Kochi Lifestyle Q&A : Let’s request books in our native tongue at the Otepia library!

Writer: Kochi Prefectural Office, Coordinator for International Relations, Han Jeonggyu

   Hi. I am Han. Having spent a long time in Japan, away from my home country, I sometimes find myself missing Korea. At times like this, I head to Otepia Kochi Library. There are many books of various languages at Otepia, and I take comfort in the Korean books. However, what happens when they don’t have the books I want? One can request, for free, that Otepia import specific books from overseas.

   To request books, you will need a “Joint Library Card” (Otepia’s standard library card). You can make one at the library for free. Just bring along something that can verify your identity, like your residence card. Once you have your Joint Library Card, you can request books using the application form, or through the library’s website. The application form is available at the service counters in Otepia and other branch libraries. To request a book through the website, use the form titled “お問い合わせ入力フォーム” (http://bit.ly/OtepiaToiawase). Ensure that you write your book’s title, author, publisher and the year it was published. That’s all! All of this information should be written in the language the requested book is published in. If there is a Japanese translation available, please provide its title as a reference as well. In addition, providing the book’s ISBN will help your request be processed even more smoothly.*

   If you miss your home country, why not warm up your heart with a book in your mother tongue?

   ＊ However, even if you make a request, there are times when the library cannot import your books.

Kochi Lifestyle Q&A

Q. I want to try out various activities in Kochi! Is there any way I can easily gather information and make reservations?

A. Yes there is! In fact, Kochi just started its Nature & Experience Promotion Campaign. Thanks to this campaign, finding information and reserving activities has gotten much easier.

 

   First, if you understand Japanese, you can search for activities at https://kochi-experience.jp/. This is the perfect place to collect information. On it are suggested itineraries, information on different places and events in Kochi, and even tour packages by various travel companies such as Jalan and Asoview all gathered together. Plus, when you find an activity you would like to try, you can reserve a place on the spot!

Kochi Lifestyle Q&A: Q. Are there consultation services for foreigners for various fields? A. Yes, there are such places below!

①Kochi Consultation Center for Foreign Residents
   This center opened as a new organization under KIA at the end of May 2019! It assists foreign residents in Kochi by listening and advising them with regards to their daily life, and helping them out with their troubles. It is equipped with telephone interpreting and translation applications, so feel free to contact the center in your own native language.

Kochi Lifestyle Q&A : The theme this time is HAY FEVER!!!

   Sakura (cherry blossoms) is synonymous with spring in Japan. The Sakura around Kochi Castle are indeed beautiful. In the spring, the plants are freed from the cold winter and all blossom at once.

 

Q : My friend is in his 5th year in Japan and all of a sudden has developed hay fever. What’s going on? I’m worried the same might happen to me.
① What are some symptoms of hay fever?
② I don’t have any symptoms now, but I’m very worried about what will happen from here on out. Is there anything I can do to keep the symptoms away?
③ If I do develop hay fever, what should I do?

 

Kochi Lifestyle Q&A : What are the traffic rules for bicycles?



   It has now been 2 years since I came to Japan. One area where I felt the cultural difference was with “bicycles”. (I come from South Korea). I saw people of all ages and genders riding bicycles in their daily lives, and felt that Japan was like a kingdom of bicycles. Furthermore, by riding a bicycle in my everyday life, I understood that there were many rules regarding their use. Therefore, this time I would like to introduce the rules for cycling in Japan- the kingdom of bicycles- for those like me who may not have normally cycled back in their home country, or for those for whom the rules differ to those in their culture.

   Firstly, the main premise of these rules is that bicycles are the same as cars. For those of you who ride bicycles, please don’t forget that a bicycle is a type of vehicle, and thus always be careful to give pedestrians the right of way when you cycle!

Kochi Lifestyle Q&A : Bug Prevention

   Lots of bugs seem to appear in houses here in Kochi…please tell me how to prevent them from getting in!!

Q: Mosquitoes

A: Mosquitoes can become the carriers of infections so it is important to take precautions against them. Mosquito coils (katori-senko) have been used in Japan for many years and their nostalgic scent is associated with summer. There are other products, such as ones that omit electromagnetic waves which mosquitoes dislike, and make it difficult for them to go near them, and insect prevention sheets, which you hang out on the balcony, are also effective. All of these are possible to obtain at a home center or supermarket.

