Chia Seeds: Superfood for healthy eating, great for ketogenic diet too!

I got hooked on chia seeds at the end of last year (and now it’s a permanent habit)

Since around the end of last year, I started eating chia seeds—and I got completely hooked.

The trigger was simple: I wanted something a little sweet after dinner.But when you’re doing a ketogenic (low-carb) diet, it’s surprisingly hard to choose your usual desserts like cake or pudding.

So I tried something: I started eating chia seed pudding every night as a replacement for dessert. And the result was:

• It’s satisfying.

• The slightly sticky texture + gentle sweetness makes it feel very dessert-like.

• And most importantly, I felt a change in my digestive behaviour.

That’s when I thought: “Wait… this is actually really good.”

You see a lot of “chia is good for your gut” online, but in my case it wasn’t just theory—I genuinely felt it. And because chia seeds still aren’t that widely used in Japan or elsewhere, I thought: more people should know about this.

So today I’m going to mix in my personal experience, while keeping the content as based on my experience as possible.

Living overseas + keto = missing the “Japanese fiber foods”

I’ve been following a ketogenic / low-carb diet for a while. But there’s a common structural problem that tends to happen.

First, the basic concept of ketogenic diet means:

• You cut down staples like rice and potatoes.

• You reduce sugar—and you often need to limit fruit as well.

Also, being on a ketogenic diet often leads to meals that are:

• Higher in protein and fat.

➡️ As a result, it becomes easy to fall short on dietary fiber.
➡️ And if low fiber becomes chronic, your gut environment can worsen.

This is actually mentioned in research as one of the things you need to watch out for when doing ketogenic diet.

And if you’re living overseas, there’s another issue: in Japan, you can easily get “perfect fiber foods” that are also low-carb, like:

• Konjac

• Seaweed (wakame, hijiki, kombu, etc.)

But overseas, those foods can be hard to access. I live in New Zealand, and if I want konjac or wakame, I usually have to go to a Japan Mart—so I can’t realistically eat them every day.

For me, chia seeds fill that “missing fiber slot” surprisingly well.

What are chia seeds?

Chia seeds are the seeds of a plant called Salvia hispanica (mint family). They’re tiny, but their most famous feature is that they swell and form a jelly-like coating when they absorb water.

That “swells in water” property is exactly why they’re easy to turn into dessert—and it also connects directly to the story about dietary fiber.

You might occasionally see “chia seed pudding” on café menus—yes, that’s it. And the nice thing is: once you have chia seeds, you can make it at home and eat it every day.

Where to find chia seeds in NZ supermarkets (Woolworths)

From my experience, chia seeds in New Zealand supermarkets (Woolworths) are usually located in one of these places:

• The dried fruit / seeds section (near dried apricots, sunflower seeds, etc.)

• Near the baking section

• A “healthy” section with sugar-free / gluten-free snacks

I usually buy a 200~250 g pack from Woolworths (a very standard and convenient size).

Here is a package of Tasti brand chia seeds (250 g). At the time I’m writing this blog, one bag was about $6-7 NZD.

Nutrition: why chia seeds can look “high-carb” but still fit ketogenic diet

First, here is the nutrition label from the Tasti chia seeds mentioned above.

For dry chia seeds, per 100 g, it lists something like:

• Energy: 1870 kJ

• Protein: 16.5 g

• Fat: 32.5 g

  • Unsaturated fat: 26.1 g

  • Omega-3: 20.0 g

• Carbohydrate: 7.7 g

  • Sugars: 0.8 g

• Dietary fiber: 31.9 g

• Sodium: 16 mg

Even though this is “per 100 g,” what really jumps out is:

• A huge amount of dietary fiber

• A lot of unsaturated fat

Honestly, this is the kind of label that makes you understand why people call it a “superfood.”

And if you look at USDA-style data for dried chia seeds, per 100 g it’s roughly:

• Calories: ~486 kcal

• Carbohydrate: 42 g

• Dietary fiber: 34 g

So if you think in terms of net carbs (carbs minus fiber), chia becomes much lower-carb than it looks at first glance.

The “real identity” of chia fiber: mucilage

The main reason chia seeds become jelly-like in water is because the seed coat releases a sticky polysaccharide called mucilage. In papers and reviews, it’s often discussed as “chia seed mucilage.” (Reference: Segura-Campos, 2014)

So what is chia mucilage?

Rather than being one single, cleanly named fiber (like konjac’s “glucomannan”), chia mucilage seems to be a mixture of multiple polysaccharides.

The sugars reported as components include:

• Xylose

• Mannose

• Glucose

• Galactose

• Arabinose

• Uronic acids (such as glucuronic acid)

(Reference: Hovjecki, 2024)

Meanwhile, konjac’s main fiber is well known as konjac glucomannan (KGM)—a water-soluble, highly viscous polysaccharide.

If we compare chia mucilage and konjac glucomannan:

Similarities

• Both are water-soluble and form viscosity easily

• Both “swell in water,” which helps fullness and makes them practical to use

Differences (important)

• Konjac: clearly framed around one main fiber, glucomannan

• Chia: framed around “mucilage,” a mixture of polysaccharides

So the properties may look similar, but chemically they’re not identical.

Either way, chia seeds contain plenty of water-soluble fiber. And while fiber isn’t easily broken down by human digestive enzymes, its effects inside the gut have received a lot of attention.

Chia also contains lots of unsaturated fat: alpha-linolenic acid (ALA)

Chia seeds are strongly associated with fiber, but they actually contain a fair amount of fat too. And it’s not the “fried food oil” type—it’s mainly unsaturated fat, especially polyunsaturated fatty acids, which are generally considered beneficial.

Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health explains that about 60% of the oil in chia seeds is alpha-linolenic acid (ALA), an omega-3 fatty acid. (Reference: Harvard T.H. Chan)

ALA isn’t as famous as fish-based EPA/DHA, but studies suggest that ALA may have favorable effects, such as improving lipid markers (LDL, triglycerides) and helping lower blood pressure. (Reference: Sala-Vila, 2022)

So yes—chia seeds may offer health benefits not only from fiber but also from their high ALA content.

How I make chia pudding

This is how I personally eat the chia seeds I buy from Woolworths.

My basic ratio (makes 4 servings)

• Chia seeds: 40 g
  (I use a protein scoop—one scoop is 20 g, so two scoops = 40 g exactly, which is convenient.)

• Plant-based milk: 500 mL total
  (almond milk / coconut milk / soy milk)

Then I divide it into 4 servings: ➡️ Per serving: ~10 g chia + ~125 mL milk

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The key: the first 2 minutes of good mixing is important

Chia seeds absorb water very quickly at the beginning and can form clumps. So I make sure to:

• Mix strongly for the first 2 minutes (if you stop, clumps form)

• Keep breaking the “floating vs sinking” bias so it mixes evenly

• When the seeds mostly sink and the surface starts feeling slightly sticky, it’s good

Also: if you start with coconut/almond milk at room temperature, hydration is faster. If your milk is cold from the fridge, the initial absorption takes a bit longer.

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Soy milk in NZ (So Good) is thick, so diluting helps

NZ soy milk (So Good and similar brands) feels quite thick, and chia seeds absorb water more slowly in it. In my experience:

• Almond milk absorbs fastest

• Coconut milk is second

• Soy milk is slowest (unless diluted)

So when using soy milk, I often do:

• Soy milk 400 mL + water 100 mL (total 500 mL)

Then add chia and mix. This makes it much easier to get a smooth pudding.

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Leave it overnight in the fridge

Ideally, it’s best to make it one day and eat it the next.

• Mix chia and plant milk well

• Put it in the fridge

• After overnight soaking, it becomes stable and “pudding-like”

As mentioned, I treat 40 g chia + 500 mL milk as 4 servings.

Rough nutrition estimate per serving (10 g chia + 125 mL plant milk)

Here’s a quick rough calculation. Exact numbers depend on product and flavor, so please prioritize the nutrition label you have.

Chia seeds 10 g

Using USDA-style data (per 100 g: 486 kcal, 42 g carbs, 34 g fiber):

• Calories: ~49 kcal

• Carbohydrate: ~4.2 g

• Fiber: ~3.4 g

• Net carbs: ~0.8 g (4.2 − 3.4)

So Good Soy Milk (Regular) 125 mL

Per 100 mL: 65 kcal / carbs 5.1 g / fiber 0.3 g
So for 125 mL (×1.25):

• Calories: ~81 kcal

• Carbs: ~6.4 g

• Fiber: ~0.38 g

• Net carbs: ~6.0 g

Total (chia 10 g + soy milk 125 mL):

• Calories: ~130 kcal

• Net carbs: ~6.8 g

Note: unsweetened soy milk usually has lower carbs, which may fit keto more easily.

So Good Coconut Milk (Unsweetened) 125 mL

Per 100 mL: 23 kcal / carbs 0.3 g / fiber 0.9 g
For 125 mL:

• Calories: ~29 kcal

• Carbs: ~0.38 g

• Fiber: ~1.13 g

Total (chia 10 g + coconut milk 125 mL):

• Calories: ~78 kcal

• Net carbs: ~0.8 g (mostly from chia)

If you only care about keto “compatibility,” coconut milk (unsweetened) is probably the better option.

My favorite chia pudding + fruit combinations

Once the pudding is ready, adding fruit or sauce makes it even better. There are tons of chia recipe sites, so here I’ll only share the combinations I’ve actually tried and loved.

Yogurt + frozen blueberries (classic, strong)

• Just add about 2 tablespoons of yogurt and frozen blueberries on top. 
• The tangy yogurt and the sweetness of blueberries match the sticky chia texture really well.

Feijoa + unsweetened whipped cream (very NZ, and surprisingly perfect)

• Feijoa is a common fruit in New Zealand. The tropical taste plus cream becomes very elegant. 
• Unsweetened whipped cream is also keto-friendly.
• Personally, this is my #1 recommendation.

Mango (small amount) + coconut milk pudding

• Sometimes there’s a sweet mango sauce made from simmered frozen mango. 
• It goes extremely well with chia pudding, especially when the pudding is made with coconut milk. 
• You can even add a splash of extra coconut milk.

**Fruit contains sugar and calories, so if you’re doing keto, adjust the amount based on your own daily limits.

Chia effects: for me, there was a clear change after about a week

How fast do you feel an effect? This will vary a lot person to person, but here’s my experience. People often say chia causes bloating at first. For me, during the first few days, I honestly felt a bit of abdominal fullness.

That’s not surprising—suddenly increasing dietary fiber can do that. If you’re worried, starting with a smaller amount seems wise.

Tips when starting chia seeds

• Start small (too much too soon can cause bloating)

• Drink enough water (it absorbs liquid)

• Avoid clumps (mix well for the first 2 minutes)

• If you have existing GI conditions or concerns, consult your doctor

• And of course—don’t overdo it

I usually eat one serving a day as a dessert replacement after dinner. Sometimes I do two servings (lunch snack + dessert), but only about once or twice a week.

For me, after about one week, I clearly noticed:

• Stool texture changed (softer, more moist, kind of “thick”?)

