Let’s follow societal rules!

　University life includes life not only at the university itself, but also within the community. In the community, you need to behave responsibly as a citizen and as a member of the community.
　If you break the law, not only will you be punished as a criminal, you may also be subjected to penalties from the university. If you break the law, not only will you be punished as a criminal, you may also be subjected to penalties from the university. Furthermore, it goes without saying that behavior that lacks common sense as a resident interferes with life in the community. Everyone knows that the following acts are unacceptable, yet they have actually been committed by students, so we are including them here to encourage you to be self-aware:
　The useful information for daily life on the Government Public Relations Online is also helpful.

〈Obtaining a My Number Card〉

　My Number is a 12-digit number that every person (including foreign residents) who has a resident registration in Japan has, and in principle, the same number for the rest of his/her life, except in cases where there is a risk that the number may be leaked or used illegally.
　My Number is used to confirm that the information of an individual existing in multiple organizations in the three fields of social security, tax, and disaster countermeasures is that of the same person, and it is prohibited to collect or store personal information including My Number except as stipulated by law. If you are asked to provide your My Number, be careful not to respond easily. You will never be asked by telephone to provide it.
　Kanazawa University is promoting the development of an ID smartphone app based on the acquisition of My Number Cards, and the opportunities to use the card is increasing both on and off campus. So those who have not yet acquired a card (with a photo and IC chip) are encouraged to obtain it upon entering the university.

〈Preventing consumer affairs troubles〉

　　A variety of troubles involving university students are frequently reported, such as contracts, malicious business practices, and door-to-door or mail order sales targeting them, accidents caused by products, foods, and services, and false advertisements.
　Do not hesitate to call the Consumer Hotline (nationwide number: 188).

〈Right to vote〉

　Those who are 18 years of age or older and have Japanese nationality have the right to vote.Low voter turnout among college students has been noted. It is increasingly necessary to have interest in politics and elections, as well as political knowledge.
　If you have moved upon your admission to the university, you can still vote by transferring your residence registration or by using the absentee ballot system.

〈Shoplifting / bag theft〉

　Making off with someone’s bag obviously constitutes the crime of theft, but so does shoplifting, which is subject to the penalty up to 10 years imprisonment or a fine of up to 500,000 yen. The university will also mete out its own punishment. Let’s be conscious not to inadvertently commit a crime.

〈Hit-and-run accidents causing property damage〉

　If you make off after hitting another car while parking, this also constitutes the crime of “hit and run.” Trying to escape means “failure to report an accident,” which is a violation of the Road Traffic Act. So it can be the starting point for major problems in the future. It must always be reported to the police. If you happen to bump someone’s car in a parking lot, please first contact the parking lot superintendent (if the parking lot is on campus, this is the student desk nearby).

〈Bicycle theft〉

　Stealing a bicycle also constitutes the crime of theft “Borrowing” a bicycle parked in a bicycle parking lot or by the side of the road or an umbrella placed in front of a classroom or cafeteria without permission for a little while, but then making it your own is obviously so (theft), but it’s also theft if you leave the bicycle somewhere after using it.

〈Manners when riding buses〉

　Talking on a mobile phone while riding a bus is breach of manners. When the bus is crowded, please don’t loiter close to the entrance. Instead, move to the back of the bus to allow room for other passengers to board. Also, please do not place bags on vacant seats, as doing so prevents other passengers sitting down.

〈Noise pollution〉

　Loud sounds constitute noise pollution. They annoy people in the surrounding area, and are the cause of problems. At night, in particular, it is common sense to not make noise with your friends, turn the volume down on your TV and stereo (use headphones).
　As for groups of music-related extracurricular activities, they are prohibited from making a loud noise outside the designated times and places.

〈Separating household garbage〉

　If you’re living in an apartment or boarding house, you must take out only the designated trash on the designated day/time to the designated place. Carefully read newsletters etc. from the local government and follow the rules for your community. Dispose of your garbage appropriately and make sure to separate recyclables. If you don’t abide by the garbage rules, you could get into trouble with Kanazawa City or the police. It is also prohibited to bring household garbage to the university etc. for disposal. Illegal dumping of garbage either inside or outside the university is a crime. Under the law, an individual can be fined up to 10 million yen for doing so. Information about how to put out garbage in Kanazawa City, the days on which different types of garbage are collected, charges for collection of household garbage is included in the pamphlet you were given when you enrolled, and is also available on the following website.
　There’s also a phone app (Ii ne Kanazawa 5374App (Gomi-nashi App) that gives you notifications of garbage collection dates. You can download it by searching for “5374” in the App Store or on Google Play (it’s free to use).
　Also, if, when you graduate, you have items that you no longer need, please use a recycling company. It is also prohibited to abandon bicycles or scooters in parking areas on campus or dump electrical appliances or furniture upon your graduation.

