No. 436 May 2024

Niigata English Journal
Edited & Issued by the Niigata City International Exchange Foundation
Mail magazine: Email us to receive this newsletter every month★★ Subscribe to stay up to date! ★★

Free Legal Consultation for Foreign Residents

Get free consultation on work issues, contracts, financial
compensation, marriage or divorce trouble, and more! If
you need an interpreter, please let us know and one will be
provided for free.
Date: May 24th (Fri) 13:00 – 16:40
Location: CrossPal 2nd floor
Spots: 5 time slots (40 minutes per person)
Fee: Free!
Sign up: TEL 025-225-2727 or email kyokai@nief.or.jp

International Lecture: Romania

Alex Paraschiv, a Niigata University student hailingfrom Bujoru, Romania will talk about Romanian history,culture, tourist spots, and more. Don’t miss thisopportunity to hear about Romania from a native!
Date: June 29th (Sat) 13:30 – 15:00
Location: CrossPal 4th floor, Room 403
Fee: ¥500 (¥300 for supporters)
Spots: 30 people
Sign up/Contact: TEL 025-225-2727 or email:kyokai@nief.nief.or.jp or scan the code

Korean Taekwondo Event

The Korean Consulate in Niigata is hosting a free
Taekwondo event! Participants of all ages and genders
are welcome to come and learn this martial art. Pleasewear indoor shoes and clothes that are easy to move in.
Date: May 18th (Sat) 14:30 – 16:00
Location: CrossPal 2nd floor Gymnasium
Fee: free!
Spots: 30 people (first come, first served)
Sign up/Contact: From May 8th, call TEL 025-225-2727

Free Medical Testing and Consultation

Doctors will perform chest x-rays and health checks, aswell as provide advice on internal medicine, surgery,dental health, and more! Social workers and insurance
experts can also answer questions on treatment,insurance, etc. Interpreters are available for English andChinese. An interpreting device will be used for otherlanguages. For foreign residents only.
Date: June 30th (Sun) 10:00 – 14:30
Location: CrossPal 2nd floor
Fee: Free!
Sign up: Scan the code to sign up
Contact: Tel: 025-225-2727, email: kyokai@nief.or.jp

International Symposium

Ms. Sanbayashi will report on Keep Smile Japan’s
volunteer activities in Cambodia and afterwards, speakers
from Cambodia, Indonesia, and Vietnam will talk about
their experiences living, studying, and working in Japan
and Niigata. The first 30 minutes of the symposium willfeature a Bandai Taiko performance!
Date: June 22nd (Sat) 13:30 – 16:00
Location: CrossPal 5thfloor Exchange Hall
Fee: Free!
Sign up: From June 10th, email Ms. Sanbayashi at:
fukushidai2010@yahoo.co.jp
Contact: Ms. Sanbayashi, TEL 070-6989-5690
Salon Exhibit: Northeastern France Tourist Spots
Photos of tourist spots and regions in NortheasternFrance are on display. The exhibit features both popular,
well-known tourist spots and lesser-known, hidden gems.
Date: April 1st (Mon) – June 17th (Mon) 9:00 – 17:00
Closed: Sundays, holidays, and May 27th (Mon)
Location: NIEF Exchange Salon (CrossPal 2nd floor)
Salon Exhibit: Cambodia Photo Exhibition
Come and see photos of life in Cambodia! Thisexhibition will feature photos Cambodia’s cities andpeople’s daily lives.
Date: June 19th (Wed) – July 13th (Sat) 9:00 – 17:00
Closed: Sundays, holidays and June 24th (Mon)
Location: NIEF Exchange Salon (CrossPal 2nd floor)

Japan in Manchuria & Mongolia Documentary

In 1941, Niigata sent a Manchurian-Mongolian
Pioneering Group. The documentary Niryuuzan (二龍山) tells the story of a married couple who were part ofthis group. After the documentary, Mr. Mori Masataka
will talk about the importance of thinking about war andpeace in the present. No need to sign up!
Date: June 2nd (Sun) 13:00 – 16:00
Location: Crosspal 4th floor Audio-Visual Hall
Fee: Free!
Contact: Mr. Kouketsu TEL 080-9368-8777

Niigata Japan – America Society

This annual event encourages cultural and language
exchange. There will be a mix of native English andJapanese speakers attending. The event will also featurea buffet and drinks. Come to mingle and enjoy theinternational atmosphere!
Date: June 13th (Thu) 18:00 – 19:30
Location: Hotel Italiaken, 3F San Marco
Fee: ¥7,000 (regular), ¥4,000 (students), ¥6,000 (members)
Sign up/Contact: Until June 6th, email
niigatanichibei@gmail.com; include the event
name in the title and write your name (in Japaneseand roman letters), email address, postal code,address, and phone number in the email.

