Koho Niseko Newsletter July Issue [No. 759] Text Version

Notice of medical system for the elderly
- Regarding simultaneous renewal of health insurance cards (insured person cards) -

■ Your insurance card or certificate of eligibility expires
Your current light blue health insurance card or yellow-green eligibility confirmation card will expire on July 31, 2025, and will no longer be valid from August onwards.
◆People with light blue health insurance cards
Anyone other than those who have a yellow-green qualification certificate as listed below
◆People with yellow-green qualification certificates
- People who became eligible after the health insurance card was abolished on December 2, 2024
- People whose address or copayment ratio has changed since the abolition of health insurance cards on December 2, 2024

Health insurance card/light blue

Qualification confirmation / yellow-green



■ A yellow-green "Qualifications Certificate" will be issued (no color change)
After your currently used light blue insurance card or yellow-green eligibility confirmation certificate expires, you will be issued a replacement yellow-green "Eligibility Confirmation Certificate."
The new "Qualification Confirmation Certificate" can be used from August 1, 2025 to July 31, 2026 (it cannot be used immediately after receiving it).
Please note that the "Eligibility Confirmation Certificates" being issued this time will be issued uniformly to all insured persons as a temporary measure until the end of July 2026, regardless of whether they hold a My Number Card (hereinafter referred to as the "My Number Health Insurance Card") that has been registered as a health insurance card.
By showing the "Qualification Verification Certificate" when visiting a medical institution, you can use it in the same way as your previous health insurance card. However, there are various benefits to the My Number Health Insurance Card, so if you are eligible to use the My Number Health Insurance Card, please use it.


■ You can enter the limit category etc. on the "Qualification Confirmation Form"
The following items 1 to 3 on the Qualification Verification Certificate can be filled out upon application based on the individual's wishes.
In addition, if you have previously been issued a "Limit Application/Standard Charge Amount Certificate" or a "Limit Application Certificate," items 1 and 2 will already be written on the certificate. However, if you wish, you can apply for them not to be written on the Eligibility Confirmation Certificate.

1. Limit classification, effective date of limit classification
2. Applicable day of long-term hospitalization
3. Specific disease classification, effective date of specific disease classification


◆ Limit category: This category indicates the maximum amount of self-payment when medical expenses become high, the cost of meals when hospitalized, etc., and is determined according to the previous year's income. The notation on the qualification confirmation card is as shown on the left.
◆Dates of long-term hospitalization: Only those who are in a municipal tax exempt household (Ward 2) and have been certified upon application, and who have been hospitalized for more than 90 days in the last 12 months, can fill this out.
◆Specific disease category: If you have a specific disease medical treatment certificate and would like it to be listed on the qualification confirmation document, you can apply. The notation on the qualification confirmation document is as shown on the left.




<Qualification Confirmation> Limit Category Notation

Limit category Self-payment ratio Eligible persons
30% of people earn as much as working adults
Active 3: Insured persons with taxable income of 6.9 million yen or more for resident tax (Note 1) and insured persons living in the same household
Active 2: Insured persons with taxable income of 3.8 million yen or more for resident tax (Note 1) and insured persons living in the same household
Active 1: Insured persons with taxable income of 1.45 million yen or more for resident tax (Note 1) and insured persons living in the same household

20% of people with income above a certain level
General 2: Those who meet both the following requirements (1) and (2)
(1) There is an insured person in the household whose taxable income for resident tax (Note 1) is between 280,000 yen and 1,450,000 yen.
(2) The sum of the "pension income + total income other than pension (Note 2)" of all insured persons in the same household is
・If there is one insured person → 2 million yen or more
・If there are two or more insured persons → 3.2 million yen

10
General 1: People in resident tax-paying households who do not fall under General 2
Ward 2: All members of the household are exempt from resident tax and do not fall under Ward 1
Ward 1: All members of a household are exempt from resident tax and fall under any of the following categories:
・All household members have an income of 0 yen (Note 3)
・People receiving old-age welfare pensions

(Note 1) "Taxable income" is the amount of the "tax base" on the resident tax payment notice (the amount remaining after deducting employment income deductions and public pension deductions (basic deductions and social insurance deductions, etc.) from the previous year's income), and is different from the taxable income amount stated on the final tax return (income tax).
(Note 2) If you have employment income, 100,000 yen will be deducted from your employment income amount.
(Note 3) The public pension deduction is 806,700 yen (800,000 yen until July 2025). If you have employment income, 100,000 yen will be deducted from your employment income.


<Qualification Confirmation> Specific Disease Category

Specific disease category Name of recognized disease

Category A
Chronic renal failure with artificial kidney
(Including chronic renal failure patients who have only undergone peritoneal dialysis and have not undergone artificial kidney therapy)

Category B
Patients with congenital blood coagulation factor VIII disorders or congenital blood coagulation disorders receiving plasma fractions
Factor IX disorders (also known as hemophilia)


Category C
Antiviral-treated acquired immune deficiency syndrome
(Including HIV infection, limited to those designated by the Minister of Health, Labour and Welfare)



■ After the provisional implementation ends, a certificate of eligibility will be issued to those who require special consideration, but a one-time application is required.
After the provisional implementation ends, in principle, "Qualification Confirmation Certificates" will not be issued to those who hold My Number insurance cards.
However, if you have applied for a qualification confirmation certificate once on the grounds that you are a person with special needs and cannot use the My Number Health Insurance Card, we will issue you a qualification confirmation certificate without any application when you renew it thereafter (you will not need to apply every year).
*People who require special consideration are elderly people or people with disabilities who have difficulty receiving medical treatment using their Myna Health Insurance Card, for example, those who need a third party such as a caregiver to accompany the insured person and help verify their eligibility.


Inquiries
Hokkaido late-stage elderly medical wide area coalition
6th floor, National Health Insurance Hall, 2-14-1 Minami, Chuo-ku, Sapporo 060-0062
 
Niseko Town Hall
保健福祉課 保健医療係 TEL 0136-56-8840



Renewal of National Health Insurance Card



■ Your health insurance card will be changed to a qualification confirmation card (the color will not change)
Your current health insurance card will expire on July 31, 2025 (Reiwa 7), so you will not be able to use it from August onwards. A new eligibility confirmation letter or eligibility information notice will be sent to you by mail in July, so please dispose of your old health insurance card yourself or return it to your city hall.
Please note that the eligibility documents sent to you will vary depending on your usage of your My Number Health Insurance Card.
People who have a My Number health insurance card
We will send you a "Notice of Eligibility Information (A4)" by mail. Please continue to use your My Number Health Insurance Card.
●People who do not have a My Number Insurance Card
You will be sent a "Qualification Verification Certificate (green)" in place of your health insurance card by mail. Please use it in the same way as your previous health insurance card.


The expiration date of the certificate is set to the day before your 75th birthday, the end of the month in which you turn 70, or July 31st of each year, whichever comes first. A new certificate will be sent before it expires (for foreigners, the expiration date is the period of stay or July 31st. This is a self-reporting system, so please bring your updated residence card and have your insurance card reissued).




Medical care for children Medical care for single-parent families Medical care for people with severe physical and mental disabilities

Renewal of Recipient Certificate

■ Your recipient certificate will be updated (the color will not change)
The validity period of your current recipient certificate (printed on the middle section of the certificate) will expire on July 31, 2025, so you will not be able to use it from August onwards. A new recipient certificate will be sent to you by mail in July, so when you receive it, please dispose of the old certificate yourself and use the new one.

The expiration dates for the new recipient certificates are as follows. The new certificates will be sent to you before the expiration date.
[child medical care]
● The last day of the month in which the child turns 3 ● The end of the school year in which the child turns 6 (until entering elementary school) ● The end of the school year in which the child turns 12 (until entering junior high school)
●The end of the fiscal year in which the person turns 18 (until high school graduation) ●Others: July 31st every year
[Medical care for single-parent families, etc.]
●The last day of the year in which the child turns 3 ●The last day of the year in which the child turns 18 (until high school graduation)
●The end of the month in which the child turns 20 (only for dependent children) ●Others: July 31st of each year
[Medical care for people with severe physical and mental disabilities]
●The last day of the month in which the person turns 3 years old ●The day before the person turns 65 years old ●Other people: July 31st every year




~A request to everyone regarding the delivery of certificates~

Certificates of eligibility (for national health insurance and elderly care) and medical benefit certificates (for children, single-parent families, and those with severe physical and mental disabilities) will be sent by "simple registered mail".
If you are not at home to receive a registered mail, the delivery person will put a notice of absence in your mailbox, take it back to the post office, and keep it there for one week from the delivery date. If you received a notice of absence, please contact your post office to request redelivery (or pick it up at the counter) within the deadline.
If the storage period expires without contacting the post office, the mail will be returned to the city hall. However, depending on the delivery date, it may take more than a week for the mail to be returned to the city hall after the non-delivery notice has been left, which may mean it takes some time for the mail to be delivered.
We ask for your cooperation to ensure that you receive your new certificate by July.

If you will be away from home between mid- to late July and are unable to receive your certificate for any reason, please contact your local municipal office as soon as possible.

■Inquiries/
北海道後期高齢者医療広域連合/〒060-0062 札幌市中央区南2条西14丁目 国保会館6階 TEL 011-290-5601
ニセコ町役場/保健福祉課 保険医療係 TEL 0136-56-8840
 

Topic of town

Topic of town

みなさんの地域や職場の話題などありましたら、広報担当(TEL.0136-56-8837)までお気軽にご連絡ください。



We did our best at the Niseko Elementary and Kondo Elementary School Sports Day.

