Discussion Forum

#1

• ほし
• mail
• 2026/09/13 13:21

A very elderly, single Japanese-American male colleague gave me some natto to put on my pasta—the packages had expired one and two years ago. I suspect he had absolutely no idea they were past their expiration dates. Since he knows my daughter likes natto, I think he just happened to find them in his kitchen and brought them over. Without realizing it, I ended up eating the one that had expired a year ago. It didn’t taste strange, but I suppose I should thank him, right? ？ Of course, it’s probably safer not to mention that it was past its expiration date. ？ Even if I told him it was expired, I think he’d just say something like, “Oh, is that so? Sorry,” and that would be the end of it. But since he’s an older Japanese-American, he’s the type who might hold a grudge if I don’t thank him properly.

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179 days until expiration

#2

• なな
• 2026/09/13 (Sun) 15:45
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If it were me, after thanking them, I’d mention that the expiration date had passed by a year or two.

It might depend on how close Hoshisan and her colleague are.

If he’s married, it might be better to tell his wife.

If you tell someone with dementia or Alzheimer’s, they’ll probably forget right away.

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#3

• ほし
• 2026/09/14 (Mon) 07:39
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Nana, thank you.
It would be one thing if they were just a little past their expiration date, but one and two years is way too long.
I’ll let them know and thank them.
I’ve been feeling a bit uneasy about this, but now I think I can clear things up. ！

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#1

• Mido
• mail
• 2026/09/03 16:37

I still have a child in preschool, and my mother-in-law bought him a tablet, saying he might use it at school, but When do students typically start using tablets at school? ？ I assumed that even if they do start using them, they’d be using ones provided by the school—is that correct? ？
Since time spent on a tablet counts as screen time, I’d prefer to avoid it as much as possible for now.

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175 days until expiration

#2

• とめ
• 2026/09/04 (Fri) 08:32
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My daughter is currently in 11th grade, so things may have changed in elementary school by now, but I think students start having opportunities to use computers around kindergarten.
Furthermore, if either parent is Japanese, even if the child is fluent in English, there’s a high probability they’ll be encouraged to participate in ESL classes, and computers were used in those classes as well. Computers and tablets were provided by the school; students weren’t allowed to take them home.
She’s in private school now, and while the cost is technically included in tuition, the devices are provided by the school. Of course, since she uses them for homework, she’s now been given one to manage on her own.
I completely understand the concern about not wanting children to use them from too young an age.
However, since I can’t very well tell the school, “I’m worried about screen time, so I don’t want them to use it much,” and then have them stop using it altogether, I think the only option is to manage screen time at home and make adjustments there.

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#3

• Mido
• 2026/09/04 (Fri) 17:20
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Thank you for your post, Tome-san. ！
You mentioned you’re not familiar with the current elementary school system, but I understand that students use tablets in ESL classes at school. I believe my daughter’s first language is English, but since I’m Japanese, I’m worried she might end up in an ESL class.
Since tablets are so easy to use with just one finger, I’d prefer it if they recommended using computers instead. I’m worried that if she starts with the easier option, she might have trouble transitioning to a computer with a keyboard later on. It’s fine if she only uses the tablet for studying, but I’m worried she might get addicted if she finds out she can use it for YouTube or games.
If we end up using a tablet at home, I’ll have to make sure to monitor it closely so she doesn’t use it for anything other than her studies.

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#4

• 魚屋さん
• 2026/09/09 (Wed) 04:24
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Hello
My son is currently in first grade, but he’s been using an iPad since kindergarten.
Since they use the ones provided by the school, he never brings one home. It’s not like he uses it every day, though—it’s just that he sometimes uses it for math or writing.
Each student has their own iPad, which is managed by the teacher, so it seems the students aren’t allowed to touch them except when they’re being used in class.

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#5

• Mido
• 2026/09/10 (Thu) 14:00
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Thank you for your post, Fish Shop ！
So they really do start using them in kindergarten, don't they?
I don't want them to find out that they can watch YouTube and play games on the tablet, but they'll probably start talking about that with their friends at school anyway.
I'm worried.

