Bringing the power of music to all!

Fumiko Hayashi
Mayor of Yokohama

Fall is on the way, and will bring Yokohama Otomatsuri 2016, one of the biggest musical festivals in all Japan. This year, three years after the Yokohama Otomatsuri 2013, the streets of Yokohama will once again be alive with music.

For the festival, we are readying over 300 diverse programs comprising everything from concerts by first-rate globally active artists and programs to nurture the musical sensibilities of children, to events for casual enjoyment of music by all comers.

Music can give you the courage to take a step forward and comfort you when you are sad. It has a powerful force that transcends words and appeals directly to the human heart. Part of the charm of music is that even complete strangers can swiftly warm to each other by joining in giving themselves to its sounds and rhythms.

Yokohama Otomatsuri 2016 is a huge event in the vanguard of cultural programs scheduled to be staged nationwide with the approach of the 2020 Tokyo Olympics and Paralympics. Its theme is “super universal,” which reflects our wishes for enjoyment of music of all genres by all people, regardless of differences of age, citizenship, culture, and physical state (whether or not they have disabilities). We are able to create Yokohama Otomatsuri 2016 precisely because of Yokohama’s character as city that accepts diverse cultures and has developed a distinctive culture. Please make sure to attend it!

YOKOHAMA
OTOMATSURI

Held once every three years, the music festival Yokohama Otomatsuri 2016 will begin on September 22.
→See the next page for the main events.

Yokohama Otomatsuri 2016

Contact: Yokohama Arts Festival Executive Committee
Tel: 045-663-1365
Fax: 045-663-1928

Three key points for enjoying YOKOOTO

The theme is “super universal.”
The festival is for freewheeling enjoyment of music of all genres by all kinds of people, regardless of age, gender, status (pro/amateur), and physical state (presence or absence of disabilities).

Experience of performances by top artists
In terms of both the number of concerts and kinds of genres, Yokohama Otomatsuri is one of the largest musical events in Japan. It comprises many programs featuring world-renowned orchestras and first-rate musicians.

Not just appreciation! A variety of participation-oriented programs
In some of the programs, members of the audience will not merely listen to the performance but also be able to actually take part in it and share in the pleasures and joys of music.

Main events
18-ward Yokohama Short Films & Concert organized by Tetsuya Bessho
Piano recital by Kazune Shimizu

September 27 (Tues.) – November 24 (Thurs.)
Starting at 2:00 p.m.
Admission: 2,000 yen (all seats reserved)

Tickets now on sale

This program will show short films and stage concerts featuring Kazune Shimizu, one of Japan’s leading pianists, at cultural facilities familiar to residents in each of the city’s 18 wards. The program navigator is Tetsuya Bessho, who is President of the Short Shorts Film Festival & Asia organization. Because Yokohama consists of 18 wards, Mr. Shimizu is going to perform a different one of the 18 pieces making up Chopin’s “Nocturnes” in each ward. He is also going to collaborate with some of Japan’s top young artists in performances of other works.

