Notice of the Nationwide J-ALERT Information Transmission Test

The central government will carry out a nationwide simultaneous information transmission test using the J-ALERT system, which is used for nationwide alerts involving earthquakes, tsunamis, armed attacks, etc., at 11:00 a.m. on June 3 (Wed), 2026. 
On the day of the test, test messages will be broadcasted on the official website of the City of Sendai, the official LINE account of the City of Sendai, and the X (formerly Twitter) account of the Sendai City Crisis Management Bureau. Test announcements will also be broadcasted through outdoor speaker installations set up in the eastern part of Sendai City. Please take note of this in advance.
Inquiries: Crisis Management Section TEL: 022-214-8519

Information about Tuition Support Loan for High School and other Educational Institutions

For borrowers of the Japan Finance Corporation’s General Educational Loan (the National Education Loan), a portion of the loan interest paid during the period of enrollment in high school or equivalent educational institutions will be subsidized.

• Application Period: From July 1 (Wed) to December 4 (Fri)
• Eligibility: Guardians, etc. of students enrolled in high schools or other educational institutions, who are living in Sendai City
• Conditions: Complete/Full payment of Inhabitant taxes, etc.

Inquiries：School Affairs Section TEL: 022-214-8861

Grant for the Third Child and Onwards upon Entry to Elementary School

• Eligibility: Guardians of elementary school students (that are the third child and onwards) who entered school in FY 2026, and are living in Sendai City as of May 1.
• Payment amount: 30,000 yen.
• Application deadline: May 31(Sun), 2026
• How to apply: Please refer to the notice which will be distributed through elementary schools or visit the official website of the City of Sendai.

Inquires：Children's Health and Welfare Section TEL: 022-214-2133

Tax Information Notices

FY 2026 Taxation/Tax Exemption Certificates for Inhabitant Tax (Income Certificates) to be Issued

Certificates are issued by the municipality in which you were residing on January 1, 2026.
The issuing dates for FY 2026 are as follows.

• For Those Who Are Tax‑Exempt or Whose Inhabitant Tax Is Withheld from Salary
   [Issuance Locations]
  - At service counters: Issuance begins on May 12 (Tue)
  - Convenience store certificate issuance service: Issuance begins on May 24 (Sun)
• For Those Who Pay by Tax Payment Notice or Whose Inhabitant Tax Is Withheld from Their Pension
   [Issuance Locations]
  - At service counters and via the convenience store certificate issuance service: 
  Issuance begins on June 12 (Fri)

Contacts: Taxation Section　022-214-8622 / Taxation and Accounting Section of Ward Offices, 
Taxation and Resident Registration Section of Miyagi General Branch, 
General Affairs Section of Akiu General Branch

Are There Any Municipal Taxes You Have Forgotten to Pay?

Have you paid all your municipal taxes for FY2025? Please consult the relevant office as soon as possible if you are having any difficulties paying taxes.
- Northern Tax Levy Section of Aoba Ward: 022-214-8152, Izumi Ward: 022-214-5027
- Southern Tax Levy Section of Miyagino/Wakabayashi Ward: 022-214-8153, Taihaku Ward: 022-214-8154

AIDS and Syphilis Rapid Testing

• Reservation required
• How to apply:
  Reservations can be made by calling the dedicated reservation line (TEL: 090-4478-4641), between 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. on weekdays, starting two weeks before the testing date until the day before. You can also make a reservation through the official website of the City of Sendai.

1. Rapid Testing of AIDS and Syphilis: 
   Date and time: June 13 (Sat) 10:00-11:30 a.m. / 2:00-3:30 p.m.
   Venue: Aoba Ward Office
2. Holiday Rapid Testing of AIDS and Syphilis 
   Date and time: June 6 (Sat) 1:30-3:00 p.m.
   Venue: Health Consultation Office of Koseikan (1-1-5, Miyamachi, Aoba-ku)
3. Night-time Rapid Testing of AIDS and Syphilis: 
   Date and time: May 22 (Fri) / June 12 (Fri) 5:00-7:00 p.m.  
   Venue: Health Consultation Office of Koseikan (1-1-5, Miyamachi, Aoba-ku)

Test results will be provided about one hour after the blood draw.
(If the results are indeterminate, you will be notified at a later date.)
The capacity is around 30 people per session (first-come, first-serve).
Inquiries: Infectious Disease Countermeasure Section　TEL: 022-214-8029

Declaration Form Relating to National Health Insurance Premiums to be Sent Out

There is a system available that reduces National Health Insurance premiums for households whose total income falls below a certain threshold. If your household may be eligible for a reduction of National Health Insurance premiums and the City of Sendai was unable to determine your household’s total income for 2025, a declaration form will be sent to you in mid-May. The form must be submitted by Wednesday, May 27, 2026. You can also submit it online via the City of Sendai website.
Inquiries: National Health Insurance and Pension Section of Ward Offices and Miyagi General Branch, Public Health and Welfare Section of Akiu General Branch

Do Not Forget to Enroll in the National Pension Program When Leaving Your Job

If you lost your employee pension due to leaving your job, and aged 20-59, you must enroll in the National Pension Program. If you have a spouse who is your dependent, your spouse must also enroll in the National Pension Program.
If you are younger than 60 years old and are the spouse of an individual who is between 60 to 65 years old and is enrolled in Employee Pension Insurance, you will be required to enroll in the National Pension Program when your spouse retires. You can also complete the procedures online through the Myna Portal. For details, please visit the City of Sendai website.
Inquiries: National Health Insurance and Pension Section of Ward Offices and Miyagi General Branch, Public Health and Welfare Section of Akiu General Branch

Currently Accepting Applications for Municipal Housing (for Single Parent Households, Child-rearing Households, and Households with Multiple Children): Applications Open until May 16 (Sat)

• The “Application Guide for Sendai City Municipal Housing” is available from May 1 (Fri) at the following locations:
  - 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 the Aoba Ward Office Sendai Station Service Center (AER Building 5th Floor)
  - Certificate Issuance Centers
  - Central Civic Center of each ward
  - Sendai City Council of Social Welfare offices in each ward
  - Lifelong Learning Promotion Center
• How to apply: 
  Choose one municipal housing unit from the list, fill out the application form attached to the Application Guide and mail the form using the provided envelope by May 16 (Sat). If the number of applications exceeds that of available housing units, selections will be made by lottery.
• Earliest move-in date: July 25 (Sat), 2026 (tentative)
• Eligibility: 
  Applicants must meet all of the following conditions:

1. The applicant’s household falls into any of the following categories:
   ・Single-parent households where the applicant is raising a child younger than the age of 20.
   ・Households in which there is a preschooler.
   ・Households with 3 or more children younger than the age of 18.
2. Currently having difficulty securing housing
3. Reside or work in Sendai City.

Additional requirements apply, including having an income below a specified level. 
For more details, please see the Application Guide.
Applications are also accepted from individuals who previously lived in areas designated for evacuation following the 2011 nuclear disaster, evacuees from areas eligible for support under the Children and Victims Support Act, and victims of domestic violence or crimes. Application requirements may differ. Please contact us for further details.

• Open Ended Applications Begin on May 20 (Wed)
  For some vacant municipal housing units, applications will be accepted on a first come, first served basis throughout the year. There is not a fixed application period.
  For details, please visit the Sendai City Construction Public Corporation website, available starting on May 1 (Fri)..

Inquiries: Application Section of Sendai City Construction Public Corporation TEL: 022-399-7413