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#1

• YAHOO
• mail
• 2026/09/09 20:36

Today, when I tried to check my email, I saw a message saying, “You may no longer be able to use this service with your current login method,” and was instructed to complete registration via social media authentication or similar methods. It seems that overseas cell phone numbers can’t be registered, so I wonder if they’re planning to make it unusable for people living abroad. ？ My AI says Yahoo Japan is already unusable in Europe.
The other day, when I got a flu shot at Longs, I was told that I could no longer register a Yahoo Japan email address.
If you don’t use Yahoo Japan, what email service do you use? ？ I also have a Gmail account, but it has limited storage, so I can’t use it as my primary email unless I free up some space.

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174 days until expiration

#1

• tama
• mail
• 2026/08/28 08:03

It’s been a year since I applied for U.S. citizenship last August.
I haven’t heard anything yet—does it really take this long?
I heard that once you’re over 65, the oral test consists of 20 questions, but since I was 64 when I applied, the AI said that didn’t apply to me.
Even after the naturalization ceremony, it looks like it will take a while to get my passport, and my elderly parents need to travel back and forth to Japan.
If anyone knows how long the application process typically takes, I’d really appreciate your help.

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173 days until expiration

#9

• 太郎
• 2026/08/31 (Mon) 21:33
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Drunk driving is absolutely out of the question—it puts other people’s lives at risk. It’s completely unacceptable.

A question for Copilot. How many times have you crossed at a crosswalk while running a red light? ？ Can you answer honestly, with your hand on your heart? ？ Ten times? 20 times, or even more? ？

Yes, Under Articles 7 and 120 of the Road Traffic Act, the penalty is a fine or administrative fine of up to 20,000 yen; for cyclists, it is imprisonment for up to three months （ custodial sentence ） or a fine of up to 50,000 yen. Additionally, for violating the reporting obligation, the penalty is imprisonment for up to three months, or a fine of up to 50,000 yen

If you’re the kind of person who lives that meticulously, it’s not too late to come forward and report it yourself. I doubt they’ll take you seriously, but in that case, why not donate the amount of the fines you’ve accumulated so far to a good cause? And make sure to truly reflect on your actions—you mustn’t run red lights (illegal acts) ever again.

I rarely run red lights. But when I’m absolutely running late, I might occasionally run across the street—though I don’t feel guilty about it, since so many people run red lights…

You lose your Japanese citizenship the moment you acquire U.S. citizenship. However, unless you file a notification of loss of citizenship, it’s impossible for the Japanese government to know about it. This is a gray area in a sense, and the Japanese government also bears some responsibility for the ambiguous laws and for turning a blind eye. In fact, it seems that even at the Japanese Embassy in the U.S., they say with a laugh, “Please choose one or the other,” just like how a police car uses its loudspeaker to tell someone who ran a red light, “Please don’t run the red light.”

By the way, please be aware that if you travel back and forth using a U.S. passport (without a visa), you may be stopped at a Japanese airport and barred from entering the country for a long time. This happened to someone I know.

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#12

• 勉強中
• 2026/09/01 (Tue) 17:20
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Watching this exchange from the sidelines is a great learning experience ！

As I understand it, the term “gray zone” refers to a situation—such as the debate over Article 9 of the Constitution and the capability to strike enemy bases—where
“a state in which legal interpretations and judgments regarding illegality are themselves divided.”

In reality, as Taro-san pointed out, I learned that
the “grey zone” refers to “a situation that is difficult to detect in practice because, although it is clearly defined as illegal under the law, the administrative enforcement system hasn’t caught up yet” is what is called the “gray zone”—and it was a real eye-opener for me. ！

The final story—about “an acquaintance who was stopped while attempting to enter the country on a U.S. passport and was subsequently barred from entry for an extended period”—is also very realistic and compelling.
You even shared a valuable example of how, the moment a gray-area situation is actually detected by authorities as a clear violation, it instantly turns black—I learned a great deal from that ！

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#13

• Copilot
• 2026/09/02 (Wed) 15:19
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To the thread starter and Taro

Yesterday, I simply notified the consulate and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs about this post.

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#14

• tama
• 2026/09/03 (Thu) 09:44
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Thank you, Passing Stranger, for the detailed explanation.

