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The Japanese government has decided to extend the declaration of a state of emergency in 19 prefectures, including Okinawa Prefecture, due to the continuing high number of new COVID-19 cases and the continuing tightness of the healthcare delivery system.
The deadline for the extended state of emergency declaration is September 30.
Although the number of new infections every day has been gradually decreasing in Okinawa Prefecture recently, the number of infections per 100,000 people is the highest in Japan, and there is little room for facilities where people can be hospitalized.
There is also a possibility of contracting the delta strain even if you have been vaccinated. Even if you don't have symptoms, you can still pass it on to others, so you need to continue to be careful. Please avoid crowded places as much as possible, and make sure to ventilate the room and wear a mask.
The minimum wage in Okinawa Prefecture will be increased.
The Okinawa Labor Bureau has announced in the official gazette that the hourly minimum wage in the prefecture will be raised from the current 792 yen to 820 yen, an increase of 28 yen.
From October 8, the minimum wage for those working in the prefecture will be 820 yen per hour. Those who are about to start working, as well as those who are already working, are advised to check their wages by checking their working condition notice.

The explosive spread of COVID-19 is continuing in Japan, with the number of infected and severely ill people reaching record levels. Among them, the "delta strain," a mutated strain of COVID-19, is estimated to account for more than 90% of the infected people in Japan and Okinawa. It is said to be more infectious and more likely to cause serious illness than the conventional strains such as the alpha strain that spread last year. So what is the difference between the delta strain and the conventional COVID-19 virus?
Rochelle Walensky, Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), says that the delta strain is "one of the most infectious viruses ever known, comparable to chickenpox," with unprecedented infectivity compared to viruses other than COVID-19.
What is chickenpox?
The main route of transmission of chickenpox is through the air. Airborne infection literally means that the virus enters the body as soon as it is inhaled, even if there is no direct contact. It is highly contagious and very difficult to prevent because the route of infection is through the air.
There are still some unknowns about the delta strains, but if this story is true, we have to keep in mind that we are at risk of infection no matter where we are.

At present, Japan is experiencing an explosion of COVID-19 infections, with the daily number of people infected with COVID-19 nationwide exceeding 20,000 on some days.
In response to this situation, the Japanese government has decided to extend the declaration of a state of emergency to September 12 for the metropolitan and prefectural governments (including Okinawa Prefecture) that have already issued a declaration of a state of emergency until August 31, and to newly issue the same declaration for several prefectures and prefectures.
In addition, priority measures to prevent the spread of the disease have been issued for several prefectures other than those mentioned above.
According to media reports, not only in urban areas such as Tokyo, but also in Okinawa, there are more and more cases where people cannot be immediately admitted to medical institutions even if they are infected and develop the disease.
In addition, some medical institutions are temporarily suspending general outpatient treatment and postponing scheduled surgeries and inpatient treatment in order to secure beds for COVID-19.
It has been a year and a half since the COVID-19 virus entered Japan at the beginning of last year, but the situation of society as a whole has not gotten any better.
Once again, I would like to ask you to think about what you should do to prevent yourself from getting infected and what you should do to prevent others from getting infected if you do get infected.
The Okinawa Labor Bureau , the Fukuoka Regional Immigration Service Bureau Naha District Office, and the OIHF have concluded a "Partnership Agreement for the Improvement of the Working and Living Environment of Foreign Residents."
This agreement aims to improve the working and living environment of foreign residents in Okinawa Prefecture, to create an environment where they can be accepted as members of the local community, and to promote cooperation among the three parties in order to realize a multicultural society in Okinawa.
Under the agreement, the three parties will make efforts to contribute to the understanding and resolution of labor problems faced by foreign workers and employers, and the OIHF will set up a new platform, the Alliance for the Promotion of Multicultural Conviviality, to ensure that foreign nationals who wish to work are provided with opportunities and treatment equal to or better than that of Japanese nationals, and to certify organizations that accept foreign residents as members of the local community, with the aim of properly employing foreign workers according to their abilities.
In addition, we will strive to optimize the demand between employers and workers by developing a free job placement support business for foreigners to assist them in their job search.
We are currently making preparations to implement the free employment placement support business and plan to start full-scale operation around November. When the full-scale operation starts, we will announce it on FB.

In Okinawa and Kyushu, the rainy season has ended and summer is in full swing.
In the coming season, please be careful of sudden and heavy rains.
Here are some Japanese words related to rain. Please make use of them when looking at the weather forecast or when disaster warnings are issued.
Linear precipitation belt（Senjo-Kousuitai)：
A linear precipitation belt is a rainfall area about 50 to 300 km long and 20 to 50 km wide that is accompanied by heavy precipitation, created by organized cumulonimbus clouds that pass over or stay in the same place for several hours. This is a very difficult Japanese word to understand, so please remember that it means that rain clouds form one after another and cause heavy rainfall in the same place for a long time.
Last year and this year, heavy rains caused by this linear precipitation zone have caused serious damage in Okinawa and other parts of Japan, including power outages, flooding, landslides, and flooding of houses.
Guerrilla rain (Guerrilla-Gou):
A type of torrential rain. It is not an official meteorological term, but it refers to localized heavy rainfall that is sudden and difficult to predict accurately by weather forecasts. The rainfall can be so intense that trains are stopped and highways are closed.
Sun shower (Tenki-Ame): A condition in which it is raining despite clear skies.
It is sometimes referred to as a "fox wedding." Why the animal fox? If you are wondering why a fox, ask a Japanese person nearby.
Sudden Rain (Niwaka-Ame): Rain that stops in a short time. The expression "passing rain" is also often used.
Sudden evening shower (Yudachi): A weather condition often seen in the afternoon and evening in summer. It is often accompanied by heavy showers.
These sudden showers and evening showers are collectively called "rain showers," but they are not often used in daily conversation.
The OIHF has posted a multilingual disaster prevention handbook on its website, so please take a look at it.
https://kokusai.oihf.or.jp/project/saigaisapport/handbook/

The Japanese government has extended the state of emergency in Okinawa Prefecture, which was set to last until July 11, until August 22. At the same time, a state of
emergency was declared for the fourth time in the Tokyo metropolitan area. The period is until August 22, the same as Okinawa.
The Immigration Bureau accepts applications from those who are currently residing in a foreign country and plan to travel to or re-enter Japan.
(1) Those whose period of stay has expired at the time of re-entry to or departure from Japan
(2) Those whose Certificate of Eligibility has expired.
The validity period of the Certificate of Eligibility will be further extended for those who meet certain requirements.
The specific requirements and necessary documents for the extension vary depending on (1) and (2) above, so please contact the OIHF for more information.

