The One World Festival will take place Feb. 2 and 3 in Osaka to raise awareness of international cooperation through education, interaction and mutual assistance.
During the festival, which runs from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. each day, NPOs and NGOs based in the Kansai region will talk about their activities while workshops will be held on various issues, including fair trade, microfinancing and Japanese society as seen by foreign youths.
Visitors can also try on ethnic costumes and attend symposiums. Participation is free.
The venue, Osaka Kokusai Koryu Center, is a five-minute walk from Osaka Uehonmachi Station on the Kintetsu Line. For more information, go to www.interpeople.or.jp/owf/ (in Japanese) or call (06) 6944-0407.
Get a multi-language emergency medical card
Non-Japanese residents can learn how to create and use an emergency medical card from noon to 1 p.m. Feb. 5 in Minoh, Osaka Prefecture. The cards can be used in hospitals or when calling an ambulance.
Translation services in Chinese, English and Korean will be provided during the meeting. Participation is free and no reservations are required.
To get to the venue, the Minoh Association of Global Awareness, take bus 30, 51, 55, 56, 58 or 59 from Senri Chuo Station on the Osaka Monorail and the Kitaosaka Kyuko Line and get off at either the Toyokawa Shisho or Ninotani stops. For more information, go to mafga.or.jp/news0205/ (in English) or call (072) 724-6720.
3,000 lanterns for 'setsubun' at Kasuga Taisha
Kasuga Taisha Shrine in Nara will light about 3,000 lanterns on "setsubun," Feb. 3, the last day of winter according to the traditional lunar calendar.
The lanterns will be lit at around 6 p.m. and the shrine will be closed at 8:30 p.m. Admission is ¥500.
The shrine can be accessed by taking a Nara Kotsu bus from JR or Kintetsu Nara stations and getting off at the Kasuga Taisha Honden or Kasuga Taisha Omotesando stops.
For more information, go to www.kasugataisha.or.jp/calendar/winter02.html (in Japanese) or call (0742) 22-7788.
Toyohashi ready for plum blossom festival
Toyohashi, Aichi Prefecture, is holding its plum blossom festival from Feb. 2 to March 17. On Feb. 24, locally grown tea and sweet alcoholic drinks will be offered and a concert will be held.
Visitors can also learn how to raise young plum trees, which will be provided for free Feb. 24. Admission is free.
The venue, Mukaiyama Ryokuchi, can be accessed by taking a Toyotetsu bus from Toyohashi Station and getting off at Daimachi stop.
More information can be found at www.city.toyohashi.aichi.jp/bu_sangyo/kanko/ume.html (in Japanese) or by calling (0532) 51-2430.
Consultation service for work-related accidents
Foreign workers can talk to lawyers, doctors and consultants about work-related accidents and occupational diseases for free Sunday by calling (052) 837-7420 or by visiting a site in Nagoya.
The session is open from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. No reservations are required. Translations will be provided in Chinese, English, Korean, Nepalese, Portuguese, Spanish, Tagalog, Turkish and Vietnamese.
After the event, a telephone consulting service will be available from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. from Monday to Friday, though the translation service will be limited to English.
The venue, the Nagoya Occupational Safety and Health Center, is on the fourth floor of Sugiura Clinic near Yagoto Station on the Meijo and Tsurumai subway lines. For more information, go to www2.aia.pref.aichi.jp/topj/indexj.html (in Japanese) or call the number above.