〈Separation of garbage on campus (business sites)〉

　Rules are different from the Kanazawa City’s “household garbage” sorting rules.

　　Garbage generated on the university campus (business site) is business-related garbage and must be separated in accordance with the Kanazawa City’s rules for business-related garbage sorting rules.
　In particular, throw plastics, plastic shopping bags, etc. (even if soiled) in the “waste plastics” section, not in the [burnable trash] boxes on campus.

In addition to the containers with a waste plastics mark (such as box lunch containers from convenience stores, cub noodle containers, and plastic shopping bags), plastic products that are separated into burnable waste in general households (plastic spoons and forks, disposable gloves, etc.) are also considered “waste plastics.”。

〈Unauthorized use of CDs, DVDs, and PC software〉

　Unlawful copying using a PC or other device is a crime of infringement of intellectual property rights and is subject to high liability claims.
　Kanazawa University holds students accountable and subject to disciplinary action. So use them correctly.

〈Intellectual property rights〉

　Intellectual property rights are the rights to protect, for a certain period of time, as property, what has been created by a wide range of human intellectual and creative activities.
　Patent rights protect ideas while copyrights protect expressions. Be careful not to unknowingly infringe such rights. It is also illegal to download copyrighted works knowing that they are illegally posted “pirated copies,” even for personal use.

〈Proper use of social media〉

　Thanks to web pages, blogs, digital profiles, Wikis, and social media services such as Instagram, Facebook®，X®，LINE®，YouTube®, Tik Tok®, and Niconico, it is now possible for anyone to broadcast information. But unintentional disclosure or posting of personal information can lead to human rights violations and defamation, which may result in unanticipated problems and court cases. Please ask yourself questions about your own privacy, e.g. your profile settings, and the content of your posts. Ask yourself what sort of results that usage will produce, be well aware of past incidents, and use such services with care. Taking out or providing research information or equipment off campus is also a crime.

〈Management of personal information〉

　In today’s society, the management of personal information (information that can be used to identify individuals, such as addresses, names, telephone numbers, and IDs) is very important. Please be aware that there may be a lot of personal information in your vicinity. For example, there may be address books and contact lists for extracurricular club members that are stored in your computer. As such, take care to prevent the leakage of such information. Information that belongs to the privacy of others (information requiring special consideration), such as sexual orientation, gender identity, and medical information, must not be leaked over the Internet or orally without consent of the individual concerned, in principle.

〈Drug abuse and drug addiction〉

　If you abuse (even once) cannabis, narcotics, heroin, cocaine, MDMA, or dangerous drugs, you are at risk of becoming addicted or suffering an overdose. In a worst-case scenario, you could lose your life after using just one time. If you become chronically dependent, you may experience drug psychosis, hallucinations, delusions, and changes to your personality. And that is not all. Organs throughout your body, including the liver and the kidneys, will be affected, turning you into a mess both mentally and physically.
　The dangers of drug use are closer at hand than you might imagine. For example, these drugs are sold in entertainment districts and over the Internet. Cases of students being offered drugs while working part time at restaurants or those being requested to carry luggage at airports have also been reported, so please be fully on guard.
　Besides their effect on the body, the possession and use of drugs is also strictly prohibited by law. For example, amphetamines are subject to jail terms of up to ten years, while cannabis can land you in jail for five years. If you’re ever encouraged to take drugs, you should clearly say, “NO!” If you sense even the slightest danger, have the courage to “bluntly refuse” and “escape.”
　In addition to endeavoring to behave responsibly as a member of society with an adequate awareness of the horrors of drug abuse, please also be proactive in striving to prevent the abuse of drugs.
[Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare website]
(Home > Policy Information > Health, Medical Care > Pharmaceuticals and Medical Devices > To protect people from drug abuse)

〈Consultation desks〉

　If you develop drug addiction, your brain will be in the abnormal state of craving the drug, and this is an extremely difficult to condition to overcome alone, even if you are not weak-willed person. As soon as you notice that you or others have a drug problem, please consult a specialist organization. There are consultation desks at government-run mental health and welfare centers nationwide as well as at health centers, medical institutions, police stations, etc. In Ishikawa Prefecture, the Ishikawa Prefectural Mental Health Center (076-238-5750) offers consultations on Mondays-Fridays (except year-end / New Year holidays and public holidays) from 8:30 to 17:15, while the Mental Health Advice Line (076-237-2700) does so on weekdays day time (0570-783-780 for 17:00 to 9:00 the following day on weekdays and 0:00 to 24:00 on Saturdays, Sundays, and public holidays).In addition, the university’s Health Service Center (076-264-5255) also offers consultations on an ad hoc basis as necessary.