Wife Appreciation Day
Wordplay AnniversariesLast updated:
What Is Wife Appreciation Day?
September 30th is "Wife Appreciation Day" (Okusama no Hi), established in 2012 by Mitsuwa Co., Ltd., which runs funeral and flower businesses in Koumi, Nagano Prefecture, based on a wordplay reading of "0-9-3-0" that sounds like "okusama" (wife).
Gratitude Hidden in a String of Numbers
Born from a clever wordplay that turns the word "okusama" directly into numbers, this anniversary carries a message of appreciation for the people who hold a household together.
- Established by: Mitsuwa Co., Ltd., in 2012
- Origin: A wordplay reading of "0-9-3-0," echoing "okusama" (wife)
- Purpose: To give flowers to "working wives" who juggle housework and jobs, as a token of everyday gratitude
- Background: Nagano Prefecture has a high rate of women in the workforce, and the villages of Kawakami and Minamimaki in particular have many "working wives" engaged in farming
- The company: Mitsuwa Co., Ltd. was founded in 2005 and runs businesses such as the "Memorial Hall Mitsuwa" funeral hall and the "Hana Kobo Mitsuwa" flower shop
A Day to Put "Thank You" Into Words
In the rush of daily life, it's easy to let gratitude toward the people who work for their family go unspoken. Wife Appreciation Day is a chance to turn that feeling into words, or into action.
"Okusama" is a respectful word for someone else's wife or the mistress of a household. It was once an honorific for the wives of court nobles and feudal lords, later spread to samurai and wealthy merchant families, and is now in wide general use.
Ways to Mark the Day
- Tell your partner or family "thank you"
- Take over a household chore for the day as a way of showing appreciation
- Give a small gift or some flowers
- Spend some unhurried time together that you don't usually get to
A Day to Shine a Light on Everyday Effort
Wife Appreciation Day is a chance to express, once again, gratitude for the person who holds your household together. September 30th is a good day to offer a sincere "thank you" to the person who is always there for you.