Niigata English Journal

May 2024

Page 2Classes
Japanese Courses offered by the Niigata City International Exchange Foundation
Beginner throughIntermediate 2-Classes of varying difficulties are available at different times throughout the week.
-Pricing info & the schedule for the current session are available on the NIEF website:
https://www.nief.or.jp/Ms. Kiyoko Tanaka
Tel: (025) 225-2727

Japanese Study Support Group for Children & Students: NicoPal Club (Free of charge)
Day of the Week & Hours

RoomNo.

Content

Every Wed. (contact for info)
Every Sat. 10:00 – 11:30*except 5/4, 5/25
*Please register beforehand

202

Please contact Ms. Tanaka for more information.

201

This Japanese study circle offers support to children in the international
community who are struggling with Japanese and other school studies.

Ms. Kiyoko Tanaka
Tel: (025) 225-2727

International Cooking ClassVolunteer
JapaneseClasses
https://www.nief.or.jp/en/jcvg

There will be no classes held in May, June, or July. Classes will resume in August,so make sure to check again in the August edition of the English Journal for informationon the next class!

Where: Ms. Ueno’s residence (3-4-16 Ogijima, Akiha Ward)
For more info/sign-up: TEL: 0250-24-6859 (Ms. Ueno) – Please sign up at least three days before classInformation

Travel Recommendation: Bijinbayashi

Regarding COVID-19 Vaccines
As of April 1, 2024, the COVID-19 vaccine is nolonger free and recipients of the vaccine must cover
expenses themselves. Following this change, inprinciple, the vaccine will be given once a year in thefall and winter and a vaccine coupon will no longer
be required.
Additionally, the Niigata City and Niigata
Prefecture vaccine call centers, as well as thegovernment’s vaccination certificate smartphone app,also shut down on March 31, 2024.
If you are feeling unwell and think you might have
COVID-19, please call your family doctor.
Niigata Help Association

For more info.

Looking to escape the urban landscape and immerse yourself innature? Look no further than Bijinbayashi ( 美 人 林 ) inTokamachi! This beech forest is a popular spot for shinrin yoku
(森林浴), literally “forest bathing,” an activity where people
spend time in forests to relax and get away from their busy lives.

Free Japanese ClassA free beginner level Japanese class is available for students who can readmost hiragana and katakana and some basic kanji. Class fees are free,
however, students must purchase a textbook.
When: Fridays, 15:30 – 17:00
Where: CrossPal
Sign up/Contact: Mr. Komiyama
TEL: 090-4811-1147, email: kmyma2s@gmail.com
Everyday 10:00 – 23:00
English, Spanish, Korean, Chinese, Filipino, Thai, etc.

TEL: 025-228-2212

Niigata International Association TEL: 025-241-1881
Email: nia21c@niigata-ia.or.jp URL: https://www.niigata-ia.or.jp/

Weekdays 10:00 – 17:00
English, Russian, Chinese, Filipino, Thai, Vietnamese,
Spanish, PortugueseHelpline for Foreigners

Press 2 after the Japanese guidance

TEL: 0120-279-338 (toll-free)

Niigata Medical Care Information Network

URL: http://qq.niigata-iyaku.jp/

Hello Work, Foreigner Advisory Service TEL: 025-280-8609
Niigata Misaki Godo Chosha #2 (1-2-1 Misaki-cho, Chuo Ward, Niigata City)
Immigration Bureau Consultation

2nd Tue. of the month (5/14) 13:00–17:00
Thai, Vietnamese, Russian

Gyoseishoshi Association of Niigata Consultation

4th Wed. of the month (5/22) 10:00–17:00
Chinese, Russian

Free Legal Consultation for Foreign Residents
Length of Consultation: 40 minutes per person

Houterasu Free Legal Consultation for Foreign Residents
Length of Consultation: 40 minutes per person

Education Consultation

3rd Thur. of odd numbered months (5/16)
English, Spanish, Portuguese, Russian
3rd Mon. of even numbered months (6/17)
13:00 – 17:00
English, Filipino
Every Tue. 13:00–17:00
English, Chinese, Thai, Vietnamese, RussianEnglish, Chinese, Korean
1st – 4th Wed 13:00 – 16:00
English & Chinese

Make a reservation by phone or email in advance.
Place: Multilingual Consultation Center of Niigata(formerly Foreign Resident Consultation
Center)(2nd floor of Toki Messe)
Contact: TEL: 025-241-1881
Email: nia10@niigata-ia.or.jp

Edited and Issued by the Niigata City International Exchange Foundation
3-2086 Ishizuecho-dori, Chuo Ward, Niigata City 951-8055
Homepage: https://www.nief.or.jp/
Tel: (025) 225-2727
E-mail: kyokai@nief.or.jp(Written and edited by Alyssa Williams & Ayako Homma)

CrossPal will beclosed May 27th