Good Couple Day (Yoi Fūfu no Hi)

What Is Good Couple Day?

Every year on April 22, Japan observes "Yoi Fūfu no Hi" (Good Couple Day). The name comes from a wordplay (goroawase) on the date: "yo (4) i fū (2) fu (2)" sounds like "yoi fūfu," meaning "good couple." It was established in 1994 by the publisher Kodansha, in the year the United Nations designated as the "International Year of the Family," with the aim of strengthening the bonds between married couples.

The Origin of Good Couple Day

April 22's "Good Couple Day" grew out of Japan's culture of turning numbers into words by matching their pronunciations.

• 4 (yo)
• 2 (fu)
• 2 (fu)

Read together, "4-2-2" sounds like "yoi fūfu" — "a good couple." The International Year of the Family, which prompted the day, was designated by the UN General Assembly in 1989 to raise awareness of family-related issues.

Couple-Related Days in Japan

Japan has several anniversaries centered on couples.

• The 22nd of every month: "Couples Day"
• February 2: "Couples Day"
• November 22: "Ii Fūfu no Hi" (Good Married Couple Day)
• November 23: "Ii Fusai no Hi" (another Good Married Couple Day)

April's "Yoi Fūfu no Hi" and November's "Ii Fūfu no Hi" are easy to mix up — a fun topic for small talk.

Trivia About Good Couple Day

• Kodansha, which established the day, has announced the "Good Couple Day Nice Couple Award," honoring couples with a good relationship
• It is not an anniversary established by law, and the wordplay makes the date easy to remember
• It is sometimes presented as a chance to think not just about married couples, but about family and partner relationships more broadly

Ideas for Spending Good Couple Day

• Look back together on the events and memories you've shared as a couple
• Thank each other for everyday housework and the roles you each play
• Revisit old photos and talk about how your life together has changed
• Come home a little earlier than usual and make time to eat together

A Day to Take a Fresh Look at Your Relationship

April 22's Good Couple Day is a chance to take a fresh look at a relationship that is so close it often gets put on the back burner. Even amid the busyness of a new season, why not say a simple "thank you" to your partner?