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Vivinavi Los Angeles
Murmur Plus(1558kview/4418res)
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Montessori Community School's Acceptance Examinati...(28kview/64res)
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Anything and everything related to travel to Japan...(1456kview/4627res)
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Vivinavi Chiba
[Kisarazu High School] Let's Share Our Memories of...(517view/0res)
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Vivinavi Los Angeles
Let's gather the elderly ! !(854kview/1111res)
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Vivinavi Hawaii
Time Required to Apply for U.S. Citizenship(2kview/15res)
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Vivinavi Hawaii
Punahou and Iolani Kinder Number of examinees(56kview/166res)
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I'm moving from California to the Dallas area !(237view/0res)
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Investing in U.S. Stocks(2kview/3res)
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Portable WiFi(3kview/8res)
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Vivinavi Los Angeles
Murmur Plus

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#1
  • 我
  • mail
  • 2022/11/15 20:08

Gone again ?

This text has been translated by auto-translation. There may be a slight difference between the original text and the translation. (Original Language: 日本語)

183 days until expiration

#4411
  • チューター
  • 2026/09/28 (Mon) 08:33
  • Report

I tried to mend our relationship, but it didn’t work out. Things like me suggesting we take separate one-hour lessons—“You go to Starbucks, and I’ll go to Whole Foods”—teaching you the word “ugly,” and teaching you the word “super” (chō) made her angry, and after that, the insults just wouldn’t stop.
I don’t know if she’s just bored or what, but she sends me a barrage of harassing emails every day.
When we met, I tried to tell her how to get cigarettes at cost price, but she said, “You’re crazy—everyone’s listening,” ! even though everyone around us was American. What’s so wrong with talking about cigarettes?
I don’t smoke, but she’s a heavy smoker. I was just trying to tell her where to buy them cheap, but she said, “I don’t buy cigarettes wholesale !—you’re crazy !,” even though everyone else was listening.
I was worried about a friend’s health, so when I tried to tell her the name of the illness she was starting to develop and how to prevent it, she said,
“That’s not it!” !. But it’ll be too late once she gets it. It’ll be too late once the symptoms show up.

Differences of opinion are tough. I feel bad about making my students pay for Starbucks, so even when asked, I’ve never once asked them to.
A student told me, “Let’s go out to eat sometime—it’s on me,” but I felt bad about going out to eat while I was still being paid for lessons, so I said, “Let’s keep it separate from the lessons. You don’t have to pay when we go out to eat.” She got mad at me later.
I really respected her because she had perfect pitch and could transcribe songs from hearing them. It was so much fun singing harmonies with her to songs by the Carpenters and others.
I tried many times to mend our relationship, but the day before yesterday and yesterday, I received a barrage of harassing texts, so I gave up.

This text has been translated by auto-translation. There may be a slight difference between the original text and the translation. (Original Language: 日本語)

#4412
  • ボランティア
  • 2026/09/28 (Mon) 08:58
  • Report

I was invited to volunteer pouring coffee into cups and handing them out to passersby.
The man in charge of the event suddenly started hitting on me.
I told him, “I’m conservative, so I don’t just start dating someone that easily. It takes months or even years for me to fall in love,” to which he replied, “I’ll wait as many years as it takes.”
When I said, “I’m not interested for the next five years” (as a way of turning him down), he replied, “I’ll wait five years.”
I flatly refused, saying, “Even if you wait five years, I have no intention of dating you or marrying you.”
Volunteering to pour coffee into cups. The organizer’s instructions were, “Pour the coffee up to about this level in the cup.” But the man in charge on site told me, “Fill it to the brim.”
When I did that, it was too hot to hold, and it was also very hot for the people receiving it, but since he wanted to finish quickly, he insisted, “Just do as I say—fill it to the very top.”
But when I said, “I’ve been told not to fill them to the brim,” he thought I was being defiant.

The day we served iced coffee. We put ice in the cups before pouring the coffee.
Some people would come back for a refill holding their empty cups. I’d tell them to please put the cup on the table, and I’d try to add ice and coffee to it.
He got irritated, grabbed the cup, shoved it into the ice box, and added ice.
Wait a minute. Why would you put a cup that someone else drank from—a cup someone else used—into the ice box? ?
They probably thought I was just another troublemaker. Do people who just want to avoid trouble just keep quiet and do exactly as they’re told?
I couldn’t continue volunteering there.

