Notice regarding the paid amounts of the following insurance premiums: National Health Insurance, Advanced-age Medical Insurance, and Long-term Care Insurance

For those who paid National Health Insurance, Advanced-age Medical Insurance, and Long-term Care Insurance via bank transfer in 2025, notices regarding paid insurance premium amounts will be sent out in late January 2026. These insurance premiums are counted for deductions of social insurance premiums for income tax and inhabitant tax, so please make use of these notices when filing tax returns, etc.
For those who paid their premiums by deduction from pensions, please confirm the amount paid using the tax withholding slip issued by your pension insurer. 
Inquiries for National Health Insurance/ Advanced-age Medical Insurance: 
National Health Insurance and Pension Section of Ward Offices and Miyagi General Branch, Public Health and Welfare Section of Akiu General Branch
Inquiries for Long-term Care Insurance: 
Long-term Care Insurance Section of Ward Offices, Disabled and Senior Citizens Welfare Section of Miyagi General Branch, Public Health and Welfare Section of Akiu General Branch

Enrollment into the National Pension System when turning 20

When a person turns 20 years old, they will receive a notification from the Japan Pension Service regarding "Notice of Enrollment into National Pension" informing them that they have been enrolled into the National Pension (excluding those who are already enrolled in the Employees' Pension Insurance system).  The National Pension is not just for life post-retirement, but also acts as a precautionary measure which secure payments for when one became disabled as a result of an accident or an illness; in the event that an enrolled person passed away, payments will be made to their family members. Please consult with us if you have difficulty paying premiums, as there are reduction and exemption options available (income will be subject to screening).
Inquiries: National Health Insurance and Pension Section of Ward Offices and Miyagi General Branch, Public Health and Welfare Section of Akiu General Branch

Have you Enrolled in the National Health Insurance?

If you have withdrawn from your employee health insurance due to retirement, resignation or loss of employment, you must register to enroll in the National Health Insurance (unless you have opted to extend your health insurance or have become a dependent on a family member's employee health insurance).
The day when you withdrew from your employee health insurance becomes your day of enrollment into the National Health Insurance, meaning that you will be charged with insurance premiums starting from that month, so even if you did not complete the necessary procedures for National Health Insurance enrollment immediately, you will be charged retroactively.
If you have yet to register, please do so as soon as possible.
Inquiries: National Health Insurance and Pension Section of Ward Offices and Miyagi General Branch, Public Health and Welfare Section of Akiu General Branch

Don't Forget to Attend a Basic Medical Examination.

The period of basic medical examinations offered by the City of Sendai ends on January 31 (Sat). If you already have a medical screening ticket, please make sure to attend the examination. 
Inquiries: Home Health Section of ward offices, Public Health and Welfare Section of general branches

Please be Sure to Prepare for Heavy Snowfall.

Snowy season is coming soon. Please pay attention and cooperate with the following.

1. Check the weather forecast using television or radio, etc.
2. Be careful of injuries and accidents, and refrain from non-essential outings, as roads will be slippery during heavy snowfall.
3. Keep fire hydrants and surrounding areas near your house clear of snow to avoid blocking fire extinguishing activities.
4. Do NOT dump snow onto roads, as it is a safety hazard which can cause traffic accidents.
5. Avoid parking on the streets to facilitate snow-removal activities.
6. As snowplows push snow aside on the road, the snow may pile in front of the gates of houses. We kindly ask for your understanding.
7. If you have elderly neighbors that are struggling with clearing snow, please give them a hand as a member of your community.
8. Bags of antifreeze agent to tackle freeze and snow accumulation on municipal roads will be distributed. Please make an inquiry regarding the distribution locations.

Inquiries for No.1 and 2: Crisis Countermeasures Section TEL: 022-214-3049
Inquiries for No.3: Disaster Suppression Section, Fire Bureau TEL: 022-234-1111
Inquiries for No.4 to 7: Road Maintenance Section TEL: 022-214-8381
Inquiries for No.8: Road Section of Ward Offices and Miyagi General Branch, Construction Section of Akiu General Branch

Accepting Claims for Free Early Childhood Education and Care

• Eligibility: Those who have the new class 2 or 3 Childcare Certificate and are using extended childcare services at kindergarten and centers for early childhood education and care, non-certified childcare facilities, temporary childcare services, childcare services for sick children, or Sendai Sukusuku ("Healthy Growth") Support Project
• Eligible period: October 1, 2025 - December 31, 2025
• Claim submission date: By January 20 (Tue), 2026
• For further details, please see the official website of the City of Sendai.