   Furthermore, if water gathers close to your balcony or porch (genkan) frequently clean it up to make it harder for mosquitoes to breed there.

Kochi Life Q&A : Earthquakes

Q: I felt shaking! How do I stay safe?
A: If you’re at home, keep your head protected by crouching under a sturdy desk. Once the shaking has stopped, after turning off the gas at the mains, turn off the electrical circuit breaker. Check the exits are clear, and cover your head with a hard object when you go outside. Watch out for falling objects or things that could collapse, and make your way to a “hinanjyo” (shelter). Carry a radio so that you can receive updates on the situation. If you’re near the coast, don’t wait for official announcements to be given, but prepare for a tsunami and evacuate to “takadai” (high ground)
immediately.

Kochi Life Q&A : Going to the Doctor

How do I choose a doctor / hospital?

   In Japan, the patient decides which department to go to. For example, for a cold, go to internal medicine (内科 / naika), and for a broken bone, go to surgery (外科 / geka). If you are unsure of where to go, go to the front desk of the hospital for help. You can ask for a “Multilingual Medical Questionnaire” (1) that is available in 18 languages to help determine the appropriate department to visit.

   For non-serious illnesses, we recommend going to a private doctor first. If necessary, they will write you an introduction letter to a general hospital, where you can get special treatment. You can also use the “Kochi Iryo Net” (2) (available in English and Japanese) to search for medical institutions in Kochi Prefecture. It includes information about hospitals open at night and weekends, as well as emergency care hospitals, so check it in your free time.

Kochi Life Q&A: When an Acquaintance has Passed Away

   Today, we will give an example of the progression from when you hear that an acquaintance has died, through the end of a Buddhist funeral. (Be aware that there are differences depending on religion, denomination, and regional customs.)

Kochi Life Q&A: Important Occasions "I’ve been invited to a wedding…"

   Wedding banquets in Kochi are grand affairs, with long guest lists, lots of alcohol, and classic Kochi-style sawachi ryori (large platters of food). If it’s your first time at a Japanese wedding, you may be surprised to see that the couple changes their outfits several times, and that the bride and groom’s friends put on performances as entertainment.

 

   As for attire, men should wear a suit, and women, a pretty dress. Women should also wear a bolero or shawl over their shoulders, and take care not to draw attention away from the bride and groom by wearing anything too eye-catching. Avoid wearing white, since it’s the bride’s color.

 

Kochi Life Q&A “Kochi-ke ALL STARS”

Q: I’ve been seeing photos of people with star-shaped pins on their lapels, or people wearing star-shaped rainbow sunglasses. What’s going on there?

 

A: These goods have become popular thanks to Kochi-ke ALL STARS, the third stage of Kochi Prefecture’s Kochi-ke promotional campaign. This campaign seeks to introduce the charms of Kochi across the nation by highlighting how all members of the Kochi Family, both Kochi residents and people who have some kind of connection with Kochi, are stars in their own unique ways. People can apply to be recognized as a Star based on their hobbies or the things they like. For example, you could be the “star at living a carefree life in Kochi’s natural world.” To apply, search for 高知家 (Kochi-ke), find the Kochi-ke website, and go to the page called 高知家のスターに応募 (“apply to be a Kochi-ke Star”). From there, you can upload a photo of yourself, and overlay the image of the star-shaped sunglasses on your face so it looks like you’re wearing them. Finally, add a sentence or two explaining what kind of star you are, and you’re done!

   Once you become a Star, you’ll be registered in the Kochi-ke website’s Star Reference Guide, and you may have the chance to take part in Kochi PR videos, even sharing the stage with a famous actress from Kochi! It’s not just something fun to do for yourself, but something that could help all of Japan learn more about the charms of Kochi. The subject matter of this “Star Debut Project” changes every month, so it's always fresh and fun. Recommend your favorite stars, apply to become a star yourself, and help us revitalize Kochi!!

Tsubo & Massage

   Super HOT summer is still here in Kochi…. Can you survive?