The declaration of a state of emergency in Okinawa will be extended until July 11th.
The emergency declarations currently in effect for 10 prefectures in Japan will be lifted on June 20th as scheduled for 9 prefectures except for Okinawa.
Seven of these prefectures, including Tokyo and Osaka, will be placed under the "Priority Measures to Prevent the Spread of the Disease" on June 21st.
The number of COVID-19 cases is still high and there are few hospital beds available for hospitalization in Okinawa, so the Japanese government has decided to extend the declaration of a state of emergency, which was originally set for June 20th, until July 11th only in Okinawa.
Since May of this year, the number of COVID-19 cases has been increasing again in Okinawa.
At the same time, the number of consultations received by the OIHF from foreign residents has also increased.
Some of you who are reading this may have some problems.
In such cases, please consult with the OIHF. At the OIHF, staff members are working in shifts during the declaration of a state of emergency.
We may not be able to respond to your call immediately, so please try to contact us by e-mail or FB Messenger.
https://kokusai.oihf.or.jp/covid-19/

Elementary and junior high schools in all cities, towns, and villages in the prefecture will be closed from June 8, except for some villages such as Kunigami and Higashi.(*Itoman City and Yaese Town will be closed from June 7)
Elementary, junior high, and senior high schools will be closed until June 20.
As for nursery schools, childcare centers, and school-age facilities, it is up to the discretion of each facility, so please contact each facility if you are leaving your child there.
If you are a foreigner with a child in elementary, junior high, or high school and you are not sure about the notice or document's contents, please contact the OIHF.

　The consultation service started by OIHF in 2019 has received many consultations so far.
Especially since last year when the COVID-19 infection spread, the number of consultations has increased even more.
No matter what kind of consultation, such as about work, family, or at work, OIHF answers as much as possible, and if OIHF deems it necessary, it accompanies the consultant to the lawyer's office to receive necessary advice. However, OIHF is not a mere "lawyer referral agency" or "agency to lawyers."
In the course of the consultation, we may ask you questions that you do not want to say.
But that is because it is necessary to solve the problem.
Although the number of consultations is not that large, there are some consultations in which the client says, "I don't want to tell you my name, but I want you to introduce me to a lawyer anyway," or "I don't want to tell you the details of the contract, but I want you to tell me whether or not I can win if I go to court," or "Please help me (without telling me the details). No matter how competent a lawyer you are, he or she will not be able to answer such questions. In addition, OIHF will decide whether or not to consult with a lawyer after hearing the consultant's story in detail.
OIHF is open to any kind of consultation. If you have any problems, please contact us by e-mail (kokusai@oihf.or.jp) or Messenger on Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/oihf60).
However, we need to know your name, status of residence, place of work, etc. to be able to answer your questions. Thank you all for your cooperation.

　The U.S. Department of State has issued the following message to its citizens due to the widespread COVID-19 infection in Japan.
Do not travel to Japan due to COVID-19.
Read the Department of State’s COVID-19 page before you plan any international travel.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has issued a Level 4 Travel Health Notice for Japan due to COVID-19, indicating a very high level of COVID-19 in the country. There are restrictions in place affecting U.S. citizen entry into Japan. Visit the Embassy's COVID-19 page for more information on COVID-19 in Japan.
If you travel to Japan, you should:
・See the U.S. Embassy's web page regarding COVID-19.
・Visit the CDC’s webpage on Travel and COVID-19.
・Avoid contact with sick people.
・Discuss travel to Japan with your healthcare provider. Older adults and travelers with underlying health issues may be at risk for more severe disease.
・Avoid touching your eyes, nose, or mouth with unwashed hands
・Clean your hands often by washing them with soap and water for at least 20 seconds or using an alcohol-based hand sanitizer that contains at 60%–95% alcohol. Soap and water should be used if hands are visibly dirty.
・Enroll in the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) to receive Alerts and make it easier to locate you in an emergency.
・Follow the Department of State on Facebook and Twitter.
・Follow Embassy Tokyo’s American Citizen Services section on Facebook and Twitter. Review the Crime and Safety Report for Japan.
・Prepare a contingency plan for emergency situations. Review the Traveler’s Checklist
"Reference: https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/traveladvisories/traveladvisories/japan-travel-advisory.html"

　In addition to the nine prefectures that have already been declared under a state of emergency, the Japanese government has now added Okinawa Prefecture to the list.
The period of the emergency declaration for Okinawa Prefecture will last until June 20.
Until now, Okinawa Prefecture was subject to the COVID-19 Priority Measures to Prevent the Spread of Infectious Diseases, but since the spread of COVID-19 has not been halted, an emergency declaration has been issued.
The number of infected people per 100,000 people in Okinawa is the highest in Japan, and the infection is spreading rapidly.
Vaccinations have started for medical personnel and the elderly over 65 years old.
When the vaccination for the rest of the population will be available depends on the municipality.
Due to the prolonged spread of COVID-19 infection, there are foreigners who are experiencing difficulties in their work and life.
The OIHF is providing legal and lifestyle counseling for foreigners starting in 2019. Consultations are available even during the declaration of a state of emergency, so if you have any problems, please consult the OIHF. It does not cost any money.

