Parents' Day (Ryōshin no Hi)

What Is Parents' Day?

September 30th is "Parents' Day" in Japan. Inspired by international precedents — such as South Korea's "Parents' Day" (Eobeoinal), established in 1994, and the American "Parents' Day" — this Japanese observance combines the spirit of Mother's Day and Father's Day into a single day dedicated to expressing gratitude to both parents together. Falling at the close of September, the same month as "Respect for the Aged Day," it serves as a logical milestone for reaffirming family bonds and passing that love on to the next generation.

The Family as Life's Most Basic Infrastructure

Parents are the first and most powerful safety net in the formation of a person's identity.

• Attachment and survival strategy: Psychologist John Bowlby's "attachment theory" describes how the psychological bond formed between an infant and its caregivers during early childhood becomes the scientific foundation for that person's later relationships and resilience to stress.
• From living under one roof to "emotional proximity": Family structures have changed throughout history, but one fact remains constant — in times of crisis (pandemics, disasters), family is who we turn to most. Today, even across physical distance, technology lets families maintain a kind of "emotional closeness," expressing gratitude regardless of where they live.

The Science of Gratitude — Good for Both Sides

Expressing thanks to your parents doesn't just benefit them — it has a dramatic positive effect on your own brain too.

• Mutual oxytocin release: Exchanging words or gifts of gratitude triggers the release of oxytocin, often called the "bonding hormone," in the brain. It lowers blood pressure, stabilizes heart rate, and acts as a natural stress reliever for both parties.
• Escaping the "hedonic treadmill": Psychological research shows that altruistic gratitude toward others — especially parents — goes beyond fleeting happiness and is proven to raise long-term life satisfaction.

Interesting Facts About Parents

• Epigenetics and the parent-child bond: What you inherit from your parents isn't only your DNA sequence. Epigenetics shows that a parent's love and lifestyle habits can influence how a child's genes are expressed — meaning parental care literally helps shape the health of the next generation.
• "Age-tech" and filial devotion in 2026: Today, technology offers new ways to care for parents from a distance — monitoring sensors for elderly parents living alone, or digital photo frames for sharing memories — a modern evolution of caring for one's parents.
• Color psychology and gifts of gratitude: Warm colors bring a sense of comfort and energy. Orange conveys friendliness, pink conveys affection, and yellow conveys hope. Choosing a gift color suited to your parents' current mood or condition is a logical way to use visual stimuli to help them relax.
• The ethics of caring: Care isn't a one-way sacrifice — it's a mutual relationship. The give-and-take of caring for, and being cared for by, parents is one of society's smallest but most essential units of resilience.
• Reminiscence therapy through conversation: Asking your parents about their younger years isn't just valuable for dementia prevention — it's also an intellectually rewarding way to reconnect with your own roots and strengthen your sense of identity.

Ways to Spend Parents' Day

• Make a phone call or send a message on September 30th. Putting your gratitude into words — especially with a specific memory attached — stimulates the brain's reward system and is one of the most cost-effective ways to strengthen family relationships.
• Plan some time together — a meal, a walk, or a shared hobby. Shared experiences stick in memory far more strongly than material gifts, and they activate the brain's happiness centers for the long term.
• Ask about your parents' current needs rather than assuming what's best for them. This kind of genuine research into what someone actually wants mirrors the empathy skills valued in customer-focused business practices.
• Share an update on your own health and happiness. For parents, nothing brings more peace of mind than knowing their child is doing well — so taking care of yourself is, in a roundabout way, a gift to your parents too.

The Unwavering Love That Raised and Protected You Brings Confidence and Peace to Your Daily Life Today — and the "Baton of Life" Passed Down Through Generations Gives You the Energy to Build a Richer Tomorrow

September 30th is a day to reflect on the parents who are your origin, and to truly appreciate the depth of their love. The fact that you can walk forward today, being yourself, is the result of countless small acts of care given by someone, accumulated over time. A few months into the new fiscal year, amid busy days, have you forgotten to thank the family infrastructure that supports you? Today, even if it feels a little embarrassing, try expressing your honest feelings. The warmth that comes from reaffirming these bonds will give you the energy to move through the new season more calmly — and with a stronger stride than ever. May you welcome a wonderful autumn, carried along by this rhythm of affection.