• Better consistency / cohesion

• A sense of stability

Summary: chia seeds might be great for both “gut” and the “ketogenic dessert slot”

Chia seeds aren’t flashy health food in my mind. They’re more like a practical tool that helps with daily life:

• You can add dietary fiber every day

• You can create a keto-friendly dessert “slot”

• If you can’t easily get seaweed or konjac overseas, chia can help fill the fiber gap

• Chia also contains plenty of ALA (alpha-linolenic acid), an omega-3 fatty acid

If you’re like me and you miss having something sweet after a meal, chia pudding is honestly a great option. It’s easy, available at normal supermarkets, and not an expensive “luxury health food” (around $6–$7 for a 250 g bag). I buy a bag almost every week.

If you’ve never tried chia seeds before but feel curious now, I hope this helps!

**Japanese version of this article is here**

Getting my New Zealand driving licence! Restricted Licence — Part 3 (The Practical Driving Test)

Getting my New Zealand driving licence! Restricted Licence — Part 3: The Practical Driving Test

In Part 3, I’m going to write about my experience of sitting the Restricted Licence practical test. If you haven’t read them yet, Part 1 and Part 2 might also be helpful.

Up to this point, I’ve talked about supervised practice and lessons with an AA instructor. But questions like “When should I sit the test?” and “How much practice is enough?” are honestly very subjective—it really depends on the person.

Timing: when to sit the practical test

In my case, I practised in parallel with a supervisor and with an AA instructor. Through several “mock practical test” lessons with the AA instructor, I was able to get advice on how close I was to being ready for the real test.

Toward the end of my practice, for example, I was told something like: “Your general driving is probably fine for the practical test. But you should spend the next two weeks focusing on parking. If you were going to fail, it would likely be because of a parking mistake.” Based on that advice, I decided I was ready to book the test.

Booking and preparing for the test

For the practical test, I recommend allowing about one full hour in your schedule. You book online (via the booking site) and pay the test fee. When you book, make sure you select the test location where you plan to sit the test, and then choose your preferred date and time.

You can book through the New Zealand Transport Agency here:

https://www.nzta.govt.nz/driver-licences/getting-a-licence/take-your-test/practical-tests

When I sat my test (around 2025), I often found available slots about two weeks ahead. However, it sounds like booking can become much harder depending on the season. During busy times—such as summer holidays, when many university students try to get their licence—it can apparently stretch to 2–3 months. So it may be difficult to get the location and time you want unless you book early.

What the test involves (a simple overview)

On the day, you arrive at the test centre and drive on real roads with the examiner. At the start, the examiner checks the basics during normal driving, such as:

• General driving and safety routines

• Mirror checks (often the “three-point check”)

• Blind spot checks

• Speed control while driving

If everything goes smoothly, it seems common to be asked to do a parallel park on a side street within about the first 10 minutes. You need to be able to do this properly and safely.

After that, you continue along a range of routes, driving on local roads and sometimes (depending on the area) motorway driving as well. If everything is satisfactory, you’re told you’ve passed at the end, and you receive a paper temporary licence.

How the driving test day went (this is what it was like for me)

You’re usually told to check in 30 minutes before your booking time, so I recommend arriving at least 30 minutes early.

After checking in, if it’s your first attempt, you’ll complete the application form. Then you do an eyesight test, and they also take a photo for your licence. The good news is: if you don’t pass on that attempt, you generally won’t need to redo the photo and the application form the next time.

After waiting until your scheduled start time, several examiners come out and call people in order. You greet your examiner and then walk with them to your car.

One important thing is that you need to bring your own car for the test. I personally think it’s safest to use the same car you’ve been practising in with your supervisor. Also, because you’re not yet allowed to drive alone before passing the Restricted test, you’ll need your supervisor to drive you to the test centre. That means your supervisor will need to accompany you (sitting in the passenger seat) on the way there. If you want, the supervisor may also be allowed to sit in the car during the test (that’s how it was explained to me).

Vehicle check before the test, and an important note about the start

Before the driving begins, the examiner checks the car. They confirm things like whether the mirrors can be adjusted properly, and whether the indicators, lamps, and lights are working. After that, you’re given safety instructions—and then the test begins.

The test starts the moment the examiner says something like, “Okay, please exit this parking area safely.” From the very first movement, you need to do your mirror checks and safety checks properly. I really felt that it’s important not to relax even at the very start.

During the test: the basic rule is “follow the road unless told otherwise”

One key rule the examiner told me was: unless you receive a specific instruction like “turn right at the next corner” or “turn left at the next corner,” you should basically keep following the road as it goes.

So even if you come to a T-intersection or a crossroad, if you are not instructed to turn, you continue straight. It can feel a bit confusing at first, but I think understanding this rule helps you stay calm during the test.

If you make a serious mistake early, the test may end immediately

This part is a bit strict, but I was told that if a major error happens early in the test, you may fail on the spot and return to the test centre without completing the full route. When I went, I actually saw a few people come back relatively quickly.

A common pattern seemed to be people who hadn’t practised enough with an instructor, and came in without fully understanding the rules—then made an error around the first turn or early intersection and had to return. That was the general impression I got on the day.

My result: I passed on my second attempt (but the first attempt…)

I personally sat the practical test twice and passed on my second attempt. My first failure was, surprisingly, for speeding.

Looking back, I had done a lot of practice both with an AA instructor and with my supervisor—but the car I practised in with my supervisor was different from the car I used on the test day with the examiner. When the car is different, the accelerator feel and how quickly the speed builds can be slightly different, and I don’t think I was fully used to that. As a result, I went just a little over the speed limit and that was picked up. Because of that, I returned after about 20 minutes and didn’t even make it as far as the motorway…

For my second test, I went in with a strong focus on speed control. I also paid close attention to parallel parking, following distance, and roads where the speed limit changes depending on the time of day. This time, I completed the whole route, and after about 40 minutes I returned to the test centre.

