Care for a sick or elderly parent is an issue that many adult sons and daughters will have to confront sooner or later. In Japan, it has traditionally been the responsibility of the eldest son (and by default, his wife) to look after mom and dad in their twilight years. However, with Japanese people now living longer, families becoming smaller and young adults marrying later — or even not at all — things aren't quite so clear-cut.

What about when mom and dad live overseas? For long-term residents who have put down roots in Japan, it can get even more complicated. This week's query comes from K.U., a reader who finds herself torn between her family in Japan and the Middle East.

K.U. lives with her Japanese husband and two preschool children, and enjoys the stability afforded to foreign permanent residents in this country. Certainly, some issues may continue to rankle, such as permanent residents being denied the right to vote despite contributing to society by paying taxes and raising children here. (By comparison, permanent residents in New Zealand may vote if they have lived continuously in the country for 12 months or more at some point.)