Daily Life Lessons · Neighbors
When the circulating notice board arrives, be able to read it, fill in what is needed, and pass it to the next house following the local way of doing things.
A circulating notice board (回覧板) is used by a neighborhood association (町内会・自治会) to pass notices from the city, ward, town, or village and from the local area to neighboring houses in order. It contains information such as road or water works, disaster drills, and local events. The order of circulation is decided by the neighborhood association.
When the circulating notice board arrives, read the contents and make a note of anything important. If there is a space for a confirmation mark (your name, a seal stamp (はんこ), etc.), fill it in, and pass it to the next house without keeping it too long.
Sometimes a sheet for writing your name is attached to gather participants for an event. If you do not want other people to see it, ask an officer whether you can apply directly. Some areas use an electronic circulating notice board that you read on a smartphone. How it is passed around differs by area, so if you are not sure, ask your neighbors or an officer.
回覧板（かいらんばん）は、地域の お知らせです。 町内会・自治会が、近所の 家に 順番に 回します。 工事、防災訓練（ぼうさいくんれん）、お祭りなどの 情報が あります。
届いたら： 1. 中を 読みます。大切な ことは メモします。 2. 名前や はんこの 欄が あれば、書きます。 3. 早めに 次の 家に 渡します。
スマホで 見る 回覧板も あります。 回し方は 地域で 違います。わからない ときは 近所の 人に 聞きましょう。
What is a circulating notice board?
A circulating notice board is how the neighborhood association passes notices from the city, ward, town, or village and the local area to neighboring houses in order.
What do you do first when the circulating notice board arrives?
Read the contents, fill in the confirmation space if there is one, and then pass it to the next house.
When should you pass the circulating notice board to the next house?
The people in the following houses read the same notices, so do not keep it long; pass it on soon.
Who decides the order of circulation?
The order of circulation is decided by the neighborhood association. If you are not sure, ask your neighbors or an officer.
What should you do if you feel uneasy about writing your name on an event sign-up sheet?
Ask an officer whether there is a way to apply that other people will not see. If you take the sheet out, people in the other houses cannot read it.
Q. I cannot read Japanese, so I do not understand the contents.
A. You can take a photo and translate it with a translation app on your smartphone. If there is something you do not understand, ask your neighbors or an officer of the neighborhood association. You may also be able to consult your municipality's consultation desk for foreign residents.
Q. Will the circulating notice board come even if I am not a member of the neighborhood association?
A. It depends on the area. Because the neighborhood association passes the notice board around, it may not come to houses that are not members. You can also check notices from your city, ward, town, or village in its public information newsletter or on its website.
Q. I am often away from home and cannot pass it on right away.
A. If you cannot pass it on right away, it is reassuring to talk in advance with the people in the houses before and after yours or with an officer of the neighborhood association. Some areas also use an electronic circulating notice board.
This practice tool asks questions in random order (it works when JavaScript is enabled). You can still read all the questions and explanations above without it.
Systems and procedures may differ depending on the city, ward, town or village where you live and on the time of year. Please check the latest information from your local government or the relevant organizations.
Content checked on: 2026-10-03
This page is a translation of the Japanese original. If the translation and the original differ, the Japanese version takes precedence. View the Japanese original