As soon as we got back, I was told, “You’ve passed,” and I received the paper temporary licence. The proper card licence arrived by mail later—about a week afterwards.

Summary

Since this was the Restricted Licence, I haven’t got my Full Licence yet. When I eventually do, I’d like to write another post about that experience too.

That’s my experience of getting my Restricted Licence. I hope it’s useful for anyone who is planning to stay in New Zealand for a while and is thinking about getting their licence.

And if you haven’t read them yet, Part 1 and Part 2 might also be helpful.

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Japanese version of this article is available here. 

Getting my New Zealand driving licence! Restricted Licence — Part 2 (Driving Practice)

Getting my New Zealand driving licence! Restricted Licence — Part 2 (Driving Practice)

Recently, I got my Restricted Licence in New Zealand, and I’m sharing what the experience was like. If you’d like a bit of background first, Part 1 is here.

From a “forever Learner” to aiming for the Restricted Licence

My situation looked like this:

• I had been on a Learner’s licence for years.

• I had no driving experience in Japan.

• I felt nervous about driving and didn’t feel confident.

• I live in Auckland.

• I work during the day.

To get my Restricted Licence, I did the following:

• Practised driving with a supervisor

• Practised driving with a professional driving instructor

• Reviewed road rules

• Sat the Restricted Licence practical test (I passed on my second attempt)

In this Part 2 post, I’ll cover the first two items: practising with a supervisor and practising with an instructor.

Practising with a supervisor (my experience)

In the New Zealand licensing process, once you’ve got your Learner’s licence, the core of your practice is driving on the road with a supervisor.

Who can be your supervisor?

First, there are requirements for the supervisor. They must have held a Full Driver Licence for at least two years. Your supervisor sits in the front passenger seat, and you practise within the rules and time restrictions that apply. In my case, my supervisor was a family member. Many people ask family, but it seems some people ask friends as well.

How do you choose practice locations?

When you’re a beginner, it can feel scary to jump straight into normal traffic, so choosing the right practice locations at the start felt very important. I was truly starting from zero, so my very first practice was in a large, empty car park. I went to a wide, quiet car park and drove around inside it first, just to get used to the feel of the car.

That said, some car parks are suitable for practice and some are not (either because they’re not appropriate or because it’s not allowed), so I think it’s important to check the rules and make sure you’re practising in places where it’s permitted.

The next step, of course, becomes practising on public roads. I chose areas near my home where traffic was very light—places with lots of commercial facilities near the edge of town, where it was quieter and easier to practise. In particular, I looked for a few places that had things like cul-de-sacs, simple straight roads, or roads where you could make an easy “loop” and drive around the same route repeatedly without too much pressure.

How practice and improvement worked for me

My general routine was: my supervisor would drive us to the practice location first. Once we arrived somewhere that felt “relatively safe and suitable for practice,” I would switch into the driver’s seat and practise from there. This approach meant I didn’t have to immediately handle difficult roads, and I could focus on driving more calmly.

In the beginning, I was very nervous, and it was much more tiring than I expected. So I kept each session to a set length, and I tried to practise at times when it was bright with good visibility, and when the roads were as quiet as possible. For me, that felt like the safest way to build confidence.

I also practised with an AA instructor in parallel (more on that below), and I think that combination helped a lot. While continuing supervised practice, I improved little by little. Later on—really in the second half of my journey—my supervised practice started to include things like parking practice and driving on the motorway. But that was genuinely “later on,” and I don’t think it’s necessary to push those things too early.

Start by choosing good locations, and expect it to be a long game

In New Zealand, supervised practice is the main way most people build their skills. That’s why finding “good practice locations” matters so much. If possible, I think it’s even better to practise near the driving test centre—around the area where you’re likely to drive during your test.

And one last important reminder: you must display your Learner’s Plate (the L plate) on the car. It’s easy to forget, but it’s essential. If you keep following the rules and practise steadily, you can build confidence step by step.

Practising with a driving instructor (my experience)

Where do you find an instructor?

In my case, alongside my supervised practice, I also took lessons with an AA instructor. AA lessons can be booked through the AA website, and if something comes up, there’s a system for cancelling or rescheduling. I found it very convenient and easy to manage bookings.

More information on AA driving instructors is here:

AA Driving School: https://www.aa.co.nz/drivers/driving-school/driving-lessons/

AA has many instructors, and I do think “fit” matters. My suggestion (based on my experience) would be to try lessons with a few different instructors at the beginning, and then once you find someone you work well with, continue with that person until you pass.

AA member discounts and lesson packs

Of course, lessons cost money, but AA members can get a discount. Also, if you prepay for a “5-lesson pack,” it works out a bit cheaper than paying one by one. I bought two 5-lesson packs and did a total of 10 lessons with an AA instructor.

Choosing the right area for lessons

One of the most important things for me when learning with an instructor was location. Since you’ll eventually sit your practical test, I recommend practising as close as possible to your test centre, with an instructor who knows that area well. If you’re planning to take the test locally, your instructor can teach you routes that are commonly used in the test and explain “local tricky points” that are specific to that area.

What the first lesson looked like

Out of my 10 lessons, the first few were truly “beginner warm-up” sessions. We focused on getting comfortable with basic control and building familiarity with real road conditions. Later on, we added parking practice, and I drove on the motorway for the first time with the AA instructor. After practising safely that way, I then continued that kind of practice with my supervisor during my own sessions.