This text has been translated by auto-translation. There may be a slight difference between the original text and the translation. (Original Language: 日本語)

#4413
  • チューター
  • 2026/09/28 (Mon) 11:18
  • Report

She's still sending me texts today. If our friendship is over, then so be it, but why is she texting me so persistently?
I clearly told her I haven't even opened them or read them.

This text has been translated by auto-translation. There may be a slight difference between the original text and the translation. (Original Language: 日本語)

#4414
  • チューター
  • 2026/09/28 (Mon) 13:36
  • Report

She’s still sending me text messages nonstop. The very first sentence of the text she just sent said, “You have absolutely no sense of remorse, do you?” Even without opening it, I can see the first sentence right there on the screen.
“I’m sorry for trying to change the lesson location from Starbucks to Whole Foods, I’m sorry for trying to change the day of the week for the lesson, I’m sorry for teaching you difficult kanji, I’m sorry for teaching you a discriminatory term like ‘ugly,’ I should have taught you “ugly woman” instead, and I’m sorry for teaching you a word like “super”—it seems she won’t forgive me until I apologize for all of these things.
As far as I’m concerned, I don’t need any more texts, conversations, or anything else. There was nothing we could do about the fact that we couldn’t understand each other.

This text has been translated by auto-translation. There may be a slight difference between the original text and the translation. (Original Language: 日本語)

#4415
  • チューター
  • 2026/09/28 (Mon) 14:51
  • Report

The latest text message on my phone screen
I know what I’m saying ?

I really wish you’d cut it out already. I’ve told you I haven’t read it and I haven’t even opened it.

This text has been translated by auto-translation. There may be a slight difference between the original text and the translation. (Original Language: 日本語)

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Vivinavi Hawaii
Montessori Community School's Acceptance Examinations

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#1
  • お受験ママ
  • mail
  • 2025/02/02 11:36

We moved to Hawaii from the Bay Area last May and have two children, our oldest is now 3.5 years old and our youngest is 1.5 years old.
I was interested in Montessori education before my children were born, and while researching, I heard that
Montessori Community School in the Makiki area is a wonderful school. I saw that over 95% of the students go to Iolani or Punahou each year
through the Feeding School to Iolani or Punahou schools.
I know that it is very difficult to get into Montessori Community School as there are several topics on this site.
I would like to enroll my oldest son from Kinder and my youngest son from Pre, what should I do to prepare for the entrance exam?
We would like to know what kind of education and preparation you have done for your son who is currently attending the school.
We have contacted the school and are afraid that the admission rate is quite high.

My two sons will be living in Hawaii for at least 10 years, so I am hoping that they will be able to attend Iolani School or Punahou School in the future
We are hoping to attend Montessori Community School. I heard that another school, Hana Hau'oli, is also a feeding school, but
I heard that you have to have some kind of connection such as family connection or working to get in, but I have given up because I have no connections in Hawaii.
I would appreciate any information you can give me if you have taken the test for Puri or Kinder.

This text has been translated by auto-translation. There may be a slight difference between the original text and the translation. (Original Language: 日本語)

183 days until expiration

#57

My son graduated from MCS and went from Middle to Punahou and graduated last year. He is now attending a state college in the Mainland.
Oh no, you can't compare Punahou to MCS. To be clear, MCS graduates have a very hard time getting to the top in Punahou.
The "pure gold Punahou kids" ( from Kinder ) are almost always at the top. At Punahou, we call the kids from Kinder "Punahou Kids".
80% of the students who went on to the Ivy League and the most prestigious colleges were also from Kinder.
MCS is a Montessori school, so academics are appropriate, and from about the 4th grade onward, children aiming for Punahou Middle must attend cram school or Tutor.
Don't expect to get into Punahou or Iolani just by taking MCS classes, the SSAT is very revealing.
Punahou, you need to be at least 90% on the SSAT after all these years of academic improvement.
When my son took the Middle, he got 80%. Anyway, Punahou and Iolani are not just the top two.
Once you get in, it's a matter of whether you can keep up with the Punahou kids or not. Anyway, there was a huge difference between the two schools, so as other parents have said, it is true that I had a hard time studying after I entered Punahou.

