更新日：2019年4月1日

Ashiya Newsletter April 1, 2019

YODOKO Guest House Has Been Refurbished

New Branch Office Has Opened

Hi, Elementary School Children! Would You Like to Join Ashiya Kids' Square?

Going to Live Abroad? Undergo Necessary Procedures before Leaving Japan

Payment Deadline Notification

The 31st Ashiya Cherry Blossom Festival

FY2019 Ashiya City Domestic Garbage Collection Calendar (English) Is Available

YODOKO Guest House Has Been Refurbished

Inquiries:
YODOKO Guest House 0797-38-1720
Lifelong Learning Section 0797-38-2115 

A Nationally Designated Important Cultural Property*, YODOKO Guest House (The Former Residence of the Yamamuras) located in Yamate-cho, is known globally as a modern architectural structure designed by Frank Lloyd Wright. It has been closed from November 2016 due to preservation and repair work. The work has been completed, and it has been open since February 16, 2019.
The preservation and repair work included waterproofing work for its roof and repair of decorative stones of the exterior walls. Handrails have been fitted along the stairs, and LED lights were also installed for illumination.

 

*Nationally Designated Important Cultural Properties are cultural properties (such as structures, paintings, sculptures and crafts) which are designated as valuable and important by the nation.

Like the old Imperial Hotel, it features Oya stone (soft, easily processable stone produced in Oyamachi, Utsunomiya City, Tochigi Prefecture) carved in geometric patterns. 
There are a carriage porch (a roofed driveway adjacent to the entrance to get in/out of vehicles) and entrance on the 1st floor, a reception room on the 2nd floor, Japanese-style rooms, Western-style rooms (such as bedrooms) and bathrooms on the 3rd floor, and a dining room and kitchen on the 4th floor. On the 4th floor, you can go to the balconies from which you can enjoy magnificent views of the city spread around Ashiya River and Osaka Bay. 

Frank Lloyd Wright, the Designer of YODOKO Guest House

Frank Lloyd Wright is said to have been one of the greatest modern architects. He created a new idea which he called "Organic Architecture" with his philosophy to realize a harmony between nature and architecture.
His masterpieces include Fallingwater (Mr. and Mrs. Kaufmann's resident) in Pennsylvania, the USA and the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum in New York City. The old Imperial Hotel is well known as his work in Japan. He is an architect who created a lot of structures. He designed more than 1,000 structures in his life, more than 400 of which were actually completed. However, other than in his native country, USA, his work was completed only in Canada and Japan. His structures which still retain most of their original form in Japan are only YODOKO Guest House in Ashiya and Jiyu Gakuen Girls' School Myonichikan in Ikebukuro, Tokyo.
As we have seen, YODOKO Guest House is one of his most significant works in the world. It is said that Wright visited Ashiya before setting out to work, and liked this place very much. Yodoko Guest House was built, integrating the landscape with the hill range spreading from Mt. Rokko and the surrounding greenery; it is undoubtedly "Organic Architecture", Wright's philosophy.

New Branch Office Has Opened

Address: 8-20 Seido-cho, Ashiya City

• Gender Equality Promotion Section Phone: 0797-38-2518
  Gender equality means that "regardless of gender, both men and women participate in a variety of fields in society (such as home, schools, workplaces and local areas) and take responsibility". This section is in charge of promoting gender equality.
• Human Rights Promotion Section Phone: 0797-38-2055
  Human rights are the "rights for people to live happily". To care for human rights is to care for people's life and to get along with others. This section is in charge of creating a society where people communicate with each other, considering other people's situation and having thoughtful consideration. You can also receive advice when you are bullied or discriminated.
• Small-group child day-care "Wakaba Child Daycare Center"
  This center has a small number of children between 0 and 2 years old in a homey environment.
• "With-us Ashiya" Municipal Gender Equality Center Phone: 0797-38-2023
  The Center has Kids Space (a place where children can play), a space for interaction, book corner, drop-in child day-care center and nursing room on the first floor, and conference rooms for hire on the second floor. With-us Ashiya also provides counseling for women and consultation for family conciliation (discussion and adjustment at a domestic court regarding family matters such as inheritance and divorce), legal consultation, consultation about work for women and human rights consultation.
• Ashiya Welfare Corporation Phone: 0797-38-3122
  Home helpers and nurses visit elderly and disabled people in Ashiya City to enable them to live with peace.
  The roof top is a temporary evacuation place when tsunami occurs.

　

Hi, Elementary School Children! Would You Like to Join Ashiya Kids' Square?

Inquiries: Youth Development Section 0797-38-2110

Ashiya Kids' Square is a place where elementary school children can play or learn in the playground and designated rooms after school and on holidays (spring/summer holidays and compensatory days off).

This is a place where elementary school children decide by themselves what to play, study or read, and interact with local residents. Children can learn how to play shogi (Japanese chess) and/or origami, or play with local high school students. Sometimes, some programs are held with the cooperation of NPOs and companies.

Any elementary school children living in Ashiya City can join in one of the Kids' Squares in their elementary school district, even though they belong to private schools or schools out of Ashiya City. To join, registration is required.

• Venue: Elementary schools in Ashiya City
• Day and time:
  ・From after school to 5:00 p.m. between Monday and Friday (when school lessons are held) (until 4:30 p.m. in November and December)
  ・From 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. during spring holiday, summer holiday, winter holiday and compensatory days off in the case that school lessons are held on Saturday

Opening days and starting hours depend on the school closing time and event schedules of the schools where Kids' Squares are held.

Kids' Squares are open about 230 days per year, and a half of the elementary school children in the city are registered. For details, please ask at the counter of the Youth Development Section. 

If you are moving outside Japan, you need to follow procedures at the City Hall.
Please submit a moving-out notification at the Citizens' Section.

There are also other procedures you need to follow.

Please refer to the website for details.

Payment Deadline Notification

Inquiries: Taxation Section

Don't forget to pay your taxes by the deadlines.
Payment deadlines are available on our website.

 

The 31st Ashiya Cherry Blossom Festival

Inquiries: Ashiya Cherry Blossom Festival Committee Office 0797-38-2007

You can enjoy food stalls, live music and much more at the festival.

• Day and Time:
  Sat., April 6 11:00 a.m.-8:30 p.m.
  Sun., April 7 11:00 a.m.-7:30 p.m.
• Venue: Ashiya River, Matsunouchi Green Space and the street on the east side of Ashiya River (between Taisho Bridge and Narihira Bridge)　

　　　 　　

FY2019 Ashiya City Domestic Garbage Collection Calendar (English) Is Available

Inquiries: Garbage Collection Section 0797-22-2155

Garbage collection days vary, depending on where you live. Please check the garbage collection calendar of the town where you reside when you dispose of your garbage.
The FY2019 version of the Domestic Garbage Collection Calendar is available at Ashiya City Hall reception, Public Relations and International Exchange Section, Laporte Citizens' Service Corner, Shio-Ashiya Exchange Center and Refuse Disposal Center (Garbage Collection Section). The calendars are also available on our website.