　Re-entry to Japan for those who have stayed in India, Pakistan, and Nepal within 14 days before the date of application for landing in Japan will be denied for the time being from May 14, 2021.
Note 1: Those with the status of "permanent resident," "spouse or child of Japanese national," "spouse or child of permanent resident," or "long term resident" who left Japan with a re-entry permit by May 13 will be considered to have special circumstances for re-entry from these three countries. Special Permanent Residents" are not subject to this re-entry denial.
Note 2: The above measures do not apply to those who depart from these three countries before midnight (Japan time) on May 14 and arrive in Japan after the same time.
Persons who departed from Japan with a re-entry permit before August 31, 2020, to a country/region currently designated as an area subject to denial of landing, and who have obtained a new Certificate of Eligibility and have been issued a visa because they were unable to re-enter Japan within the valid period of the re-entry permit after the country/region was designated as an area subject to denial of landing, shall not be denied landing in principle for the time being. Those who have stayed in India, Pakistan, or Nepal within 14 days of the date of application for landing in Japan will, in principle, be denied landing for the time being, even if they have obtained a certificate of eligibility and have been issued a visa.
[Strengthening of quarantine for all entrants from India, Pakistan, and Nepal]
　From May 10th, all entrants and returnees from India, Pakistan, and Nepal will be required to wait at a place designated by the quarantine station chief (limited to accommodation facilities secured by the quarantine station) for the time being. After that, a new test will be conducted on the third and sixth days after returning to Japan, and those who are judged to be negative in both tests will be required to leave the accommodation secured by the quarantine station and stay at home for 14 days after entering Japan.　
(Reference: Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan website)

A state of emergency regarding COVID-19 has been declared in Tokyo, Osaka, Hyogo, and Kyoto.The Japanese government has declared a state of emergency in these four prefectures due to the lack of decrease in the number of COVID-19 cases in Tokyo, Osaka, Hyogo and Kyoto. The period is from April 25.
Compared to the "Priority Measures to Prevent the Spread of COVID-19," which was issued prior to this declaration, the measures are even more severe. Specifically, it requests that events be cancelled, postponed, or held without spectators, and that restaurants not serve alcoholic beverages.
Mie and Kumamoto prefectures are also planning to request the government to take "priority measures to prevent the spread of the disease.
In Okinawa Prefecture, nine cities on the main island, including Naha City and Okinawa City, and 10 cities on Miyako Island are subject to the "Priority Measures to Prevent Spread". According to news reports, not only in urban areas such as Tokyo and Osaka, but also in rural areas, there has been an increase in the number of COVID-19 cases and a resulting shortage of hospitalization facilities.
Golden week is coming and it is the season for sightseeing and fun, but please be careful.
OIHF's counseling service will be closed during the Golden Week. We will contact you via email or Messenger on May 6.

Since the beginning of April, the number of confirmed cases of COVID-19 has increased in Okinawa prefecture. There has also been an increase in the number of people infected with new strains of COVID-19 in the Kinki region, including Osaka and Hyogo.
The Japanese government applied the "coronavirus priority measures" to Okinawa in line with the revised Special Measures Law for dealing with COVID-19. From April 12 to May 5, the Okinawa Prefectural Government required restaurants and other establishments in nine cities on the main island to close by 8 p.m.
The nine cities are Naha, Urasoe, Ginowan, Okinawa, Uruma, Nago, Itoman, Nanjo, and Tomigusuku. Prefectural residents are asked to refrain from unnecessary travel between Okinawa Prefecture and other parts of Honshu and between Miyako, Yaeyama, and other remote islands.
In addition to Osaka, Hyogo, and Miyagi, Tokyo and Kyoto have been added to the list of areas that have adopted "coronavirus priority measures"
A state of emergency has been announced. If a restaurant or other establishment does not comply with the order to shorten business hours or refuses an on-site inspection by a government agency, it can be subject to an administrative fine.
In Japan, vaccination of those over the age of 65 has begun. However, it will still take some time before all people living in Japan are vaccinated.
In order to avoid infection, basic measures such as: wearing a mask, washing hands, social distancing, and not talking loudly are said to be the most effective.
Many of you are tired of the long period of countermeasures against COVID-19.
But in order to limit the spread of COVID-19, please continue to follow precautionary measures for the safety of yourself and your loved ones.

In Japan, a new fiscal year begins in April.
In Japan, the new year starts in April, but that doesn't mean that April is the New Year.
As you know, the year runs from January to December, but there is another way of thinking about the year, and that is to consider the period from April to March of the following year as a fiscal year.
For example, schools hold entrance and commencement ceremonies in April, the beginning of a new fiscal year, and graduation ceremonies in March.
The national and local governments and most companies consider the " fiscal year" as a unit for planning and budgeting. This is the reason why most transfers in Japan take place in March.
At OIHF, we also adopt this " fiscal year" concept.
In the fiscal year (FY) 2020, from April last year to March this year, the number of consultations received from foreign residents will be 200.
Compared to the previous fiscal year, 2019, the number has more than doubled.
We believe that the increase in the number of consultations is due to the impact of COVID-19 on foreign residents.
In the fiscal year 2021, starting in April, OIHF will continue to accept consultations as usual.
If you have any problems, whether they are related to COVID-19 or not, please let us know via e-mail or Messenger. The consultation service is totally free.

On March 21st, the Japanese government lifted the declaration of a state of emergency in Tokyo, Saitama, Chiba, and Kanagawa prefectures.
However, the government has decided to continue the total suspension of new entry for foreigners " for the time being" even after the declaration of the state of emergency is lifted on March 21st.
According to the Japanese government, due to the spread of the mutated strain of COVID-19, it is not foreseeable that the infection will be brought under control shortly. Therefore, foreigners will be allowed to enter Japan only if they are deemed to have " high public interest" or " urgency."
Although the declaration of the state of emergency has been lifted, the COVID-19 virus has not disappeared.
Rather, it continues to exist in the world, changing its form little by little.
In Japan, people are being urged to be more vigilant in case the infection spreads again.
To avoid infection, it is of utmost importance that every one of us takes measures.
You are the only one who can protect yourself.
You can find information on the measures being taken by Japan and other information in many languages on this page.
https://corona.go.jp/
Please select your language from "Select Language" at the top of the page.

