This special exhibition, celebrating the first anniversary of the opening of the Nagoya City Science Museum’s new wing, will introduce the evolution of sea creatures from 600 million years ago to the present day, highlighting their journey of evolution and history of diversity.

Naka Health Center in Nagoya’s Naka Ward has started a FREE monthly child care class for foreign mothers who reside in Naka Ward. The class provides information necessary for raising children in Japan and is targeted towards expectant mothers and those with infant children. Japanese interpreters are available for those that don’t understand Japanese.

If you’re a working woman and are either thinking about starting a family or are looking for a little financial help or extra time with your young family, there are a number of employment laws and benefits available to assist you.

Up September 2011 all children aged 15 or under (born after April 2, 1996), including those children living abroad, that met the eligibility requirements were entitled to receive child-rearing payments. However from October 1, with the exception of those children abroad for study purposes, children that are not currently resident in Japan will not be eligible to receive child-rearing payments.

From October 1, 2011 Nagoya City children’s medical subsidies were extended from their current scope to include a broader age range of children.

From August 2010 the current system of government-sponsored child support allowances (jido fuyou teate) was expanded to include single fathers. Child allowances for low-income single-parent families are paid three times a year – in April, August and December. Low-income father-only families who apply before November 30 will be eligible for the allowance from December.

I want to bring my dog with me to Japan. Do you have any advice?

The legal requirements for a marriage are governed by the laws of each home country, and the notification of the marriage is governed by the laws of the country in which the couple is to be married. For example, for Japanese nationals men have to be over the age of 18, women over the age of 16 to get married; for Chinese nationals men have to over 22 and women over 20.

The number of international marriages in Japan has sky-rocketed in recent years and now nearly 40,000 international marriages occur each year in Japan. Unfortunately the number of international divorces has dramatically increased as well. Over 15,000 international marriages end in divorce each year.

Are you living in a domestically violent or abusive home? Are you being beaten? Are you living in fear from your partner? Do you always feel guilty and helpless? If your answer is yes to any of these questions there are people and organizations that can help.

Last year I married a Japanese man, and we have had one child. However, I also have a child to my former husband, but my current husband will not accept this child as his own. My child is not well, and has considerable medical expenses. Is it possible to request support from my current husband?

A woman, married to a Japanese national, holding permanent residence, and in possession of a re-entry permit, returned to Japan with her children after visiting the Philippines. Upon arrival at Chubu International Airport, she underwent an entry examination and was refused entry into Japan. Why was she denied entry?