This text has been translated by auto-translation. There may be a slight difference between the original text and the translation. (Original Language: 日本語)

#62

I had my son attend Monte until 6th grade and took the Punahou, Iolani, Mippa, and Merinol entrance exams, and he was rejected by Punahou and Iolani and is now attending Mippa.
To be honest, I had heard that 90% of the students could go to Punahou or Iolani if they attended Monte, and the school claimed that Monte's education was advanced and comparable to Punahou and Iolani without a tutor. However, when I took the public test ( the national test and the SSAT ) I found that the Monte students were not at that level, but at best Mippa and Merinol.
I was so surprised and impatient that I rushed to the individual tutor and Takahashi Juku. By the time I realized it, there were 8 months until the exam. I could never catch up with Punahou and Iolani level.
In the school year my child attended, 13 students took the exam and 3 were accepted to Punahou or Iolani, and 10, including my child, were not.
As others have said, many of the families who attend Monte are Monte believers ( really believing faith ). It was my fault for being so relaxed and believing what they said and what the school claimed, but by the time I realized it, it was already too late.
The same people who come to speak at the Elementary panel every year as parents of alumni, the same people. For a long time now. Monte is a laid back, small school. The community is small because of the small number of families and the small number of students, and the information is skewed so that it is too late, as it is for me.
If you are considering Elementary at Monte, you will need tutors, etc. from 4th grade at the latest if you want to go to Punahou or Iolani from the middle.

This text has been translated by auto-translation. There may be a slight difference between the original text and the translation. (Original Language: 日本語)

#63

It's been a while since I've used Vivinavi's private sales and came across this page. My son was also MCS, he was there through 6th grade and took the middle exam but was rejected from Punahou, he did not take the exam to Iola and is attending another school. My child's best friend (, who was in Kinder through 6th grade ), was accepted to Punahou, but she feels a huge gap in academic ability and is losing confidence. She feels that the kids from Kinder are incredibly smart at Punahou, and that what they are learning at Elementary is far beyond what they are learning at MCS. My child's best friend was at the top of his class at MCS, but after a few years at Punahou, he is still below average. I sent my child to MCS because I thought it was a good idea to give priority to what he liked and to nurture him, but this backfired when it came to aiming for the top schools. The number of students who have been accepted to Punahou and Iolani from MCS in the past few years has been less than 30%, and I think this is a testament to that. What I can say is that the academic level of Punahou and Iolani today is different from that of Punahou and Iolani more than 5 years ago, or maybe the academic level of MCS has dropped. It could be both. Since Punahou has gone up 5% SSAT in the last 3 years. We are planning to try again narrowly ( high school entry ) which only takes a few students because my kids are not satisfied with their current school. By the way, when I took the exam in 6th grade, the whole class had tutors and went to cram school. The school said that it was unnecessary !, but if I didn't have a tutor, I wouldn't have been able to pass any of the entrance examinations.

This text has been translated by auto-translation. There may be a slight difference between the original text and the translation. (Original Language: 日本語)

#64

We have been fortunate enough to be able to attend MCS pre in August and are now considering whether to send our child to MCS. This year, it seems that all applicants were able to apply for pre, because we contacted them in early March, just before the acceptance announcement, rather than after the application deadline, and they told us that they would send out First Round notices but that there were still spots available and that they would accept our application if we submitted one. ! We are also wondering whether Central Union, St. Clements, or MCS would be better for us to attend Punahou from Kinder. We have paid the deposit for all three schools, so we are keeping all three. The reason why I applied to MCS in March is because I thought that even if I fail the Kinder exam because of Elementary.................... I thought that even if I failed the Kinder test, I would still be able to go to Punahou, but it looks like my chances of going to Punahou are slim. Thank you all for the useful information to consider.