Tetsuya Bessho

Kazune Shimizu © K. Miura

Schedule & venue *There will be a talk session with a live appearance by Mr. Bessho in the 1st and 18th installments. Video messages will be shown in the other installments.
1st Sept. 27 (Tues.) Tsurumi Ward Salvia Hall (Tsurumi Ward Cultural Center)*
2nd 28 (Wed.) Seya Ward Seya Public Hall
3rd 29 (Thurs.) Minami Ward Minami Public Hall
4th 30 (Fri.） Kohoku Ward Kohoku Public Hall
5th Oct. 4 (Tues.) Izumi Ward Théâtre Fonté (Izumi Ward Cultural Center)
6th 5 (Wed.） Midori Ward Midori Art Park (Midori Ward Cultural Center)
7th 6 (Thurs.) Naka Ward Small Hall, Yokohama Kannai Hall
8th 7 (Fri.) Sakae Ward Lilis (Sakae Ward Cultural Center)
9th 11 (Tues.) Kanagawa Ward Kanack Hall (Kanagawa Ward Cultural Center)
10th Oct. 12 (Wed.) Tsuzuki Ward Tsuzuki Public Hall
11th 31 (Mon.) Konan Ward Himawari-no-Sato (Konan Ward Cultural Center)
12th Nov. 1 (Tues.) Kanazawa Ward The Yokohama Kanazawa Industrial Development Center Hall
13th 2 (Wed.) Nishi Ward Nishi Public Hall
14th 8 (Tues.) Hodogaya Ward Iwama Citizens’ Plaza
15th 10 (Thurs.) Isogo Ward Sugita Theatre (Isogo Ward Cultural Center)
16th 11 (Fri.) Asahi Ward Sun Heart (Asahi Ward Cultural Center)
17th 22 (Tues.) Aoba Ward Philia Hall (Aoba Ward Cultural Center)
18th 24 (Thurs.) Totsuka Ward Sakura Plaza (Totsuka Ward Cultural Center)*

Contact: Yokooto Ticket Center (within the Kanagawa Arts Association)
Tel: 045-453-5080
Hours: 10:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m., Monday – Friday, and 10:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m., Saturday (closed on Sundays and holidays)

A project for spreading music on the streets
Generally on Saturdays from September 24 to November 26
* The date and time vary with the venue.

During the run of the festival, live performances will be given by artists with ties to Yokohama, in open space where people gather. All will be able to hear wonderful music of all genres on the streets of Yokohama.

Landmark Plaza will be the site of a free concert by Kanagawa Philharmonic Orchestra on October 22 (Sat.).

Venues
The tentative venues include the precincts of Iseyama Kotai Shrine, Cup Noodles Museum, Queen’s Circle, Grand Mall Park, the plaza fronting JR Sakuragicho Station, Nissan Global Headquarters Gallery, MARK IS Minato Mirai, Mitsui Outlet Park Yokohama Bayside, Yamashita Park, Yokohama Motomachi Shopping Street, LaLaport Yokohama, and Landmark Plaza.
* Admission will be charged for some programs.

Tickets now on sale
Yokohama Otomatsuri Para Music
Music in the Dark—Disabilities and the Arts in Yokohama

November 3 (a holiday), starting at 2:00 p.m., at Philia Hall (Aoba Ward Cultural Center)
Admission: S seats – 5,000 yen, A seats – 4,000 yen (all seats reserved)

A string orchestra composed of both musicians with visual impairments and those without them will stage a concert in a hall with all of the lights out. Because the visually impaired musicians normally perform without looking at sheet music, the concert will handicap the musicians whose vision is not impaired. In parts played within a pitch-black space, all will be able to experience music in an atmosphere that sharpens senses other than sight. Among the musicians appearing in the orchestra will be Narimichi Kawabata, a globally-active violinist with impaired vision, and master violinist Tsugio Tokunaga.

Narimichi Kawabata

Tsugio Tokunaga © K. Miura

Check here for more details!
◎Yokohama Otomatsuri 2016 Festival Guide
Distribution sites: Public relations sections of ward offices, Yokohama City Government Citizen Information Center, tourist information centers in Yokohama (located in the JR Yokohama, Sakuragicho, and Shin-Yokohama stations), cultural centers in the city, and other places

◎Official website
ヨコオト Search

Introducing Hamaben

This July saw the start of Hamaben (a Yokohama-style box lunch for delivery), a service directed to students of municipal junior high schools and compulsory education schools (the upper grades) based on advance reservations. So far, the lunches eaten by junior high school students are box lunches brought from home or prepared by lunch businesses for purchase on the same day. From now on, the students can also buy Hamaben. Plans call for gradual expansion of the service to all such schools before the end of this fiscal year.

Hamaben can be ordered by the special website or fax.