The Japanese government has decided to extend the declaration of a state of emergency under COVID-19 for Tokyo, Saitama, Chiba, and Kanagawa until March 21.
As a result, the request to shorten business hours for restaurants and other establishments in the area including the Japanese capital, as well as the request to refrain from coming and going to these areas, will continue.
By the way, it is almost March 11th. This is the day of the Great East Japan Earthquake, which struck the Tohoku region of Japan 10 years ago in 2011.
On March 11, 2011, at 14:46, a very large earthquake of magnitude 9 occurred at the bottom of the ocean, 130 km off the coast of Miyagi Prefecture, followed by a tsunami that hit the Tohoku region, killing over 15,000 people and leaving over 2,500 people missing.
Japan has experienced several major earthquakes in the past. In Okinawa, there was the " Meiwa Tsunami" in 1771, which killed many people along with a large earthquake. So, we can expect similar disasters all over Japan, and possibly in Okinawa in the future.
The OIHF will be recruiting participants for the " Cultivating Seminar of Supporting for Foreigners in Times of Disaster" starting March 14. Although the title of the course is " Support for Foreigners," the content of the course is not about learning interpretation and translation skills, but mainly about " how to prepare before a disaster occurs" and " what to do when a disaster occurs," learning about past cases and countermeasures, and gaining knowledge and preparedness to " protect yourself and your family. and what to do if a disaster occurs.
The course will be conducted entirely in Japanese. However, even people from other countries who are not confident in their Japanese language skills are welcome to attend if they are interested.
https://kokusai.oihf.or.jp/events/1612163656/

The Japanese government has lifted the declaration of a state of emergency in Aichi, Gifu, Osaka, Kyoto, Hyogo, and Fukuoka prefectures as of February 28, 2021.
However, Tokyo, Kanagawa, Saitama, and Chiba prefectures have not yet been lifted.
For these three prefectures, the government is expected to decide this week whether to lift the emergency declaration on March 7 as scheduled.
In Okinawa Prefecture, the prefecture's emergency declaration was lifted on February 28.
At the same time, the " shortened hours" request to restaurants to close their stores by 8:00 p.m. was also lifted.
However, the COVID-19 virus is still present in the world.
Some countries, such as Israel, the U.S., and EU countries, have been vaccinated against the virus, but medical professionals around the world are warning that it is dangerous to let go of the precautionary approach just because they have been vaccinated.
In Japan, vaccination of health care workers has started, and it is expected that vaccination of the elderly over 65 years old will start from April, but it will take some time before the vaccine is available to everyone living in Japan.
Therefore, as in the past, please continue to take basic measures to prevent infection, such as wearing masks and washing hands, refraining from eating with more than four people, and avoiding staying in crowded places for as long as possible.
The OIHF provides " legal and lifestyle counseling" for foreign residents.
So far, we have received consultations on labor issues, residence status, inheritance, marriage, divorce, and other family matters.
If you have any problems or think something is wrong, please contact OIHF. If you have any problems or feel that something is wrong, please consult with OIHF.
You can also contact us by e-mail or　OIHF's FB Messenger.

On February 2th, the Government of Japan decided to extend the declaration to 10 prefectures (Tokyo, Kanagawa, Chiba, Saitama, Aichi, Gifu, Osaka, Kyoto, Hyogo, Fukuoka), out of the 11 prefectures (excluding Tochigi prefecture) that are currently issuing state of emergency until February 7th.
This measure will be until March 7th, and it seems that the relief of regulation will be decided ahead of schedule for each region while observing the status of infection.
Also, the EU (European Union) has excluded Japan from the target countries that can enter EU countries. Currently, EU countries cannot enter from countries other than China, South Korea, Australia, New Zealand, Rwanda, Singapore, and Thailand.

By the way, OIHF is preparing for the " Japanese Speech Contest by Foreigners" to be held on February 6th. We have held the contest for more than 30 years, so we assume that many people are looking forward to it. We have also received inquiries about the contest, but unfortunately this time it was decided that the event would be held for the first time without an audience.
The speakers who will be on the stage may be nervous about the fact that there are only cameras and judges in the large venue, but we hope that all speakers will show their usual strength.
The contest will be posted on YouTube at a later date, so please take a look there.

To foreigners living in Okinawa
Following the emergency declaration issued to Tokyo, Saitama, Chiba, and Kanagawa prefectures on January 7, the Japanese government announced that it would be in the three Kansai prefectures (Osaka, Kyoto, and Hyogo) as well as two Tokai prefectures (Aichi and Gifu) along with Tochigi   and Fukuoka. The period is until February 7th.
Also, the Japanese government has taken suspension measures for foreigners entering Japan with commercial visas, which were permitted at the time of the last declaration of emergency on January 7.
People cannot enter from 11 countries and regions that have agreements with Japan, such as China, South Korea, Taiwan, and Vietnam. This measure will also be until February 7, and the government will decide whether to resume or extend it based on the infection situation in Japan.
Since the latter half of last year, the number of OIHF foreigner consultations has been increasing in the situation where COVID-19 infection has spread.
We anticipate that the current economic situation in Japan will lead to more and more consultations on money, especially on labor and housing issues.
Counseling about money is an issue that affects not only your life but also your status of residence.
If you have any problems, please contact OIHF.
Consultations are accepted by email (kokusai@oihf.or.jp) or Facebook chat (http://www.facebook.com/oihf60). You can consult in your native language.
Consultation fee is free. Please feel free to share your problems you are facing to us. 

The Government of Japan has declared a emergency because the COVID-19 infection is spreading especially in the three prefectures of Kanto (Tokyo, Saitama, Chiba, and Kanagawa).
The period of the state of emergency is until February 7th, and it seems that it will be decided again depending on the situation whether to extend this period.
This is the second time that a state of emergency has been declared in Japan, following April last year.
There are some differences between this time and last year.
The school is not closed. High school and college entrance exams will be conducted as scheduled.
Restaurants such as cafeterias are open, but they are required to close by 8 p.m. Also, people must refrain from going out after 8 pm, and the number of people at the event must be limited.
Regarding entry into Japan from foreign countries, 11 countries and regions such as China, South Korea, Taiwan, and Vietnam are allowed to enter Japan, including short-term stays, for commercial purposes. This measure seems to continue during the state of emergency.
The number of people infected with COVID-19 in Japan has been increasing rapidly in the past week, and even in Okinawa. Therefore, we are not in a safe situation.
Also, infections are increasing nationwide where people gather and dine together.
At the same time as taking basic measures such as masking, washing hands, and disinfecting, be especially careful when gathering at parties and eating and drinking.

From now on, there are companies and organizations that will be closed for the year-end and New Year holidays, including the OIHF.
The OIHF is closed from December 29th to January 3rd. If you would like to consult, please contact us after January 4th.
In Japan, there is a special period called " New Year" from January 1st when the calendar changes.
We eat " Osechi cuisine", a dish that can only be eaten at the New Year, go to shrines and temples for " Hatsumode", and pray for the new year to be a good year.

Please be aware that you may be infected with COVID-19 if you go to Hatsumode and stay with a lot of people only on the next New Year.
During the year-end and New Year holidays, many Japanese have returned to their hometowns to meet their families, relatives, friends, and eat together. The Japanese   Government is calling for refraining from these actions or paying close attention to them.

