Grandma's Day

What Is Grandma's Day?

August 8th is "Grandma's Day" in Japan. Established by Itochu Shokuhin Corporation, the date comes from a wordplay on 8 and 8 read as "ba(8)-ba(8)," a common affectionate term for grandmother in Japanese. It forms a pair with "Grandpa's Day" on February 2nd.

Gratitude That Goes Beyond Respect-for-the-Aged Day

While Japan's national holiday Respect-for-the-Aged Day falls on the third Monday of September, Grandma's Day arrives in the height of summer, carrying a different kind of meaning. Respect-for-the-Aged Day honors older people in general, whereas this day is about thanking your own grandmother.

• Purpose: born from a wish, amid Japan's aging society, to promote gratitude to grandmothers not only on Respect-for-the-Aged Day but also in the way Mother's Day is celebrated
• Its counterpart: established as a set with "Grandpa's Day" on February 2nd, encouraging gratitude toward grandparents throughout the year
• The wordplay: terms for "grandma" vary by region and family, but the repeating 8s make the date easy to remember and feel familiar

The Weight of What "Grandma" Means

From helping raise grandchildren to passing down old wisdom and family recipes, grandmothers play many roles within a family. It may be no coincidence that this day falls during summer vacation, when grandchildren often spend more time with their grandmothers.

Tips for Marking This Day

• Call or visit your grandmother and tell her directly how grateful you are
• Try cooking a dish or recipe she taught you
• Look through old photos together and enjoy sharing memories
• Give a small gift as a token of your everyday appreciation

A Grandmother's Smile Carries a Family's History Forward

A grandmother's presence, so easily taken for granted, is itself a family's living history. August 8th is a day to put that gratitude into words once again.