Japanese calling their spouses "Mom" and "Dad"

[TheNoNamedOne]

In the U.S. spouses may refer to one another occasionally as "mom" or "dad" depending on the situation and if the child is present, but in Japan many couples will begin to refer to each other as "mom" and "dad" when directly addressing each other -- even if the child is not there. I find that creepy.

One of my American friends who is married to a Japanese lady will talk to her calling her "okaasan" and she him "otoosan." Again, I just find that creepy.

How about you foreigners who are married to Japanese; have you picked up on that part of culture here, and have you too adopted that in referring to your wife?

[okisteve]

I have not experienced that in that I am called by my name by my wife and vice versa, but have noticed it occasionally with some older couples here in Japan.

But the first time I was ever called "Dad" by anyone other than my own child was by a daycare provider in the US. It really pissed me off because in that case I know she just did not remember my name (she only had a very few kids) and I didn't like her very much anyway. But here the teachers always call me and others "otoosan" and "okaasan", so I know that it is just their custom.

[P_chan]

Nope, my wife doesn't really call me dad, and I don't call her mom. Usually I call her babe, and she does the same. Or bakachin, depends on what I did:D

[hankypanky]

In the U.S. spouses may refer to one another occasionally as "mom" or "dad" depending on the situation and if the child is present, but in Japan many couples will begin to refer to each other as "mom" and "dad" when directly addressing each other -- even if the child is not there. I find that creepy.

One of my American friends who is married to a Japanese lady will talk to her calling her "okaasan" and she him "otoosan." Again, I just find that creepy.

How about you foreigners who are married to Japanese; have you picked up on that part of culture here, and have you too adopted that in referring to your wife?

japanese is japanese. what's creepy about it? my grandparents still call each other dad and mother. by the way, do you have kids yet? if you did, don't know why you think it is creepy. i don't think this is an american thing. if they do it here in japan, probably the whole world.

better than your kids calling you by your first name.

[TheNoNamedOne]

what's creepy about it?

Just using a term to my wife, who I view romantically/erotically, with that term used by me toward my mother, just kind of bleeds over a different image into my head -- of my mother in bed with me. Yikes!

That's why I find it creepy.

お母さん、もういった？　すごくいったねええええ、お母さん？全部濡れた。ティッシュ必要？　じゃあ、交代 。ちゃんと全部のんでね。

[Bones]

We normally respond to each other with "honey", but some of my daughters friends refer to us as mama san, papa san. They've known us for some time, and they're almost like family to us, so we don't mind.

The term is used affectionately, so it's not a big problem. Unless you come knocking at my door, trying to sell me something. Friends and family addressing us that way is a good thing. But for a salesperson who we are not familiar with, that's just disrespectful, imho.:(

Good answer Hank&Rumi.:)

NBTP

[P_chan]

Just using a term to my wife, who I view romantically/erotically, with that term used by me toward my mother, just kind of bleeds over a different image into my head -- of my mother in bed with me. Yikes!

That's why I find it creepy.

お母さん、もういった？　すごくいったねええええ、お母さん？全部濡れた。ティッシュ必要？　じゃあ、交代 。ちゃんと全部のんでね。

I think your taking it out of proportion. If anything, you've got a pretty dirty mind if you were to call your wife "mom" while in bed. I also highly doubt that the couples who call each other mom and dad do so while in bed or romantically embraced.

I'm sure after I have kids, I'll probably call my wife "mom".

[Muku]

You know in my opinion someone may find it creepy because they are not accustomed to Japanese mannerisms and their use of their language.

I know plenty of Japanese people that find use of pet names like Honey, Darling, etc etc etc to be てれくさい (terekusai) or awkward or embarrassing too. From my observations and experience it comes from not openly discussing one's feelings and also a lack of outward expressions of affection.

It is just part of the Japanese culture, no biggie really. However if one feels "creepy" about it......to each his or her own. It's just part of learning about life and living here. Some accept it, others dont.

Nope, my wife doesn't really call me dad, and I don't call her mom. Usually I call her babe, and she does the same. Or bakachin, depends on what I did
P wait until you have kids and see if it happens, at least if you are still living here in Okinawa or in mainland. Your wife may not directly use it infront of you but I am willing to bet that she will use it to talk about you when she is with her friends or family.