This text has been translated by auto-translation. There may be a slight difference between the original text and the translation. (Original Language: 日本語)

#65

My daughter attends MCS’s Upper Elementary.
This year, MCS has fewer students than its capacity in both preschool and elementary school. You can still enroll even now. !
The elementary school is constantly short on students and accepts applications year-round. Currently, there are only a handful of third graders, and while the school aims for 20 students per grade each year,
I’ve never seen a grade with 20 students.
Generally, the largest grade has only 12 or 13 students. The others have only around 10 students, and those are split into two classes—grades 1–3 in one class and grades 4–6 in another—
so the elementary school has a total of four classes for grades 1–6. There are only two teachers for three different grade levels. In any case, it is a fact that quality is declining due to a shortage of students, teachers, and facilities. Recently, only about two students have been accepted into Punahou’s middle school each year.
As others have noted, the acceptance rate to Punahou was 90% more than five years ago, but since about five years ago, Punahou’s academic standards have risen significantly compared to the past, so ( while the bar was already high, it now requires very high SSAT scores— and you won’t get in without a high percentile score. ) As long as MCS maintains its current educational program, it won’t be able to catch up to Punahou’s level. The school itself states that MCS is not a feeder school for Punahou. These days, many students from the middle school division end up going to mid-tier schools or charter schools.
If you’re considering enrolling your child at MCS with the goal of getting into Punahou after middle school, I think you should reconsider and look into a different school starting in kindergarten. Even at Hanahauoli, the acceptance rate to Punahou is only 60–70% these days. Our child entered preschool at MCS over five years ago, so we enrolled based on a 90% acceptance rate, and since this is the situation now while they’re still attending, we have no choice but to stay.

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Vivinavi Los Angeles
Anything and everything related to travel to Japan, topical.

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#1
  • 倍金萬
  • mail
  • 2018/02/14 11:44

Those of you who have crossed the ocean to come here to Los Angeles and Japan
are always concerned about something related to your travel between Los Angeles and Japan.

If you have anything to say or questions, please feel free to write.
I'll try to write "something" as well.

Example :
What means do you use to call when you return to Japan?

Which seat on the plane do you prefer, Aisle or Window, front, back,

Which airline do you think has the best food?

Which mode of transportation do you use to get to the local area?

and so on and so on

This text has been translated by auto-translation. There may be a slight difference between the original text and the translation. (Original Language: 日本語)

181 days until expiration

#4619

I have a simple question.
I think middle age starts in one’s 40s, but are people in their 60s or older—the age of retirement—considered elderly?
Are people in their 70s considered elderly? Or is there another way to describe them?

This text has been translated by auto-translation. There may be a slight difference between the original text and the translation. (Original Language: 日本語)

#4621
  • Baikinman
  • 2026/09/18 (Fri) 21:32
  • Report

#4619 zoi,

I don't think you can draw a clear line there.

I was born exactly one year before the end of the war (—or rather, our defeat ).

So, while I’m considered “late elderly,” I suppose you could also call me “terminally elderly.”

I could take a one-way trip to the other world at any time, but

it just doesn’t seem to happen. In other words, I’m “in excellent health.”

However, my dementia is slowly progressing.

Do you know this song? ?

“One Way Ticket”

Song by
NEIL SEDAKA

Choo-choo train chuggin' down the track
Gotta travel on, never comin' back
Ooh-ooh, got a one-way ticket to the blues (ooh-ooh)

This text has been translated by auto-translation. There may be a slight difference between the original text and the translation. (Original Language: 日本語)

#4624
  • Baikinman
  • 2026/09/24 (Thu) 11:00
  • Report

This is Baikinman. For some reason—perhaps a mix-up—I haven't been able to post my writings lately.

I believe it started around 2009—excluding the pandemic period—and whenever I travel to Japan once a year, I walk the Shikoku 88 Temple Pilgrimage, dividing the full circuit into roughly one-quarter sections and completing about two and a half circuits so far.

To be continued...

This text has been translated by auto-translation. There may be a slight difference between the original text and the translation. (Original Language: 日本語)

#4627
  • Baikinman
  • 2026/09/26 (Sat) 13:31
  • Report

I haven't traveled to Japan yet this year.

Did I go last year? My memory isn't so clear—my dementia is getting worse.

I remember meeting up with four friends from junior high school at the ticket gates of Kunitachi Station on the Chuo Line in Tokyo

and going to a nearby restaurant.

According to K, who organized the trip, he tried calling everyone on the list from the old class reunion roster, but

either most of them had changed their phone numbers or those numbers were no longer in use,

so he couldn’t reach anyone. Well, it can’t be helped—we’re all over 80, after all.

I thanked K for all his hard work.

When you’re over 80, even if you’re still alive, you’re practically an alien—it’s so sad...