The sports day for Niseko Elementary School and Kondo Elementary School, which had been postponed due to a rain forecast, was held under sunny skies on June 8th.
At Niseko Elementary School, students were divided into four color teams and competed in events such as foot races for each grade and team relays, and they also livened up the sports day with dances such as Yocchore and Niseko Soran.
At Kondo Elementary School, all the students performed on their traditional unicycles. Even when they made mistakes, they helped each other out, and it was a performance that showed good teamwork. In the annual Borrower Race, local people and students worked together to reach the goal.
The parents cheered loudly as the children gave their all in the competition.
Running the entire race (Niseko Elementary School)
Everyone holds hands and rides the bike skillfully (Kondo Elementary School)
Together, they say "Ready, go!" and draw "Bohiki 2025" (Kondo Elementary School)




Enter the town-run ranch and enjoy the spacious pasture


On May 28th, the cows were brought to the farm by truck from the local dairy farms. Some of the cows were reluctant to get off the trucks as they were in an unfamiliar environment, and some even got back on the trucks after they had gotten off.
This year, 21 cows were brought into the pasture. Once released into the spacious pasture, they leisurely ate their food in their favorite places.
The cows look happy under the clear skies.





A morning full of smiles in Niseko The Niseko Morning Market begins

On May 25th, due to rain, the first Niseko Morning Market of the year (organized by the Niseko Kira Card Association) was held inside and in front of Maeda Shoten.
The market was bustling with people buying the morning market's special menu items and a variety of products from local stores.
The Niseko Morning Market will be held once a month until October. We will also announce the dates in Koho Niseko Newsletter "Town Calendar", so please come and enjoy the mornings in Niseko.
It's a fun morning with lively conversation




Niseko Town Junior Firefighting Club Establishment Ceremony to Deepen Learning about Disaster Prevention

Niseko Town Junior Firefighting Club Inauguration Ceremony was held on May 25th. This year, 12 members joined the club as the 10th batch and received letters of appointment from the Niseko Branch Chief.
In the future, club members plan to participate in various drills and training, such as experience using fire extinguishers and water spraying, to equip themselves with the knowledge to respond to disasters that may occur in their local areas.
I'm looking forward to seeing how it grows in a year's time





Great achievements in sports, and hopes for even greater success! Niseko Town Athletics Association Award

Niseko Town Athletics Association Awards Ceremony, which recognizes outstanding athletes and organizations in the field of sports, as well as coaches who have worked hard to develop and train athletes, was held at the Town Hall on May 26th, with certificates being presented to 29 individuals and four organizations.
A Hokkaido Youth Sports Club awards ceremony was also held, with a certificate being presented to Takeo Yabashi, Chairman of the Athletic Association, who has contributed to the nurturing and development of the Youth Sports Club for many years.

◆ Niseko Town Athletics Association Award Winners
Sports Honor Award
Kazuyoshi Fujimura and Takumi Okada (both moguls)
Tensei Fujiwara (cross country)
"Best Athlete Award"
Mine Tani (Mogul)
"Best Athlete Award"
Ms. Naki Endo and Ms. Sakurako Yuki (both moguls)
Yuan Fujiwara and Takemichi Harada (both cross-country skiers)
Mr. Gogo and Mr. Bunshiro Endo (both from Alpine)
Noah Hiranuma (Athletics)
"Encouragement Athlete Award"
Jo Nakae and Saori Urata (both cross-country skiers)
Kuroi Hyougo, Kamegamori Hitokazu, Okada Natsukimi, Harada Komu, Craig Aika, Fujiwara Senami, Niseko Junior Athletics Team Girls Relay, Niseko Junior High School Girls Ekiden (all in Athletics)
"Effort Award"
Watanabe Leland, Kuroi Yoki, Higuchi Ryosuke, Kamegamori Waka, Sato Daichi, Niseko Junior Athletics Boys Relay, Niseko Junior High School Boys Relay (all in Athletics)
Ryunosuke Takahashi, Ryu Matsushita, Yuki Nihei, and Tairaku Umezawa (all table tennis players)
Mutual accompaniment (Alpine)
◆Hokkaido Junior Sports Club Award Winners
Takeo Yabashi (Boys' Sports Club Officer)
Congratulations to all the winners!





Thinking about the life of Takeo Arishima Constellation memorial concert

To commemorate the anniversary of Arishima Takeo's death on June 9th, a constellation memorial service was held in his honor at Arishima Takeo Memorial Museum on June 7th.
This year, the concert featured vocal and piano performances.
In addition, a message board for Arishima was set up inside the museum to give attendees an opportunity to convey their thoughts, and attendees sent their own messages.

The performance ranged from full-scale opera to familiar songs.





International school students visit renewable energy facility


On June 2nd, students from Niseko International School toured three facilities in the town that use renewable energy.
At Niseko Mirai, the students saw a demonstration of lighting a light bulb with the energy of solar panels. At Makino Kogyo Co., Ltd., they learned about double-sided solar panel power generation and how to use electricity. Finally, they visited a small hydroelectric power plant in Kondo and learned about the flow of electricity.
We learned about the mechanism of solar panels and the flow of electricity.




Miyata Skate Park, a community-based skateboarding facility, is now open!

The Niseko Skateboard Association held the grand opening of Miyata Skate Park on June 1st.
This skate park utilizes the gymnasium of the former Miyata Elementary School.
We started our activities with the aim of supporting the development of local children while also becoming a base for skateboarding culture that is open to tourists. It is a facility that can be enjoyed by everyone from beginners to advanced skaters.
The opening day was packed with children.




44th Decoration for Dangerous Workers: Former Yotei Sanroku Firefighters Association, Yoshiyuki Kubo

Yoshiyuki Kubo, former fire commander of the Yotei Sanroku Fire Department, was awarded the Order of the Rising Sun, which is given to people who have worked in dangerous jobs for many years and contributed to strengthening and improving firefighting capabilities and the development of the fire service.
On June 9th, the award was presented by Mayor Katayama at the town hall. Mr. Kubo was appointed as a firefighter in the Yotei Sanroku Fire Department, and in April 2010, he was appointed Niseko Branch Chief. With his extensive knowledge and sound judgment cultivated over many years, he has made a great contribution to the development of fire administration, including guiding fire brigade members and strengthening the firefighting system.
Congratulations on receiving the award




Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters B・B Niseko Town activities have begun!

The Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters mascot B.B. interacts with the townspeople while experiencing Niseko Town and promoting the town's charms in "The HOME ~ B.B. Mirai Taishi Project ~". In order to fully convey the town's charms, B.B. was appointed "Niseko Town Tourism Ambassador" on April 1st, and the first activity was held on June 11th and 12th.
This time, the participants visited various places in the town over two days, focusing on experiencing town activities and planting wine grape trees with the children of Kondo Elementary School.
As part of the wine grape planting activity, the students planted Chardonnay seedlings, a variety used for white wine, at Niseko Winery together with 4th and 5th graders from Kondo Elementary School.
For the activity, we went rafting down the clear waters of the Shiribetsu River. We enjoyed cruising along the calm river. Finally, we rented bicycles and electric tuk-tuks to explore the town. We toured the streets of Kira Kaido, the rural scenery of the Arishima area, and Arishima Takeo Memorial Museum.
It's also featured on the B.B. blog.
Carefully planting seedlings with the children
B.B. rowing a boat




Summer mountain season arrives, Niseko mountain opening

The Niseko mountain opening ceremony, organized by the tourist associations of Niseko Town and five neighboring towns, took place on June 10th. Tourism officials and relatives of those lost in the disaster gathered at Niseko Shrine in Goshiki Onsenkyo.
Even on this day when the sun felt a little strong, people were seen enjoying mountain climbing. Please be careful of accidents, getting lost, and heat stroke, and enjoy Niseko's summer mountains.
I prayed for no accidents this season.




Enjoy a stroll along the Kira Highway

The Niseko Machizukuri Forum, a non-profit organization, held a tree planting event along Kira Kaido on June 1st. About 50 people, including residents along Kira Kaido, Red Cross volunteers, local revitalization cooperation volunteers, and local residents, gathered to plant flower seedlings in flower beds and set up benches along the road.
Also, on June 4th, hanging baskets were made at Warehouse No. 13 of the Central Warehouse Group. About 20 people, mainly local revitalization cooperation volunteers, planted flowers, and the finished products were used to decorate street lamps along Kira Kaido.
As we approach summer, the newly planted flowers, such as kochia, begonias, and petunias, will bloom, brightening up the Kira Kaido street. Please stop by and take a look while you're out for a walk or on your way to work.
It also serves as a place for interaction with local residents.
Carefully plant each seedling.

 

Everybody's page

This is a participation page for all town residents.
Looking forward to hearing from you!


Everybody's page

Planning and Environment Division Public Relations Section
TEL 56-8837 FAX 44-3500



Niseko Fan News vol.89

Corner for townspeople by townspeople
Would you like to work as a reporter too? We look forward to your participation.





This month's reporter is Mari Sasaki. She runs Cottage Bongo Square with her family. She is also a member of Asobook and a volunteer reader.