Another thing to consider is that Japanese people often use the 3rd person as well to talk about themselves as well and many here may have noticed that depending on the situation that they are in Japanese people will also often use their own first name or title when they are talking to others.

Sure there are words for I, me, and my, but it is not uncommon to often hear people using the 3rd person to discuss themselves and it takes time to get used to it.

[Muku]

I'm sure after I have kids, I'll probably call my wife "mom".
Damn you answered it as I was typing.:eek: :o

I will say this much, when my wife uses my first name to call me or talk to me I KNOW that she has something she wants to discuss, or wants my attention.

Usually she just starts a conversation, thinking or expecting that I am paying attention.

When I was a kid my parents often used Mom and Dad when they were talking in front of each other or us kids. So it isnt just a Japanese thing either, and is a term of endearment as well.

[socalheart]

I find it odd and creepy for spouses to use parental terms for each other when the children aren't around. It's especially weird when the couple doesn't have children. It's not wrong or right. I just find it creepy.

[okisteve]

You know in my opinion someone may find it creepy because they are not accustomed to Japanese mannerisms and their use of their language.



P wait until you have kids and see if it happens, at least if you are still living here in Okinawa or in mainland. Your wife may not directly use it infront of you but I am willing to bet that she will use it to talk about you when she is with her friends or family.

Another thing to consider is that Japanese people often use the 3rd person as well to talk about themselves as well and many here may have noticed that depending on the situation that they are in Japanese people will also often use their own first name or title when they are talking to others.

Sure there are words for I, me, and my, but it is not uncommon to often hear people using the 3rd person to discuss themselves and it takes time to get used to it.

LOL, it took me a long time to get used to that, and my (American) daughter even thought my Japanese stepdaughter had some sort of disorder when she heard her consistently referring to herself by her own name.

My wife always calls me by my name, or sometimes says 'anohito' when speaking to others when referring to me. That sounds a little creepy too!

P_chan, do let us know when you have your first kid, and if your wife still calls you bakachin then. (Hey, congrats on losing SKELTONIZED)

[Muku]

My wife always calls me by my name, or sometimes says 'anohito' when speaking to others when referring to me. That sounds a little creepy too!


lol here too:thumbup: The first few times I heard that one used I actually started looking around to see who in the hell she was talking about.:eek: It was not really creepy to me, just annoying as hell, I asked her "Why in the hell dont you just call me by my name?":mad: She responded to me with :rolleyes::rolleyes: and said "But it's just our way!"

[hankypanky]

as i was reading these posts, i remember my grandparents calling each other grandpa and grandma in front of us. i guess with the names being shouted out all day by 3-4 boys, it makes it sorta habit. yeah, in bed would be kinda creepy, BUT........WHO'S YOUR DADDY!?

[Asshat]

This is pretty common for those who have children in any culture. I don't find it strange at all.

All couples have their endearments, or pet names. Don't they?

[thistle]

When my japanese husband at some point starting calling me the same name as my kids did I used to hate it. And even though I told him not to call me
that and to use my name, most of the time he forgot.

As far as I was concerned you start calling someone that you stop looking at them as your wife/husband.

Just ingrained in the culture I guess.

It is like the way they still use their own name when talking about themselves, instead of using 'I'. Not grown men, but often grown women still do that.

[TheNoNamedOne]

As far as I was concerned you start calling someone that you stop looking at them as your wife/husband.


That's my take on it as well, thistle. It's just creepy.

Maybe it has something to do with Japan where "mother complex" is pretty prevalent, and that husbands begin to look at their wives in a way that they take care of them. No wonder why the sararimen have their snack girlfriends to release their sexual tensions. After all, they are living and sleeping in the same bad with their mother at home -- uh... I mean "wife."

[Asshat]

As far as I was concerned you start calling someone that you stop looking at them as your wife/husband.

I promise that no matter what name I use to refer to a woman I have slept with, she never becomes "mother" in the matriarchal sence.

Anyone who feels a man does this, is either talking about a man with serious mental health problems, or focusing on their own.

This is different from a spouse who demands to be called by their name, or simply doesn't abide with the term. My wife demands the kids and grandkids call her by her first name.

[thistle]

Anyone who feels a man does this, is either talking about a man with serious mental health problems, or focusing on their own.

