Discussion Forum

#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?

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182 days until expiration

#1

• ほし
• mail
• 2026/09/13 16:21

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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181 days until expiration

#2

• なな
• 2026/09/13 (Sun) 18:45
• Report

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) 10:39
• Report

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

• 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

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181 days until expiration

#4611

• 倍金萬じゃー
• mail
• 2026/08/21 (Fri) 20:54
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＞ I’ve walked this section about twice myself.

This means I’ve completed the pilgrimage route around Shikoku twice; walking the entire circuit is about 1,200 km. If you divide that by four, it works out to walking 300 km once a year.

Once you get hooked on this “walking pilgrimage,” you’ll want to return to Japan—and to Shikoku—over and over again.

Well, here in LA, the weather is warm year-round and it rains only a handful of times, so it’s very comfortable to live here—but on the other hand, I sometimes find myself missing Japan with its distinct four seasons. That’s why I’ve started traveling to Japan primarily to do the “Shikoku Pilgrimage.”

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#4612

• じじちゃん
• 2026/08/25 (Tue) 18:22
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Cosmos flowers are blooming Along the pilgrimage path I was walking alone
The autumn sun is shining
Now gone is the image of Kobo Daishi
The pilgrim continues on his way
Cosmos flowers are blooming Along the pilgrimage path I walk all alone

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#4617

• 玄奘
• 2026/08/31 (Mon) 09:01
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The pilgrimage route is endlessly long

Yet why do I grit my teeth

and go to such lengths to make the journey?

As the sun rises ,

once again, I begin walking the pilgrimage path

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#4618

• 倍金萬君
• 2026/09/09 (Wed) 21:08
• Report

#4612 Jijichan,

#4617 Genjo-san,

Thank you both so much for the wonderful songs （ and poems ）.

Listening to this makes me want to set out on foot across Shikoku right now, but

my wife tells me, “Come on, you’re over 80—it’s just not possible for you anymore,” and

I’ve reached a point where I can no longer walk the roads of Shikoku.

Lately, the more I realize I can’t go, the more I want to go...

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#4619

• zoi
• mail
• 2026/09/13 (Sun) 15:03
• Report

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?

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#1

• 伊東
• mail
• 2023/03/01 09:15

We are seeing price increases here and there, and I hear that Hirakata Park is also going to raise its prices.

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179 days until expiration

#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.

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179 days until expiration

#1104

• 倍金萬君
• 2026/08/25 (Tue) 19:06
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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.

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#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.

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#1106

• 倍金萬君
• 2026/09/01 (Tue) 10:49
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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

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#1111

• 倍金萬君
• 2026/09/11 (Fri) 17:39
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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.

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#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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#1

• Mido
• mail
• 2026/09/03 19:37

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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178 days until expiration

#2

• とめ
• 2026/09/04 (Fri) 11:32
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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) 20:20
• Report

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) 07:24
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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) 17:00
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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 23:36

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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177 days until expiration

#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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176 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.

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#12

• 勉強中
• 2026/09/01 (Tue) 20:20
• Report

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

• tama
• 2026/09/03 (Thu) 12:44
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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) 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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#1

• あおぞら
• mail
• 2026/09/05 10:08

It seems the kitchen drain is clogged, and the water won’t drain. I’ve tried various things—using a long drain snake, pouring in a special drain-cleaning gel, and flushing hot water, baking soda, and vinegar down the drain—but nothing has worked.
If you know of any reliable plumbers, I’d appreciate it if you could let me know. I’m in Torrance, so it would be great if the plumber was in that area.
By the way, this isn’t a regular home—it’s a church kitchen—so the scale might be different. Thank you in advance.

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176 days until expiration

#3

• サンシャイン
• mail
• 2026/09/05 (Sat) 22:35
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The approach will vary depending on whether only the kitchen is clogged or if the entire building—including the toilet and other areas—is clogged.
If the main sewer line is clogged, everything will be clogged; however, if only the kitchen sink is clogged, it means the section between the main line and the sink is blocked, so I think you can clear it by slowly working a drain snake from the sink side. While a power drain snake can get the job done faster, some people have injured their fingers by getting them caught when using one without gloves, so it might be better for a layperson to use a manual drain snake and take a few hours to clear the blockage slowly. If the main sewer line is blocked, it’s faster to insert the drain snake from the drain grate on the sewer side.

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#4

• 冷蔵君
• 2026/09/08 (Tue) 19:34
• Report

You mentioned a “long snake”—how many feet is it? ？ Commercially available snakes are usually no longer than about 15 feet, right? Since it’s a church, it must be a single-family home. I imagine the clogged section is about 25 feet away. The snake won’t reach that far. You’ll either have to take the plunge and buy a 30-foot snake or call a professional.

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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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175 days until expiration

#163

• ABC
• 2026/06/03 (Wed) 23:42
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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) 18:04
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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) 16:23
• Report

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
• 2026/08/31 (Mon) 01:33
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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) 23:32
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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.

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)