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#15

• 今後は考えるだろうな
• 2026/09/08 (Tue) 17:40
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I’m the kind of person who thinks, “I’ll probably think about this just to be on the safe side from now on.”

In the U.S. （ and around the world ？ ） people are concerned about the future of non-citizens—those with visas or green cards

Visas, green card screening has become quite strict, and there are signs they’re trying to avoid admitting non-citizens with criminal records, so I’ve heard that more people planning to continue living in the U.S. are applying for citizenship just to be on the safe side.
If that’s the case, many others are likely thinking the same way,
so I wonder if the wait times will get longer.

As for arrest records, an acquaintance of mine was reported to the police while leaving their child at home for just a few minutes, which apparently left a mark on their record, and they were worried about it. I’ve heard that, in the worst-case scenario, your Green Card could even be confiscated at the airport.

I’ve also met people who hold passports from three countries. Some were given a passport from their spouse’s country after marriage, then divorced that person and remarried someone from yet another country—it seems there are some complicated situations. For some, this was by their own choice; for others, it had nothing to do with their own will. Also, there are cases where people have to choose a citizenship once they reach adulthood, but haven’t chosen yet—it all seems quite complicated.

What concerns me is that, as a Green Card holder who isn’t a citizen, I want to stay on top of the laws at all times. Also, I’m concerned about how inheritance tax rates differ between citizens and non-citizens going forward.

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#1

• Waikiki
• mail
• 2025/02/21 17:00

Hello.
I am thinking of applying for my child to take the Kinder exam this fall.
I was wondering if anyone knows how many people have taken the Punahou and Iolani Kinder exams in the last few years?
I understand that the Kinder exam is the most difficult. If you are taking the Middle exam, there is a test and a score bar, so I think it is fair and people who are not at that level may not take the exam. Please let me know.

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172 days until expiration

#163

• ABC
• 2026/06/03 (Wed) 20:42
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My daughter graduated from Iolani. Naturally I was a fan of Iolani.
After hearing your opinions, I looked into it in detail. I can conclude that Punahou and Iolani are the best choice for Punahou.
Looking at the situation in Kinder today, it will not change in the next ten years. No, it is likely that the difference will be even greater.
Conversely, if you cannot pass Punahou, Iolani is the only choice.
Even though we are taking the Kinder exam, in the end we want to get them into a good college.
In the U.S., college entrance exams are based on school grades, teacher recommendation letters, essays, interviews, etc.
I applied to 11 schools, 3 were memorial exams ？
2 were stop-losses, and as a result, I received acceptance letters from 7 schools.
I failed the 3 schools that the school said I couldn't go to. The one school I didn't want to go to even if I was accepted was also a no-go.
I passed all the other schools that I thought I might be able to get into.
I have the impression that Iorani's support for university entrance exams was very good.
I was told that it was impossible, but it was still impossible.
The problem was just beginning: tuition and living expenses.
There are merit-based and need-based scholarships.
Families who go to Punahou or Iolani are unlikely to have need-based.
Every college has given me merit-based scholarships. But 1 ． 50,000 ～ 2 ． $50,000.
Education ： about $70,000, living expenses ： about $20,000, I can't do very well.
State universities have lower tuition, but if you are not a US citizen, you will not get preferential treatment in California.
I know there are many people whose only option is UH for these reasons.

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#164

• ABC
• 2026/06/04 (Thu) 15:04
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I will write some more to add.
If you want to go to college in the Mainland, you need at least $70,000/year.
This also goes up every year.
If this is not financially feasible for you, you should not choose Punahou or Iolani in the first place ？
There are 12796 students at UH. That's about 3200 students/year.
There are about 50 people in total who go to UH from Punahou and Iolani.
Mid-pack and others combined would not be 100 people.
In other words, an estimated 3,100 are enrolled from Public.
I think there is an option to go to UH while getting top grades at Public instead of choosing Punahou or Iolani from the start.
This would save about $400,000 over 12 years.

If you are accepted to the college you apply to, you will be notified of the cost and the scholarship you will receive after the acceptance letter.
I thought I would get a few scholarships even on a need-based basis.
In fact, it was merit-based only.

