Informational Newsletter for English-Speaking Residents “Hiroshima NOW” September 2025 (English No. 41)
Informational Newsletter for English Speaking Residents
The latest volume of Hiroshima NOW is here! ➡ PDF [3.41MB]
Articles in Hiroshima NOW are excerpts from Hiroshima Shimin to Shisei, a free newspaper produced by the City of Hiroshima. This monthly newsletter is published in English, Chinese, Portuguese, Spanish, Vietnamese and Simplified Japanese.
Hiroshima Shimin to Shisei is available to view on the city’s website. It can also be translated via an automatic translation app into various languages.
🍇 Table of Contents
1. Adjustment Benefit for Flat-Amount Tax Reduction Payment
3. Water and sewage bill exemption
4. Allowance for people with disabilities
5. The Ekimae Oh-hashi tram route has begun operation
6. Be wary of summer crimes targeted at women and children
8. Holiday trash collection schedule in September and October
１．Adjustment Benefit for Flat-Amount Tax Reduction Payment
Last year adjustment benefits payments were made to those who were registered as a resident of Hiroshima City as of January 1, 2024 and unable to fully receive the fixed-amount tax cut for 2024 income tax (January 2024-December 2024) and FY2024 individual municipal and prefectural residents taxes (April 2024-March 2025).
However some residents may be qualified to receive additional adjustment payments according to their finalized 2024 income tax. There are two categories for this time additional adjustment benefits, and qualifications and application process are different according to the category.
Eligibility
The City of Hiroshima provides additional adjustment benefit to individuals with a residence record in Hiroshima City as of January 1, 2025. There are requirements for each Category A and B, you must fulfill them in order to receive the benefit. For further information, please check with the City’s official website (Japanese) or inquire at the Call Center below.
Payment schedule
From late August, The City of Hiroshima will send a Benefit Payment Notice (支給のお知らせ// Shikyū no Oshirase) or Payment Confirmation Form (確認書// Kakunin-sho) to those eligible.
🔶 How to apply (as of August 15, 2025)
Qualifications and application process are different according to the category.
🔸Category A
| Who | How to apply |
| Those who received the adjustment benefit last year and have registered a bank and savings account to receive various benefits with their My Number Card | Generally, application procedures are NOT required. The City has sent a Benefit Payment Notice to those eligible. Cash benefits will be deposited into your registered bank account, unless you request to decline from receiving the benefit by the date stated in the notice. |
| Those who did NOT receive the adjustment benefit last year and have NOT registered a bank and savings account to receive various benefits with their My Number Card | The following procedures are necessary: The City has sent a Payment Confirmation Form to those eligible. Please fill out the form and return it along with additional necessary documents via postal mail or online. ⭐Application deadline: Friday, November 7, 2025 If applying via post they must be postmarked by this date. |
| Those who have moved to Hiroshima City on and after January 2, 2024 | Application procedures are required. Fill out the application form and submit it along with additional necessary documents via postal mail or in-person to the specialized office. ⭐Application deadline: Friday, November 7, 2025 If applying via post they must be postmarked by this date. |
🔸Category B
| Who | How to apply |
| Eligible people that the City of Hiroshima has already recognized | The following procedures are necessary: The City will send documents to those eligible. For more information please see the City’s official website and follow their instructions. |
| Those who have moved to Hiroshima City on and after January 2, 2024 | Application procedures are required. Fill out the application form and submit it along with additional necessary documents via postal mail or in-person to the specialized office. ⭐Application deadline: Friday, November 7, 2025 If applying via post they must be postmarked by this date. |
Where to submit applications and necessary documents
Please print the application form from the City of Hiroshima website, fill in the necessary information, and submit them with necessary documents via postal mail or in-person to the following specialized office:
広島市不足額給付申請窓口 （ひろしまし ふそくがく きゅうふ しんせい まどぐち）
Hiroshima shi fusokugaku kyūfu shinsei madoguchi
Established: From the end of August to early November 2025
Locations: 5th Floor, 6-11 Hondori, Naka-ku, Hiroshima City, Meiji Yasuda Seimei Hiroshima Hondori Building
Hours: 8:30 am–5:15 pm
Closed: Saturdays, Sundays, national/public holidays, year-end and new year’s holidays
🚨 Please be careful, the City of Hiroshima does NOT accept applications.