An ingratiating name
The name “Hamaben” was selected through a vote by junior high school students, who are the targets of the service.

Features of Hamaben
The customer has a choice of two entrees and three rice quantities. Rice and soup are delivered warm. The lunches are prepared by dietitians with full consideration for a good balance of nutritional value.

Can be ordered in units of days
The service is convenient. Customers can order Hamaben on the dedicated website and pay with a credit card or at a convenience store.

*Orders are also accepted by fax. In the case of orders placed by fax, there are differences as regards the payment method etc. For details, see the Hamaben website.

Delicious!

Contact: Health Education Division, Board of Education Secretariat
Tel: 045-671- 3277
Fax: 045-681-1456

ハマ弁 Search

Our website is convenient for making reservations to pick up your My Number card.

You must make an advance reservation to pick up your My Number card. Upon delivery of the distribution notification letter, please follow the instructions and make the reservation through the special website or other means.

To people who have the Basic Resident Register Card
We have ended additional issuance and redistribution of the Basic Resident Register Card and the issuance (or renewal) of electronic certificates for the Basic Resident Register Card. If the period of validity on the electronic certificate in your Basic Resident Register Card has expired, you cannot use your Basic Resident Register Card for e-Tax and other services even if it has not expired. In this case, you must obtain a My Number card (in which the electronic certificate is mounted as a standard item). Therefore, please apply for issuance early.

横浜市 マイナンバーカード 予約 Search

My Number mascot “Maina-chan”

Yokohama My Number System Call Center
Tel: 0120-045-505
Hours: 9:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m., Monday–Saturday (closed on Sundays and holidays, and in the year-end holiday season)
Fax: 045-664-5917

* The toll-free service is not available for IP phones and certain other types of phones. If you have such a phone, dial 045-367-5272 (for a charge).

Suspension of the operation of Honmoku Shimin Pool

Honmoku Shimin Pool has suspended its operation owing to the deterioration of its facilities, which has caused leaks and other problems for which repairs would be impractical.
It is uncertain when the pool will be reopened. Studies are now under way toward its renovation.

Contact: Sports Promotion Division, Civic Affairs Bureau
Tel: 045-671-3288
Fax: 045-664-0669

Implementation of the Yokohama Joint Disaster Preparedness Drill

Free observation
Cancellation in the event of bad weather

August 21 (Sun.), 10:00 a.m. – 12:00 noon, at Nakamura Elementary School (in Minami Ward) and other locations

This is a large-scale drill held to heighten each and every citizen’s awareness of disaster preparedness and to reinforce local disaster-prevention capabilities and coordination. It is staged with the cooperation of citizens, companies, and other organizations involved in disaster preparedness.

Through the drill, we would like people to think about ways to prevent and mitigate disasters and to prepare themselves for their sudden occurrence.
Besides the exercises by the disaster-prevention organizations, the program on the day includes events to give citizens firsthand experience of things such as torrential rain, life in evacuation shelters, life in disaster-affected areas, and swimming while clothed. We urge you to take part with the whole family!

Contact: Emergency Measures Division, General Affairs Bureau
Tel: 045-671-2064
Fax: 045-641-1677

Citizens can also take part in the drill.
Fire-fighting drill

Yokohama Disaster Preparedness Fair 2016

Cancellation in the event of bad weather

August 27 (Sat.) & 28 (Sun.), 10:30 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Yokohama Red Brick Warehouse Event Plaza

The Fair consists of sea-rescue drills by helicopters that ordinarily cannot be witnessed by the general public as well as exhibitions of vehicles involved in firefighting and disaster prevention, and many booths displaying goods for disaster preparedness. It is a perfect opportunity for visitors of all ages to learn about disaster prevention and mitigation while having a good time in the process. Don’t miss it!

A hook-and-ladder truck
Hose operation drill on a fireboat

Contact: Crisis Management Division, General Affairs Bureau
Tel: 045-671-4351
Fax: 045-641-1677