MIM – March 25, 2020 issue

1. Information about the Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19)

The number of people infected with the Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is increasing.

As is the case with when aiming to prevent the spread of colds and influenza, it is important to implement usual measures against spreading infectious diseases such as coughing etiquette and hand washing.

・Along with frequent hand washing, let’s make efforts to disinfect our hands with alcohol.

・Please make sure to practice cough etiquette by covering your mouth and nose with a tissue when you cough, and wearing a surgical mask. Also try to avoid crowded places.

*For more details, see the website below.

http://www.city.minato.tokyo.jp/hokenyobou/yasanichi.html (easy Japanese)

2. Let’s all try to practice coughing etiquette.

Try to practice coughing etiquette when you need to cough.

1. Wear a mask when coughing or sneezing.

2. When coughing or sneezing, cover your mouth and nose with a tissue or handkerchief.

3. Make sure not to cough or sneeze on people around you.

Let’s all mind our manners and behave courteously.

3.Interpretation Service will be available on tablet devices.

Minato City provides free interpretation service on tablet devices at administrative agencies in the city so that foreign residents will not encounter a language barrier.

[About the service] Foreign residents can speak with administrative officers with an interpreter displayed on a tablet device at agencies.

[Number of supported languages] 11

(English, Chinese, Korean, Portuguese, Spanish, Thai, Russian, Tagalog, Nepali, Vietnamese, Indonesian)

[Hours of Operation] 8時30分 am – 5時15分 pm (9時00分 am to 5時15分 pm for Thai and Russian)

[Locations]

Minato City Hall (3 Floor - Community Promotion Section)

Shiba Regional City Office

Azabu Regional City Office

Akasaka Regional City Office

Takanawa Regional City Office

Shibaura-konan Regional City Office

Minato Recycling and Waste Management Office

Children and Families Support Center

Minato Public Health Center

*If you can provide us with advance notice, it can be used in schools, kindergartens, and nursery schools.

For more details, please ask a faculty member.

[Contact] Global Community Planning Subsection, Community Promotion Section (Tel: 03-3578-2524, Japanese and English)

4. There is a help center for foreign residents!

English-speaking staff members help foreign residents solve any trouble they might encounter.

There are also interpreters at the ward office. Those who speak a language other than English or Japanese can use a tablet or videophone to receive interpretation services.

Everybody is welcome to attend. *Telephone support is in Japanese and English

Please feel free to contact us.

[Days on which consulting services are available] Monday-Friday *closed on Sat, Sun, and Holidays

[Time] 9 a.m. to 12 p.m., 1 p.m. - 5 p.m. (*no reservations needed)

[Venue] Minato City Hall, 3rd floor, Counter 304

Tel: 03-3578-2524/2046 (*Japanese and English)

5. Sharing of Disaster and Emergency Information on Twitter and Facebook

Minato City shares municipal disaster and emergency information on Twitter and Facebook, as well as on its website.

The information is shared in Japanese, English, Chinese, and Korean. We hope you will take advantage of this service.

Japanese

TwitterURL：https://twitter.com/minato_city（external link）

FacebookURL：https://www.facebook.com/city.minato（external link）

English

TwitterURL: https://twitter.com/minato_city_en（external link）

FacebookURL: https://www.facebook.com/city.minato.en（external link）

Chinese

TwitterURL: https://twitter.com/minato_city_zh（external link）

FacebookURL: https://www.facebook.com/city.minato.zh（external link）

Korean

TwitterURL: https://twitter.com/minato_city_ko（external link）

FacebookURL: https://www.facebook.com/city.minato.ko（external link）

For more information, please see the website below.

http://www.city.minato.tokyo.jp/kouhou/140901twitterfacebook.html(Japnaese)

6. Would you like to try our multilingual AI chat?

We offer an automated answering service that uses AI in a chat format to respond to inquiries for government information and lifestyle questions that foreign residents need in their daily lives.

The more questions users ask, the smarter the AI will become. We hope you will all ask lots of questions to cultivate this AI!

[Eligibility] Anyone *In addition to foreign residents, Japanese residents are also welcome to use it.

[Supported languages] English, simple Japanese

[Question topics supported]

Eight categories: disaster prevention, trash disposal, child rearing / education, international / culture, medical / hospitals, various procedures (taxes, insurance, pension), tourism, and neighborhood associations.

In addition, trivia is available on lifestyles and culture unique to Japan.

[How to use]

Users can get the information they need directly through the Facebook Messenger app (free) 24 hours a day, open 365 days per year just by entering relevant keywords.

—Directions for Use—

1. Access the Minato Information Board Facebook page (https://facebook.com/city.minato.mib/（external link）).

2. Click “Send message”.

3. Ask the AI a question.

4. The AI selects the appropriate response from a pre-registered FAQ and answers your question in chat format. Users select whether the response was helpful or not.

*Please access the Minato City International and Cultural Office Facebook Page through the Minato Information Board.

[Contact] Minato City Community Promotion Section, Global Community Planning Subsection (Tel: 03-3578-2565) *Japanese and English