Also, because the instructor doesn’t know your driving level at the first lesson, the first session often feels like a short loop around nearby streets—partly as a way for them to see your habits and current skill level. Based on that, the lesson plan for the second session and beyond gets shaped. Unless you’ve already practised a lot and you only want to do mock tests, taking just a single lesson may not be the most effective use of an instructor.

Later lessons and working towards a mock (practice) test

In the later lessons, almost every session became “route practice with a mock test in mind.” For example, if normal driving was fine but parking needed work, we would focus on parking. Or if a specific roundabout felt difficult, we would practise that roundabout repeatedly. Being able to target weak points like this was a major benefit of learning with an instructor.

Mock-test style lessons were especially valuable

What I personally found most valuable was the “mock test” style lesson option. It’s very close to the real practical test: you drive a commonly used test route with the instructor, and then you get feedback afterwards. They tell you very clearly what you did well, what needs improvement, and even whether you would likely pass or fail if you sat the test that day. Because I felt the New Zealand practical test was harder than I expected, this mock test was especially important for me—and I’m very glad I did it.

That’s the overview of how I practised. Next, I’ll finally share my practical driving test experience.

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The Japanese version of this article is available here. 

Getting my New Zealand driving licence!: Restricted Licence Part 1

Getting my New Zealand driving licence!: Restricted Licence

I’ve been living in New Zealand for quite a while now, and… I finally got my driving licence (Restricted Licence)!! So, I’d like to share the overall process and my personal experience in this article. 

The New Zealand driver licensing system

New Zealand currently has a three-stage driver licensing system. In simple terms, it looks like this:

1: Learner’s licence

• This is a “paper” learner licence (a provisional licence).
• Requirements: You need to submit an application form, pass a written test on road rules, and complete an eyesight test and a photo (you must attend in person).
• What you can do: You can practise driving on the road as long as a supervisor is always in the front passenger seat. You must display L plates. There are restrictions on what times you can drive.

2: Restricted licence

• This is a restricted provisional licence.
• Requirements: You must pass a practical driving test. You will need to provide the application form again, and you’ll also need another eyesight test and photo.
• What you can do: You’re allowed to drive on your own. You can also carry passengers if a supervisor is always in the front passenger seat. There are restrictions on what times you can drive.

3: Full licence

• This is your full licence.
• Requirements: You must pass a practical driving test. You will need to provide the application form again, and you’ll also need another eyesight test and photo.
• What you can do: Basically, there are no restrictions.

For more detailed information, see here:

• New Zealand Government (official) site: https://www.nzta.govt.nz/driver-licences
• Study road rules for the Learner’s licence here: https://drive.govt.nz/
• The AA (private service) website is also very helpful: https://www.aa.co.nz/drivers/driver-licences/

Why I recommend getting a licence

If you’re not planning to live in New Zealand permanently, you may be wondering whether it’s worth getting a licence. Here are the application fees: https://www.nzta.govt.nz/driver-licences/licensing-fees/licence-fees

Even if you don’t drive, a Learner’s licence is useful as ID

• The Learner’s licence is relatively easy to get, and it’s extremely handy as an ID card.
• It means you don’t need to carry your passport around all the time.
• It’s also fairly straightforward now because you can study road rules using an app.
• Cost: If you pass on the first attempt, it’s around NZD 100.

A Restricted licence expands your freedom a lot

If you’re living in New Zealand long-term, having a car is incredibly convenient. In fact, outside the major cities (Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch), it can feel like a necessity for everyday life. I live in Auckland, so I managed for a long time using public transport, but honestly, I wish I’d gotten my licence earlier.

The practical test is quite strict. It costs around NZD 160 for the first attempt, and about NZD 100 from the second attempt onwards. Many people end up taking the test more than once.

A Full licence has no restrictions

If you want to drive with passengers freely (without the restrictions), you’ll need a Full Licence. That said, many people are happy staying on a Restricted licence for a while—especially if they just want to be able to drive themselves and don’t feel any urgency to upgrade. For things like car insurance or rentals, having a Full Licence is often an advantage. But the practical test for the Full Licence also seems to be quite strict.

In my case: I was basically a “forever Learner”

In my case, I got my Learner’s licence fairly early, but then I didn’t try for the Restricted licence for years. The main reasons were that my family could drive, and living in Auckland meant I could get around by bus and train… 

But I started wanting to be more independent. And I also realised that if anything happened to the family member who could drive, I would really be stuck. That’s why I decided to go for my Restricted Licence this time.

I’ll share what the process was like in the next post (Part 2).

Thank you for reading up to here.

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The Japanese version of this article is available here. 

Greenstone (Pounamu) Necklace-Making Workshop

Greenstone (Pounamu) Necklace-Making Workshop

NZ greenstone (Pounamu) is a popular souvenir in New Zealand. In te reo Māori, it is also called pounamu. Buying a piece from a shop is wonderful, but have you ever thought, “I’d love to make one with my own hands”?

Recently, I joined a workshop where you make a necklace using pounamu. It was held at a studio in East Auckland, starting at 10 a.m. and running for almost the whole day. We began by choosing our stone from a selection of roughly cut pieces. I really enjoyed being able to pick a stone while thinking about who it might suit and who I might like to gift it to.

This particular workshop was for making a halfmoon-shaped necklace. Here is the pounamu I chose—the yellowish one on the left. It’s not a colour you often see in shops; it felt more like the kind of piece you might see in a museum. I loved how unique it was. On the right side of the photo is the grinding stone.