🌞 Support Centers
If you have any questions or concerns about the benefit, please call the following:
▷ City of Hiroshima Additional Adjustment Benefit for Flat-Amount Tax cut Payment Call Center (Japanese)
Tel. 0570-783-072
Established: Until February 27, 2026
Hours: 8:30 am–5:15 pm
Closed: Saturdays, Sundays, national/public holidays, 12/29–1/3
▷ City of Hiroshima official website (Japanese)
https://www.city.hiroshima.lg.jp/shisei/torikumi/1038892/1038158.html（Japanese）
▷ If you are not confident in your Japanese, please contact the office below:
Hiroshima City & Aki County International Resident Consultation Service
Tel. 082-241-5010
Email：soudan@pcf.city.hiroshima.jp
Hours: 9 am-4 pm (Mon-Fri)
Closed: Saturdays, Sundays, national/public holidays, 8/6 and 12/29-1/3
Supported Languages:
Japanese, English, Chinese, Spanish, Portuguese, Vietnamese, Filipino (consultation for Filipino is available on Fridays and the 1st and 3rd Wednesdays of the month)
２．From the City of Hiroshima: Tuberculosis awareness
Tuberculosis (TB) is an infectious disease. It spreads through the air when infected people cough, sneeze, or spit. There are some people who, despite being infected with TB bacteria, do not present symptoms or develop TB, spending rest of their lives with TB bacteria. However, when their immune systems become weaken with age, for example, they are susceptible to developing TB.
Common symptoms of TB are similar to symptoms of the common cold, such as prolonged low-grade fever, cough (sometimes with sputum), and fatigue. If you fall ill with TB and do not undergo any treatment, your condition may get worse, sometimes resulting in death. In addition, you might spread tuberculosis infection to your family, friends and people close to you.
60% of people infected with TB in Japan are aged 70 and over. However, recently young people who were born in foreign countries are increasingly contracting TB, accounting for 80% of infected people in their 20s in Japan.
If you have prolonged cold symptoms, please go to your primary care physician and seek medical attention as soon as possible. For early detection please take advantage of receiving a regular health check-up held at a school or workplace if available. If you are advised to take a follow-up examination at a health check-up, an early examination is recommended.
Inquiries: Health Promotion Division (Kenkō Suishin Ka) Tel: 082-504-2882
３．Water and Sewage Bill Exemption
Some households can be exempted from up to the cost of 10m3 of water per month.
Who are eligible?
➀ – ➅ below are eligible:
① Households receiving Public Assistance (Seikatsu Hogo)
② Households with anyone receiving government support for the Japanese remaining in China after the war, etc.
③ Households with family members holding or receiving one of the following certificates and/or allowances:
【Certificates】
◼Grade 1, 2 or 3 of the Physical Disability Certificate (Shintai Shōgaisha Techō 身体障害者手帳)
◼Ⓐ, A or Ⓑ of the Special Needs Certificate (Ryōiku Techō 療育手帳)
◼Grade 1 or 2 of the Mental Disability Certificate (Seishin Shōgaisha Hoken Fukushi Techō 精神障害者保健福祉手帳)
【Allowances】
▪Special Childrearing Allowance (Tokubetsu Jidō Fuyō Teate 特別児童扶養手当)
▪Disability Basic Pension (Shōgai Kiso Nenkin 障害基礎年金)
▪Disability Pension (Shōgai Nenkin, Grade 1 or 2 障害年金（1・2級))
④ Households with persons aged 65 or older who are certified as needing care (Grade 4 or 5)
⑤ Single parent households
➅ Some private social welfare institutions
Note:
For ➂ and ➃, they must not be staying in a hospital or institution.
For ➂, ➃ and ➄, there is an income limit.
For more details, please inquire with the relevant office.
Deduction amount
Up to the cost of 10m3 of water per month
(For more details, please inquire with the relevant office.)
How to apply:
Visit either the Waterworks Bureau’s service station for your area or the Public Welfare Department of your ward office. Bring proof that you are eligible. For more information, please check the Waterworks Bureau’s website.
Waterworks Bureau’s website：https://www.water.city.hiroshima.lg.jp/soshiki/30/265.html
Inquiries: Waterworks Bureau Operation Management Division (Gyōmu Kanri Ka)
Tel. 082-511-6911
４．Allowance for People with Disabilities
The following allowances are income based. If you are eligible for any of the following, you can apply for them at your ward office. For more information, please contact the relevant number in the table below.
① Special Childrearing Allowance (Tokubetsu Jidō Fuyō Teate)
For people who are raising children under the age of 20 who have intellectual or physical disabilities (moderate to severe) and need full-time care in daily life
② Allowance for Disabled Children (Shōgaiji Fukushi Teate)
For children under the age of 20 who have severe intellectual or physical disabilities, who live at home and need full-time care in daily life
③ Allowance for Disabled People Needing Special Care (Tokubetsu Shōgaisha Teate)
For people aged 20 or older who have severe intellectual or physical disabilities, who live at home and need special, full-time care in daily life
🌈 The allowances are income based. For more information, please contact the relevant number in the table below.
🌈 If you already received an allowance, do not forget to report your current income situation by September 11 (Thu) to the Welfare Division (Fukushi Ka) of your ward office.
Inquiries: Your ward office’s Welfare Division (Fukushi Ka)
| Ward | Telephone | Ward | Telephone |
| Naka | 082-504-2588 | Asaminami | 082-831-4946 |
| Higashi | 082-568-7734 | Asakita | 082-819-0608 |
| Minami | 082-250-4132 | Aki | 082-821-2816 |
| Nishi | 082-294-6346 | Saeki | 082-943-9769 |
５．The Ekimae Oh-hashi Tram Route has Begun Operation
As of August 3, the new Ekimae Oh-hashi tram route has begun operation. Along with this, the Hiroshima Station tram stop has been moved to the second floor of the station building.