Inquiries: Sendai City Free Early Childhood Education and Care Office　TEL: 022-214-8978

Sending of Notice of Medical Expenses for National Health Insurance

The City of Sendai will send out a notice listing the total amount of medical expenditures paid between January and October of 2025 in late January 2026.
Until now, the City has sent out the medical expense notice in January (for the total amount from January to October of the previous year) and March (for the total amount between November and December of the previous year). This year, we will discontinue mailing the second notice which is used to send out in late March. The notice of medical expenditures paid between November 2025 and October 2026 will be sent out in late January 2027.

• The total amount of medical expenses paid is tax deductible. Please use the notice when filing for tax return.
• This notice can NOT be re-issued. 

Inquiries: National Health Insurance and Pension Section of Ward Offices and Miyagi General Branch, Public Health and Welfare Section of Akiu General Branch

Have you attended your Specified Health Checkup?

The period for attending the National Health Insurance Specified Health Checkup ends on January 31 (Sat). Please get your Specified Health Checkup done as soon as possible, if you have not already done so.

• Eligibility: Those who are enrolled in the National Health Insurance Scheme and are between 40-74 years old (as of March 31, 2026)
• The Specified Health Checkup Coupon has been distributed to eligible age groups via post.
• For those who are diagnosed as having a high risk of developing lifestyle-related diseases as a result of specified health checkups, please make use of Specific Health Guidance which is a support program to improve lifestyle habits by public health nurses and registered dietitians. A guidance coupon will be handed over to eligible persons, when they receive their checkup results at the medical institution.
• For more details, please refer to the official website of the City of Sendai.  

Inquiries: Home Health Section of Ward Offices, Public Health and Welfare Section of General Branches

Tax Notices

Inhabitant Tax Payments are Due on February 2 (Mon).

Please make your fourth Inhabitant Tax payment for FY 2025 at your nearest financial institution by February 2 (Mon). If you pay by bank transfer, the transaction will be made on February 2 (Mon).
Inquiries: Tax Collection and Administration Section TEL: 022-214-1010

Consultations for Starting a Business

1. Consultations for matters related to starting a business
   Date and time: January 21 (Wed) 9:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. 
   Who it is for: Those who are considering starting a business in Miyagi Prefecture or have just started a business. (Limited to the first 30 applicants.) 
2. Consultation for Foreign Entrepreneurs
   Date and time: January 22 (Thu) 9:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
   Who it is for: Foreign residents, including international students, who are interested in starting a business in Sendai City or have been operating a business for approximately 5 years or less. (Limited to the first 10 applicants.)

• Venue: AER Building 7F
• Content: Individual consultations with relevant experts on starting/running a business.
• How to apply: Apply via the website of the Sendai City Entrepreneurship Support Center starting from 9:00 a.m. on January 6. Application for 1 by phone is also accepted. 

Inquiries: Sendai City Industrial Promotion Organization TEL: 022-724-1124

Currently Accepting Applications for Municipal Housing (For Single-parent / Child-rearing households and households with multiple children)
―Applications Open Until January 16 (FRI)―

• "Application Guide for Sendai City Municipal Housing" will be distributed at the following locations from January 6 (Tue): Application Section of the Sendai City Construction Public Corporation (Sendai City Hall Kokubuncho Building 2nd Floor), Sendai Information Center (Sendai City Hall 2nd Floor), Information Desk of each Ward Office, General Branches, Family and Resident Registration Section of Sendai Station Service Center, Aoba Ward Office (AER Building 5th Floor), etc.
• How to apply: Choose one municipal housing unit from the chart, fill out the application form attached to the Application Guide and mail the form using the provided envelope by January 16 (Fri). If the number of applications exceeds the capacity, decisions will be made via lottery.
• Earliest move in date: March 27 (Fri), 2026 (tentative)
• Eligibility: Individuals who fulfill all of the following requirements from 1 to 3

1. Those who are facing difficulties in their current housing situation
2. Those whose household falls into any of the following categories: 
   Single-parent household that the applicant themselves is raising a child younger than the age of 20, a household including preschooler, or 3 or more children younger than the age of 20 are living together
3. Those who reside or work in Sendai City

There are other conditions such as that one's income must be under a certain amount. For more details, please see the Application Guide.

The application requirements differ for the following individuals: those who resided in areas under evacuation orders by the 2011 nuclear disaster, evacuees who resided in designated support areas based on the Children and Victims Support Act, or victims of domestic violence and crimes. Please inquire for further details.
Inquiries: Application Section of Sendai City Construction Public Corporation TEL: 022-214-3604