Yokohama Multilingual Public Relations Guidelines

Established: July 1, 2010 City Public Relations No. 212 (Director's approval)

Revision: September 7, 2012 City Public Relations No. 262 (Director's approval)

Revision: August 1, 2017 City Public Relations No. 235 (Director's approval)

Revision: August 1, 2019 City Public Relations No. 404 (deputed by director)

Revision: April 1, 2022 City Public Relations No. 897 (authorized by the director)

Revision: April 1, 2024 Masahiro No. 1030 (appointed by Director General)

This guideline actively promotes multilingual publicity by establishing standards (targets, types of information to be provided, languages, etc.) for Yokohama City to provide information to foreign citizens, etc. The purpose is to realize a rich multicultural society.

(1)Foreign citizens

Foreign residents who have registered as residents in Yokohama City or those who live, work, or attend school in Yokohama City who have difficulty in Japanese

(2)Foreign visitors

Foreigners visiting Yokohama City for sightseeing, business, etc. and foreigners collecting information for visits

(3)Foreign companies, etc.

Foreign companies located in Yokohama City and foreign companies collecting information for location

For the following items, information will be provided in multiple languages.

(1)Emergency Information

Items of crisis stipulated in the Yokohama City Crisis Management Guidelines

A. Disaster Information

Information on storms, heavy rains, heavy snowfalls, floods, high tides, earthquakes, tsunami, eruptions, etc.

B. Information on armed attack situations and emergency response situations

C. Emergency information such as incidents

Information on terrorism, infectious diseases, environmental pollution, etc.

(2)Emergency information in daily life

Information on fire, anti-crime program, emergency medical care, etc.

(3)Information on daily life and consultation

Health, welfare, education, infant health checkups, nursery schools, school attendance, employment, garbage disposal, public utility payment methods, resident registration, pension, employee health insurance, tax system, consultation for foreigners, etc.

(4)Facility Information

Information on facilities with many foreign citizens (international lounges, libraries, etc.)

(5)Event information

Information about events with many foreign citizen participants

(6)City sales

Information to stimulate sightseeing, conventions and attracting companies to Yokohama City

(7)Tourist information

Information to support tourism in Yokohama City

(8)Support for Foreign Companies, etc.

Information that supports the activities of foreign companies in Yokohama (business environment, support system, etc.)

(9)Other important measures of Yokohama City

(1)For foreign citizens

A Foreign language

Provide information in English, Chinese (simplified) and Hangul. In addition, we will provide information in languages with a large native population, such as Vietnamese, Nepali, Chinese (traditional), Portuguese, and Spanish, according to business characteristics, regional characteristics, urgency, etc.

B. Easy Japanese

Actively provide easy Japanese information to foreign citizens whose native language is languages other than those listed in a. When using easy Japanese, plain and easy-to-understand expressions will be used based on the standard "Easy Japanese" of Yokohama City "Easy Japanese".

(2)For foreign visitors, etc.

Provide information in English. In addition, we will provide information in other languages such as Chinese (simplified and traditional), Hangul, and easy Japanese according to business characteristics, urgency, etc.

In conducting multilingual publicity, it may not be understood even if the content is the same as Japanese public relations (Japanese public relations), so try to create it from the perspective of foreigners with different cultures, and give due consideration to human rights.

Multilingual publicity will be conducted on the Internet web, printed matter, broadcasting and other appropriate media.

(1)Each ward office and headquarters

For foreigners who are unable to speak Japanese, secure translation expenses, etc., and conduct multilingual publicity. In addition, the affiliated organizations under the jurisdiction will also work on multilingual publicity in accordance with these guidelines.

(2)Public Relations Section, City Promotion Promotion Office, Policy Management Bureau

Provide necessary information and advice when each ward bureau and headquarters conduct multilingual publicity.

(3)International Affairs Bureau General Affairs Department Policy General Affairs Division

When each ward bureau and headquarters conduct multilingual publicity, provide support for effective public relations to foreign citizens and provide advice at the time of translation.

Supplementary Provisions
(Effective Date)
1 These guidelines shall come into effect on July 1, 2010.
With the abolition of the non-Japanese registration system in July 2012, the amendment of “(1) Foreign Residents” under “Two Multilingual Public Relations” came into effect on July 9, 2012.
2. The guidelines for Yokohama City Foreign Language Public Relations (established on April 1, 2005) and the Yokohama City Foreign Language Public Relations Handling Regulations (established on April 1, 2005) will be abolished.
Supplementary Provisions
(Effective Date)
1 These guidelines shall come into effect on August 1, 2017.
Supplementary Provisions
(Effective Date)
1 These guidelines shall come into effect on August 1, 2019.
Supplementary Provisions
(Effective Date)
1 This guideline shall come into effect on April 1, 2022.
Supplementary Provisions
(Effective Date)
(1) This guideline shall come into effect on April 1, 2024.