Easy New Buses Help You Discover Yokohama Fumiko Hayashi Mayor of Yokohama Have you ever thought, “I’d like to find some new attractions in Yokohama” or “I’d like to show my friends more sites”? Three new sightseeing-oriented bus routes launched this fall are among of the best ways. They are called the “Burari-Kankou SAN Routes” and all can be boarded at Yokohama Station. The “Burari-Sankeien BUS” goes to the front gate of Sankeien Garden. The “Burari-Akarenga BUS” loops through the central part of the city. The “Burari-Nogeyama-Dobutsuen BUS” can take you to two popular spots for children, the Yokohama Anpanman Children’s Museum and the Nogeyama Zoo. Playful designs on the outsides of the buses show their destinations at a glance. Why not spend a fresh autumn day seeing new places via these three buses? For visitors from overseas, leaflets in English, Chinese and Korean are available. This is the season for strolling around and enjoying fresh breezes. I am sure these colorful buses running through the city will help you find new attractions in Yokohama. Please make the most of “Tour Around Yokohama,” experience our new buses, and enjoy the convenience of the new leaflets.   One-day municipal subway and bus ticket within the designated area! ●Minato Burari Ticket Adults 500 yen Children 250 yen ●Minato Burari Ticket Wide Adults 550 yen Children 280 yen In addition to the popular bus “Akaikutsu,” “Burari-Kankou SAN Routes” have been launched! The “Minato Burari Ticket”—already a good value—has been extended to take you to Sankeien Garden.   Explore Yokohama economically with a “Minato Burari Ticket” To make it easier for visitors to explore the many attractions in Yokohama, three new sightseeing-oriented bus routes were launched this fall. They are called the “Burari-Kankou SAN Routes.” “Burari-Kankou” means “strolling” or “causal sightseeing.” “SAN”—which also means “three”—is from the letters S, A and N in the names of the three routes: “Burari-Sankeien BUS,” “Burari-Akarenga BUS” and “Burari-Nogeyama-Dobutsuen BUS.” All can be boarded at, and return to, the East Exit of Yokohama Station. A new “C” route has also been added to the existing “M” route of the popular “Akaikutsu” bus service (cash fare from October 1: adults 220 yen, children 110 yen). The ride to Sankeien Garden is now also included in the service area of one-day Minato Burari Ticket (500 yen for adults/250 yen for children) in the Yokohama Bay area. The Minato Burari Ticket also entitles you to discounts at various facilities in the area. ぶらり観光SAN路線 Search * You may also use the “Minato Burari Ticket Wide” (550 yen for adults/280 yen for children) to get on and off at Shin-Yokohama Station on the Yokohama Municipal Subway. * Children: From 1 to 11 years old. However, up to two children from 1 to 5 years old can be free of charge for each adult parent/protector. “Tour Around Yokohama” leaflets, convenient as you wander and explore the bay area, are published in Japanese, English, Chinese (simplified Chinese) and Korean. They include many recommendations for tourists. Burari-Kankou SAN Routes S Burari-Sankeien BUS (Operated on Saturdays, Sundays and Holidays) A Burari-Akarenga BUS (Operated on Saturdays, Sundays and Holidays) N Burari-Nogeyama-Dobutsuen BUS (Operated every day) Contact: Sales & Tourism Planning Division, Transportation Bureau Tel: 045-326-3845 Fax: 045-322-3911   FY2015 General Account Summary This is a summary of Yokohama’s general account balance sheet for the 2015 fiscal year, which is currently (as of October 2016) under discussion at the City Council on account settlements. Financial Information We’d Like You to Know Yokohama’s Financial Situation Details here → Contact: Financial Affairs Division, Finance Bureau Tel: 045-671-2231 Fax: 045-664-7185 As shown in the general account balance sheet for FY2015, the city’s revenue for the year was 1,509.7 billion yen, and expenditures were 1,492.2 billion yen. The balance (after deducting financial resources carried forward to the following year) of revenue minus expenditures was a surplus of 6 billion yen. Revenue A 1,509.7 billion yen Expenditures B 1,492.2 billion yen Balance C=A－B 17.5 billion yen Resources carried forward D 11.4 billion yen Final balance C－D 6 billion yen * In each item, amounts less than one billion yen are rounded up or down and do not necessarily match the totals. Key points ● The city’s tax revenue has fallen slightly while the tax collection rate is the highest ever Due in part to a lower tax rate as a result of the corporate resident tax becoming partially a national tax, the city’s tax revenue declined by 0.1% from the previous year, the first decrease in three years. The tax collection rate reached a new high of 98.9%. ● Speeding up implementation of the Yokohama City Medium-Term Four-Year Plan In FY2015, the second year of the plan, with a focus on active investments in “people,” “enterprises” and “city” needed for the future, the city accelerated implementation to further enhance the quality of civic life and help revitalize the economy. For example, it took additional steps to support children from infancy through school age. It also worked to promote small-and-medium enterprises and foster and strengthen economic growth in the area, creating a community strong against disasters, including boosting the earthquake resistance of the ward office buildings and municipal schools, and strengthening urban infrastructure, including roads and ports. ● Reduction in the outstanding balance of municipal debt in the general account Under the city’s Medium-Term Four-Year Plan, a goal has been set of reducing the outstanding balance of municipal debt in the general account to below 