This text has been translated by auto-translation. There may be a slight difference between the original text and the translation. (Original Language: 日本語)

#4628
  • Baikinman
  • 2026/09/27 (Sun) 21:42
  • Report

> The ticket gates at Kunitachi Station on the Chuo Line in Tokyo

That said, I imagine many of you don’t know exactly where “Kunitachi Station on the Chuo Line” is located in Tokyo.

To begin with, people usually read “Kokuritsu” as “kokuritsu,” right? But it’s actually pronounced “Kunitachi.”

Even I, who was born and raised on the eastern outskirts of Tokyo, used to pronounce it “kokuritsu” until around middle school.

Sorry for the pointless comment.

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Vivinavi Chiba
[Kisarazu High School] Let's Share Our Memories of the Cultural Festival

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#1
  • 30代木高生 C
  • mail
  • 2026/09/14 22:22

I want to connect with people who graduated from Kisarazu High School !
When it comes to high school days, the Kisarazu High Festival is definitely the highlight.

Why don't we share our memories of the Kisarazu High Festival?

This text has been translated by auto-translation. There may be a slight difference between the original text and the translation. (Original Language: 日本語)

168 days until expiration

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Vivinavi Los Angeles
Let's gather the elderly ! !

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#1
  • シニア65
  • 2023/09/23 09:56

How many elderly people of Japanese descent are living in LA? We would be happy to be a place of rest and relaxation for the elderly who use the Koryu Hiroba. We think the eligibility is from 65 years old and up.

This text has been translated by auto-translation. There may be a slight difference between the original text and the translation. (Original Language: 日本語)

165 days until expiration

#1104

Today, here in the San Fernando Valley, where I live, the

high temperature hit the 100°F/38°C mark.

I simply can't stand outside for even 15 minutes.

This text has been translated by auto-translation. There may be a slight difference between the original text and the translation. (Original Language: 日本語)

#1105
  • 倍金萬君
  • 2026/08/30 (Sun) 15:58
  • Report

Even now, it's 98°F/37°C in the shade of my backyard. It's just so hot.

The other day, I had the chance to meet up with some Japanese friends who live in Gardena and Torrance, and

I was surprised to hear everyone talking about the temperature in “Celsius.”

Until then, I had believed that Japanese people here in the U.S. also talked about temperatures in “Fahrenheit.”

The reason for this is that for over 50 years, I’ve been following local events through the news on the major TV networks (CBS, NBC, ABC )), so I’ve been getting my weather forecasts from those same channels.

This text has been translated by auto-translation. There may be a slight difference between the original text and the translation. (Original Language: 日本語)

#1106
  • 倍金萬君
  • 2026/09/01 (Tue) 10:49
  • Report

This brings back memories, too.

It was back when I hadn’t even been here for many years yet

When I translate the lyrics, I start to feel an overwhelming sense of nostalgia for my hometown

Though it’s not quite the kind of hometown described in this poem...

Linda Ronstadt

On Blue Bayou

https://www.youtube.com/shorts/SWvRm5TzmcQ

This text has been translated by auto-translation. There may be a slight difference between the original text and the translation. (Original Language: 日本語)

#1111
  • 倍金萬君
  • 2026/09/11 (Fri) 17:39
  • Report

The term “Bayou” in #1106 refers to the following location:

https://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E3%83%90%E3%82%A4% E3%83%A6%E3%83%BC_(%E5%9C%B0%E5%BD%A2)

It also sounds like a song in which someone who has moved to the city longs for their hometown.

I was born and raised on the eastern outskirts of Tokyo. I was born about a year before the ( End of the War ) Commemoration Day.

Back when I was a child, the eastern side was a residential area, but toward the city center, fields and farmland stretched as far as the eye could see.

So, on sunny evenings, I used to see a small silhouette of Mount Fuji in the direction of true west.

When I hear this song, it somehow reminds me of my hometown—back when I used to catch medaka and crayfish in the irrigation ditches among the fields and farmland.

This text has been translated by auto-translation. There may be a slight difference between the original text and the translation. (Original Language: 日本語)

#1112
  • 倍金萬君
  • 2026/09/11 (Fri) 18:01
  • Report

Lately, here in the San Fernando Valley where I live,

we’ve been having a string of days where the temperature is approaching 100°F (38°C). It’s extremely hot.