I agree, yes they would have to have mental health issues if they started thinking of their wife as their mother!

To the Japanese calling their spouse that does not in anyway mean that they are thinking of you as their mother.

I suppose it is, as someone said, a term of endearment.
I just did not like it that my husband would use the same term to address me as my kids did. It annoyed me like hell.

[thistle]

Did that contradict what I already said?

I guess what I meant is that was the way it made me feel. That the minute the person started calling you that, then they stopped looking at you as their spouse.

[okisteve]

It may sound weird to some people, but I think basically it is a term of respect, telling the spouse that she is the honored mother in and of the household. Maybe it just doesn't translate very well into our cultural niche.
Am I really being naive to think that grown men can make a distinction between that person and their own mother?

On the other hand, doesn't it get confusing when the husband's mother is actually living in the same household?

[Asshat]

It may sound weird to some people, but I think basically it is a term of respect, telling the spouse that she is the honored mother in and of the household. Maybe it just doesn't translate very well into our cultural niche.
Am I really being naive to think that grown men can make a distinction between that person and their own mother?

On the other hand, doesn't it get confusing when the husband's mother is actually living in the same household?

No to both you and Thistle. Of course grown men can make the distinction and the inference (and racial comment) earlier that this somehow contributes to the salary man-husband having to release his sexual tensions on a snack girl is ludicrous.

Sorry for the run-on. I could get laid every day and still need to take out my sexual tensions on snack girls. :)

[okisteve]

Uminchu - how about a thread or at least a post on the "snack" phenomenon for those of us who have not indulged???

[Asshat]

Uminchu - how about a thread or at least a post on the "snack" phenomenon for those of us who have not indulged???

What's a phenomenon about getting some hot tailed sweet heart sweat? Snack girls are like any other woman.

Either she has someone she loves and is doing it for the money, or she is looking for someone to love so she can do it for the money.

Of course those "good girls" argue the point, but those same girls don't last long when hubby quits bringing home the bacon. Suddenly, he is (enter negative man-thing here) and she must leave him because he wounds her inner child, or uses abusive language like "damn it" in front of the kids.

But it's all about buying and selling luv baby. ;) End of thread.

[TheNoNamedOne]

More creepy dialogue/mental images for those calling their wives "mom" in Japanese:

お母さん、Hする前にお風呂に入ろう。

[Muku]

More creepy dialogue/mental images for those calling their wives "mom" in Japanese:

お母さん、Hする前にお風呂に入ろう。
Your lack of having kid's, your dogs dont count they arent human, and from what I have seen from you here, your shallow understanding and knowledge about Japan and Japanese makes what you wrote here in this thread a teensie bit understandable.

[hankypanky]

Did that contradict what I already said?

I guess what I meant is that was the way it made me feel. That the minute the person started calling you that, then they stopped looking at you as their spouse.

well hell, american women are more into husband wife, even after the kids. many will have baby sitters. japanese women, (the ones i know that are not americanized) once they have children, the children are #1 and the husband is #2. don't see too many babysitters here in japan. if anything, for a night out they stay with oba-chan.

I guess that is why snacks are so important here. the men need the companionship that their wives have stopped giving them, more of passed down from generation..... but that is not all men.

my father in law would go to a bar for a meeting, but always was back home by 12. law of the house. in america, if a married man went to a snack, it there were any, they would be in divorce court the next month. imho:-|

[Bones]

As posted by TP:

More creepy dialogue/mental images for those calling their wives "mom" in Japanese:

お母さん、Hする前にお風呂に入ろう。

We were fortunate to have some friends over this evening. All Okinawan.

So, just out of curiosity, I asked some of them to translate the last line in your post.

Some were shocked, so we sat them down in front of the screen, and we took them back to your original OP.

Out of the ten ladies, eight of them had no problem with your post. These couples address their spouses as related to the OP. They have no problem with it. The two exceptions stated that it really doesn't matter what their husbands say to them, as long as they say something.

We sat down and discussed your post for a little bit. Just to make sure that they all understood what it was that you were talking about.

Once satisfied that we were all on the same page (in regards to the OP), I asked them which one of them would like to be married to the type of person who posted the thread?

One recommended that you seek counseling, the other 9 just don't want anything to do with you. In their opinion, it was just better to stick with whom they were already married to.