For the making process, we used whetstones and mechanical grinding tools, slowly shaving down the edges to shape the piece. Once the rough shape was done, we used files and then sandpaper in stages, taking time to smooth and refine the surface. At the end, the stone was polished with a machine, and then we threaded it with cord to finish. You can even choose the colour of the cord—but for me, the hardest part was braiding and finishing the cord.

On the day, it wasn’t just about making the necklace. We also heard cultural stories connected to pounamu, and it was special to be able to learn about Māori culture while creating something with my hands. I also learned an important cultural custom: in Māori tradition, the first piece you make should be given to someone else as a gift. Some people say it can be okay to wear it yourself first, but the core idea is that “the first one is a gift.”

Ta-da—here it is, finished!

I really enjoyed the quiet, hands-on time—almost like having a conversation with the stone while I worked. It was a great refresh, and the making process itself was so much fun.

If you’re looking for a meaningful present for a loved one—or simply want to create something special—why not try making your own pounamu? The more time you spend shaping it with your own hands, the more personal and precious the finished necklace becomes.

The workshop I attended was this one: Aotearoa Bone and Stone: https://absca.nz/ 

Thank you very much for reading! 

Japanese version is here.

My Elementary School Son Is Obsessed with Minecraft… and We Tried a Dragon Quest Mod

My Elementary School Son Is Obsessed with Minecraft… and We Tried a Dragon Quest Mod

Disclaimer: This is one of popular post in the Japanese site of this blog, that's been recently translated. (Japanese version is available here.) Some information and version may be well dated by now but translating and sharing here as the original post from 2017 seem to have been very useful. 

My elementary school-aged son is completely hooked on Minecraft, and I previously wrote about how he started doing YouTube-style gameplay commentary using Minecraft on PC.

He’s still playing Minecraft regularly, as always.

But recently, after watching some gameplay videos on YouTube, he came to me and said, “I want to try the Dragon Quest mod.”

Huh? What’s a “mod” anyway? That was me at first.

I managed to figure things out by digging through information online, but there were a few parts that I couldn’t solve with internet information alone—so I’m leaving some notes here in case it helps someone else.

The Dragon Quest Mod for Minecraft

With Minecraft on PC, you can download files called “mods” from the internet. By installing them, you can play worlds and experiences that don’t exist in vanilla Minecraft. The one my son got obsessed with is a Dragon Quest mod—basically, it turns Minecraft into a world that feels like it’s set in the Dragon Quest universe. It seems to be made by an individual, but the level of quality is amazing.

In regular Minecraft, there aren’t that many enemy variations, and gameplay tends to focus on building and exploration. But with the Dragon Quest mod, huge numbers of monsters appear that resemble the Dragon Quest world. So even just fighting monsters can be a big challenge! The difficulty of defeating monsters is also high, and you can go on adventures in places like dungeons—so you can enjoy a long, slow adventure over many hours of play. 

The Dragon Quest mod is free to download, and as long as you can install it yourself, you can enjoy Minecraft even more without spending extra money—so I highly recommend it.

What You Need to Install the Dragon Quest Mod

The official website explains the installation process and details about the mod very thoroughly, so please refer to that for the main steps.

First, there are several files you need to download:

1. The main Dragon Quest mod file

2. Prerequisite files required by the Dragon Quest mod

3. A file called Forge 1.5

4. A Forge Lib file

Official installation page:

http://dqm4mod.wixsite.com/home/untitled-caoh

If you follow the guide on the official installation page, you should be able to proceed without too much trouble.That said, the steps may differ depending on your Minecraft version.

We installed the mod quite recently—in October 2017. Our Minecraft version was the Java edition, version 1.12.2. It’s the newer version of Minecraft that starts from what’s called the “new launcher.”

Editing the .json File (Using the Official Guide)

I was following the official installation page step by step, but I ran into a problem at step 7—the part involving the .json file. The example .json file shown on the official page didn’t match the contents of my own .json file, and I couldn’t figure out exactly which parts I needed to rewrite.

My guess is that while the mod itself keeps being improved, the Minecraft game also keeps getting updated and changing versions. This .json file seems to play an important role when Minecraft launches. And if you fail to edit it correctly, the game won’t start properly at all.

We failed the first time editing the .json file, and we got an error where the modded Minecraft wouldn’t launch. So, while still using the official page as a reference, I carefully looked through the .json file and did a slow, methodical process:

• Find something that seems like it should be removed (based on the reference pages)

• Edit and save the file a little at a time

• If an error happened, undo that part

• If it seemed okay, delete that section…

Basically, a tedious trial-and-error process. When the required changes were obvious, it was fine. But around those areas, it was hard to tell which information was unnecessary. It turned into a staring contest with the .json file—trying things and forcing my way through by testing.

My husband and I each tried installing the mod on our own computers, and we both struggled at the same point. In the end, it seems the .json file I edited was the one that worked, because we were able to reach the next step (launching the Forge version of Minecraft).

I emailed my edited .json file to my husband, and he placed it in the correct folder on his computer. After that, he was able to install the mod successfully as well. (For the record, we each purchased Minecraft separately, and we were using the same version.)

Since it might help someone else, I’ll include the dqm3.json file that is currently working for me with the Dragon Quest mod. (It’s named “dqm3,” but the mod is actually DQMIV.)

I opened the file in Notepad and made changes, then copied and pasted it below. I highlighted parts that seemed important in the official guide in yellow. There’s a lot of messy content in the middle, but I think the main changes were at the beginning around the “id” section and near the later sections.

I hope it helps someone who is struggling to install the Dragon Quest mod.