🚃 Station Access is improved by the new Ekimae Oh-hashi route
The 1.1km Ekimae Oh-hashi route runs from Hiroshima Station through the crossroads at Inari-machi, all the way to the crossroads at Hijiyama-cho.
Due to this, the time it takes to travel from Hiroshima Station to the Kamiya-cho–Hatchōbori district will be shortened by around 4 minutes, and around 4 and a half minutes for the Hijiyama-cho–Ujina district routes.
🚃 The first new tram stop in 43 years
On the Ekimae Oh-hashi route Matsukawa-cho tram stop is newly operating, the first new tram stop in Hiroshima City in 43 years.
Elsewhere, the Enkōbashi-cho stop is retired. The Matoba-cho and Dambara 1-chome tram stops are temporarily closed until the looping route begins operation in spring 2026.
😊 The complete renovation of the Hiroshima Station South Exit is planned for completion in spring 2029.
Inquiries: Transportation Construction and Maintenance Department (Kōtsū Shisetsu Seibi Bu)
Tel. 082-504-2386
６．Be wary of summer crimes targeted at women and children
Given the heat of summer many of us are lightly dressed. Unfortunately, this brings about an increase in molestation and non-consensual photography crimes.
There are an unfortunate number of cases involving perpetrators following victims, or lying in wait to ambush them, when they enter uncrowded areas such as elevators or staircases. There is also a prevalent number of incidents involving groping and molestation crimes within public transportation, such as inside train carriages or on buses.
There is additionally a need to be aware of the possibility of becoming a victim of upskirting and other non-consensual photography when, using escalators or staircases such as when shopping in large multi-storey retailers.
🟩 Tips for protecting yourself
▶ Think about what areas may be particularly dangerous and take care to avoid those where possible
▶ Avoid walking alone at night or allowing children out alone
▶ Avoid instances of being alone with strangers within elevators in residential buildings
▶ Have children wait to be accompanied by a guardian
▶ Avoid focusing on your smartphone while walking, or listening to music
▶ Try to commute home with those you know taking similar routes
🟩 What to do if you encounter suspicious persons
▶ Flee to a nearby populated space, such as a convenience store
▶ Make a scene by shouting, and flee
▶ Use a personal alarm
🟩 Check for updates on suspicious persons
Check the latest information and protect yourself from becoming a victim.
▶ Email updates of Crime Prevention Information for Hiroshima City
https://www.city.hiroshima.lg.jp/living/1035962/1021173/1020450.html
Note: Information on suspicious persons, information on crimes, etc will be disseminated through the Hiroshima Disaster Prevention Information email （広島市防災情報メール）as “Crime Prevention Information（防犯情報）”. For those wishing to receive these updates, please register to receive “Disaster Prevention Information”, and then select “Crime Prevention Information” within that.
▶ Line Updates on Suspicious Persons etc.
https://www.city.hiroshima.lg.jp/living/1035962/1021173/1020474.html
▶ Hiroshima Prefectural Police Free App “Otomopolice”
https://www.pref.hiroshima.lg.jp/site/police/otomopolice.html
Inquiries: Resident Safety Advancement Division (Shimin Anzen Suishin Ka) Tel. 082-504-2714
７．2025 Census
The government of Japan is conducting the 2025 Census. The Census is a survey of the actual situation of all people including non-Japanese living in Japan and their households. Responding to the Census is mandatory by law. The results are used only for the Census purposes such as improving the living environment and various other administrative measures essential to our daily lives.
Census Process
From late September, census takers will visit each household and distribute census documents. You can respond either online, or filling out the printed survey documents and mailing them or handing them to the census takers.
For more information, please check their multilingual website (available from September 16):
https://www.kokusei2025.go.jp/language
Inquiries
For inquiries regarding the census, please call the following number.
Census Contact Center
Tel. 0570-02-5901
Period: From September 16 (Tue) to November 7 (Fri), 2025
Hours: 9 am to 9 pm
▫ Consultation is free, but you will be charged for the call.
▫ Interpretation services are available.
▫ If you call from IP phone or prepaid mobile phone, dial 03-6628-2258.
８．Holiday trash collection schedule in September and October
Trash will be collected as usual on the following holidays:
▫ September 15 (Monday, Respect for the Aged Day)
▫ September 23 (Monday, a substitute holiday for Autumnal Equinox Day)
▫ October 13 (Monday, Sports Day)
For more information about waste disposal guidelines, please visit the City of Hiroshima’s official
https://www.city.hiroshima.lg.jp/site/kateigomi/363649.html
Inquiries: City Office Environmental Bureau, Operation Division I (Kankyō Kyoku Gyōmu Dai-ichi Ka)
Tel. 082-504-2220