Wild vegetables that enrich your dinner table
As the snow melts, I pick some butterbur sprouts, tear them apart with my hands, and sprinkle them in my miso soup. I love the aroma. The butterbur miso is also exceptional. I step into the babbling brook and find some watercress waiting for me. I pick one up and pop it into my mouth, and the tangy bitterness is irresistible. I'll add it to this morning's salad! The morning sun shines on the leaves of the yachibuki tree, which has just produced flower buds. It's just the right time. I remove the bitterness and it's ready for dinner.
When the snow melts, bracken fern starts to appear here and there. Break off the thickest ones with curled ends with your hands. Boil them briefly and serve with bonito flakes on top.
In spring, leafy vegetables are expensive in stores, so wild vegetables are a lifesaver. In mid-May, I enjoy udo tempura. For some reason, I like it better than taros.
Fuki grows vigorously around the same time as asparagus season, and when boiled it turns translucent. It can be used as an ingredient in stir-fried dishes, blanched vegetables, simmered dishes, and miso soup.
For me, who was born and raised in the town, finding edible wild plants and wild vegetables around my house is like finding a treasure, and it's something I look forward to every morning. This spring, my daughter was obsessed with bracken and picked them almost every day, so the ash used to remove the bitterness was in high demand. By the way, the person who brought it told me that it tastes much better when you remove the bitterness with ash than with baking soda.
Well, as I write this in early June, Japanese parsley has appeared in the valley. I picked them carefully, shooing away mosquitoes and being careful not to pull out the roots. The best way to eat them is to boil them in water or to add them to miso soup. Today I used them as a topping on a bowl of rice topped with chicken and egg.
There are probably still many wild plants and mountain vegetables that I have yet to discover. I will wait, hoping to encounter them in the future.



Niseko High School Student Council

As a student council
1st Year Secretary Kazama Mina

I am Mina Kazama, a first-year student who has recently become the student council secretary. Less than a month after entering the school, I took on the big challenge of running for the student council by-election. As a result, I am very happy to be able to serve as a member of the student council.
I was a little nervous at first, but with the support of kind seniors and wonderful classmates, I feel like I am growing little by little every day. Niseko High School has many unique classmates, and sometimes we may clash. However, I am good at calmly thinking things through, so I would like to use that ability in the student council.
In addition, Niseko High School has a lot of information, such as event and volunteer notices. I would like to create a system that organizes such information in a visually easy-to-understand way and shares it with all students.
In addition, preparations for the school festival will also begin.
We will do our best to make the school festival a place where everyone can smile.
We look forward to your continued support.



Niseko Tanka Association
It's still early spring, and the sunlight is shining through the window. The Carpenters' voices are gentle.
Carp streamers swaying in the May sky remind me of my childhood.

Niseko Haiku Association
After the rain, the branches of fresh greenery stretch out into the sky. Yoshie Koshino
Drooping willows and playing in the wind Yuriko Kudo
A light stride cutting through the wind - Yasuko Shigemori, a college student
Mount Ezo Fuji, dressed in the style of early summer each day. Masako Habakishita

Playbook Newsletter No.268

Learning Exchange Center Aso Book
■ Opening hours: 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.
Closed: Mondays, last Fridays, public holidays, year-end and New Year holidays
TEL.0136-43-2155 FAX.0136-43-2156
https://asobook-lib.com/



Hiroshi Abe Panel Exhibition
We exhibited a traveling panel exhibition by Dosanko picture book author Hiroshi Abe, "Atekko Animal Picture Book: Who?"

Food education exhibition
June is Food Education Month. We held a food education exhibition on the theme of "breakfast" under the supervision of a nutritionist from the town hall's Health and Welfare Division.



Notice


Free corner
We have renovated the "Feel free to use corner" located at the main entrance of Asobook.
This corner contains books that are not in Asobook's collection, as well as old books that have been removed from our collection.
The lineup changes from time to time and includes picture books, children's books, general books, paperbacks, cookbooks, foreign books, magazines, and more. If you see a book you like or that catches your eye, please feel free to bring it in. You might find a surprising treasure. Enjoy the once-in-a-lifetime encounter with a book.
Next to the corner there will also be flyers for events in and around the town, so please take these with you as well.
We also accept donations. In addition to the books we store in Asobook, we may also sell them in our free corner or at the second-hand book fair. Please note that we may not be able to accept complete collections, books that are badly damaged, or books that have an odor.


Exhibition


book display
6/28~7/4 "I Heart Hokkaido"
In honor of Hokkaido Day on July 17th, we have collected books about Hokkaido. These include books by authors who are from or live in Hokkaido, novels set in Hokkaido, and books about Hokkaido's flora and fauna. Please take a look.

hobby exhibition
7/1-7/15 Haiku/Haiku meeting
7/16~7/31 Painting/Haruyo Kishimoto


Asobook Festival was a great success!
In addition to the popular programs every year, the Asobook Festival is packed with new events and booths this year. The smiles and cheers of the children are what make the staff happiest.
Thank you to everyone who attended and helped out.


Asobu Club is closed during the summer vacation.
For more details, please see the Asobook calendar or page 22 Koho Niseko Newsletter "Town Calendar."

Librarian's recommended books
"The World's Most Mysterious Libraries" by Alex Johnson, Sogensha
The book embodies in various ways the thoughts of people who want to deliver books, and is a fun book to look at and read, just as the cover says, "As long as there are books, there becomes a library."
Books are on boats, housed in beautiful buildings, and even transported on the backs of elephants... Even if you don't read books, you'll want to visit a library like this.
I was surprised at the enthusiasm people showed for books, and felt the happiness of being able to read books as a part of everyday life. (Librarian Ai Sawada)


New arrival book introduction
practical book
A handy guide to rice cakes by Kazuo Tobita
Recently, the earth has been hot and bears are growing.
Latest edition: Kabuki anatomy by Kazuko Tsuji

Reading material
Old Man's Showa Picture Diary by Hitoshi Sawano
Arika Seo Maiko
Kyouko Okitegami's Insurance Card by Nisio Isin

Children's books and picture books
Lunch Ensemble 2 Kazuki Kisaragi
Panda's Spoon and Soap Panda by Keiko Shibata
Enjoy eating science experiments illustrated book by Yoshimi Ojima

There are many other new books. Please take a look at the Playbook.
 

Niseko Town Area Development Cooperation Team

Report daily activities from the members!
My Neighborhood Cooperation Team 46.
We will send out information every month so that the townspeople can learn about the activities and personalities of our volunteers!

Editor in charge
<2nd year> Saori Nakahara
<First year> Mari Nomura


Introducing the activities of the cooperation team
≫Radio Niseko
[Kira Niseko]
"Because we love Niseko, the JOCVs" (Every Monday afternoon)
<Scheduled performers in July>
7/7 Kohei Shimizu and Risa Kamikawauchi
14 Suzuki Konoka and Nakahara Saori
21 Keima Sato and Mai Ikeda
28 Risa Ito and Agou Miyamae

≫Information is also being sent on SNS!

website

Facebook

Instagram





Introducing the new members Introducing the new members who joined in the first half of FY2025!

Megumi Noguchi (from Kanagawa Prefecture) Place of assignment: Early Yoji Centre
I moved from Tokyo to the Izu Peninsula in Shizuoka Prefecture, where I worked at a nursery school surrounded by nature, by the sea and the mountains. There, we lived with the aim of creating a sustainable living environment, using home-grown vegetables, wild plants, and the livestock of animals, cooking and heating with a wood stove.
In Niseko Town, I am in charge of the local childcare support center. I would like to use my many years of experience in childcare to contribute to the future of the children in the town. I am also interested in food, so I would like to be involved in food education activities in the future.
I would like to get used to the climate and environment of Niseko Town, which is different from the warm Izu I have been to, and connect with the local people.


Mari Nomura (from Sapporo City) Assigned to: Commerce, Industry and Tourism Division
I have never left Sapporo in my life. I took a bold step to make my dream come true.
I can wholeheartedly recommend the "things," "services," "people," "scenery," and "urban development." I want to convey the many charms of the area. And I want to help solve local issues. Despite these thoughts, I continued to ignore my inner voice and worked for an IT company for 10 years. I couldn't give up the stability and security of my work, but I fell ill and finally made the decision.
I am happy that I was able to be posted as a volunteer in Niseko Town, which is my father's hometown and where I sympathize with the town development. I will work for three years to protect the nature of Niseko Town, promote tourism and the town, and create sustainable jobs.




Overall Activity Report May/June

Kira Kaido planting and hanging basket creation
The annual Kira Kaido planting took place on June 1st, and the hanging basket making took place on June 4th, with our volunteers also taking part.
The town residents came together to plant the flowers, and the flower beds are gradually becoming more beautiful. The hanging baskets were made by volunteers at Warehouse No. 13 in the Central Warehouse Group!
Since each one is made by an individual, each one has its own unique personality, but I think they turned out really cute.
This year, the area in front of Niseko Station and along Kira Kaido were decorated in a spectacular fashion.
Please take a look♪ (Saori Nakahara)


Niseko Morning Market
The morning market organized by the Niseko Kira Card Association, which is held during the green season, began in May.
Despite the unfortunate rain on May 25th, the first market was crowded with many customers. Volunteers also helped with the morning preparations and cleanup. It was exciting to see the many attractive products lined up in the morning market. I'm looking forward to the next one. (Takako Itami)


Niseko's original wine tourism
The Japan Airlines Asia Oceania Regional Branch Manager and his party visited Niseko Town on an inspection tour. The first place they visited was Niseko Winery, where the volunteers supported the food service. Each of them was involved in their own area of expertise, such as decoration, plating, and serving, and they worked together to create the perfect venue.
A local domaine, which handles everything from grape cultivation to brewing and bottling, introduced its wines. They exchanged opinions with Japan Airlines about promoting tourism by making use of local resources. They will use this experience in their own activities. (Ito Risa)
 

smiling square

In this corner,
Introducing various activities and information!