In the end, I had the painful experience of convincing my daughter, who was accepted, that it was financially impossible.
The good thing about going to Iolani is that I got accepted to a lot of good colleges even though I couldn't go, and I made a lot of good friends.

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#165

• ぷ
• 2026/06/10 (Wed) 13:23
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Indeed, a certain number of students from Punahou and Iolani go to UH each year.

Many then transfer to prestigious universities or go to prestigious graduate schools.

I don't have data, but my sense is that Punahou and Iolani graduates are far more likely to do so than Public graduates.

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#166

• りんご
• mail
• 2026/08/30 (Sun) 22:33
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My daughter is currently attending Iolani Elementary. She didn’t have any homework in kindergarten or first grade. I think that’s because they cover the material thoroughly in class.
As for the counselor, I believe teachers have their own jobs to do, so personally, I think it’s better to leave any issues to a professional counselor. As my daughter has also mentioned, I think the students generally resolve their own problems.
As for the incident, it was the actions of a few students, and I think that sort of thing can happen at any school. I don’t think we should get too worked up over it.
My daughter absolutely loves Iolani.

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#167

• 夢
• 2026/09/07 (Mon) 20:32
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The rankings for the total number of students accepted into Harvard, Princeton, MIT, Stanford, and other Ivy League schools across the United States have been released.
As expected, Punahou in Hawaii was far and away the top school. Punahou ranked 21st among all public and private high schools nationwide, while Iolani ranked 50th and fell out of the rankings. In recent years, Iolani has had zero students accepted to Harvard or MIT, and virtually none to Princeton, Harvard, or other Ivy League schools.
As someone mentioned, when it comes to the UC system, while Punahou sends many students to UCLA and Berkeley, Iolani students tend to go to lower-ranked schools like Irvine and UC San Diego … and others.

My daughter is a junior at Iolani, and lately there’s been a stark divide at the school between the top students and those who don’t prioritize academics—it’s become very polarized.
No matter how much I tell my daughter, she won’t take AP classes …—and it seems there are plenty of students around her who take only the bare minimum, not just my daughter.
It’s undeniable that there’s a significant gap between Iolani and Punahou in terms of where graduates go on to college. Starting in middle school, almost all the kids spend their breaks on their phones—a scene very different from Punahou, where all electronic devices are stored in lockers ！. When a friend once took me to Punahou, I was surprised to see that on the middle school campus, the kids were mostly outside playing basketball or engaging in active play.
These days, I find myself wondering—perhaps a bit belatedly—if the school’s approach, the heavy homework load starting in middle school, and the “study, study” mentality just don’t suit today’s kids.
Even if we push them to focus solely on academics, in the end, Punahou—with its well-rounded approach—seems to lead to better college placements. I’ve had some reservations about the school since around 4th grade, but now that she’s in junior high, I just want her to graduate from Iolani. Given her current situation, top-tier colleges are out of reach, but I simply hope she’ll find a school she genuinely wants to attend.
Iolani is a good school, but it’s certainly true that Punahou offers better college outcomes, fosters greater independence in children, and provides a stronger sense of community and communication skills. I believe this is linked to the college acceptance records of recent graduates, the decline in the number of kindergarten applicants, and the number of families who withdraw after enrollment. I’ve shared the reality I’ve observed after actually sending my child there.
For parents whose children are about to take the kindergarten entrance exams, since this is a school your child will attend for 13 years, I think it’s best to evaluate the school from various perspectives.

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#1

• バイオリン
• mail
• 2026/07/07 14:01

I'm looking for a （ Japanese-language ） violin class for my child, who just turned 3.
I'm only looking for places that offer instruction in Japanese, so if you know of any, I would appreciate it if you could let me know. ！

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169 days until expiration

#6

• Mahalo
• mail
• 2026/07/15 (Wed) 10:03
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I’ve taken lessons at Virtuoso Violin.
Everyone from young children to adults seemed to be enjoying their lessons.
Please feel free to check out their website.

https://virtuosoviolinhawaii.com/

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#7

• バイオリン
• 2026/07/22 (Wed) 18:42
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Thank you for letting me know. So there is a Japanese teacher there. I’d like to get in touch with them.

