Taste the pleasure of going for a casual walk! Moegino Park Photo: Yuta. K Building health by walking Fumiko Hayashi Mayor of Yokohama Gentle breezes and the clear blue skies of a sunny day in May. The twittering birds delight with their song, and the brilliant green of new foliage refreshes the soul. The season is perfect for taking a walk and admiring flowers and other nature. The Yokohama Walking Point program enables people to build their health while enjoying themselves in their own daily life activities. Since its start in November 2014, it has attracted the participation of about 300,000 people. Some have commented that they have gained strength since they started walking, and about 90 percent said they feel healthy. Communities have prepared maps full of information on local features, and I understand the program has had other positive effects, such as encouraging people to make a point of taking walks together and increasing dialogue and exchange of greetings with those around. In April, Yokohama began distributing a pedometer application for smartphones, free of charge. This app allows users to check recommended walking routes and to post photos and comments on the scenery etc. they would like to share with other participants. I urge you to try the app. One of the appeals of walking is that people can easily begin to do it and go along at their own pace, without straining themselves. Roses, our city flower, are now coming into full bloom in Yokohama, to follow the azaleas. Why not consider building your health through walking with the coming early summer in the air? Garden Necklace Yokohama 2018 Yokohama, a City of Roses —The allure of roses and their history in Yokohama— Hamamirai Through the Garden Necklace Yokohama 2018 project, we are making efforts to use roses in urban improvement and bring the joy of roses, our city flower, to our citizens. Roses will soon be blooming, and this page presents their allure and history in Yokohama. Coming into full bloom soon. Best spots for viewing roses in Yokohama. Harbor View Park Scented Garden 　Planted with about 100 different species of roses and other fragrant florae, this rose garden has sunken beds*, which help to retain scents. When they pass through the arched rose trellis, visitors are showered with the fragrance of roses. * Flower beds that are lower than their surroundings and designed to be viewed from above. Rose and Cascade Garden This garden features 500 rose plants of about 80 species and cascades of water. Visitors feel as if they are strolling inside an idyllic painting. They also can gaze at the garden while sipping a cup of tea at the café in the Yamate Bluff No. 111 building. English Rose Garden 　With British House Yokohama providing the backdrop, this garden is imbued with an air that makes visitors think they must be in a garden in England. 　Featuring 1,100 English rose plants of about 150 species, the garden has a balanced palette of colors, with flowering plants mainly of silver and blue hues. Yamashita Park Future Rose Garden The name of this garden, which is planted mainly with roses that are hardy and easy to grow, expresses the aim of making a rose garden that anyone could make and cultivate. Besides having an immense diversity of florae in addition to 2,300 rose plants of about 190 species, it offers three-dimensional structures such as continuing rose archways and towers. Yamate Italian Garden NEW The appeal of this garden was enhanced this year with the planting of about 300 new rose plants near the Home of a Diplomat on its grounds. See them at Yamashita Park! Roses connected with Yokohama Visitors can see roses that have a special connection with Yokohama at the Future Rose Garden in Yamashita Park, which is one of the venues of Garden Necklace Yokohama 2018 now in progress. Rose Yokohama This big yellow rose was created as a species befitting the rose’s status as the city flower, in commemoration of the 50th anniversary of the founding of the Yokohama Rose Society. Hamamirai Meaning “Yokohama’s future,” the name of this highly fragrant rose, which was selected to commemorate the 150th anniversary of the opening of Yokohama’s port, symbolizes fervent desires for the city’s further advancement. Le Port Romantique The name means “the romantic port.” Because each plant has many roses, the sight of this species in full bloom is spectacular. Planted in the center of the Future Rose Garden. Guided tours of rose gardens A city employee or a garden manager will provide information on points of interest while taking visitors through rose gardens when they are in full bloom. 