March 16, 4:30pm- at Tedako Hall
Tidaju is a high-level children's eisa, lion dance, and music troup. This performance is on the theme of peace. Tickets are ¥1000/¥500 for adults/children.

Ryukyu Ocean and Flame Festival, April 12 at Ginowan Kaiheiyou Koen (Ginowan)
Firework festival in the park by the Convention Center.

Iejima Lily Festival, April 19-May 6 (Ie Island)
Ie is famous for its lilies, and during this time, their blossoms blanket the hillsides. Ie Island is accessible from Motobu by ferry.