Currently, a variant virus of COVID-19 has been confirmed in several countries such as the United Kingdom, South Africa, and Singapore. There are reports that it is more infectious than previous viruses.
And even in Japan, the infection is spreading and it is still not a safe situation.
During the year-end and New Year holidays, there are many people, such as those who work in hospitals and long-term care facilities, who originally took a day off, but cannot take a day off even if they want to take a day off due to the spread of COVID-19 infection.Let's take basic infection control measures and try to live with care so that the burden on such people will not be further increased.

We would like to introduce some of the opinions of the respondents who submitted to the free text section of the questionnaire conducted by OIHF.
 Re-entry of permanent residents is restricted. I cannot re-enter Japan after returning to my country temporarily.
 It is difficult to secure rent and meals due to dismissal.
 After the company was closed for 4 months, the company finally resumed. The place of work is far away and it takes an hour and a half one way. Work time is late and I get home every day at 1 am! I feel like I want to quit my job.
 Part-time work time is shortened, income is reduced, and it affects my life.
 I know people who are worried about whether they will have less work and will be able to pay for living and going on to higher education.
 I have been stuck here for the past 5 months without work or money. I'm trying hard to work, but I haven't succeeded yet due to Japanese laguage restrictions. I have no hope of returning to my home country, so it would be very helpful if I could do something to make money to live here.
 The contract is until February next year, but I'm worried that it won't last. After that, I can't find a new job to renew my visa.
 I am in trouble because I was dismissed at COVID-19.
 I have lost my job.
 Public facilities including the playground have been closed.
 The visa has expired due to dismissal.

What kind of help do you think OIHF can help you?
 Consultation service
 Legal advice
 Advice and information provision
 Childbirth and childcare support
 I would like OIHF to hold many exchange meetings and consultation meetings.
 I think it is better to advertise and inform about the activities and services of OIHF. I think that many foreigners in general do not know about services OIHF provides. Transportation is inconvenient in Okinawa. Therefore, I think it would be nice if there were regular consultation desks in various places. I'm not good at counseling by phone or email, and many people don't, so I think it's better to be more customer-friendly.
 Mental health support services in English.
 Email advice will help maintain public awareness of the current rules of life regarding COVID-19 restrictions.
 OIHF has acted like a life saver for me in supporting the legal process in Japan.
 Please continue to provide the latest information as it is now. I also want to know the latest travel status to foreign countries.
 Japanese language class
 Examples of supporting foreigners in an employment environment: malicious dismissal, salary lower than basic salary
 If you have a employment introduction service or rental housing introduction service, it will help foreigners.
 I want you to create a place where foreigners who are dismissed or likely to be dismissed in Corona can easily express their worries.
 As much as possible, I think it is important to disseminate Japanese rules, simple laws, local information and culture in multiple languages. I also want OIHF to consider technical intern trainees. Their supervising organizations are mainly taking care about their work. Their training period of 3 to 5 years is more meaningful, and if they can lead a rewarding life, it will be useful not only for the trainees but also for the community. Another thing I would like to suggest is that it would be very helpful to work with a medical institution to provide basic explanations, guidance, and application forms for consultation in multiple languages. In particular, if a prefectural hospital or a medical institution that conducts a medical examination prepares a multilingual form, I think that foreigners can receive a medical examination with peace of mind.

Among the various opinions, there were some that OIHF had expected and that OIHF felt that it would take time to realize. We regard all opinions as our issues, and we will set priorities and seek ways to solve and realize them one by one.
On November 18th, Mr. Taro Tamura, CEO of Institute for Human Diversity Japan, gave a lecture by ZOOM on the theme of " Community development for new multicultural coexistence in the era of COVID-19".
In his lecture, there were many hints about what OIHF should do, what OIHF have to do, and what society expects OIHF to do.
OIHF would like to continue to have the perspective of " living together" with an eye on the future of the region, not just the COVID-19 pandemic.

We would like to thank everyone who answered the questionnaire and everyone who wrote their opinions. 

Currently, the number of people infected with COVID-19 is 53.97 million (as of November 15th) worldwide. To date, more than 10 million people have been infected in the United States, more than 8.8 million in India, and more than 5.8 million in Brazil.
According to Johns Hopkins University, to date, the countries with more than 1 million infections are France, Russia, Spain, the United Kingdom, Argentina, Colombia, Italy, and Mexico, in descending order. )
Also, urban lockdowns are taking place in European countries such as Ireland and Germany.
In Japan, it still seems calm compared to countries with many infected people.

However, the number of infected people has been gradually increasing since the fall season.
In this situation, the chairperson of the Japan Medical Association has expressed the view that " it may be considered as the third wave."
Even in Okinawa, the number of infected people is increasing and decreasing every day, but we are never in an optimistic situation
Also, it will be autumn and winter in Okinawa, and it will be cold and dry.
From previous observations, COVID-19 has been reported to be more susceptible to infection in a dry, airtight room.
Even in Okinawa, the air is inevitably dry in winter.

Continue to take basic measures such as wearing a mask, being careful about eating with a large number of people, and keeping ventilation in mind to prevent you from getting infected and spreading the infection to the people around you. 

We appreciate many of you about the "Questionnaire on Support for Foreign Residents" conducted in September. Here is the summary of the result.

Medical interpretation (Status of FY 2020)
OIHF's medical interpreter support, which started in April 2013, is now in its eighth year. Currently, OIHF trains medical interpreters in four languages: English, Chinese, Korean, and Spanish. Requests for other languages ​​are introduced when there is an interpreter available for dispatch.
Requests for dispatching medical interpreters vary depending on the life stage, such as infant medical examinations conducted by municipalities, medical examinations when pregnant, and medical examinations when injured or ill. The reward for the medical interpreter is 2,000 yen per hour and is to be borne by the client (municipalities, medical institutions, or the examinee).

As we are asked to dispatch medical interpreters every day, we feel that a certain number of municipalities, medical institutions, and foreign residents who know about our medical interpreting service had become established.
According to the results of this questionnaire, 13% of the respondents answered that they "knew" the existence of OIHF's medical interpreting support, but only 1% answered that they " have used it". We think this is partly because medical institutions in Okinawa are preparing an environment where they can speak foreign languages.
When asked "is it useful?," 83% answered "yes" and 17% answered "no." Among the 17% of people who answered " No," we think that some can communicate by themselves at medical institutions and those who can rely on their family, friends, and acquaintances. Also, we assume that peple have ways where they are using " Medical Information" that introduces medical institutions that can speak foreign languages ​​in Okinawa on our website or they directly contact medical institutions can speak foreign languages.   So what are the strengths of OIHF?