It's not a scientific study, and most of the ladies were either close to our age, or older. As a reference point, I'm 52.

Our daughter said: " For somebody who would post a thing like this, he must really be lonely."

NBTP

[P_chan]

As posted by TP:



We were fortunate to have some friends over this evening. All Okinawan.

So, just out of curiosity, I asked some of them to translate the last line in your post.

Some were shocked, so we sat them down in front of the screen, and we took them back to your original OP.

Out of the ten ladies, eight of them had no problem with your post. These couples address their spouses as related to the OP. They have no problem with it. The two exceptions stated that it really doesn't matter what their husbands say to them, as long as they say something.

We sat down and discussed your post for a little bit. Just to make sure that they all understood what it was that you were talking about.

Once satisfied that we were all on the same page (in regards to the OP), I asked them which one of them would like to be married to the type of person who posted the thread?

One recommended that you seek counseling, the other 9 just don't want anything to do with you. In their opinion, it was just better to stick with whom they were already married to.

It's not a scientific study, and most of the ladies were either close to our age, or older. As a reference point, I'm 52.

Our daughter said: " For somebody who would post a thing like this, he must really be lonely."

NBTP


Funny you did that because I asked my wife the same thing and showed her his post. You don't even want to know what she said, he would probably give me an infraction for insulting him.

[simsim]

In the U.S. spouses may refer to one another occasionally as "mom" or "dad" depending on the situation and if the child is present, but in Japan many couples will begin to refer to each other as "mom" and "dad" when directly addressing each other -- even if the child is not there. I find that creepy.

One of my American friends who is married to a Japanese lady will talk to her calling her "okaasan" and she him "otoosan." Again, I just find that creepy.

How about you foreigners who are married to Japanese; have you picked up on that part of culture here, and have you too adopted that in referring to your wife?


Ok. I know the answer to this one. So If you will all stop imposing your cultural values on to other people for a moment, its like this.

In Japan and other East Asian countries the title given to someone is derived from their position in their household (ie) rather than the relationship between two individuals. So mom and dad are the mom and dad of that household. Outsiders will also refer to people in the third person as family name no mom. The same is all some true for brother and sisters and a mom or dad will call their oldest daughter, older sister ….

despite all your your concerns for animals when it comes to other people and cultures you seem to lack any empathy.

[Muku]

Ok. I know the answer to this one. So If you will all stop imposing your cultural values on to other people for a moment, its like this.

In Japan and other East Asian countries the title given to someone is derived from their position in their household (ie) rather than the relationship between two individuals. So mom and dad are the mom and dad of that household. Outsiders will also refer to people in the third person as family name no mom. The same is all some true for brother and sisters and a mom or dad will call their oldest daughter, older sister ….

despite all your your concerns for animals when it comes to other people and cultures you seem to lack any empathy.
For a first post here, btw welcome to the forum:thumbup:, you have a rather astute and accurate view of one of the top posters here on this forum.

I take it you were either "lurking" around here for a while or took a hell of a lot of time to read through the inordinate number of animal related posts here to come to your imo "nail on the head" conclusion.

I for one look forward to hearing more from you in the future here.:D

Edited to add here....
I just noticed your join date was Aug 2007. Well that answers my question.:o

[TheNoNamedOne]

Ok. I know the answer to...

Brought another one onboard! やった！

[TheNoNamedOne]

Wouldn't this sound kuriiiiiiipi?:

お母さん、あと一人赤ちゃんを作ろう。

[Muku]

Wouldn't this sound kuriiiiiiipi?:

お母さん、あと一人赤ちゃんを作ろう。


Trying to be funny? :rolleyes: Coming from the man that has no children....Hmmmmm.

Why not have one yourself first before attempting humour that doesnt suit you.

To those of you that dont know what that Japanese means here is a literal translation; "Mom how about making another baby?"

Which means it could have been conversation from either a child or the husband, but considering the topic of the thread, it is easily assumed that tp is talking about a conversation from the husband to wife.

This comment tp that you wrote here btw I have heard used more times than you probably could count unless you took off your shoes and socks as well. :p

I KNOW I am not the only one here that has asked their spouses at one time or another "Hey Mom you wanna try and make a kid tonight?" or something similar, and it isnt creepy either.