Parenting topics

Yoji Centre

The farming has begun
This year, we planted vegetables in the garden at Yoji Centre. Every year, the older children meet together to decide what to plant.
We planted a lot of vegetables, including cucumbers, tomatoes, peppers, eggplants, etc. On this day, the older brothers and sisters from Niseko High School came and planted seedlings together.
The children look happy after being carefully taught how to make holes, how to put soil on them, etc. In the summer, these vegetables will be on the school lunch menu, so all the children can eat fresh and delicious vegetables.
I can't wait to see it grow bigger!!


Sun

Would you like to come and visit Ohisama?
The childcare support center "Ohisama" is a facility attached to Yoji Centre. "Ohisama" has a wide variety of picture books and toys.
Moms and dads spend time reading to their children and playing with them using various toys. Public health nurses and nutritionists also come to the Niko Niko Consultation Center to take physical measurements and talk to them about child-rearing.
Why not come and play with your family?

"Ohisama" is a place where parents and children can play casually and talk to each other about their worries. (Inside Yoji Centre)



Notice

Consultation to Ohisama
We will be holding Ohisama Niko Niko Consultations (consultations with public health nurses and nutritionists) on the following dates. Why not come and talk to us about your concerns and questions regarding child development, vaccinations, weaning, and other matters related to child rearing?
Date and time: July 8th (Tuesday) 10:00 AM
◆ Place: Child-rearing Support Center “Ohisama”


Parenting course
Ballet Exercise
Date and time: Thursday, July 10th, 10:00am
◆Place/Townsman Center
◆ Clothing: Comfortable clothes
◆What to bring: Drinks, towels, etc. if necessary
◆Childcare/Support Center "Ohisama"
◆Application deadline: Tuesday, July 8th

Accessories Class
Date and time: July 15th (Tuesday) 10:00 AM
◆Place/Townsman Center
◆Material cost/1,500 yen
◆Childcare/Support Center "Ohisama"
◆Application deadline: Tuesday, July 8th

<Inquiries about this page>
Niseko Town Children's Center "Kiratto"
TEL.(代表)0136-44-2700 FAX.0136-44-2725

Hello, this is Arishima Takeo Memorial Museum vol.42

Arishima Memorial Museum
TEL.0136-44-3245

〇The official Arishima Takeo Memorial Museum mascot is born
I'm Arishima Long-tailed Tit, and I've been the director of Arishima Takeo Memorial Museum since April. Nice to meet you. My black clothes are called "Inverness" (coats), and I'm the only one allowed to wear them. That's because they were worn by the three brothers, Takeo Arishima, Ikuma Arishima, and Ton Satomi, and are a family heirloom of Arishima Takeo Memorial Museum.
Shima will do his best to spread the word about the charms of Arishima Takeo Memorial Museum. Shima also wants to get along with Nikki and Aniki-senpai, the town's official mascots. Shima appears in his winter fur in every season, but please turn a blind eye to that.
The number of visitors to Arishima Takeo Memorial Museum is increasing.
From April last year to March this year, 16,000 people came to the island, and the total number of visitors, including those who came to the Niseko Railway Heritage Site, was 86,000. We are very grateful.
This is an area where young people who are fans of Takeo Arishima came from all over the country because of a collaboration project with a video game. People who became interested in Takeo Arishima and Arishima Farm were also drawn to this area after they were featured in the novel "The Birth of Sapporo" by Yoshinobu Kadoi, which was published this year.
In the past, my friend, the red-breasted thrush, would sing here during the winter, when the book cafe was not open.
This year from January to February
We held an event called "Land of Stories and Play" (with the cooperation of the NPO Niseko Future Support Team), and in January and February we had the highest number of visitors since the museum opened. In addition to the large play equipment, we created a space where people could become familiar with picture books and fairy tales, so it was a good opportunity to fulfill Arishima Takeo Memorial Museum 's mission of promoting print culture. We are happy that the museum can contribute to solving the problem of the Niseko region, where there are few places for children to spend their time in the winter. We will miss seeing the Japanese robins, but we would like to do it again this year.
That's right, I heard that a survey result came out in the past that it would be better to close the facility in winter because of the cost of stoves. The facility is busy in the summer as a farmer, and some people come to enjoy the film screenings, the Hideyuki Fujikura exhibition, and coffee at the book cafe in the winter. It is the mission of public facilities to value the people who come to enjoy themselves.

〇This is an island where various materials are collected.
Preserving the history of the town is also one of the jobs of Arishima Takeo Memorial Museum. When Curator No. 2 called for local materials in the April issue Koho Niseko Newsletter, we received contact from the townspeople. However, because Curator No. 1 always prioritizes throwing things away or destroying them tomorrow, some people have had to wait three years to pick them up.
But since Curator No. 1 is currently preparing a storage area, I hope you'll forgive him. I hope you'll keep calling out to me.

News from Niseko Town Information on living

Notice

We collect used small household appliances
The town collects used small household appliances in order to improve recycling and reduce waste.
Small household appliances (products that run on household electricity or batteries) contain useful metals such as iron, aluminum, precious metals, and rare metals, and these metals can be recycled as resources.
Therefore, we aim to recycle resources by collecting used small home appliances and having government-certified businesses recycle them as metal resources. If you have any small home appliances that you no longer need, please help us collect them.
*Small appliances cannot be collected from people, businesses, offices, or stores outside the town.
Collection date: July 26th (Saturday) 8:00am - 1:00pm
■ Collection location / Niseko Town heavy vehicle garage (opposite Niseko Dental Clinic)
■Items that can be recycled: Mobile phones, telephones, digital cameras, irons, DVD players, audio equipment, magnetic disk drives, laptops, computer units (excluding displays), and other household products that run on electricity or batteries
■Items that cannot be collected: Kerosene stoves, televisions, washing machines, clothes dryers, air conditioners, refrigerators, freezers, CRT displays, LCD displays, small wooden appliances such as kotatsu and speakers, small cloth appliances and large appliances such as electric blankets and electric carpets.
* Please delete any personal information from your mobile phone, computer, etc. beforehand.
*For safe and smooth processing, please be sure to remove batteries and printer ink/toner.
*We will not collect outer boxes and packing materials, so please either bring only small appliances or take home any outer boxes and packing materials you brought to the venue.
*If you are elderly and cannot bring your trash to the collection point, we will collect it on Friday, July 25th, so please contact the Town Hall Citizen Life Division as soon as possible.
■Inquiries/Townsman Lifestyle Division Townsman Lifestyle Section
TEL 0136- 56 -8839


Niseko Town Announcement of elections
This is a notice from Niseko Town Election Management Committee.
The Niseko Town Election will be held as follows, due to the expiration of the term of office on October 8, 2025.
■ Announcement date: Tuesday, September 9th
■Voting day/Sunday, September 14th
■ Voting hours: 7:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.
■Vote counting time: 8:00 p.m.
■ Vote counting location: Niseko Town Hall 1st floor multipurpose hall
◎ Candidate Information Session
In connection with the Niseko Town Election, an information session for candidates will be held as follows.
Candidates or related parties are requested to attend.
■ Date and time: August 19th (Tuesday) 10:00 am
■ Location: Niseko Town Hall 1st floor multipurpose hall
Please contact us for more information.
■問合せ/選挙管理委員会(総務課内) TEL 0136-56-8834



★ Use precious water carefully
Please cooperate with water pipe leak investigations
The town will be conducting leak investigations in parts of the town from this month through October. During the investigation, staff will enter your property, so we ask for your understanding and cooperation.
how do i investigate?
A leak detector is applied to the water meter buried around the building such as a house. A leak detector detects the faint vibration sound that occurs when water leaks. A survey can be completed in minutes.
The actual investigation is carried out by employees of companies entrusted by the town.
The survey was always conducted in pairs, and participants were required to wear a vest provided by the town (Photo 1) and to carry a town-issued ID card.
It is fitted with a belt (Photo 2).
Please note that we will always contact you before conducting an investigation, but if you are not present, we will proceed with the investigation, so please understand.
please.
In addition, if there is a risk of water leakage on the premises, we will immediately explain the situation.
■問合せ/上下水道課維持係 TEL 0136-56-8847



Blood donation
A blood donation truck will be coming to Niseko Town on Wednesday, August 27th. We appreciate your cooperation.
■Time: 10:30am - 5:00pm (lunch break from 12:00pm to 1:30pm)
■ Location: Community Center Parking Lot
■Inquiries: Health and Welfare Division, Health Promotion Section
TEL 0136-56-8840



Attorney Katahira will solve your worries!

●This month's theme
Traffic Accidents and Lawyer Special Coverage
When involved in a traffic accident, we often see people accepting the proposal from the insurance company to which the other party is affiliated and receiving compensation. However, from a lawyer's perspective, the amount of compensation proposed by the insurance company may be a fixed amount compared to the general market price.
Also, even if you are undergoing treatment for injuries from an accident, in cases of whiplash symptoms, you may be asked to terminate treatment after about three months. However, even if the symptoms are mild neuralgia, treatment may take time. There are also court cases in which it has been determined that a treatment period of about six months is necessary. Since compensation for outpatient treatment is also affected by the length of time spent at the hospital, the difference between three and six months of outpatient treatment can result in a difference of 300,000 to 400,000 yen in compensation.
In these situations, many people are unsure of how to respond to the other party's insurance company.
By the way, does your car insurance include a special clause for attorney's fees? If the car insurance held by the person who was injured in a traffic accident includes a special clause for attorney's fees, it is possible to hire a lawyer through the insurance.
The insurance company will cover consultation fees, attorney's fees, actual expenses, etc. up to the insurance limit. If you only use the attorney's fee special clause, your car insurance grade will not increase. In the event of an accident, we recommend that you check your car insurance card.