**From here**

{"assetIndex":{"id":"legacy","sha1":"c0f…729","size":134284,"totalSize":111220701,"url":"https://launchermeta.mojang.com/mc/assets/legacy/c0fd82e8ce9fbc93119e40d96d5a4e62cfa3f729/legacy.json"},"id":"dqm3","libraries":[{"downloads":{"artifact":{"path":"net/minecraft/launchwrapper/1.5/launchwrapper-1.5.jar","sha1":"5150b9c2951f0fde987ce9c33496e26add1de224","size":27787,"url":"https://libraries.minecraft.net/net/minecraft/launchwrapper/1.5/launchwrapper-1.5.jar"}},"name":"net.minecraft:launchwrapper:1.5"},{"downloads":{"artifact":{"path":"net/sf/jopt-simple/jopt-simple/4.5/jopt-simple-4.5.jar","sha1":"6065cc95c661255349c1d0756657be17c29a4fd3","size":61311,"url":"https://libraries.minecraft.net/net/sf/jopt-simple/jopt-simple/4.5/jopt-simple-4.5.jar"}},"name":"net.sf.jopt-simple:jopt-simple:4.5"},{"downloads":{"artifact":{"path":"org/ow2/asm/asm-all/4.1/asm-all-4.1.jar","sha1":"054986e962b88d8660ae4566475658469595ef58","size":214592,"url":"https://libraries.minecraft.net/org/ow2/asm/asm-all/4.1/asm-all-4.1.jar"}},"name":"org.ow2.asm:asm-all:4.1"},{"downloads":{"artifact":{"path":"net/java/jinput/jinput/2.0.5/jinput-2.0.5.jar","sha1":"39c7796b469a600f72380316f6b1f11db6c2c7c4","size":208338,"url":"https://libraries.minecraft.net/net/java/jinput/jinput/2.0.5/jinput-2.0.5.jar"}},"name":"net.java.jinput:jinput:2.0.5"},{"downloads":{"artifact":{"path":"net/java/jutils/jutils/1.0.0/jutils-1.0.0.jar","sha1":"e12fe1fda814bd348c1579329c86943d2cd3c6a6","size":7508,"url":"https://libraries.minecraft.net/net/java/jutils/jutils/1.0.0/jutils-1.0.0.jar"}},"name":"net.java.jutils:jutils:1.0.0"},{"downloads":{"artifact":{"path":"org/lwjgl/lwjgl/lwjgl/2.9.0/lwjgl-2.9.0.jar","sha1":"5654d06e61a1bba7ae1e7f5233e1106be64c91cd","size":994633,"url":"https://libraries.minecraft.net/org/lwjgl/lwjgl/lwjgl/2.9.0/lwjgl-2.9.0.jar"}},"name":"org.lwjgl.lwjgl:lwjgl:2.9.0","rules":[{"action":"allow"},{"action":"disallow","os":{"name":"osx","version":"^10\\.5\\.\\d$"}}]},{"downloads":{"artifact":{"path":"org/lwjgl/lwjgl/lwjgl_util/2.9.0/lwjgl_util-2.9.0.jar","sha1":"a778846b64008fc7f48ead2377f034e547991699","size":173360,"url":"https://libraries.minecraft.net/org/lwjgl/lwjgl/lwjgl_util/2.9.0/lwjgl_util-2.9.0.jar"}},"name":"org.lwjgl.lwjgl:lwjgl_util:2.9.0","rules":[{"action":"allow"},{"action":"disallow","os":{"name":"osx","version":"^10\\.5\\.\\d$"}}]},{"downloads":{"classifiers":{"natives-linux":{"path":"org/lwjgl/lwjgl/lwjgl-platform/2.9.0/lwjgl-platform-2.9.0-natives-linux.jar","sha1":"2ba5dcb11048147f1a74eff2deb192c001321f77","size":569061,"url":"https://libraries.minecraft.net/org/lwjgl/lwjgl/lwjgl-platform/2.9.0/lwjgl-platform-2.9.0-natives-linux.jar"},"natives-osx":{"path":"org/lwjgl/lwjgl/lwjgl-platform/2.9.0/lwjgl-platform-2.9.0-natives-osx.jar","sha1":"6621b382cb14cc409b041d8d72829156a87c31aa","size":518924,"url":"https://libraries.minecraft.net/org/lwjgl/lwjgl/lwjgl-platform/2.9.0/lwjgl-platform-2.9.0-natives-osx.jar"},"natives-windows":{"path":"org/lwjgl/lwjgl/lwjgl-platform/2.9.0/lwjgl-platform-2.9.0-natives-windows.jar","sha1":"3f11873dc8e84c854ec7c5a8fd2e869f8aaef764","size":609967,"url":"https://libraries.minecraft.net/org/lwjgl/lwjgl/lwjgl-platform/2.9.0/lwjgl-platform-2.9.0-natives-windows.jar"}}},"extract":{"exclude":["META-INF/"]},"name":"org.lwjgl.lwjgl:lwjgl-platform:2.9.0","natives":{"linux":"natives-linux","osx":"natives-osx","windows":"natives-windows"},"rules":[{"action":"allow"},{"action":"disallow","os":{"name":"osx","version":"^10\\.5\\.\\d$"}}]},{"downloads":{"artifact":{"path":"org/lwjgl/lwjgl/lwjgl/2.9.1-nightly-20130708-debug3/lwjgl-2.9.1-nightly-20130708-debug3.jar","sha1":"884511652c756fac16b37236f863f346bd1ea121","size":996625,"url":"https://libraries.minecraft.net/org/lwjgl/lwjgl/lwjgl/2.9.1-nightly-20130708-debug3/lwjgl-2.9.1-nightly-20130708-debug3.jar"}},"name":"org.lwjgl.lwjgl:lwjgl:2.9.1-nightly-20130708-debug3","rules":[{"action":"allow","os":{"name":"osx","version":"^10\\.5\\.\\d$"}}]},{"downloads":{"artifact":{"path":"org/lwjgl/lwjgl/lwjgl_util/2.9.1-nightly-20130708-debug3/lwjgl_util-2.9.1-nightly-20130708-debug3.jar","sha1":"fb693ba4e22a85432a32e8a048893dc7a92f42ac","size":173338,"url":"https://libraries.minecraft.net/org/lwjgl/lwjgl/lwjgl_util/2.9.1-nightly-20130708-debug3/lwjgl_util-2.9.1-nightly-20130708-debug3.jar"}},"name":"org.lwjgl.lwjgl:lwjgl_util:2.9.1-nightly-20130708-debug3","rules":[{"action":"allow","os":{"name":"osx","version":"^10\\.5\\.\\d$"}}]},{"downloads":{"classifiers":{"natives-osx":{"path":"org/lwjgl/lwjgl/lwjgl-platform/2.9.1-nightly-20130708-debug3/lwjgl-platform-2.9.1-nightly-20130708-debug3-natives-osx.jar","sha1":"a9b83ad85742cad09c3574a91b0423bac3f7a0f5","size":458181,"url":"https://libraries.minecraft.net/org/lwjgl/lwjgl/lwjgl-platform/2.9.1-nightly-20130708-debug3/lwjgl-platform-2.9.1-nightly-20130708-debug3-natives-osx.jar"}}},"extract":{"exclude":["META-INF/"]},"name":"org.lwjgl.lwjgl:lwjgl-platform:2.9.1-nightly-20130708-debug3","natives":{"linux":"natives-linux","osx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${auth_session} --gameDir ${game_directory} --assetsDir ${game_assets}","minimumLauncherVersion":4,"releaseTime":"2013-04-25T15:45:00+00:00","synced":false,"time":"2016-02-02T15:37:47+00:00","type":"release"}