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#8

• HIRO
• 2026/08/04 (Tue) 09:32
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I think you'll also find them at the music school in Ala Moana.
https://www.reneesmusichawaii.com/japanese/teachers/

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#9

• ALIKA_HNL
• mail
• 2026/09/04 (Fri) 00:43
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There’s a female instructor who was born in Japan and raised in Hawaii—a graduate of the Austrian 🇦🇹 National Academy of Music—who gives piano and violin lessons to students of all ages.
She offers lessons in Japanese, English, and German, so why not search for the following and get in touch? ？
SEVEN SEAS MUSIC STUDIO
The studio has two locations: Kaimuki and Ewa Beach.

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#10

• バイオリン
• 2026/09/04 (Fri) 10:40
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HIRO and ALIKA_HNL, thank you for the information. I'll reach out to them.

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#1

• 仕事
• mail
• 2026/08/22 14:36

I posted this because I’d like to hear from owners who rent out their rooms through a room-sharing arrangement
.

Regarding personal belongings, furniture, or appliances
—and how to handle situations where it’s unclear who caused the damage when
several people are living together—we’d like to hear your advice as we’re planning to start renting out a room ourselves
and want to learn about various issues, such as disputes between tenants
.
Thank you in advance 🤲

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158 days until expiration

#1

• まさみ
• mail
• 2026/08/17 21:44

Since I’m getting older, I’d like to leave a will for my sons.
What’s the typical fee for a consultation? ？
Is there a system like the one in Japan where the first 30 minutes are free? ？

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156 days until expiration

#2

• Zion
• 2026/08/19 (Wed) 15:08
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Masami

I live in Hawaii, but since things vary greatly depending on the lawyer and the time period,

it’s wise to ask an AI. For details like what they’re like or how old they look, I think the experiences of people who’ve recently used a lawyer would be helpful.

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#1

• そうめん好き
• 2026/07/25 17:35

I live in Hawaii. I have two children, ages 2 and 5. Since both my spouse and I work and often have to work late, we’d like to use a babysitting agency. I’d appreciate any advice from anyone who has experience with this. Thank you in advance.

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153 days until expiration

#2

• Hibi
• 2026/08/19 (Wed) 16:30
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If you have a spare room, I’d recommend considering a live-in babysitter （ Au Pair ） as one of your options.
There’s a placement agency called “Au Pair International,” and Hawaii is one of the areas they cover. ！

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#1

• HOLO
• mail
• 2026/08/12 10:38

My child will turn 6 next month.
We use The Bus to get to school, but it seems a HOLO card is required starting at age 6, so we need to get one.
Is going to the Kalihi Transit Center the only way to do this?
Also, do I have to bring my child with me to the Kalihi Transit Center to get the card?
Or can I get it done if I go alone as a parent, as long as I bring my passport or other ID?
If anyone knows, please let me know.

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146 days until expiration

#2

• rak
• 2026/08/12 (Wed) 14:07
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I'm not up to date on the latest information, but I believe you could also get one at the service counters of Foodland and Time’s Supermarket at Ala Moana Shopping Center.
You can also have multiple accounts under your own name.

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#3

• タコ
• 2026/08/12 (Wed) 14:12
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You can't get HOLO cards for children at places like Foodland.

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#4

• rak
• 2026/08/12 (Wed) 16:17
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My apologies.
It seems you need a photo ID (such as a passport) to get the children’s discount.
It seems the locations are limited to
Satellite City Halls (except Ala Moana Center)
TheBus Pass Office (Kalihi)
Online (see form below)
.
Since I’ll probably be taking the bus with my child to school, this was very helpful.

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#5

• アリラン
• 2026/08/12 (Wed) 20:14
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https://www.thebus.org/Fare/FareTran_Youth_Japanese.asp

#4 You're absolutely right, rak.
I'll post the URL here for reference.

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#6

• トピ主です
• 2026/08/12 (Wed) 21:32
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Thank you, everyone.
Satellite City Hall operates by appointment only and had no openings until the second week of next month. … It looks like I’ll have to go to the Karihi Transit Center. Thank you for the information.

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