【Dates, times, and venues】 (1) May 19 (Sat.): Yamashita Park (2) May 20 (Sun.): Harbor View Park Tours of each beginning at 1:30, 2:30, and 3:30 p.m. * Not held in bad weather 【Maximum number of participants】30 (first come, first served) 【Guide】An employee of the City of Yokohama or Sakata Seed Corporation 【Application】Assembly at the places noted below no later than 5 minutes before the start of the tour Yamashita Park: Central Entrance (near the fountain) Harbor View Park: Central Entrance 【Contact for inquiries about guided tours】 Southern Parks and Green Project Coordination Office, Environmental Planning Bureau Tel: 045-671-3648　　Fax: 045-664-2588 History of roses The opening of Yokohama’s port and roses Western varieties of the rose were first brought into Yokohama in 1868 by a botanical merchant named Kramer, who lived in the Yamate district. Thereafter, botanical merchants in Yokohama and Tokyo worked for the spread of roses, which came to be planted by a widening circle of people, beginning with politicians and high-ranking officials. A Western-style mansion in the Yamate district not long after the port’s opening (From the collection of the Yokohama Archives of History) Japan-US interchange through roses After it was extensively damaged in the Great Kanto Earthquake of 1923, Yokohama received assistance from a group of Japanese residing in Seattle. To show its appreciation for this aid, Yokohama presented Seattle with a stone lantern, and Seattle again responded with a gift of rose bush seedlings. Serving as tokens of the friendship between the two cities, these “Seattle roses” proliferated along with their planting in Yamashita Park, Nogeyama Park, and other locations. Because their seedlings were distributed to citizens at low cost, the roses spread as flowers symbolizing love of the city. Planting roses from Seattle (From the collection of the City of Yokohama Municipal Archives Reference Room) Selection of the rose as the city flower The rose has been loved by the people of Yokohama ever since the opening of its port. In 1989, it was selected to be the city’s flower based on a vote by the citizenry to celebrate the centenary of Yokohama’s organization as a city. It has since become the symbol of efforts to make Yokohama a city filled with flowers and greenery. © TOON/GN Garden Necklace Yokohama 2018 runs until June 3 (Sun.). Search here for information on the blooming of roses. ガーデンネックレス横浜　　Search 【Contact for inquiries about Garden Necklace Yokohama 2018】 NTT Hello Dial　　Tel: 050-5548-8686 (8:00 a.m. – 10:00 p.m., until June 4) 【Contact for inquiries about this article】 Greenery Promotion Division, Environmental Planning Bureau Tel: 045-671-2688　Fax: 045-224-6627 For both motorists and cyclists to know Basic Rules for Bicycles To prevent accidents involving bicycles, both motorists and cyclists must understand the basic rules for bicycles. Cyclists must obey traffic rules and etiquette, and motorists must realize that roads are also for the use of cyclists. Both should have concern for the other in the “Share the Road” spirit and use roads safely. A movement for concern on the part of both motorists and cyclists SHARE THE ROAD “Share the Road” encourages motorists and cyclists to share roads with concern for each other. When they drive by cyclists, motorists must make sure to leave enough distance from the bicycle and to go by slowly. Cyclists must go down the left edge of the left lane of roads and confirm safety as they do. Lane for bicycles Cyclists go down the left edge of the left lane of roads. They are not allowed to go down the right edge of the left lane. What is the left edge of the left lane? The part indicated by the diagonal lines in the figure at right is the left edge of the left lane of a road. The term does not refer to the road shoulder etc. Shoulder etc. How to go through intersections The left edge of the left lane is also the place to cycle through intersections. Even if there is a lane especially for motorists to make left turns, cyclists nevertheless proceed down the left edge of the left lane. It is okay for cyclists to cycle on crosswalks? No, it is not allowed as a general rule. (However, it is allowed if there is no risk of disrupting pedestrians in the crosswalk.) Preconditions for riding bicycles on sidewalks, and method ■ Main preconditions (1) There is a sign permitting cycling. (2) For cyclists aged less than 13 or 70 or over. (3) The road is extremely dangerous (due to a continuous line of parked cars, construction, etc.) A sign permitting cycling on the sidewalk with a standard bicycle ■ Method (1) Cycle slowly. (2) Cycle on the side closest to the road, and yield for pedestrians. Are people who walk their bicycles pedestrians? If you get off and walk your bicycle, you will be considered a pedestrian. You may go down sidewalks and crosswalks. Traffic safety is also for pedestrians. Pedestrians, too, should wear reflective materials to help prevent traffic accidents. These materials reflect the light from automobile headlights, and so make motorists aware of the pedestrian’s existence. Get insurance if you ride a bicycle. If the cyclist is the offender in an accident, he or she may have to pay compensation to the victim for injuries etc. It is a good idea to get a bicycle insurance policy, just in case. 