Automobile Tax Payment Deadline 2018 (H30)

2018年・自動車税は納期限までに納めましょう

2018/05/07 Monday Announcements

This year’s deadline for the automobile tax payment is on May 31 (Thursday).

Every citizen owning a vehicle must pay this tax once a year. And the money collected is used for education, improving health and welfare services, transportation infrastructure maintenance, unemployment benefits, disaster prevention measures and many other important government initiatives.

Every owner of a vehicle has already received an envelope containing a picture of a red car.

Automobile Tax Payments can be made through the bank and also through others facilities including convenience stores.  You can also use a credit card to pay for your tax (over the internet).

If the deadline expires, a “late payment fee” will be charged along with the automobile tax.

And for those who do not pay even after receiving the late payment notice, a penalty determined by the law will be applied, and material assets may be seized such as vehicles, salary, among others.

Please be sure to pay the tax before the deadline, May 31st (Thursday).

Click here for the 2018 Automobile Tax Poster (available in Japanese, English, Portuguese, Spanish)

Mie-ken: A great multicultural society

2018/05/07 Monday Announcements

国際化・多文化共生が進む三重県

People from Brazil, China, Philippines and from various countries and regions lives in Mie Prefecture, and the number of nationality is over 100. As of the end of 2017, the number of foreign residents increased by about 4,200 from the previous year, there are 47,665 foreigners living in Mie prefecture. The ratio of foreigners accounts for about 2.6% of the total population in the prefecture, and it is a high ratio nationwide.

In Mie Prefecture where internationalization and multicultural symbiosis are advancing this way and in Suzuka city where many foreigners live, Japanese and foreign residents are working together every year to create an international exchange festival with the keywords “Collaboration” and “Cross-cultural Experience”. With these keywords, the “WaiWai Spring Festival” was held. A lot of residents of various nationalities gathered this year and had a wonderful day. We interviewed participants about the importance of cross-cultural understanding and multicultural symbiosis.

[LimaCeasar and MatsumotoSonia – Brazilian]

I think exchange with Japanese people is important. Not only Brazilians, but Filipino, Peruvian, Japanese, etc., are also participating in this event to talk to each other, exchange information about Japan and our own culture . I think that is a good thing.

With this kind of event, we can meet people with different nationalities. I think that is important. I try to participate in various events.

 [Ao – Mongolian]

I have been in Japan for 15 years. After all, I live as a foreigner in Japan. It is fun to interact with the people from different countries at such international exchange event. From now on, if there’s another event like this, I would definitely want to enjoy, not only the food, but also spend more time talking to everybody.

 [Alex and Zaida – Peruvian]

I think (Multicultural symbiosis) is important. Because you can interact and create an international community. That is really important for our children growing up in Japan. As time goes by, I think that multicultural symbiosis is progressing. It is a gratifying thing and important for my entire family.

[Apollo – Filipino]

The Philippine group started participating in Mie Prefecture events 8 years ago. This group is not just for Filipino people. I would like people in various countries all over the world to have fun.

We asked Ms. Nakano of Suzuka International Friendship Association (SIFA) who is organizing this event about the purpose of the Wai Wai Spring Festival.

[Nakano Chizuko – Organizer (Suzuka International Friendship Association)]

In this event, you can experience the taste of various countries. This is also a good opportunity for foreigners to know the taste of other countries and have an exchange. Even in the stage, we have dances from various countries, so participating in such an event makes us familiar with foreign (culture). I think that it is very important that communication starts with this as a trigger.

After all, we live together in Suzuka. I would like to have this opportunity to make the foreigners participate in society and build it together, not just looking at everything as outsiders.

Foreigners are also in the executive committee. Not only Japanese people are working at the venue on the day. It is a festival where people from various countries get together and make it together. This is the purpose (Wai Wai Spring Festival).

This year’s WaiWai Spring Festival was one of the efforts of “Mie International Week 2018”. We interview the person in charge of “Mie International Week 2018”.

[Yamane Risuki – Mie Prefecture Employment Economics Department International Strategy Division – Mie-ken Koyo Keizai-bu Kokusai Senryaku-ka]

In Mie prefecture, about two weeks before and after May 26th and 27th of the summit holding date, “Mie International Week” are set in order to make the most of the experience of the Ise Shima Summit. The International Week is a period for intensive international efforts. Through efforts carried out during this week period, it is expected that the people of the prefecture will raise their interest in the world and make them active in the global field.

It has been two years since the Ise Shima Summit was held, but I hope that it will continue to turn our eyes on the world through international efforts, I hope that people throughout the prefecture would enjoy the international week.

The Wai Wai Spring Festival was an event that allowed us to experience multicultural symbiosis. Through such international efforts, the perspective of multicultural symbiosis is also emphasized in Mie Prefecture where internationalization is more prominent. People with diverse cultural backgrounds and values ​​recognize each difference and are asking for every citizen to build a community while giving respect to each other.