For example, let's assume that a foreigner asks us to have a medical interpreter because he/she has been injured. Considering only the medical interpreter, we will dispatch an interpreter, and case will be closed. However, if the asnwer to the question " Are you injured at work?" is " Yes," then it will be an occupational accident. So you may need to explain about workers' accident compensation insurance. If you are asked to have an interpreter for a medical examination because you are pregnant, you need to explain the Japanese social insurance system and the procedures at the government office before and after the birth of your child, in addition to dispatching a medical interpreter. OIHF will continue to provide comprehensive support beyond simply " training and dispatching medical interpreters" to help foreigners living in Okinawa realize a society where they feel comfortable living. 

On Saturday, November 7th, we held a "Management drill of evacuation shelter/ Expericen event of evacuation shelter" at Nakanishi elementary school gymnasium in Urasoe-city. This eventl is held every year to improve the regional disaster prevention capabilities of Okinawa, and more than 200 residents, including children, the elderly, and people with disabilities, participated.
Especially for this year, one of the issues is how to implement measures to prevent the infection of COVID-19 at evacuation shelters where people gather. The receptionist responded by conducting temperature measurement, requesting to fill out a questionnaire, disinfecting hands, etc. while maintaining a social distance so as not to be crowded.
In the training, OIHF opened the " Disaster Multilingual Support Center" as a support base in the event of a large-scale disaster. While confirming the cooperation system with the " disaster supporters for foreigners" that we have cultivated, we conducted confirmation training with disaster prevention related organizations on how to deliver necessary information to foreigners whose support is not enough.
Also, several booths were set up at the venue to introduce useful knowledge in the event of a disaster. In parallel with the drill, the residents who participated were learning handmade goods and how to perform cardiopulmonary resuscitation.
The general participants seemed to be raising their awareness of disaster prevention through training. Also, one of disaster supporters for foreigners   said, " Learning only on the desk is completely different from how we actually see things. Even if it is training, it was a valuable experience to be able to act, assuming that it will happen next."
Looking back on the training, OIHF feels that it was very good that the number of participants we had conducted so far was the highest.
On the other hand, we increased the number of leaflets and posters translated into each language such as English, Vietnamese, and Nepali more than usual at this time, and despite calling out to the local foreign community through key persons, one of the challenges is that there were no foreigners among the general participants, except for foreign supporters cultivated by OIHF. More than we can imagine, we felt that the penetration of basic information such as " what kind of place the evacuation shelter is," " merits of going to the evacuation shelter," and " whether foreigners can use the evacuation center" has not progressed. In the future, OIHF would like to raise awareness of disasters that may occur at any time, especially through various lectures and Japanese language classes, so that they will lead to evacuation behavior for foreigners.

Thank you to everyone who cooperated and participated in the drill.

OIHF appreciates your cooperation with the "OIHF Questionnaire on Support for Foreign Residents". We have summarized the results of the questionnaire.

COVID-19 Web site and Facebook (FY 2020)
- Information dissemination in multiple languages-

As you know, the global epidemic of COVID-19, which was confirmed, has also affected foreign residents in Okinawa.
In the law and living counseling provided by OIHF, we received many consultations from many foreign residences from the early stage, such as " dismissed due to the influence of corona," " salary not paid," " cannot find a new job," and " living expenses bottomed out."
Therefore, OIHF launched a portal site from May 1st, focusing on information issued by the government such as information on emergency declarations and how to apply for special fixed-amount benefits, in 6 languages ​​(English, Chinese, Korean, Spanish, etc.) We have multilingualized it into (Nepali / Vietnamese) and " a little easy Japanese" and have disseminated information on our Web site and Facebook.
According to the Foreign Resident Statistics released by the Ministry of Justice in July 2020, the number of foreign residents in Okinawa Prefecture in December 2019 was approximately 21,000, which is as follows by nationality and region. 1st Vietnam 3,000 (rounded down to the nearest 100, the same applies below), 2nd China 2.8,000, 3rd Nepal 2.7,000, 4th America 2.6,000, 5th Philippines 2.3 thousand, 6th South Korea 1.4 thousand 7th place in Taiwan with 1.1,000 people. The top 7 nationalities/regions account for 75% of the total.
In other words, it is thought that the six languages ​​transmitted by OIHF can cover most of the multilingual information. However, there are still issues for the remaining 25% of people.
Since the population of Okinawa Prefecture is more than 1.45 million, more than 1 in 100 people living in the prefecture are foreigners. Including US military personnel in Okinawa, one in dozens of people in Okinawa Prefecture is a foreigner.

From this ratio, we can see the necessity of multilingual information transmission in an emergency such as the corona disaster this time.
According to the results of the questionnaire, 20% of the respondents said they "knew" the existence of OIHF's COVID-19 website and Facebook.
19% of them say they have used it. " I knew" and " have used" are about the same ratio.
After all, we acknowledge that there is a Challenge in the recognition of OIHF.
When asked " Is it useful?", 22% answered "No".
This means that some people who "know" or "have used" think that they are "useless".

We will need to dig a little deeper into this point and analyze it.
Of course, neither information nor systems can be used without knowing their existence.
Having access to reliable information in your native language is the first step in making calm decisions and taking action.
OIHF will continue to provide useful information for foreign residents and reach as many people as possible.

We would like to thank all of you for your cooperation in the " OIHF Questionnaire on Support for Foreign Residents" conducted in September. We have summarized the results and will announce them.

Legal / life consultation (status in FY2020)
The number of consultations this year has been two to three times that of the same period last year.
From this, it can be seen that foreigners living in Japan are facing various difficulties under the situation of the spread of COVID-19 infection, which began in earnest after February 2020.
Although the content of consultations received by OIHF has varied, their situations tend to be serious and heavy. One of the reasons may be that minor daily worries and troubles can be consulted and resolved within the person's family, friends, and the community to which the person belongs.
The problem that cannot be solved there may be brought to OIHF as a consultation.
This can now be considered a desirable form of society. Therefore, it is not necessarily good if the number of consultations is large.
If the environment where it is easy to consult with a counseling institution is guaranteed, it may be a society where it is easier for foreigners to live with less counseling.
Also, if a problem arises and can be resolved within the community to which the person belongs, it would be better.