   Inside our body, we have streams of energy that run all over. Our body functions make the energy streams, however, when the functions are disturbed, the energy streams cannot flow smoothly.

 

   “Tsubo” are points on the energy streams where you feel pain, and through them you can check whether your bodily functions work well or not. Particularly, our hands and feet have many “Tsubo.” Try acupressure on your body by yourself. If you keep pressing on the point that you feel pain, your bodily functions will recover. In Kochi city, there are various massage salons.

Dangerous Fish

Gonzui

      Although we can enjoy catching many kinds of fish in the seas of Kochi, we need to be cautious when handling some potentially dangerous fish. Please be especially careful of a fish called "gonzui" which closely resembles a catfish and has poison in the dorsal fin. If stung, you’ll feel intense pain and bleed as well. If you catch one, keep the fish immobilized by placing your foot on the fish’s belly to hold it down (wear thick-soled shoes or boots as the spines penetrate thin shoes) then remove the hook.

 

Now, in Houterasu, we offer attention in foreign languages!

English, Chinese, Portuguese, Spanish and Tagalog are available.

Ask us about: Loans, Divorce, Labour, Accidents, etc. Also regarding natural disasters.

Please see the attached file (WORD) for more information.

Other languages:
   Chinese
   Spanish
   Portuguese
   Tagalog
   Japanese

Gifts for ceremonial occasions

  

   When you are invited to a Japanese style wedding reception, or you have to attend a funeral for a deceased family member of your Japanese friend or colleague, do you know what to prepare or pay attention to? If you don’t, this article might prove to be useful.

Kochi-Iryo-Net

   When you are ill and want to see a doctor, how do you search for hospitals? If you prefer to go somewhere near your home or be able to correspond in your own language, sometimes you may have difficulty finding one. I’ll tell you about a website, “Kochi-Iryo-Net”, that can help you find such a hospital immediately.

   “Kochi-Iryo-Net” is a convenient website that tells you information about emergency, hospitals, clinics, dentists and pharmacies in Kochi. What you have to do is input your language, medical condition and location into the website. Then a list of hospitals that applies to those requirements is displayed and the user can select the best one from it.

Travelling light to the airport

   When you are going abroad or travelling back to your own country, carrying a lot of luggage to and from the international airport can be hardwork.

   Travelling light makes sense especially when living in Kochi where it is a long way to get to either Kansai or Narita airports.

  

“Small Packets” Shipping Method

   Sending a package overseas can be very costly. But did you know that packages under 2kgs can be sent by post at comparatively cheaper prices than heavier ones?

   For example, sending a 3.6kg package from Kochi to California by SAL (a shipping method that treats packages as surface mail within each country but airmail between countries) would cost over ¥6000. If you were to split this into two packages however, each 1.8kg package would cost ¥1880 to send, making the total ¥3760.

Savings at Supermarkets

   Here are some tips for those of you who like to save a few bucks at the supermarket. Did you know about these?

“Time service”
   After a certain hour, in order to sell all foods that spoil, supermarkets will mark down prices and put stickers on the food packets. 50-100yen discounts are common, and sometimes half price if you wait long enough!

   Each supermarket is different but they generally mark down the prices of meats, fish and pre-made dishes after the evening rush and before the shop closes, and for daily products like milk, bread and tofu, just after the shop opens.

Farmer’s produce section
   More and more supermarkets are beginning to have a section for vegetables and other food stuffs that have been supplied directly from local farmers. Usually they are much cheaper and fresher than the imported foods from other prefectures. Go early for this!

Taste-testing
   Usually supermarkets wait until around meal times when people are most hungry to dish out titbits that are made for customer’s tasting and therefore purchase. Don’t feel like you need to buy the stuff!

SUNNYMART's point card

Point cards
   If your supermarket has a point card system, use it! Signing up for a card is usually free, and each time you shop you get points that go towards some reward system. Some cards can be used at other affiliated shops too.

Taken from vol.39 PDF

Daikō (Replacement Driver Service)

   If you commute by car or often use a car, the replacement driver service (daikō in Japanese) is a perfect service in the year-end and New Year party season. Daikō is a service where someone drives your car for you, and delivers you and your car to your home together.