3,200 billion yen by FY2017. In FY2015, municipal debt was reduced by 41.3 billion yen compared to the end of the previous fiscal year, to 3,231.3 billion yen. Yokohama municipal bond mascot “Hamasai”   Yokohama Cultural Award Winners for FY2016 The Yokohama Cultural Award is presented to people and organizations endeavoring and with distinguished achievements in art, science and more. The Culture and Arts Award is given to people and organizations seen as bright prospects. Names (without honorifics) of this year’s winners are listed for each award and division, in order according to the Japanese syllabary. Yokohama Cultural Award [Cultural and artistic division] Tetsundo Tanabe (researcher and collector of pottery by Kozan Miyagawa) Makuzu-yaki, which Tanabe has studied for many years, is renowned internationally as “Makuzu Ware” and originated in Yokohama. Tanabe’s high-quality collection has helped make the artistry of Makuzu-yaki accessible to people in modern times. [Social contribution/Sports division] Eiji Suzuki (Japanese dress making, Yokohama meister) A lifelong devotee of Japanese dressmaking and among the most skilled practitioners nationally, Suzuki has received many awards and honors, including designation as a "Contemporary Master Craftsman” and recipient of the Medal with Yellow Ribbon. He also fosters young people in the field, including many who have gone on to win awards in, for example, the National Skills Competition. Haru Matsunaga (Head of the Red Shoes Cultural Project Corporation) Matsunaga founded the Red Shoes Cultural Project Corporation (Akai Kutsu Kinen Bunka Jigyodan) in 1985 and has promoted and created opportunities for various cultural activities, including local children’s theaters and choruses. She remains an active leader at the age of 87. Shingo Yamano (Secretary-general of the Koganecho Area Management Center) As a leading art director in Japan, Yamano plans various projects tying the community to art. His talents were on clear display at YOKOHAMA 2005: International Triennale of Contemporary Art; the Koganecho Bazaar; Cultural City of East Asia 2014; and more. Culture and Arts Award Kentaro Kawase (Conductor) Kawase is a young conductor much sought after by orchestras around the country. A winner of the Idemitsu Music Award, among many others, he is currently the regular conductor of the Kanagawa Philharmonic Orchestra, elevating its performance and a driving force in its popularity. His is a promising future, from which musical culture is a sure beneficiary. Yoshie Kris (Chairperson/Director of Slow Label) Kris is passionate about removing walls between the disabled and society. She established Slow Label, and served as general director of Yokohama Paratriennale 2014. She is expected to have a major influence on civic activities, moving them beyond determinations based on the presence of disabilities or not. Including the current winners, 295 individuals and 29 organizations have now received Yokohama Cultural Awards, while 38 individuals and 13 organizations have received Cultural and Arts Awards. Citizens to be invited to the presentation ceremony and commemorative concert There will be a violin concert by Kaoru Ooe (winner of the 2014 Culture and Arts Award) on November 17 (Thursday) from 1:30 p.m. – 3:00 p.m. * The concert will be about 30 minutes at Minato Mirai Hall (Small Hall). 250 people will be chosen by drawing to attend. Residents as well as anyone working or studying in the city are eligible. Please submit a double postal card with your name (with Japanese kana syllables), address, postal code, telephone number, number of persons (one or two), and whether sign-language interpretation or a wheelchair will be necessary. Be sure to complete the return portion of the double postal card, too, and send the card to the address below so as to be received no later than October 20 (Thursday). Yokohama Cultural Award Concert Drawing Culture and Tourism Bureau 1-1, Minato-cho, Naka-ku, Yokohama City, 231-0017 Contact: Culture Promotion Division, Culture and Tourism Bureau Tel: 045-671-3714 Fax: 045-663-5606 横浜文化賞 Search   Smart Illumination Yokohama 2016 SMART ILLUMINATION YOKOHAMA 2015　Photo: Hideo Mori This year marking the sixth occasion, Smart Illumination Yokohama featuring works by domestic and international artists is an event creating new night views fusing creativity and energy-saving technology such as LED lighting and solar power generation. Smart Illumination is also staged separately at different times in Izumi Ward and Midori Ward, incorporating neighborhood characteristics. Please check the website for details. November 2 (Wednesday)–November 6 (Sunday), 5:00 p.m.–10:00 p.m. Venue: Zou-no-hana Park (1-1 Kaigan-dori, Naka-ku) and vicinity Contact: Secretariat Tel: 045-633-9660 Fax: 045-662-8224 スマートイルミ Search   The temporary window for distribution of “My Number” cards will close on December 28 (Wednesday). From January 2017, the cards will be available from the Family Registry Division of the ward in which you live. Please note, however, that Family Registry Divisions are typically quite busy early in the year with procedures for moving and other matters, and it may take time to get your card. It is recommended that those who have received a distribution notification (postcard) make a reservation and come to pick up the card at the temporary window before it closes on December 28 (Wednesday). Yokohama My Number System Call Center Tel: 0120-045-505 Fax: 045-664-5917 Hours: 9:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m., Monday–Saturday (excluding holidays, and the year-end holiday season) * 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). 横浜市　マイナンバーカード　予約 Search