横浜市　自転車　　Search 【Contact for inquiries about this article】 Traffic Safety and Bicycle Policy Division, Road and Highway Bureau Tel: 045-671-2323　　Fax: 045-663-6868 A festival of dance held once every three years — Dance Dance Dance ＠ YOKOHAMA 2018 Dance on the streets of Yokohama! Wanted: performers for Yokohama Dance Paradise Professionals & amateurs welcome! Schedule: Saturdays (as a general rule), August 11 (a holiday) – September 30 (Sun.) Place: Commercial facilities, shopping streets, plazas in front of railway stations, and other open space in Yokohama Fee: 1,500 yen per person (no charge for university students or people of lower age) Genre: All genres (yosakoi, cheer dancing, street dancing, etc.) Application: Apply through the website from May 10 (Thurs.) to June 12 (Tues.). 【Contact for application】 Executive Secretariat (within the NPO Arcship) Tel: 045-323-9351　Fax: 045-323-9352 ©bozzo Introductory lessons for children by professional dancers Learn how to dance! Wanted: participants for a dance workshop held in all 18 wards Announcing a workshop for beginners aged 3 –18 who want to learn how to dance Schedule: July 29 (Sun.) – August 23 (Thurs.) *Check the dates on the website. Place: 18 venues in Yokohama (a total of 26 sessions) Fee: 500 yen Number of participants: 15 per session (applicants chosen by lot) Genres: hip hop, cheer dancing, musical dancing, creative dancing Application: Apply through the website from June 1 (Fri.) to July 6 (Fri.). 【Contact for application】 Executive Committee (within the Culture and Tourism Bureau) Tel: 045-663-1365　Fax: 045-663-1928 ©YDB Members of diana, the official performance team for the Yokohama DeNA BayStars, will also make an appearance as instructors. DDD横浜 Search 【Contact for inquiries about this article】 Executive Committee (within the Culture and Tourism Bureau) Tel: 045-663-1365　Fax: 045-663-1928 At your ward office, starting on June 1 (Fri.) After applying for a My Number card, you can now receive it by mail Until now, it was necessary to apply for a My Number card by post etc. and go to the Family Registry Division at the ward office in the ward of residence to pick it up. Besides this procedure, applicants will be able to apply in advance in person at the Family Registry Division at the ward office in their ward of residence, submit a password at that time, and have the My Number card mailed to them personally, through ID confirmation delivery service at a later date. The process from application to receipt will take anywhere from about one to two months. Start: June 1 (Fri.) Required items: (1) Notification card (2) Basic Resident Register Card (only in the case of persons who have one) (3) Photograph of your face (4.5 cm long and 3.5 cm wide) (4) Driver’s license or other identification document For details, see the website. My Number mascot “Maina-chan” 横浜市　マイナンバー　Search 【Contact for inquiries about this article】 Family Registry Division in your ward office or the Call Center Tel: 045-664-2525　Fax: 045-664-2828 Starting with FY2018 Change in the personal municipal tax and personal prefectural tax rates A change has been made in the rates of personal municipal and personal prefectural taxes beginning with fiscal 2018 (the personal resident taxes levied on income earned in fiscal 2017). Specifically, the income-based tax rate has been increased from 6 percent to 8 percent in the case of the personal municipal tax and decreased from 4 percent to 2 percent in that of the personal prefectural tax. The combined income-based tax rate remains 10 percent, and there is consequently no increase in the tax burden as a result of this change. (For the amount of tax in fiscal 2018, check the notification of the special collection tax determination in May or the notification of tax payment in June.) This change is being made throughout the country due to the tax revenue source transfer accompanying the transfer of the burden of pay for teachers at municipal elementary and junior high schools, and of the authority for standards applied in grade organization etc., from prefectural governments to the governments of ordinance-designated cities. Before the change After the change Personal municipal tax 6% 8% Personal prefectural tax 4% 2%* The combined tax rate remains 10%. There is no increase in the tax burden. * In Kanagawa Prefecture, an income-based extra tax rate of 0.025% is applied for preservation of the headwaters environment. Therefore, the actual income-based personal prefectural tax rate is 2.025% (as compared to 4.025% before the transfer). 