Urasoe City English Newsletter
July 2008

Hello Everyone! Now that the rainy season is over, the weather is just right for festivals & days at the beach. Please check out the events calendar for some of the many matsuri that will be going on over the next few months. I'm planning to attend many of them myself--July is my last month in Okinawa, so I have to make the most of it. In August, I'll be moving to Yokohama to attend language school, and Patrick Robison, from the U.S. state of Idaho, will be the new Coordinator for International Relations in Urasoe. As always, please feel free to contact the IR Section with any questions about life in Urasoe. I hope that all of you will also enjoy your time here as much as I have. Best of luck to you all and good wishes for the future! -Hilary

Garbage Collection During Typhoons

Between April and November, Okinawa experiences a typhoon season. Some years many typhoons hit the islands directly and others none at all. One year, there were 16 direct hits! When typhoon conditions are so bad that public buses cannot run, garbage collection in Urasoe will be suspended according to the following rules.

1. If buses are not running at 8am due to typhoon conditions, garbage collection will be suspended.
2. If buses are not running at 8am, but service resumes before 3pm, garbage collection will commence from the time that the buses resume operation.
3. If buses stop running after 8am, garbage collection will be suspended from the time that the bus services are cancelled.

So, how do you know if the buses are running or not? During typhoons this information is broadcast continuously on Japanese television in a blue bar across the screen (only in Japanese, unfortunately). If you can't understand the Japanese or don’t have a television, please try to contact someone who speaks Japanese. If you cannot do that, try looking for the word バス(bus) on the television screen. If the buses are mentioned at all you can assume that they are cancelled.

Summer Vacation Art Classes for Kids

The Urasoe Art Museum is holding several one-time art classes for kids during the summer holidays. Classes are open to all elementary and junior high school students. Call the Art Museum at 879-3219 to reserve your spot.

Block Printing - July 12 & 26 and August 2, 2pm-4pm
Shisa Making - July 20, 1pm-4pm. Parents must attend with their children.
“Dyeing with Sunlight” - July 27, 10am-12pm
Stencil Dyeing - August 9, 1pm-4pm

Disposing of Automobiles

If you own a car in Okinawa, the day will come when you do not want it anymore. Maybe you are moving, buying a new car, or just can't handle the traffic anymore. If you can find someone to sell your car to, that's great. But what if your car is too old or too run down to sell? Here are a few different ways to handle car disposal (haisha 廃車).

Case 1 - You are buying a new car and want to dispose of your old one.

If you are buying a car from a dealer, ask the shop if they can include disposal of your old car in the deal. Many car dealerships will get rid of your old car for free and handle all the paperwork for you.

Case 2 - Your old car runs fine, and you want to dispose of it yourself.

If you want to get rid of a car that still runs, you can deregister it yourself and sell it for scrap. Be warned, the process is long and the paperwork is all in Japanese. Here’s how you do it:

1. [White Plate Only] Get a Proof of Inkan (inkan shōmeisho 印鑑証明書) at Urasoe City Hall.
2. Bring your Proof of Inkan [White Plate only], inkan, and vehicle registration (shakensho 車検証) to the Okinawa Land Transportation Office (Okinawa Riku'un Jimusho 沖縄陸運事務所) located at 512-4 Minatogawa, Urasoe. Tell them you want to permanently deregister and dispose of your car (eikyū masshō tōroku 永久抹消登録). After you submit the paperwork you must purchase a document for ¥300 to take to the recycle center.
3. Next, visit a recycle center. There is one right across from the Land Transportation Office. They will weigh your car and remove the license plates. When they call your name, hand in your paperwork. They will give you some more documents, your license plates, and an amount of money determined by the weight of your car.
4. Then you take the plates & the new paperwork and return to the Land Transportation Office. Fill out more paperwork!
5. Next, go the Vehicle Tax Office (Jidōsha-zei Jimusho 自動車税事務所), located at Minatogawa 500-10. Here you need to fill out forms regarding the tax refund (zeikin kanpu 税金還付) of any remaining road taxes you paid. You will need to bring all the forms and documents you got at the recycle center and the Land Transportation Office.
6. About 10 days later, you will get a form in the mail showing your car was junked. You will need to bring this to the Land Transportation Office, where you will have to purchase another official document. And at last you are done!

Case 3 - Your old car runs ok, but disposing of it yourself is too difficult OR your old car no longer runs.

It is possible to get a private company to deregister your car for you. In most cases, this is free, and in many cases, the company will even pay you for you car and pick it up from a location that you specify. However, you (or someone else acting on your behalf) will probably have to communicate with the company in Japanese.

At this website, you can enter in a bunch of information about your car, such as the maker, the year, the mileage, ect. Then several companies will contact you by phone or email with estimates. Once you chose a company, you can arrange a date for them to pick up your car or for you to deliver it. Several weeks after pick-up, the company will deposit any refunds or payments in your bank account, and mail you the documents proving your car has been disposed of.

This method is simpler than doing all the procedures yourself, but as companies may be unscrupulous, there is risk involved as well.

Events

Friendship Seminar - Bhutan, July 11, 7pm-9pm at the JICA Okinawa International Center
Nestled against the Himalayas, Bhutan is a country of rich and unique traditions. Bhutanese JICA trainees will teach about their country through a quiz, bilingual presentation, and much more. Bhutanese native dress and fabrics will be on display. Entrance is free of charge.

Gyoza Cooking Class, July 26, 10am-1pm at the Central Community Center
Learn how to make boiled gyoza from the chefs of Ryukyu-En (琉球苑). Please bring an apron, a hand towel, and a container to bring leftovers home in. Call the UIRA at 879-3010 to sign up. Participation costs ¥500.

Kagiyadefu Dance Class, Six evening classes beginning August 8 at the Central Community Center
Join this class to learn the Kagiyadefu, a traditional Okinawan fan dance performed at the beginning of weddings and other celebratory occasions. Call or visit the Central Community Center (located next to City Hall) between July 14th and 25th to sign up.

Jazz Festa 2008, August 9, 6pm~ at Tedako Hall
Four Okinawan jazz groups will perform. Adult/child tickets cost ¥2,000/¥500 and are for sale at the shop in the basement of City Hall.

Beach Barbecue, August 23, 3pm-6pm at Sunset Beach in Mihama (Chatan)
The Urasoe International Relations Association is holding a barbeque social for members of the local and international community. All are welcome! Call 879-3010 by August 8 to sign up. Participation (including food) costs ¥1,000.

Simple Spanish Cooking, August 30, 10am-1pm at the Central Community Center
Please bring an apron, kerchief, hand towel, container to bring leftovers home in. Call the UIRA (879-3010) to sign up. The class costs ¥500.

Festivals