The Kobe International Community Center (KICC) strives to boost the international spirit of our city by promoting international exchanges among our citizens and working to create intercultural communities. We offer assistance in many languages, providing various services aimed at promoting international exchanges, daily life advice and comprehensive information about municipal services. We look forward to serving you!
Services Offered at the KICC
1 Daily Life Information and Consultations in Various Languages
Our multilingual staff is here to help!
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Services Offered
Multilingual support
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Language Availability
- English
- Monday – Friday
- Chinese
- Monday – Friday
- Korean
- Friday
- Spanish
- Tuesday&Thursday
- Portuguese
- Thursday
- Vietnamese
- Monday&Wednesday
- Filipino
- Wednesday
- Nepali
- Monday
- Thai
- Tuesday
- Indonesian
- Friday
*In case the interpreters are unavailable, we also have access to remote interpreting services via tablet terminals.
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Hours of Operation
10:00 am – 12:00 pm
1:00 pm – 5:00 pm*Phone support available from 9:00 am.
Daily Life Advice / Information on Daily Life & Municipal Services
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Services Offered
Counseling on everyday matters.
Information on municipal services and living in Kobe -
Language Availability
- English
- Monday – Friday
- Chinese
- Monday – Friday
- Korean
- Friday
- Spanish
- Tuesday&Thursday
- Portuguese
- Thursday
- Vietnamese
- Monday&Wednesday
- Filipino
- Wednesday
- Nepali
- Monday
- Thai
- Tuesday
- Indonesian
- Friday
*In case the interpreters are unavailable, we also have access to remote interpreting services via tablet terminals.
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Hours of Operation
10:00 am – 12:00 pm
1:00 pm – 5:00 pm*Phone support available from 9:00 am.
Immigration and Residential Status Consultations (By appointment only)
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Services Offered
1. Counseling on immigration, residential status, naturalization and other administrative procedures
2. General information related to immigration procedures, residential status, etc. -
Availability
1. 1st & 3rd Wednesday of the month
2. 2nd Friday of the month -
Hours of Operation
1. 1:30 pm – 4:30 pm
2. 1:30 pm – 4:30 pm
These are specialist consultations, so please make an appointment ahead of time if you require an interpreter. (Interpreting available in English and Chinese; please inquire about other languages)
Kobe City Government Citizen Consultation Center(Volunteer interpreters available upon appointment)
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Location
Kobe City Hall, Bldg. No. 2, 1st Floor
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Availability
1.Labor Issues 1st & 3rd Thursday of the month
2.Insurance & Pension 2nd & 4th Thursday of the month
3.Taxes 1st & 3rd Friday of the month -
Hours of Operation
1:00 pm – 4:00 pm
2 Translation & Interpreting
Phone Interpreting Service for Ward Office Visitors
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Services Offered
If you find it difficult to communicate in Japanese at one of the service desks at a ward office, phone interpreting services are available at each of them.
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Language Availability
- English
- Monday – Friday
- Chinese
- Monday – Friday
- Korean
- Friday
- Spanish
- Tuesday&Thursday
- Portuguese
- Thursday
- Vietnamese
- Monday&Wednesday
- Filipino
- Wednesday
- Nepali
- Monday
- Thai
- Tuesday
- Indonesian
- Friday
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Hours of Operation
10:00 am – 12:00 pm
1:00 pm – 5:00 pm*Phone support available from 9:00 am.
On-site Interpreting (By appointment only)
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Services Offered
If you need to carry out procedures or want to get a consultation at the ward office or any other public institution within the city limits of Kobe, but find it difficult to communicate in Japanese, we can dispatch a volunteer interpreter to accompany you to that institution. (This service is offered in 11 languages.)
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Availability
Please inquire
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Hours of Operation
Anytime during work hours
Emergency Translation & Interpreting Services
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Services Offered
In the event of an earthquake, flood or other major disaster, we will offer translation and interpreting support at evacuation shelters, ward offices and other locations in order to assist foreign nationals who find it difficult to communicate in Japanese.
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Availability
As needed
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Hours of Operation
As needed
3 Support for Japanese Language and Culture Courses
Purpose of the Program
The Kobe International Community Center (KICC) provides support to foreign residents to make it easier for them to live in Kobe. The KICC is also a place where both Japanese and foreign nationals can interact and learn about each other’s cultures. The main purpose of the program is to provide foreign residents the chance to learn basic level Japanese language and culture, while also promoting mutual understanding between foreign and Japanese residents, through a number of programs taught by Japanese volunteers (language study, calligraphy and flower arrangement).
The KICC is not a Japanese language school. Your Japanese supporter is a volunteer who helps you with your learning.
Courses
You can choose one of the following courses: Japanese Language, Calligraphy or Flower Arrangement.
Program information（147.81 KB）Japanese classes in Kobe
Inquiry
Asta Kunizuka 1-Bankan, South Building 4F
5-3-1, Udezuka-cho, Nagata-ku, Kobe 653-0036
TEL: 078-742-8705
FAX: 078-691-5553
KICC’s Mascot, Kokko-chan!
Hi there! I'm Kokko, the KICCs seagull mascot. My name comes from the "Ko" in "Kobe", "kokusai" (meaning "international") and "Kouryu" (meaning "exchange" or "networking"). My head is based on an image of the Earth, and my necktie is inspired by Kobe City's Port Tower. I'm very glad to meet you. Yoroshiku, ne!
- Birthday
- May 29th (The same day that KICC was founded)
- Personality
- A happy and cheerful girl who loves adventure
- Hobbies
- Viewing Kobe from Port Tower Occasionally going fishing Traveling
- Special Talent
- She can draw all the flags of the world
- Her Dream
- To become an expert (?) in languages (In fact, she is studying now!)
- The truth is...
- If she tries really, really hard, she can fly!