Park Front Law Office Niseko Office
141 Hondori Niseko Town
TEL 0136-44-3800 FAX.0136-44-3801



There is a vacant room in the municipal housing
Type Apartment name Format Structure Rent guideline Minimum to maximum Parking space
・Public housing (for families) Arishima Danchi Building 4, Room 103 1LDK (34.35 sqm) Built in 1969 Simple fireproof single-story house 5,000 yen to 16,100 yen (varies depending on income, etc.) None
・Public housing (for families) Arishima Danchi Building 2, Room 202, 3LDK (61.99 sqm), built in 1987, simple fireproofing, 2nd floor, 11,000 yen to 36,400 yen (varies depending on income, etc.) Available
・Public housing (for families) Fujimi Danchi Building 1, Room 204, 3LDK (61.99 sqm), built in 1983, simple fireproofing, 2nd floor, 10,900 yen to 35,600 yen (varies depending on income, etc.) Available
・Public housing (for families) Hondori A Danchi Building 3, Room 103, 2LDK (62.49 sqm), built in 2002, simple fireproofing, 2nd floor, 11,500 yen to 37,500 yen (varies depending on income, etc.) Available
Public housing (for families) Hondori A-danchi Building 1, Room 102, 1LDK (45.26 sqm), built in 1999, simple fireproofing, 2nd floor, 38,000 yen, garage fee 3,000 yen, available

●Application period: July 1st (Tue) to July 15th (Tue)
●Eligibility and application method/Please inquire for details.
■問合せ/都市建設課住宅管理係 TEL 0136-55-8846




To all those who own farmland
Farmland is a precious and limited resource for ensuring a stable supply of food, and owners and renters of farmland are expected to take responsibility for using it appropriately and efficiently. There are no penalties, but farmland currently under cultivation cannot be left without planting anything.
Therefore, once a year, local agricultural committee members visit all agricultural land and investigate its usage status.
We may have to enter farmland and interview you, so we ask for your cooperation (this year, from late June to August). If the survey finds that the land has been left abandoned, the Agricultural Committee will send you a survey on your intention to use the land.
The Agricultural Commission cannot issue a non-farmland certificate for farmland that was the subject of a survey on intentions to use. Please manage the farmland by mowing, plowing, etc. to prevent it from becoming overgrown.
If you are unable to cultivate the land yourself, please contact us and we will find someone who can.
Furthermore, if you wish to use farmland for purposes other than agriculture (such as constructing buildings, collecting soil and sand, or storing materials), you will need permission from the Agricultural Committee (or the Governor of Hokkaido if the area exceeds 4 hectares). There are some farmland for which permission cannot be granted depending on the purpose and location, such as large-scale prime farmland or land where a purpose can be achieved by building on something other than farmland. Doing so without permission will incur penalties. If you have a business plan, please consult with the Agricultural Committee as soon as possible, as it takes time from application to permission.
■問合せ/ニセコ町農業委員会 TEL 0136-56-8841



Make use of the "Heatstroke Alert"!
This summer is expected to be hot again, and one thing we need to be especially careful of from now on is heatstroke. There is information called "Heatstroke Warning Information (Heatstroke Warning Alert)" that you can refer to for preventive measures against heatstroke.
Heatstroke alerts are issued jointly by the Japan Meteorological Agency and the Ministry of the Environment at around 5pm the day before and 5am on the day when the risk of heatstroke is expected to be extremely high, and are information to encourage people to be aware of the heat. When a heatstroke alert is issued, use air conditioners appropriately, take frequent breaks, and replenish with fluids and salt. Elderly people and infants are particularly susceptible to heatstroke, so be especially careful and call out to them if you are around them.
In addition, the Ministry of the Environment will issue a "Heat Stroke Special Warning Information (Heat Stroke Special Warning Alert)" when unprecedented, dangerous heat over a wide area is expected to cause a large number of people to be rushed to hospital with heat stroke, disrupting the provision of medical care. In such cases, the Japan Meteorological Agency will also issue general weather information and other such notices to warn people about the heat in order to communicate the weather conditions and outlook for high temperatures, so please check the latest weather information as well.
■Ministry of the Environment HP/




2020 Memorial Ceremony for the War Dead
This year's Niseko Town War Dead Memorial Ceremony will be held at the town hall on Saturday, July 19th, for bereaved family members only. Bereaved family members will be contacted individually at a later date.
■問合せ/保健福祉課福祉係 TEL 0136-56-8840





If you don't know, you'll lose out
Join the Farmers' Pension Scheme to enjoy a secure and prosperous retirement

Farmers live long lives, but...
I want to live in retirement without worrying about money.
However, there are also unpredictable economic fluctuations and unexpected injuries and illnesses.
The average life expectancy of a 65-year-old Japanese man is 19 years (84 years) and 24 years (89 years) for women, with agricultural pension recipients living even longer.

Old age life that takes so much
(Approximately 3.01 million yen per year in cash expenditure)
The household expenses of an elderly farming household (a married couple aged 65 or older) are about 251,000 yen per month in cash expenditures. (Source: Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications Household Survey, etc.)

The amount of national pension paid is
Approximately 69,000 yen per month per person (if enrolled for 40 years)
The combined monthly bill for a couple is about 138,000 yen.
The national pension alone is not enough for a rich post-retirement life, and it is necessary to prepare for post-retirement living expenses on your own.
For salaried workers, the National Pension (basic pension) is topped up by the Employees' Pension Insurance (in the model case of the Employees' Pension Insurance)
(The combined monthly cost for a married couple is 230,000 yen.)
Farmers too can join the Farmers' Pension Plan, which offers many benefits, and enjoy a secure and prosperous retirement.

■Inquiries: JA or Agriculture Committee Secretariat
JAようてい真狩支所 TEL 0136-45-2131
農業委員会事務局 TEL 0136-56-8841


Have you forgotten to take a medical checkup?

If you are over 30 years old and have not had a medical checkup this year, be sure to get one.
◎ Cancer Association Comprehensive Health Check
■Date and time: August 22 (Friday) 6:30 a.m. Meet in front of Niseko Town Center (pick-up and drop-off by bus)
■Location: Cancer Association Sapporo Health Check Center
■Contents: Specific health examinations, stomach, lung, and colon cancer examinations, breast cancer examinations, and uterine cancer examinations
■ Screening Institution: Cancer Association Sapporo Health Check Center
■Application deadline: Friday, August 8th
■申し込み・問合せ/保健福祉課健康づくり係 TEL 0136-56-8840




Mental health consultation
At Kutchan Public Health Centre, mental health specialists are available to provide consultations to anyone, from children to the elderly, who is concerned about their mental health. Privacy is strictly protected. Please feel free to contact us.
Consultations are free, but reservations are required. Please contact us at least 3 days before the consultation date.
Date and time: Thursday, July 24th, 2pm to 4pm, Wednesday, September 3rd, 10am to noon
■Place/Kutchan public health center
*In addition, public health nurses are available to answer phone and in-person consultations on weekdays. Please feel free to contact us.
■Inquiries: Health Promotion Division, Kutchan Public Health Center
TEL 0136-23-1957



Why not try dancing the Bon Odori dance?
This year, we have made some changes to the Niseko Kanko Ondo so that everyone can easily dance along. Why not join us and dance along? We look forward to your participation.
Date and time: Thursday, July 17th, 7pm - 8pm
■ Place / Townsman Center
*No prior registration required. Please come directly to the venue on the day.
■問合せ/日本舞踊西川流師範 西川駒詩 TEL 0136-44-2773




The operational situation of town ownership information
In order for us to think for ourselves and proceed with community development, we need a variety of information about the town. In addition, our personal information must be properly managed.
The town has a bylaw that requires the town to publicly announce the status of use of information managed by the town. The status of use of town-owned information in fiscal year 2024 is as follows:

Niseko Town Information Disclosure Ordinance
This ordinance guarantees everyone the right to request disclosure of information managed by the town.
1. Number of information disclosure requests/1
2. Review Board Status / Not Held (No Review Cases) Former Niseko Town Personal Information Protection Ordinance
This old ordinance guaranteed everyone the right to request the town to disclose their personal information and required the town to establish rules regarding the use of your personal information and to manage it appropriately.
This old ordinance was abolished at the end of March 2023, and with the amendment of the national "Act on the Protection of Personal Information," the personal information protection systems of the national and local governments were unified under the same law, becoming a nationwide common rule from April 1st.
1. Number of requests for disclosure and number of decisions regarding disclosure or non-disclosure/1 case
2. Number of requests for correction and number of decisions: None
3. Number of requests for correction and number of cases processed: None
4. Appeal/None
5. Use for other purposes and provision to external parties
■ Number of cases of unauthorized use: 2
*Usage for purposes other than those intended means that personal information is used for purposes other than the original collection within the town.
■ Number of cases provided externally / 1 case
■Inquiries/
(Regarding information disclosure) General Affairs Division, General Affairs Section
(個人情報の保護について)総務課情報管理係 TEL 0136-56-8834

Status of operation of town-owned information (notified in 2024)〈Unintended use〉
Affairs using information
Smartphone Classes to be Held in FY2024

Divisions that use the information
Town: General Affairs Division

Affairs in charge of information
N

Division in charge of the information
None (Participant himself)

Reason for non-purpose use
To hold smartphone classes aimed at alleviating concerns about digital use among the elderly and others.