However, I think it is necessary to have a " consultation desk" as a place where you can run in when you are really in trouble and as a place where you can listen to expert advice. OIHF is aiming for such a consultation place.
In the questionnaire, 77% of people answered that they " did not know" the existence of OIHF's legal and lifestyle counseling service.
However, 79% of the respondents answered "yes" to the question " Do you think the consultation is useful?" At the same time as not betraying the trust of those who answered "yes", we must strive to change "no" to "yes" for the remaining 21% of people. We may also need to know how the person came up with a "no" answer.
Therefore, in consultation, it is necessary to disseminate in a form different from public relations activities.

Conclusion
Certainly, some of the consultations have problems that even experts have difficulty solving. As the role played by OIHF, however, it will become more and more important for foreigners to be trusted as a counseling institution by responding carefully one by one and producing results. ..
OIHF believes that this is a public relations activity that changes 77% of people who " did not know" about legal and lifestyle counseling to "know".

If people around you are in trouble, please tell them that OIHF offers legal and lifestyle counseling for free. Please cooperate in sharing OIHF consultation services with people who do not know it. Your cooperation is highly appreciated. 

Currently, the typhoon No. 10(Haishen) is heading to Okinawa while developing. The typhoon No.10(Haishen) will approach the Okinawa region from the afternoon of the 5th (Saturday) to the 6th (Sunday) while maintaining " very strong" power.
It is expected that it will further develop in the future and will become a "furious" typhoon.
A violent typhoon is a typhoon with a wind speed near the center of 54 m/s or more.

If the wind speed exceeds 50 m/s, the following damage may occur.
■ The telephone booth or vending machine may fall or move.
■ Utility poles and streetlights fall. The block wall collapses.

Of course humans can't stand.
The supermarket may close earlier as the typhoon approaches.
Buy food and water early and prepare for it.
You may not be able to cook while a typhoon is passing, so prepare an emergency meal that you can cook without using fire.
As a measure against blackouts, if electricity cannot be used, not only will the "lights" disappear, but also TVs and smartphones cannot be used, making it difficult to obtain "information".
Collect information such as preparation of flashlight and smartphone battery.

Rain and wind forces during a typhoon can exceed human imagination.
When a typhoon approaches, don't go outside anyway.
Act with the highest priority on protecting your life and avoiding injury.

Currently, Typhoon No. 9 (Maysak) is heading to Okinawa while developing. By the beginning of the week (August 31st) it will turn into a " quite strong " force.
According to the current forecast, it will be closest to Okinawa from the afternoon of August 31st to the morning of September 1st.
However, in Okinawa, rain and wind will be strong even before the center of the typhoon approaches. Also, even after the typhoon has passed, the impact may remain for some time.
Please be aware of not only foreigners who have not experienced typhoons in Okinawa in the past, but also foreigners who have experienced typhoons in the past.

What to pay particular attention to during a typhoon
■Blackout
If the rain or wind is heavy, you may suddenly lose power. There are two patterns of power failure. There is a power outage only in your home, or in your area.
Either way, it is dangerous to raise the breaker to turn on the power immediately, so please stay calm and check not only inside the house but also outside the room.

■Doors (house or car)
The force of the wind during a typhoon can be stronger than you might imagine.
When opening (closing) the door, you may be dragged outside while holding the door knob under the influence of strong wind, or a finger or arm may be caught in the door that has closed suddenly, resulting in injury.

■Windows
If heavy rain hits the window with the wind, rainwater may enter the room through the window frame.
Do not rush to open the window. Put a towel or newspaper on the window frame.

■About going out
When a typhoon is strong, various things can fly. Signs of shops and factories, color cones and buckets at construction sites may fly. Therefore, please do not go out of the room.
You may be injured by hitting flying objects.

Some people are injured when trying to shoot videos and images.
Also, shops such as convenience stores are closed when the typhoon is strong.
If you need anything, buy it now. Check the OIHF disaster prevention handbook (https://kokusai.oihf.or.jp/project/saigaisapport/handbook/) in advance to find out what to do in case of a typhoon.

Due to the increasing number of people infected with COVID-19 in Okinawa, the Okinawa Prefectural Governor has extended the declaration of emergency from August 15th to August 29th.
And the COVID-19 alert level, which is from 1 to 4 (1 is the lowest), has been raised to the highest level of 4 (period of spread infection).

The concrete actions taken by residence in Okinawa during this period are as follows.
・Thoroughly refrain from going out if unnecessary/ unurgent
・Go shopping alone, even if you have a family
・Refrain from going out after 10 pm
・Refrain from going to main land of Japan if unnecessary/ urgent
Currently, the number of infected people per 100,000 population in Okinawa   is highest in Japan. This number is more than double that in Tokyo, which is the second largest in Japan.
This means that no matter where you are, you are at risk of getting COVID-19, and you are at risk of becoming infected and passing on to someone unconsciously.
However, each of us has a job, a school and a life. Some people will need to support their families. Therefore, we cannot stop what we need in our daily lives.
Make sure that each person lives with care, taking basic measures such as washing hands, wearing a mask, avoiding close contact, and disinfecting.
Only YOU can protect yourself from infection.

Obon is a Buddhist event originally held from July 14th to 16th of the lunar calendar called " Uranbonne".
At this time, the spirits of the deceased ancestors will return to this world from the world of after-death, and each family will welcome their ancestors and provide offerings.

With the introduction of Buddhism over 1,000 years ago, this custom gradually spread to Japan.
Originally, the Obon festival was performed around July 15 of the lunar calendar, but when the solar calendar was adopted in the Meiji era (1868-), July 15 of the solar calendar coincided with the busy period of agriculture.
Therefore, the number of areas where the Bon festival is held on August 15th increased. It became the current style, the so-called " monthly delayed Obon festival."
In Japan, people who usually live in the city return to their local hometowns with their families to welcome the spirits of their ancestors during the Obon season.
Therefore, there are many companies set this time as a summer vacation.