That is of course if you are not accustomed to talking about sex or having sex with your spouse.:rolleyes:

[Asshat]

Sometimes I get confused when I am petting my dog and she licks me. She is a female, and you know....I call her "she" and "baby" and stuff.

Once I fed my wife the kibble, and grabbed the dog and watched a romantic comedy. My wife was okay with it, because she could see the film from the rug by the front door.

[P_chan]

Someone has mommy issues.

[TheNoNamedOne]

I would say that anyone who calls the person they are romantic with "mommy" during conversation has mommy issues.

Kuriiipi.

[P_chan]

I beg to differ. The person who can only see it in a sukebe light is the person with the problem.

[TheNoNamedOne]

Reminds me of those old comedy skits where they would make fun of Reagan by parodying him calling Nancy, "mommy." Kuriiiipi enough to hit the funny bone of people watching those making fun of him and her.

[Bones]

As posted by TP:

I would say that anyone who calls the person they are romantic with "mommy" in a general sense during conversation has mommy issues.

Kuriiipi.

Well, you're just one of the few TP.

NBTP

[TheNoNamedOne]

More from the kuriiipi file of husband/wife relationship confusion:

お母さん、初めてHしたの時覚えているの？

[Muku]

I beg to differ. The person who can only see it in a sukebe light is the person with the problem.

Since TP had his hat handed to him with the responses he probably didnt expect to get it is pretty obvious he is now just reverting to his typical self here.

He couldnt get people to agree with him, so he is now playing the part of the spoiler and working to get you upset with him.

[Asshat]

Since TP had his hat handed to him with the responses he probably didnt expect to get it is pretty obvious he is now just reverting to his typical self here.

He couldnt get people to agree with him, so he is now playing the part of the spoiler and working to get you upset with him.

Do you really need to continue bashing? You are beating a dead horse, and increasing polarization here. Please stop. If someone bugs the shit out of you, ignore them. Try it. You'll like it.

[DoctorP]

Since TP had his hat handed to him with the responses he probably didnt expect to get it is pretty obvious he is now just reverting to his typical self here.

He couldnt get people to agree with him, so he is now playing the part of the spoiler and working to get you upset with him.

I would think that by now you would realize that he posts these types of threads to try and get the masses emotional about a topic and show their anger. Is it really worth it to reply if you don't think it is a true statement? You already know that his opinion is just that...his...and you will not change it. I personally have been ignoring him for several days now...very easy to do.

Do you really need to continue bashing? You are beating a dead horse, and increasing polarization here. Please stop. If someone bugs the shit out of you, ignore them. Try it. You'll like it.

Thank you uminchu.

[Muku]

I would think that by now you would realize that he posts these types of threads to try and get the masses emotional about a topic and show their anger. Is it really worth it to reply if you don't think it is a true statement? You already know that his opinion is just that...his...and you will not change it. I personally have been ignoring him for several days now...very easy to do.



Thank you uminchu.

I am not blind nor stupid. My response was to P Chan and now all of you are jumping on the bandwagon as well feeding the flames too. Neither you nor Uminchu needed to reply either, you both could have easily passed over it.

Seems to me that just about everyone here, including myself at times, are willing to dish out their own brand of advice, but seemingly are unwilling to take it themselves.

[DoctorP]

I am not blind nor stupid. My response was to P Chan and now all of you are jumping on the bandwagon as well feeding the flames too. Neither you nor Uminchu needed to reply either, you both could have easily passed over it.

Seems to me that just about everyone here, including myself at times, are willing to dish out their own brand of advice, but seemingly are unwilling to take it themselves.

No one accused you of either...but after that response...:rolleyes:
Maybe you should lay down, and get back up again...seems as though you bunched your panties this morning.

Let's try again...Good Morning Muku! :)

[Muku]

Let's try again...Good Morning Muku!

I suppose I deserved that one.......:o

Good Morning Doc:D

[DoctorP]

That's better. I'll leave you be...so as to not fan the flames this morning! Nice weather out...time for some exercise.

[Asshat]

Seems to me that just about everyone here, including myself at times, are willing to dish out their own brand of advice, but seemingly are unwilling to take it themselves.

Yep, I too am trying to avoid personalization, thus am trying to take my own advice.

[DocTurtle]

Just skimmed some of the pages.