Affairs using information
Niseko Town Gift Card Distribution Project in 2024

Divisions that use the information
Town: Planning and Environment Division

Affairs in charge of information
N

Division in charge of the information
Townspeople's department

Reason for non-purpose use
In order to restore consumption in the town, which has been hit hard by rising prices, and to support the lives of the townspeople, gift cards will be distributed to stimulate consumer demand and help restore the town's economy.







Recruitment
FY2026 Firefighter Recruitment Examination
■Number of people hired // Some people
■ Place of work: Yotei Sanroku Fire Department Kutchan Fire Station or Rankoshi Branch, Niseko Branch, Makkari Branch
■Qualifications for taking the exam: Applicants must be graduates of high school under the School Education Act or be expected to graduate by the end of March 2026, and must have been born on or after April 2, 1996. In addition, applicants must meet the following conditions.
(1) People who can live in the town or village where they work
(2) Those who have a regular driver's license (manual vehicle) or will obtain one within the next year
(3) Those who are in good health both physically and mentally, have normal limb functions, and are able to perform their duties without any problems
(4) Those who have Japanese nationality and do not fall under the disqualification provisions of Article 16 of the Local Public Service Personnel Law
■Applications must arrive by Wednesday, August 13th
Application forms can be requested from the General Affairs Division of the Fire Department Headquarters, the Kutchan Fire Department, or downloaded from the Fire Department Association website.
I can do it.
■ Exam Schedule: 1st exam: Saturday, September 6th, 1:30pm - 2nd exam: Wednesday, October 1st
*The implementation time will be decided at a later date (only for those who passed the first exam)
■問合せ/羊蹄山ろく消防組合消防本部総務課 TEL 0136-22-2822


Notice of Recruitment of Self-Defense Forces
● General Soda Candidate (2nd)
・Eligibility for taking the exam: 18 years old or older but under 33 years old as of the 1st day of the scheduled hiring month
・Application period: July 1st (Tue) to September 2nd (Tue)
First exam date: September 13th (Saturday) to September 22nd (Monday)
● Self-Defense Officer Candidate (2nd)
・Eligibility for taking the exam: 18 years old or older but under 33 years old as of the 1st day of the scheduled hiring month
・Application period: July 1st (Tuesday) to August 19th (Tuesday)
・Exam date: August 28th (Thursday) to August 31st (Sunday)
● Self-Defense Force Candidates (3rd)
・Eligibility for taking the exam: 18 years old or older but under 33 years old as of the 1st day of the scheduled hiring month
・Application period: July 1st (Tue) to September 2nd (Tue)
・Exam date: Kutchan venue: Wednesday, September 24th (any day between Monday, September 22nd and Saturday, September 27th)
■問合せ/自衛隊札幌地方協力本部倶知安地域事務所 TEL 0136-23-3540または自衛官募集相談員 TEL 0136-44-2177




Tracking! vol.53
Activities of a town development company!

Voices of Niseko Mirai residents! ~Communal farm edition~
This time, as part of the Niseko Mirai residents' voices series, which was also published in the June issue Koho Niseko Newsletter, we will be sending you the Niseko Mirai Community Farm Edition!
Niseko Mirai has a shared field that can be used mainly by residents. This year marks the third year since activities began in the field. Until now, edamame beans were mainly planted to increase the nutrients in the soil, but from now on, residents will be growing a variety of crops.
Tenant A is enthusiastic about trying his hand at growing melons in addition to growing summer vegetables such as tomatoes and zucchini. He is working hard to grow melons with advice from a former farmer living nearby. A has lived in the Tokyo metropolitan area for a long time, so this is his first time growing crops in a large field. He is also looking forward to interacting with local people through farm work.
Tenant B said he would like to grow asparagus and strawberries, as well as summer vegetables such as peppers, tomatoes, and basil. Once he harvests the vegetables, he would like to trade them with his neighbors, and even have a barbecue or make pizza with the vegetables he harvests. He spoke with enthusiasm about how he hopes the field will become a place that the local community can enjoy.
In addition to the residents' vegetable gardens, the shared fields will also be used to grow crops for the summer soybean harvest and the autumn roasted sweet potato event. We hope that this will become a place where people from various regions can interact again this year!
■Inquiries: Niseko Town Co., Ltd.
TEL 0136-55-6087
Email:info@nisekomachi.co.jp





Hokkaido Police Officer Recruitment
■Qualifications/
・A category
Educational background: Those who have graduated from a university (excluding junior college) (including those who are expected to graduate by the end of March 2026)
Age: People born between April 2, 1993 and April 1, 2008
・Category B
Educational background: Other than category A
Age: People born between April 2, 1993 and April 1, 2008
■ Application period: July 1st (Tuesday) to August 15th (Friday) 5:00 p.m.
■ Exam Schedule: 1st exam: Sunday, September 21st 2nd exam: late October to early November
■問合せ/倶知安警察署警務課 TEL 0136-22-0110




Radio Niseko News Vol.16

Radio Niseko High School ~A Little Break Radio~
Every Friday and Saturday, local personalities
This is the open studio where you are broadcasting.
Every fourth Saturday, Niseko High School broadcasts "Radio Niseko High School ~ Take a Break Radio ~". Students and teachers appear on the show and deliver a variety of content each time, including the latest news from Niseko High School, reports on activities such as training, and discussions on school rules.
Starting in April, the third year of the show, two third-year students have become the MCs, coming up with questions and leading the conversation. The music played during the show is also selected by the students. Enjoy the talk that only high school students can give!
〇 "Radio Niseko High School
~A Little Break Radio~" Niseko High School
Saturday Open Studio Week 4 2:00pm-3:00pm (Repeat: Sunday 1:00pm-2:00pm)
■問合せ/ラジオニセコ TEL 0136-55-5762
Email : niseok762@radioniseko.jp



Event
Request for support for the 5th Minna no Shokudo event
Following on from last year, we will be holding the "Minna no Shokudo" (Everybody's Dining Hall). This is an event where you can enjoy delicious local ingredients while interacting with the local community. We look forward to your participation.
Date and time: Monday, July 7th, 5pm
■ Place / Townsman Center
Along with this announcement, we would like to ask for your support. Please help us by donating vegetables that are damaged or not up to standard. We are also accepting donations starting at 1,000 yen per donation. As we continue the event, we will use the donations to purchase ingredients and equipment necessary for the event.
Volunteer staff will come to collect the sponsored items. Please contact us for inquiries.
■Inquiries: NPO Niseko Future Support Team email: contact.nis.eco@gmail.com



★Coloring Niseko's summer
Tanabata evening Fireworks Display
The "Tanabata Evening" fireworks display, a small hometown development event, is beloved by townspeople and marks its 45th year this year.
The organizing committee prioritizes the safety and comfort of all visitors, and is focusing on things like setting up the venue and strengthening security.
The operation of the festival is supported by financial support from businesses and the town, but due to the recent rise in prices,
The situation is getting tougher. Therefore, we would like to ask for your support for this event again this year, and we will be collecting donations. We appreciate your kind support.
Donation boxes are available at the following locations: Kiranoyu, Maeda Shoten, Seico Mart, Izakaya Matsu, Snack Iitomo, 7-Eleven, Lupinus, etc.
*The number of stores setting up the machines has increased this year, and many businesses in the town are cooperating with us.
◎ Fireworks display schedule
■ Date and time: Saturday, August 2nd, 2pm (rain or shine)
■ Place/Athletic Park
*During the event, parking will be prohibited on the roads around the venue. Please be sure to use the designated temporary parking lot.
■問合せ/実行委員会事務局(ニセコ町商工会内) TEL 0136-44-2214



Niseko Town Crime Prevention Association
City Case Files
Incidents There were no incidents in Niseko Town during May.
Traffic Accidents There were no traffic accidents in Niseko Town during May.
倶知安警察署/TEL 0136-22-0110




Sports
Would you like to wake up early and do radio exercises?
Why don't you get up a little early and do radio calisthenics during the elementary school summer vacation?
■Date and time: July 26th (Saturday) to August 19th (Tuesday) from 6:30am (cancelled in case of rain)
■ Location: Chibikko Square
■問合せ/総合教育課スポーツ係 TEL 0136-44-2034

★Let's have fun together
Whole town softball tournament
Participate in regional softball tournaments and deepen friendships with everyone in the community.
■ Date and time: Sunday, July 27th, match starts at 8:00 a.m. (cancelled in case of rain)
■ Location: Baseball field, multipurpose plaza at the sports park
■Application deadline: Friday, July 11th
*Please apply as a team for each region.
■ Supervisory meeting/Wednesday, July 16th, 6pm
■ Place / Townsman Center
■問合せ/総合教育課スポーツ係 TEL 0136-44-2034



culture
Sapporo Kodaly Choir Concert Kangasala Summer Day
As an annual event, we will be inviting the Sapporo Kodály Choir to perform music from Finland and France.
■ Date and time: July 5th (Saturday) Doors open at 1:30pm, performance begins at 2pm
■ Place / Arishima Takeo Memorial Museum
■Price/entrance fee only
■ Performed by: Sapporo Kodaly Chorus, (Conductor) Takao Nakamura



