No. 433 February 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! ★★

NIEF Spring Japanese Classes
Applications for spring session Japanese classes are now open! Morning and evening classes are available
in various beginner or intermediate levels. Stop in to the Friendship Center to pick up an application and get
more information. Application forms are due by March 11th (Mon), however, if you miss the deadline, do
not hesitate to come in and talk with us about it.
Classes Content and ScheduleABC
DⅠ

Study beginner level materials while pursuing
the basics of daily-life conversational skills.
Review beginner level materials in preparation
for intermediate content.
Comprehensively study Japanese while
striving for proficiency in practical Japaneseconversation.

Ⅱ

Study beginner level materials while pursuing
the basics of daily-life conversational skills.

Ⅲ

Review beginner level materials while
studying Japanese more comprehensively.

Total Class
Hours

Class Fee
SingleT&FClass
Duration
4/2~

W&F

4/3~

72h (36 classes)

15,000 yen

36h (18 classes)

9,000 yenDays of theWeekT & ThTimes

10:00-12:00

4/2~

W

4/3~

F

4/5~

T & Th4/2~

54h (36 classes)

11,500 yen

F

4/5~

27h (18 classes)

7,000 yen

4/2~27h (18 classes)

7,000 yen

TTaru-kinuta Drumming Event

Learn one of Niigata’s traditional musical arts, tarukinuta! Taru-kinuta is a style of drumming that involves
hitting a wooden barrel (taru) with a thin wooden mallet(kinuta). This a great opportunity for international
students and local Japanese residents to interact!
Date: March 17th (Sun) 14:00 – 16:00
Location: CrossPal 2nd floor Gymnasium
Spots: 20 (10 international students, 10 Japanese)
Fee: ¥300
Sign up/Contact: TEL: 025-225-2727 or email:kyokai@nief.or.jp *When signing up, state yourname, phone number, and nationality
Salon Exhibit: Lunar New Year in Asia
Lunar New Year is on February 10th! Come and learn
how the holiday is celebrated in China, Vietnam, Korea,Indonesia, Singapore, and more.
Date: January 17th (Wed) – February 10th (Sat)9:00 – 17:00
Closed: Sundays and Holidays
Location: NIEF Exchange Salon (CrossPal 2nd floor)

Niigata-Australia Society Jazz & Wine NightThe Niigata-Australia Society will be celebrating its 10thyear anniversary with a night of jazz, wine, and guest
speakers from the Australian Embassy in Japan!
Date: February 17th (Sat) 18:00 – 20:45
Location: Hotel Okura 4F, Continental
Fee: Members: ¥12,000; non-members: ¥15,000
Sign up/Contact: By Feb. 7th (Wed) Call Ms. Yokoyama
at 090-4935-5060 or email: niigata.aus@gmail.com

18:30-20:00

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: February 17th (Sat) 13:00 – 16:40
Location: CrossPal 2nd floor
Spots: 5 time slots (40 minutes per person)
Fee: Free!
Sign up: Call 025-225-2727 or email kyokai@nief.or.jp

Free Administrative Scrivener Consultation

Get free consultation on visa qualifications, applying
for permanent residency, doing business in Japan, carregistration, traffic accident compensation, and more!
Date: March 23rd (Sat) 10:00 – 16:00
Location: CrossPal 3rd floor, Room 309
Fee: Free!
Sign up/Contact: Call Niigata
Prefecture Administrative Scrivener
Society, Mr. Takano at 070-1189-8555
Niigata Swing Jazz & Dance Big Party
Featuring 3 live bands, a special dance performance, anda mini dance lesson for beginners! Listeners are also
welcome! Sign up using the code on the right.
Date: March 9th (Sat) 17:30 – 22:30
Location: Niigata Gioia Mia,
1016-1 Higashibori-dori 7-bancho
Fee: ¥4,000 advance tickets, ¥4,500 at door(¥3,500 for those who participate indance practice) + ¥500 drink (required)Contact: swinginniigata@gmail.com

Niigata English JournalFebruary 2024

Page 2Classes
Japanese Courses offered by the Niigata City International Exchange FoundationBeginner 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
Every Wed.

ContentRoomNo.

For more info.

(contact for info)

202

Please contact Ms. Tanaka for more information.

Every Sat.
10:00 – 11:30*except 2/17
*Please register beforehand

201This 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 Class

VolunteerJapaneseClasses

When: February 24th (Sat), February 25th (Sun), February 26th (Mon)
11:00-14:00
Fee: Foreign residents: ¥2,000Japanese citizens: ¥3,800
Menu: Hina Matsuri and Fermented Foods – Chakin sushi, temari sushi, shrimp cake soup, handmade
amazake (sweet sake (non-alcoholic)), and more!

https://www.nief.or.jp/en/jcvg

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 class

Notices

Niigata International Animation Film
Festival & Gatafes

Earthquake Information

This year, the Niigata International Animation Film
Festival (NIAFF) and Gatafes (a manga and animeevent) will be held at the same time! For more details
check out the official websites.
NIAFF
When: Mar. 15th (Fri) – 20th (Wed)
NIAFF
Where: TBD
Gatafes
When: Mar. 16th (Sat) & 17th (Sun)
Where: Furumachi Area
Gatafes

Niigata City is updating its website regularly with information
on disaster relief for the 2024 Noto Peninsula Earthquake.
Information is available in Japanese, English, and Chinese, withmachine translation available for other languages.

Printed Labels Required for All International Packages

Effective March 1, 2024, the Universal Postal Union will
not accept hand-written labels for overseas packages. Allpackages mailed overseas must have a printed EAD(Electronic Advance Data) label declaring the package’scontents. To create an EAD label, use the Japan Post website.
Labels can be printed at certain post office locations. See theJapan Post website for more details.

Consultation Services
Niigata Help Association

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, Portuguese

Helpline 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 (2/13) 13:00–17:00
Thai, Vietnamese, Russian

Gyoseishoshi Association of Niigata Consultation

4th Wed. of the month (2/28) 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 (3/21)
English, Spanish, Portuguese, Russian
3rd Mon. of even numbered months (2/19)
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 Feb. 26th