横浜市 平成29年度税制改正　Search 【Contact for inquiries about this article】 Taxation Affairs Division, Finance Bureau Tel: 045-671-2253　Fax: 045-641-2775 Hot competition to qualify for the Olympics The 2018 ITU World Triathlon Yokohama First competition in the World Paratriathlon series 2018 ITU World Paratriathlon Yokohama Don’t miss it! The 2018 Triathlon Yokohama promises to have fierce competition, because entrants will be able to earn ranking points to qualify for the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games. * ITU: International Triathlon Union May 12 (Sat.) & 13 (Sun.) Special venue in the vicinity of Yamashita Park: starting and finishing lines in Yamashita Park May 12 (Sat.) Paratriathlon: 6:55 – 9:03 a.m. Elite Women's: 10:06 a.m. – 12:16 p.m. Elite Men's: 1:06 – 3:06 p.m. May 13 (Sun.) Age Group (Standard Distance, Sprint Distance, Relay, Paratriathlon): 7:15 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. Live TV broadcast NHK BS1 May 12 (Sat.) 10:00 a.m. – 3:15 p.m. Triathlon Live (viewing website) ● Elite Women’s & Men’s (for a fee) ● Elite Paratriathlon & Age Group (free) A Yokohama tradition The ITU World Triathlon Yokohama was first held in 2009 to celebrate the 150th anniversary of the opening of the city’s port, and the 2018 installment is the ninth to be held in Yokohama. Both the Triathlon and the Paratriathlon attract the participation of elite athletes from around the world to swim, cycle, and run against the background of famous Yokohama sights such as Yamashita Park, the Red Brick Warehouse, and the Minato Mirai 21 district. The hotly contested races have become a Yokohama tradition. Yamashita Park, the main venue, is also holding EXPO, which will enliven the festivities for Triathlon and Paratriathlon spectators with stalls selling Yokohama treats and performances on stage. Racing between the two Red Brick Warehouse buildings on bicycles The finishing line in the Run leg The start in the Swim leg Paratriathlon (handcycles) Elite course map Red Brick Warehouse and Minato Mirai 21 district The spectator points are near Yokohama sightseeing spots. Spectators will be bowled over by the speed of the bicycles racing by the giant Ferris wheel, Shinko Circle Walk, and Red Brick Warehouse buildings. Yokohama Three Towers area This area contains the Kanagawa Prefectural Government Building, Yokohama Customs, and Yokohama Port Opening Memorial Hall. The biggest attraction is the jockeying by the top entrants in the Run and Cycle legs as they vie for the lead. Spectators can actually hear them pant as they race by. Yamashita Park area In the Yamashita Park area, spectators can thrill to the start of the race, cheer athletes on as they make the transition from swimming to cycling and from cycling to running, and exchange high fives with them as they approach the finishing line. It is ideal for full experience of all the excitement of the Triathlon. Swim: 1.5 km (0.75 km × 2 laps) Cycling: 40 km (4.45 km × 9 laps) Run: 10 km (2.5 km × 4 laps) Courses Swim course Cycling course Run course EXPO venue Starting line Transition area Finishing line Spectator stand キャプション The crowd at the EXPO Minatomirai Line Bashamichi Station Nihon-odori Station Motomachi-Chukagai Station Port of Yokohama Yamashita Pier NYK Hikawamaru Osanbashi Pier Zou-no-hana Park Red Brick Warehouse Shinko Circle Walk Yokohama World Porters Yokohama Marine Tower Hotel New Grand Yamashita Park Hotel Monterey Yokohama Chinatown Yokohama Archives of History Kanagawa Prefectural Government’s Office Yokohama Port Opening Memorial Hall Yokohama Customs NYK Maritime Museum Requesting your cooperation with traffic regulations 　On both days of the Triathlon and Paratriathlon, use means of public transportation to go in the direction of the venue. Before leaving home, check the traffic restrictions and detours on the website. On these days, follow the instructions of signs and of staff on the site. 横浜　トライアスロン　　Search 【Contact for inquiries about this article】 Secretariat　 Tel: 045-680-5538　Fax: 045-641-2371