~Meeting and 50 years later~
Yoko Arano x Koyoshi Ando two-person exhibition
It has been 50 years since they met while starting a group of women active in the world of calligraphy. Please enjoy their powerful works, which continue to this day.
■ Period: July 5th (Sat) to July 27th (Sun)
■ Place / Arishima Takeo Memorial Museum
■Price/entrance fee only

Koya x Ando Duo Exhibition Talk Show "Me and Calligraphy"
■ Date and time: July 20th (Sun) 11:00 am
■ Place / Arishima Takeo Memorial Museum
■Price/entrance fee only
■Cast: Yoko Arano, Koyoshi Ando
*No prior application required
Talk by environmental activist Takahisa Taniguchi
Anyone interested in learning about the future of the Earth and the environment and developing the ability to think for themselves is welcome to join.
■ Date/Time: Sunday, July 13th
Charity Bazaar: 2pm
Niseko High School Student Concert: 2:45pm ~ Takahisa Taniguchi Talk: 3pm ~
■ Place / Arishima Takeo Memorial Museum
■Lecturer: "Let's Protect the Earth" Takahisa Taniguchi (Environmental Activist)
■Fee: Free (please help by donating to an NPO)
■Organizers: Niseko Future Support Team, Arishima Takeo Memorial Museum


Sirihi Museum Gallery Road Exhibition
This year, six art museums in Shiribeshi will hold a joint exhibition with the theme of "Showa." Our museum will be showcasing paper cuttings by Hideyuki Fujikura that evoke the Showa period.
■ Period: July 12th (Saturday) to September 23rd (Tuesday)
■ Location: Arishima Takeo Memorial Museum and others
■Price/entrance fee only


Museum Road Concert
This is a rare performance by young musicians featuring violin, trumpet, and marimba, which will be a first for the museum.
Date and time: July 26th (Saturday) 3:00pm - 3:40pm
■ Place / Arishima Takeo Memorial Museum
■ Cast: Pirikanege (Yuki Takanashi, Ryoko Nagaoka, Mone Onodera)
■ Fee/Free
■Organizer: Hokkaido Bank Cultural Foundation and others The Fujikura Exhibition will be held at the Kawauchi Magokoro Literature Museum in Kagoshima Prefecture until (Sunday).
*For inquiries about the "Culture" section of the Living Information section, please contact Arishima Takeo Memorial Museum
(TEL 0136-44-3245)
* Arishima Takeo Memorial Museum opens at 9:00 a.m.
Open, last admission at 4:30 pm (closed on Mondays). Admission is 500 yen for adults, free for high school students and younger and townspeople aged 65 and older.


Hideyuki Fujikura Exhibition from Summer to Autumn
Our museum has a collection of approximately 10,000 works by Hideyuki Fujikura. This time, we will be showcasing his latest works, including posters, including works featured in an art book scheduled for release in July.
■Date and time: Saturday, August 2nd to Sunday, October 5th
■ Place / Arishima Takeo Memorial Museum
■Price/entrance fee only


The Fujikura exhibition moves beyond Arishima Takeo Memorial Museum!
The Fujikura Exhibition will be held at the Abashiri City Museum of Art in Abashiri City from Saturday, August 2nd to Sunday, September 7th, and at the Kawauchi Magokoro Literature Museum in Kagoshima Prefecture from Monday, August 11th to Sunday, September 28th.
※くらしの情報「文化」コーナーについての問い合わせは、有島記念館まで (TEL 0136-44-3245)
* Arishima Takeo Memorial Museum opens at 9:00 a.m., with last admission at 4:30 p.m. (closed on Mondays). Admission is 500 yen for adults, and free for high school students and younger and townspeople aged 65 and older.





Consumer affairs consultation memo

Beware of phone calls claiming to be from the police, city hall, or other public institutions.
Consumer consultation centers across the country have received inquiries about suspicious phone calls from people claiming to be from the police or public institutions. For example, a caller claiming to be from the police said, "Your bank account is being used for money laundering. The arrested criminals say they conspired with you," and guided me into a video call, where I provided my address, phone number, occupation, bank account, and driver's license at the request of the other party. I'm worried that the information I provided will be misused. What should I do?" Others have reported that people claiming to be employees of the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry have tried to get personal information from me on the pretext that my phone will not work or that my communications will be cut off, or that they have been offered funds under the guise of a grant or other payment.
To avoid getting into trouble, even if you are contacted by a company claiming to be a public institution, do not trust them easily. Look up the contact information of the company yourself and inquire whether the information is correct. In particular, do not just pay money as you are asked.
No matter how careful you are, you may still get into trouble. If you feel uneasy or in trouble, please contact a consultation center, the police, or your local government office immediately.
■問合せ/ようてい地域消費生活相談窓口 TEL 0136-44-1600




International Exchange News vol.27
On May 31st, the Coordinators for International Relations held a "Dragon Boat Festival Cultural Lecture" where they introduced the history and customs of the traditional Chinese event, the Dragon Boat Festival.
This time, the participants also tried making misanga bracelets using five different colored threads, creating talismans to ward off evil and to pray for good health. They also sampled chimaki with chicken and black rice chimaki with jujube, allowing the participants to enjoy the flavors of the Chinese Dragon Boat Festival.
Finally, the participants discussed the differences and similarities between the Tango Festivals in Japan and China, providing a valuable opportunity for deepening understanding of different cultures.




pension news
It is convenient to make an appointment in advance for a consultation regarding National Pension!
The Otaru Pension Office has set up a consultation desk for those wishing to receive pension benefits.
年金請求書の記入について窓口で相談したい人は、訪問前に「予約受付専用電話」TEL0570-05-4890で予約をお願いします。予約すると、相談のないように合わせて担当者が事前に準備をしますので、スムーズに相談できます。
When making an inquiry, please prepare your pension booklet or pension certificate showing your basic pension number.
■ Implementation hours of the consultation desk / (Monday to Friday) 8:30 a.m. to 5:15 p.m.
■問合せ/ 町民生活課住民係 TEL 0136-56-8839




heart gift
Thank you for your donation. We appreciate your generosity.
《Niseko Town Social Welfare Council Reception》
“As a thank you for taking care of my mother during her life.”
Mr. Masato Nakamura of Shirakaba
“Please use it for social welfare.”
Niseko Town Gateball Association
“Please use it for social welfare.”
Watanabe Shoji Co., Ltd.
“Please use it for social welfare.”
Niseko Town Ballroom Dance Circle



Contract results The contract results are posted on Niseko Town official website.





The "Third Niseko Town Autonomy Revitalization Comprehensive Strategy" has been formulated.
News about "low birthrate and aging population" and "population decline" is being reported daily, but about 10 years ago, in December 2015, the Japanese government enacted the "Towns, People, and Jobs Creativity Act" with the aim of putting a stop to population decline and the concentration of population in Tokyo and maintaining a vibrant society.
This law requires municipalities to formulate plans for regional revitalization measures, and Niseko Town also formulated the "Niseko Town Autonomy Revitalization Comprehensive Strategy" (hereinafter the "Comprehensive Strategy") in March 2016.
The Comprehensive Strategy summarizes the current population situation and future outlook, and sets relevant important goals, policies, and numerical targets to measure progress. The third Comprehensive Strategy was formulated in March 2025.
In recent years, Niseko Town 's population has remained at just over 5,000 people, but the latest estimates suggest that the population is expected to begin to decline from the late 2030s. In addition, demographic trends include an increase in the number of foreigners and a trend of young and elderly people moving out (a decrease in the number of people moving out).
In light of this situation, the Third Comprehensive Strategy touches on the need to "develop an environment where foreign residents can live with peace of mind," "create opportunities for young people to attend school and take part in life events," and "address the difficulties that elderly people face in their daily lives (transportation, snow removal, etc.)," in addition to previous issues such as housing development.
The comprehensive strategy entered its third planning period this April, and it is important to consider town development while incorporating the voices of the town's residents and the diverse people involved in the area. If you have any comments or suggestions, please use the town's public hearing system to send us your opinions.
■問合せ/企画環境課経営企画係 TEL 0136-56-8837
Town homepage?
Autonomy Creation Comprehensive Strategy Page




Delivered from the dispatch destination!
Regional Revitalization Center Secondment Report
Hello everyone. My name is Konishi and I am currently on a training assignment from Niseko Town Hall to the Regional Revitalization Center in Tokyo. Based on the philosophy that "community development starts with people development," the Center works with local government officials and private companies from all over the country to solve local issues, develop human resources, and support town development. No matter how excellent the systems and facilities are, they cannot truly help the community if there are no people to utilize them. How do we develop and increase the number of people who want to improve the community and can think and act for themselves? I am learning knowledge and hints for this every day from examples of regional revitalization across the country.
One memorable example is the "Iyo Book Project" carried out in Iyo City, Ehime Prefecture. 100 citizens each introduced a book they recommended, and a booklet called "Iyoshi 100 Books Story" was published that compiled the books, their photos, and comments. Through books, interactions were created in which people thought, "If this person recommends it, I'll read it," and new conversations and connections were spread within the community.
Initiatives like these that create opportunities for people to connect with nature bring a warm and gentle vitality to the region. I hope that in Niseko Town, we can create a place where the voices and thoughts of the townspeople can come together and new connections can be born.
During the remaining time of my stay, I would like to think about how I can create "small opportunities to connect people" in the town. I will continue to work hard to find and bring back as many things as possible that will be useful for the future of the town.
Regional Revitalization Center Homepage





hello mayor
"The river flows, reflecting the way people live their lives," are the words of the late Professor Emeritus of the University of Tokyo, Ya Omori, who guided us in promoting self-governance in the town.
The Shiribetsu River was once a thriving fishing ground for lampreys and other fish, but as lifestyles diversified, it became noticeably polluted 40 years ago. The Obirame Association is promoting conservation activities to turn the river back into a habitat for the mythical huchen fish, the huchen. In addition, the Shiribetsu River Network, which advocates self-governance in the river basin, is carrying out reforestation and river beautification activities. The Shiribetsu River Unified Ordinance was also enacted by the towns and villages along the river basin, and a fishway was also constructed with the cooperation of related companies. The construction of sewerage systems in the towns and villages along the river has also progressed, and the Shiribetsu River, along with the Shimanto River, continues to be Japan's cleanest Class 1 river. Let's continue to protect this beautiful, clear river.
Niseko Town Kenya Katayama

