Students get hands-on lessons in financial literacy at home of US Forces Japan

YOKOTA AIR BASE, Japan — Teenagers at this airlift hub in western Tokyo got an early look at the realities of adult finances during a recent workshop that challenged them to turn an imaginary paycheck into a workable budget.

The free financial workshop, held Friday at Navy Federal Credit Union’s Yokota branch, taught high school students about bank accounts, saving, budgeting and credit while giving them opportunities to apply those lessons.

“I knew about earning and saving money, but it was really helpful to see where every dollar goes when building a budget,” Yokota High School senior Kenji Sugiyama told Stars and Stripes after the workshop. “It taught me to think more carefully on how to spend my money.”

Many teenagers find financial matters daunting, according to a February 2025 survey by Junior Achievement USA, a nonprofit organization that aims to educate students in financial literacy and work readiness, and the MissionSquare foundation.

Of 1,000 U.S. teens ages 13 to 18 surveyed independently by Wakefield Research, 42% said they were “terrified” they would not have enough money for future needs and goals, according to an April 4, 2025, news release.

From left, Kenji Sugiyama, Luic Ramirez and Chad Joseph pose with instructor Katrina Yllo after a financial workshop hosted by Navy Federal Credit Union at Yokota Air Base, Japan, Aug. 7, 2026. (Marc Castaneda/Stars and Stripes)

“There is so much for teens to absorb when learning about finances and planning for their future, they often struggle to envision what lies ahead,” Andre Robinson, president and CEO of MissionSquare Retirement, said in the release.

The Yokota workshop was led by Katrina Kyllo, a Navy Federal teller and certified financial presentation specialist.

“Navy Federal is very much about education and helping out with the community,” she told the three students attending the course. “This specific class is curated to teach teenagers about finances at an early age.”

The hourlong class often draws 10 to 12 students at a time, on request, she said.

In one activity, students picked a card representing a profession and its corresponding income.

Jobs ranged from first responders and teachers to food service workers and influencers. Students then had to build a budget around that salary while accounting for expenses that come with living independently, such as food, entertainment, insurance and the cost of owning a pet.

The exercise demonstrated how quickly a seemingly large paycheck can shrink once everyday expenses are considered.

Teenagers review profession cards while building a budget during a financial workshop hosted by Navy Federal Credit Union at Yokota Air Base, Japan, Aug. 7, 2026. (Marc Castaneda/Stars and Stripes)

“Oftentimes people just see that, and it’s like, ‘Oh, I make a lot of money,’ but then [they’re] not taking into account all those little line items,” Kyllo told the students.

The paycheck exercise was among the students’ favorite parts of the workshop.

Chad Joseph Ramirez, a sophomore at Yokota High, said he already had some familiarity with expenses and credit cards from a business enterprise class he took in seventh grade.

The workshop, however, reinforced the importance of budgeting and saving.

“I feel like the class helped me understand the gaps I missed out on about credit cards. It helped me realize how important budgeting is,” Ramirez said. “I started saving, so I feel better prepared when I graduate high school.”

Kyllo also emphasized establishing savings habits early, while the students have few financial responsibilities.

Saving becomes easier with a specific goal attached to it, she said during the class. Learning how much to save and how long it will take to reach a goal can establish habits that carry into adulthood.

“You are prepared simply because you’ve started those habits now,” she told the students.