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At a public or community consultation desk, say 相談したいことがあります (“There is something I would like to consult you about”), then name one topic and show the relevant notice. Ask for language support and the correct office, contact, or appointment. A referral is the successful outcome; the first desk does not need to solve every problem.
Manga scene · Read from right to leftRead from top to bottom
One topic leads to the right desk
Leo begins his entire history at the general information desk without naming the current problem.
LeoIt started several months ago when...
The staff member asks him to choose the immediate topic and show the notice with the deadline.
Staff今日は何についてですか。
What is today's topic?
Leo names housing as the topic and points to one letter.
Leo住まいについて相談したいです。この通知です。
I would like advice about housing. It is this notice.
He repeats the referred office, appointment time, and documents to bring.
Leo火曜日の二時に、住宅相談窓口へこの書類を持っていきます。
I take these documents to the housing consultation desk Tuesday at two.
Dialogue remains selectable HTML. The illustrations contain no dependable generated text.
Name one consultation topic
| Japanese | Romaji | Meaning | Use |
|---|---|---|---|
相談したいことがあります | sōdan shitai koto ga arimasu | There is something I would like to consult you about | Open the conversation |
住まいについてです | sumai ni tsuite desu | It is about housing | Name the category |
仕事の通知についてです | shigoto no tsūchi ni tsuite desu | It is about a work notice | Show the notice |
今日の質問は一つです | kyō no shitsumon wa hitotsu desu | I have one question today | Keep the intake focused |
Give the deadline and immediate risk early. If there is current danger, a medical emergency, or a crime in progress, use the emergency channel rather than waiting for routine consultation.
Ask for language and communication support
| Japanese | Romaji | Meaning | Use |
|---|---|---|---|
英語で相談できますか | Eigo de sōdan dekimasu ka | Can I consult in English? | Ask about availability |
通訳をお願いできますか | tsūyaku o onegai dekimasu ka | Can I request an interpreter? | Ask about method and appointment |
やさしい日本語でお願いします | yasashii Nihongo de onegai shimasu | Please use plain Japanese | Request simpler language |
大事なことを書いてください | daiji na koto o kaite kudasai | Please write down the important points | Create a reliable record |
Do not assume an accompanying friend is appropriate for sensitive interpretation. Ask about confidentiality, professional interpretation, and whether documents can be translated.
Show the relevant evidence
| Japanese | Romaji | Meaning | Use |
|---|---|---|---|
この通知が届きました | kono tsūchi ga todokimashita | I received this notice | Show all pages and envelope |
締め切りはこの日です | shimekiri wa kono hi desu | The deadline is this date | Point to it |
これまでの記録があります | kore made no kiroku ga arimasu | I have records up to now | Offer only relevant evidence |
何を見せればいいですか | nani o misereba ii desu ka | What should I show you? | Protect unrelated personal data |
Confirm the referral
| Japanese | Romaji | Meaning | Use |
|---|---|---|---|
どこに相談すればいいですか | doko ni sōdan sureba ii desu ka | Where should I seek advice? | Ask for the responsible service |
予約が必要ですか | yoyaku ga hitsuyō desu ka | Is an appointment required? | Confirm access |
何を持っていけばいいですか | nani o motte ikeba ii desu ka | What should I bring? | Get the document list |
この番号に電話します | kono bangō ni denwa shimasu | I will call this number | Repeat the verified contact |
Verify the organization name, official contact, appointment, cost if any, language support, and documents. A handout or written referral is stronger than a number copied from memory.
Know when the consultation desk must refer you
General consultation staff may route rather than advise. The Immigration Services Agency’s current Foreign Residents Support Portal collects multilingual national information, while its one-stop consultation-center page and FRESC page describe specific support channels. Their scope and availability differ. For legal, medical, immigration, labor, financial, or safety decisions, use the qualified service identified for that topic and verify the current official contact. Source boundary last checked: August 11, 2026.
Reach the right support with your case intact
- Name one topic and urgent deadline.
- Ask for appropriate language support.
- Show relevant evidence without oversharing.
- Treat a verified referral as successful completion.
Use referrals for insurance and residence documents
A consultation desk may help identify the responsible office but cannot complete every procedure. Practice carrying the referral into an insurance question or a residence-certificate request with the topic, evidence, and next action still clear.
Street Check · 1–3 minutes
Try the real-world task
Reach the appropriate support channel for one practical life problem.
Ready means:
- I can state the topic without giving an unnecessary full history.
- I can ask for language support and show the relevant notice.
- I can repeat the referred office, contact, or appointment.
Build the route
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