When foreigners first learn a little Japanese, they quickly pick up okaasan and otousan: the polite, textbook words for “mom” and “dad.” They’re everywhere in anime and language books, so most outsiders assume those are what Japanese kids use at home.
But according to a recent SoraNews24 article, most Japanese teens don’t use them. They call their parents “mama” and “papa.” This is certainly true of my kids. You know, looking back I’m not entirely sure why. I suppose mama and I started referring to ourselves that way when we talked to the kids and they just picked the words up and ran with them.
That may sound European, but these loanwords have been part of Japanese family talk since the early 20th century. They came through Western influence, likely filtered through French and English, and caught on with young families, especially after World War II. Over time, they became the norm for kids, while okaasan and otousan took on a slightly formal or old-fashioned tone, used when speaking to teachers or outsiders.
In Japan, mama and papa sound affectionate and natural. In the U.S., though, they can sound childish or quaint. “Papa,” in particular, is more likely to mean “grandpa” in some regions.
Language, like family, evolves with each generation. The next might call their parents something else entirely, but for now, Japan’s teens are firmly Team Mama & Papa.
Anyway, check out that SoraNews24 article I mentioned above if you want more details.
| David is an American teacher and translator lost in Japan, trying to capture the beauty of this country one photo at a time and searching for the perfect haiku. He blogs here and at laspina.org. Write him on Bluesky. |