As a result, if I go for a walk around the neighborhood for about an hour, I end up completely drenched.

I wonder what it’s like in the Gardena/Torrance area, where many Japanese people live.

Since it’s an area where sea breezes blow in, the temperature is probably about 10 ~ to 20°F lower.

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Vivinavi Hawaii
Time Required to Apply for U.S. Citizenship

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#1
  • tama
  • mail
  • 2026/08/28 11:03

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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162 days until expiration

#9
  • 太郎
  • 2026/09/01 (Tue) 00:33
  • Report

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.

This text has been translated by auto-translation. There may be a slight difference between the original text and the translation. (Original Language: 日本語)

#12
  • 勉強中
  • 2026/09/01 (Tue) 20:20
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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) 18:19
  • Report

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

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) 20:40
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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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Vivinavi Hawaii
Punahou and Iolani Kinder Number of examinees

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#1
  • Waikiki
  • mail
  • 2025/02/21 19:00

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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161 days until expiration

#163

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

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) 16:23
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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

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

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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Vivinavi Dallas
I'm moving from California to the Dallas area !

Free talk
#1
  • ジュリアン
  • mail
  • 2026/07/07 22:22

Nice to meet you. My name is Julian, and I’m a music teacher who started this school year in the Dallas area.

This is my first time in Texas, so I’m looking for people to exchange information with and have fun conversations. I play in a wind ensemble. !

If you’re interested, let’s get to know each other. I look forward to hearing from you. !

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99 days until expiration

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Vivinavi Hawaii
Investing in U.S. Stocks

Free talk
#1
  • トレーダー
  • mail
  • 2026/06/15 02:11

I'm new to investing in U.S. stocks.
There's so much I don't understand. !
Is there anyone knowledgeable out there who could give me some guidance?
?

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84 days until expiration

#2
  • trader3
  • 2026/06/15 (Mon) 06:10
  • Report

Since the free one turned out to be a scam, you should sign up for a school that charges tuition.

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#3

When it comes to investing, the optimal strategy varies depending on factors such as an investor’s age, occupation, income, and current financial situation.
However, since this is a field where even professionals struggle to achieve consistent results, why not start with index investing?

I consider myself little more than a beginner myself, and since index investing makes the most sense to me,
I’ve allocated the majority of my portfolio to it.

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#4
  • 投資の複利でハワイに住む人
  • 2026/06/22 (Mon) 16:02
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Invest everything in SPXL × Forget you even invested
This is the only way to win.

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Vivinavi Los Angeles
Portable WiFi

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#1
  • Gardena90247
  • mail
  • 2026/04/30 16:54

My home wifi is costly and I am looking for a portable wifi.
There are many gadgets on the internet, but
I want to choose a reliable and inexpensive one, but
I have no idea which one is best.

I would like to hear various opinions. Thank you in advance.

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44 days until expiration

#3
  • Gardena90247
  • 2026/04/30 (Thu) 17:00
  • Report

Ryokoの宣伝が今一番目につきますが、、、これ利用されている人居る?

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#6

How much is your home internet now, how much is your outgoing internet bill ( how much is the Wifi Hot Spot on your phone ? ) and how much are you spending per month on communication?
How much do you consider expensive and how much data do you use per month, etc.
It would be difficult to answer without at least this information.

I personally consider Verizon's portable Wi-Fi to be highly reliable, and I can use up to 150GB per month for $ 80, but
if you watch videos, etc., it would be unrealistic to use this as your home Internet connection.

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#7
  • Gardena90247
  • 2026/05/12 (Tue) 14:08
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Thank you.
I use Spectrum and pay $135/month
I wonder what the service is like for seniors ?
There is a huge low-cost service, but it is nowhere near reliable.

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#8
  • T.S
  • 2026/05/13 (Wed) 10:50
  • Report

If you are using Spectrum and paying $135/month, you might want to consider T-mobile ? At my house, it costs $50/month and the internet speed is 500mbps^(depending on where you live ) Installation is also very easy

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#9
  • Gardena90247
  • 2026/05/13 (Wed) 14:21
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Thank you very much.
I contacted T-mobile to sign up, no hassle, $ they said 60 is the best.
thank you so much $75 monthly savings 。。。。

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