Taking this year as an example, the period is from August 8th to August 16th.
Every year, many people move around Japan at this time of year. Also, many tourists used to visit Okinawa during the season. What about this year?
In Okinawa, we will hold the Bon Festival on July 15 of the lunar calendar, just as we did in the past.
The name is also different from mainland Japan. It is called Unke (pick up) and Ukui (send).
This year, August 31st is July 13th of the lunar calendar, so on this day, we will welcome the spirits of our ancestors (Unke). On September 2nd (July 15th of the lunar calendar), we will send the spirits of our ancestors to that world. The number of people infected with COVID-19 per 100,000 people in Okinawa is the highest in Japan and is rapidly increasing. Be especially careful at this time when many people are moving.

Due to the spread  COVID-19 , the government of Okinawa has raised the "alert level" to 3 (epidemic period). The level is 1-4 scale, which level 4 is worst.
Then, they issued an emergency declaration in Okinawa.
This period is effective from August 1st to August 15th.
The specific contents of alert level 3 are as follows.
・ Refrain from going out unnecessary and urgently throughout the main island. Remote islands refrain from going out as much as possible.
・ Call on the residents of Okinawa to refrain from unnecessary and urgent traffic to and from the prefecture.
・Consider canceling, postponing or reducing the scale of the event. When implementing it, take sufficient measures against infection.

According to media, there are no more vacant beds in hospitals currently housing people infected with COVID-19.
Since Okinawa is an island, it is not possible to take patients to the neighboring prefectures by ambulance.
What we can do is to be careful not to get infected with   COVID-19.
In the unlikely event that you get infected, it is just to prevent it from being transmitted to people.

The impact of the spread of COVID-19 infections on people's lives will come a little later than the epidemic.
The number of people infected with COVID-19 is increasing in Japan, mainly in urban areas such as Tokyo, Osaka, Nagoya, and Fukuoka.
It has been reported that the number of infected people is increasing not only in urban areas but also in the surrounding areas. Of course, Okinawa is no exception.
The Japanese government previously issued a national emergency declaration on April 16th, calling for refraining from going out and reducing contact with people.
And this measure continued until May 25, and the spread of infected people calmed down a little.

However, it was in June that the number of counseling services about COVID-19 increased.
Around the time when the world was getting a little calm in response to the spread of COVID-19 infection, the impact on people's lives, such as " no work, no money", began to occur.
This means that even if the current spread of infection will calm down to some extent in the future, it may be that next month or the next month will have a direct impact on life.
And the impact may last for a while, depending on the content of the consultation.
Things may not progress systematically because we cannot see the future right now.
You may be confused because the surrounding environment is too different from the time when you came to Okinawa for the first time.

If you have an unexpected problem, or if you cannot manage it yourself, please contact OIHF.

The rainy season ended in Okinawa last month, and it is now full-blown summer. Even in mainland Japan, the rainy season is almost over, and full-blown summer is coming soon.
Even in mainland Japan, the rainy season is almost over, and full-blown summer is coming soon.
Every summer, many people in Japan suffer from heatstroke, and they are transported by ambulance, and some of them lose their lives.
Be especially careful with heatstroke this summer, as you will need to wear a mask while you are working or traveling.
Some doctors advocate 3 "T"s as a method to simultaneously implement infection prevention and heatstroke measures.

What three "T"s are as follow:
① Take(Keep) enough distance to people (2 meters or more)
② Take a mask if you can get a distance
③ Take water frequently.

As for ②, wearing a mask causes the body temperature to rise more than usual, so it seems that children especially need to be careful.
Regarding ③, wearing a mask makes it harder to feel thirst, and as a result, there seems to be a risk of becoming dehydrated.
In the case of Okinawa, for the time being, the minimum temperature will be 25° C or higher and the humidity will be high, so we must think that there is a risk of heatstroke even when the sun goes down.
Let's practice the " new lifestyle" not only when working outside, but also inside the house, paying attention to heatstroke.

The "new lifestyle" is available in multiple languages on the OIHF website （https://kokusai.oihf.or.jp/covid-19/).

COVID-19 infected people have been found among those working at US military bases in Okinawa. In Japan, the number of infected people is increasing in the Tokyo metropolitan area, which is centered around Tokyo.
It seems that some people are asymptomatic or mildly infected with COVID-19, but do not necessarily have a high fever or abnormal respiratory conditions.
People who are asymptomatic or mildly ill may go out without knowing that they are infected and pass on to other people. This means that we must always assume that anyone in our daily lives is at risk of infection.
It is unavoidable for each of us to take basic measures, such as wearing masks, washing hands, and disinfecting the surroundings.
COVID-19 vaccine development seems to take a considerable amount of time.
Unfortunately, there is no other way to prevent the spread of infection than basic countermeasures.

The government will start an initiative called " GO TO Travel Campaign" from July 22nd.
The purpose is to subsidize those who travel domestically to stimulate the travel demand hit by COVID-19.
If people move, so does the COVID-19 virus.
Let's live with basic countermeasures in mind, so that we can reduce the risk of getting infected.

Discrimination: To be harassed or said to you in an unpleasant language because of your country of origin, gender, age, or skin color.
Have you/your family/ your friends   been suffering from the following due to COVID-19?
□ You and your acquaintances work at the hospital/ nursing home, and others said, “ Don't get closer because you might get a virus!”
□ You and your acquaintances work at the supermarket, convenience store, pharmacies, etc., and your customers say something awful about COVID-19.
□ You and your acquaintances   do the job of transporting things and when you delivere   luggage to various homes, you are told, " Because the corona gets infected, stay away."
□ I and my family got infected with COVID-19, and people around me spread terrible information in various places. Also their personal information (name, phone number, address etc.) is posted on the Internet.
□ You are said to be " infected by COVID-19" or "◯◯ virus", like a virus in your home country.

Unfortunately, these things are happening in reality. However, it is embarrassing to discriminate based on a person's nationality, skin color, or language.
Every day, the health care workers who work hard to cure illnesses, the employees who sell things at shops in COVID-19 and, and the staff who work hard to mail things are necessary for us to live. Rather, they allow us to live a life.

If you are worried about discrimination or know someone like that, please consult OIHF.

Support content is wide-area. In addition, the content is important and required, and is a model for other organizations

1. Project which is contribute to life reconstruction support for foreign residents living in Japan
2. Project which is contribute to the activation of local foreign community
3. Initiatives that contribute to learning and re-employment support for foreign residents
4. Other projects that contribute to the support of foreign residents