Town Calendar 7JULY

Upper right box article
July is
・Nursing care insurance premium (first period) due date
・Fixed property tax and national health insurance tax (2nd period) due
The deadline for both is Friday the 25th.
・Delivery date for water supply and sewage
The account will be debited on the 28th (Monday)
If you use bank transfer, please check your balance.
Inquiries about long-term care insurance premiums/Health and Welfare Division
Inquiries about property tax and national health insurance tax/Taxation Division
Inquiries about water supply and sewerage / Water and Sewerage Division
いずれもTEL0136-44-2121

Upper right box article
Emergency and sudden illness response at night and on holidays
倶知安厚生病院 電話0136-22-1141


9th (Wed)
After-school research class/town: 15:30~

Thursday 10th
Parenting class "Ballet Exercise" / Town: 10:00 ~ See page 11 of the smiling square
●Muscle storage class/Town: 10:30~
●Asobukkurabu (reservation required) Ah: 15:00-
Niseko Yukimori Kosha Activity Report Session/Town: 18:00-19:30
Open at night

Friday 11th
●Cancer Association Health Checkup/Town: 5:30~
After-school children's class/physical education: 13:30~

12th (Sat)
Aquatic insect observation event/Meeting in front of the town: 9:30~
●Niseko High School Festival / Niseko High School: 10:00-14:00
●Shiribeshi Museum Road Exhibition / Yes: (Until September 23rd) See Living Information, p. 19

13th (Sun)
Talk by environmental activist Takahisa Taniguchi / Available: 15:00 ~ See Living Information, p. 19

Monday 14th
After-school children's class/town: 13:30~
●Obanana Mayor's Office / Role: 17:00~
Playbook closed day

15th (Tuesday)
● Parenting class "Accessories class" / Town: 10:00 ~ See page 11 of the smiling square
● Free legal consultation with a lawyer / Town: From 13:00 (Reservation required by noon the previous day)
Central warehouse group closed days

Wednesday 16th
Infant and child consultation/town: 9:00~
●Radio Niseko Cut-in Training Broadcast / Role: 10:50~
● Town-wide softball tournament supervisors meeting / Town: 18:00 ~ See information on daily life, p. 19

Thursday 17th
●Asobukkurabu (reservation required) Ah: 15:00-
Open at night

Friday 18th
After-school children's class/physical education: 13:30~

19th (Sat)
● Memorial service for the war dead / Town: 11:00~ See Living Information, p.15
●Niseko Village Niconico Summer Festival / Niseko Village: 12:00-21:00

20th (Sun)
●Kouya x Ando Exhibition Talk Show "Me and Calligraphy" / Yes: 11:00 ~ See Living Information p19
●Niseko Village Niconico Summer Festival / Niseko Village: 12:00-21:00

Monday 21st
Marine Day
Playbook closed day

Tuesday 22nd
●Health exercise class/Town: 19:00~
Playbook closed day
Central warehouse group closed days

Wednesday 23rd
●Muscle storage class/Town: 10:30~
After-school research class/town: 15:30~

Thursday 24th
●Magic Carpet/A: 15:00~
Open at night

Friday 25th
●Echinococcus extermination measures/town: 9:00~
After-school children's class/town: 13:30~
●Cartoon Workshop/Niseko High School World Village: 15:30~
Playbook closed day

26th (Sat)
●Radio calisthenics / (Until August 19th) Chibikko Hiroba: 6:30~ See Living Information p19
● Collection of used small appliances / Niseko Town Heavy Vehicle Garage: 8:00-13:00 See Living Information, p. 13
●Niseko Morning Market/Maeda Shoten: 8:00~
●English conversation circle/o: 10:00~
●World Cafe/Town: 13:00-15:00
● Museum Road Concert / Yes: 15:00~ See page 20 of Living Information

27th (Sun)
● Town-wide softball tournament / Un: Multipurpose field: 8:00~ (cancelled in case of rain) See Living Information p.19
● Fun Meeting/Town: 10:00~

28th (Monday)
Playbook closed day

29th (Tuesday)
Central warehouse group closed days

30th (Wed)

Thursday 31st
Infant health checkup/town: 12:45~
Open at night

Friday, August 1
●Women's health check/town: 8:30~

2nd (Sat)
●Tanabata Evening Fireworks Festival / Lucky hours: 14:00~ See Living Information, p.18
●Summer to Autumn Fujikura Hideyuki Exhibition / Available: (Until October 5th) See Living Information, p.20

3rd (Sun)

4th (Monday)
Playbook closed day

5th (Tuesday)
● Free legal consultation with a lawyer / Town: From 13:00 (Reservation required by noon the previous day)
Central warehouse group closed days

6th (Wed)

You can now call the department directly.

From June 23rd, please call the relevant department directly at the following number:
It is now possible to do so.
44-2121 Representative
56-8834 General Affairs Division
56-8835 General Affairs Division, Disaster Prevention Section, Fire Department Building Maintenance Office
56-8836 Parliamentary Affairs Bureau
56-8837 Planning and Environment Division
56-8838 Taxation Division
56-8839 Citizen Life Section
56-8840 Health and Welfare Division
56-8841 Agriculture Department/Agriculture Committee
56-8842 National Farmland Reorganization Promotion Office
56-8843 Commerce, Industry and Tourism Division
56-8846 Urban Construction Division
56-8847 Water and Sewerage Division
56-8848 Treasury room
44-2101 Board of Education, Children's Future Division

Photo album of this month

Niseko Fujimi Neighborhood Association Cherry Blossom Viewing Party Photographer: Tomoki Nikai

Food and Nutrition Vol.33

[Beware of plastic bottle syndrome]
As summer approaches, everyone will be making an effort to stay hydrated to prevent heatstroke. Staying hydrated is the basis of heatstroke prevention, but drinking too much juice, carbonated drinks, sports drinks, and other drinks that contain a lot of sugar can lead to "PET bottle syndrome (soft drink ketosis)," a state of high blood sugar that makes you feel thirsty, fatigued, and drowsy despite the amount of water you've taken in. In severe cases, you may even become drowsy or experience symptoms such as a coma, so be careful.

Vicious cycle: Thirst → Sweet drinks → Increased blood sugar

How to properly hydrate
Hydration should be based on water and tea, and be aware of drinking frequently even if you are not thirsty. Drink sports drinks and other beverages that contain salt and sugar only after you have sweated a lot, such as after exercise.

[Notice: First semester health exercise class]
The town is holding a "Healthy Exercise Class" from July to November, 10 times in total, for an hour and a half from 7pm to 8:30pm, as an opportunity for everyone to have fun moving their bodies and overcome lack of exercise. Instructors from Kanronomori Fitness Club will introduce rhythmic exercises, core training, and stretches that can be done at home. The target age group is people in their 40s to 60s, and the exercise intensity is appropriate for that age group. We look forward to your participation.

■Inquiries: Health and Welfare Division, Health Promotion Section, Nutritionist
TEL 0136-56-8840 FAX 0136-44-3500
MAIL:kenko@town.niseko.lg.jp

DATA OF NISEKO TOWN

The situation of radiation dose in the town
Measurement date: 1 month until June 15th
Maximum value 0.041μGy/h
Minimum value: 0.033μGy/h
Average value 0.034μGy/h

The spatial radiation dose rate is
normal level

Movement of people (as of the end of May)
Population 5,053 people
(-18 compared to the previous month)
Men: 2,557
(-9 compared to the previous month)
Women: 2,496
(-41 compared to the previous month)
Number of households: 2,789
(-107 compared to the previous month)
Of these, 593 are foreigners.
Of these, 429 are foreign households.

Editor's Note

The other day, I went to a temple yoga class for the first time. As summer approaches, events are becoming more and more active, and I was feeling a bit tired, so I decided to take some time to look after my body.
I don't usually move my body much and I'm quite stiff, so I was a little worried at first. However, when I actually tried it, it felt surprisingly good. There were moments when I couldn't help but cry out "It hurts!" as I was stretching a body that I don't usually move, but doing yoga in the quiet space of the temple and surrounded by the gentle words of the teacher was a healing moment.
This was my first time doing yoga and I realized how important it is to take the time to reexamine my mind and body. I'm thinking of starting yoga seriously in the near future.
Everyone, please take care of yourself while you work hard every day.

Inquiries regarding information on this page

Niseko Town Hall
TEL:0136-44-2121
FAX:0136-44-3500