Filial Devotion Day (Oyakōkō no Hi)

What is Filial Devotion Day?

August 8th is "Filial Devotion Day" (Oyakōkō no Hi) in Japan. It is said to have been established in 1989 by the Oyakoko Zenkoku Suishin Undo Kyokai (National Association for Promoting Filial Devotion). The date comes from wordplay: "88" can be read as "ha (8) - ha (8)" (mother) or "pa (8) - pa (8)" (papa), and rearranging "hachi-hachi" gives "haha-chichi" (mother and father). As the Japanese proverb "by the time you want to be a good child, your parents are gone" suggests, it is a day to put into words the gratitude that is usually too embarrassing to say, so you won't regret it later.

August 8th and other "parent" anniversaries

Because the number 8 can be read as "ha" or "pa," August 8th has gathered several anniversaries related to parents and family.

• Papa's Day: From the wordplay "pa (8) - pa (8)," a day to encourage fathers' involvement in childcare.
• Grandma's Day: From "baa (8) - ba (8)," a day to thank grandmothers.
• Day of Thanks to Mother and Father: Established by the confectionery wholesaler Yamahoshiya, partly because combining the sounds "hachi" and "hachi" gives "haha" (mother) and "chichi" (father).
• Obon homecoming season: August is when many people return to their hometowns for the Obon holidays, so there are more chances to see parents.

How the character "孝" (filial devotion) is formed

The character 孝 in oyakōkō is written with an abbreviated form of 老 (old) on top and 子 (child) below. It is often explained as depicting a child supporting an aged parent, so the relationship between parent and child is built into the very shape of the character.

Trivia about filial devotion

• 孝 and 考 are different characters: The similar-looking 考 (think) has the same top but a different component below. Be careful not to mix them up when writing "oyakōkō."
• Parents' days around the world: In South Korea, May 8th is "Parents' Day" (Eobeoinal), and in the United States the fourth Sunday of July is Parents' Day.
• "By the time you want to repay them, they are gone": This proverb means that by the age people want to show filial devotion, their parents have often passed away. The spirit of the anniversary reflects these words.
• Time matters more than things: If you can't decide on a gift, simply making time to share a meal or catch up is a fine form of filial devotion.

Ideas for spending Filial Devotion Day

• Send a quick call or message just to ask, "How are you?"
• Ask your parents about one thing they'd like to do or one place they'd like to visit
• If you're going home for Obon, share a meal or take photos together
• Let them know you are doing well; that alone reassures many parents

A simple "thank you" is the best gift

August 8th is a day to think about your parents, whether they live nearby or far away. In busy daily life it's easy to take that connection for granted. Today, set the embarrassment aside for a moment and say "thank you." Even a short phone call can brighten your parents' day.