**To here**

Dragon Quest DQMIV Mod Installed Successfully!

After that, copying the DQM files went smoothly, and we were able to play using the Dragon Quest mod! Because we spent almost the whole day on Sunday struggling with the installation, it was genuinely moving when the mod finally launched.

But… the Dragon Quest mod is pretty heavy (it can be demanding on the computer). And it’s hard. The monsters are strong. My son was absolutely thrilled. He played the Dragon Quest mod on my computer, and he and my husband went on adventures together in the Dragon Quest world in multiplayer mode.

During installation, we also used the following websites as references:

https://www57.atwiki.jp/dqm3mc/pages/4.html

https://minecraft-jp.pw/adddqm0506/

A common installation issue seems to be that if the Forge version doesn’t match properly, it won’t work. It sounds like if it isn’t something like the “1.5.2…” version, you can’t use it with Minecraft 1.5.2—so you need to be careful when downloading the Forge file.

I also saw information saying that if your Java version is too new, it won’t work—but I personally didn’t reinstall an older Java version. The Java installed on our computer should be the latest version… I think.

That’s the story of our fun Dragon Quest mod installation…

It’s a really content-rich mod, and to properly enjoy it, you might need to use strategy and guide sites as well. My son is having a great time, and for our generation, Dragon Quest brings back so much nostalgia… (like, “Wow, I used to play this!”)

By the way, my son is now asking Santa for his own computer as a Christmas present. Since he’s been using the PC more for games and YouTube, I think he sees it as an extension of a game console. He’s only eight and still believes in Santa… and yet he’s asking for a computer. Cheeky…! 

*Disclaimer: This is one of popular post in the Japanese site of this blog, that's been recently translated. (Japanese version is available here.) Some information and version may be well dated by now but translating and sharing here as the original post from 2017 seem to have been very useful. 

Kiwi bird Pukunui passes away in Japan, leaving no more Kiwi bird in Japan

There was news report in Japan that the last remaining kiwi, named "Pukunui" passed away in Japan. 

The original source describes that "The national bird of New Zealand, Kiwi. In Japan, Tennoji Zoo (Osaka, Japan) was the only zoo with kiwi birds. The last kiwi at the Tennoji Zoo, Pukunui, was announced dead on 5th August 2024". 

BuzzNewz (Japanese site) 

https://news.yahoo.co.jp/articles/3b03b6f52869b8762358bb8077f73d9b5cabbbe5

Oh no!! NO KIWI birds in Japan. 

While animal enclosures at zoo is a topic for debate for animal ethic reasons, it is also true that animals from other countries are a wonderful way to educate people about different countries. For example, Japan pays a significant amount of "rental fee" to China each year to have Panda in Japanese zoo. I imagine kiwi birds were sent to Japan too as embassedor to culturally connect Japan and New Zealand. 

Pukunui, the kiwi bird which passed away, was 36-year-old. According to Sankei news, Pukunui was a female kiwi bird, born in 1988 in New Zealand, arrived in Japan in July 1991. 

Original article Sankei News (Japanese) https://www.sankei.com/

This is such a long time ago and I had no idea that kiwi birds live so long. Pukunui was paired with another male bird "Jun" which had passed away at 42-year-old, in July this year. So two were a pair for a long time together, and died almost together. 

This is apparently equivalent of 70-80 year-old human. Staff at Tennoji Zoo must have looked after Pukunui and Jun very well, to live well until the old age. 

Wild life conservation is a very important matter and keeping the native animal (e.g. Kiwi) in captivity in another country may not be possible. But As a Japanese, it's a little sad that Japanese children will no longer have options to see Kiwi birds in Japan and hope that there are other opportunities/means for them to learn about amazing kiwi birds their home country, Aotearoa New Zealand.