Not only the Japanese do this. I know plenty of Hispanics that call thier significant other "mommi" or "pappi." I know Blacks who do the same, "Momma" or "Daddy." There are plenty of songs by White people as well that include the phrase, "Hey there pretty Mama." Look at Elvis even.

It's a lot more common when you sit down and think about it. Creepy? Meh to each their own. My wife think birds are terrifying, I think it's silly, but I still have to shoo away birds that land on our balcony. :p

[P_chan]

No I'm not getting mad, just worried that TP might have some real mommy issues.

All of us with wives who are also mom's better keep them locked up.

[okisteve]

I guess yours won't be coming to the next meet then.

[P_chan]

My wife isn't a mom YET.

Hopefully she will be by the end of this year.

[Oki Cajun]

In the U.S. spouses may refer to one another occasionally as "mom" or "dad" depending on the situation and if the child is present, but in Japan many couples will begin to refer to each other as "mom" and "dad" when directly addressing each other -- even if the child is not there. I find that creepy.

One of my American friends who is married to a Japanese lady will talk to her calling her "okaasan" and she him "otoosan." Again, I just find that creepy.

How about you foreigners who are married to Japanese; have you picked up on that part of culture here, and have you too adopted that in referring to your wife?

My in-laws do it, and in the states, (from Louisiana), I have several friends' whose parents call each other mom and dad. I think it just depends where you are and what you grew up with. Personally, I think its more creepy that they call my wife "onee-chan" (older sister). Or that her brother calls her that. I think it would be more creepy and if they called each other "brother and sister". LOL

[hankypanky]

My in-laws do it, and in the states, (from Louisiana), I have several friends' whose parents call each other mom and dad. I think it just depends where you are and what you grew up with. Personally, I think its more creepy that they call my wife "onee-chan" (older sister). Or that her brother calls her that. I think it would be more creepy and if they called each other "brother and sister". LOL

well it your from west virgina, they wouldn't think that to be creepy at all:D

[jimbob17755]

My in-laws do it, and in the states, (from Louisiana), I have several friends' whose parents call each other mom and dad. I think it just depends where you are and what you grew up with. Personally, I think its more creepy that they call my wife "onee-chan" (older sister). Or that her brother calls her that. I think it would be more creepy and if they called each other "brother and sister". LOL
ㅛㅐㅕ ㅏㅜㅐㅈ ㅁㄴ ㅈ디ㅣ ㅁㄴ ㅑ 애 솜ㅅ ㅏㅐㄱㄷ문 ㅗㅁㅍㄷ ㅁ ㄴ걏ㅅ ㄴ둔ㄷ ㅐㄹ ㅔ개새채ㅣ 조두 ㅁㅇㅇㄱㄷㄴ냐ㅜㅎ ㄷㅁ초 ㅐ솓ㄱ

[Muku]

ㅛㅐㅕ ㅏㅜㅐㅈ ㅁㄴ ㅈ디ㅣ ㅁㄴ ㅑ 애 솜ㅅ ㅏㅐㄱㄷ문 ㅗㅁㅍㄷ ㅁ ㄴ걏ㅅ ㄴ둔ㄷ ㅐㄹ ㅔ개새채ㅣ 조두 ㅁㅇㅇㄱㄷㄴ냐ㅜㅎ ㄷㅁ초 ㅐ솓ㄱ


So what does this say? Hi Mom, I'm home...as Dad walks through the front door after a hard day at work expecting his loving "Mom" to be standing there with his beer.:rolleyes:

[TheNoNamedOne]

More kuripi mommy dearest from papa.

お母さん、やりながらAVを見よう！

[donny_b]

Interesting thread....My wife and I have so many names for each other. Most of the time we use "Mami and Dadi" (3 boys 20, 18, 13). What's funny was when we first meet back in 82 I use to cal her Etchan. As years by Etchan turnd into Chan then Cha....lol. I know this sounds horrible when I call her on the phone I call her Baa Baa and answers with Jii Jii. It's so funny. I also get a lot of Bakka, Bakkachin, Aaho. As you can see, I mess up a lot, but we love each other.

[hankypanky]

Interesting thread....My wife and I have so many names for each other. Most of the time we use "Mami and Dadi" (3 boys 20, 18, 13). What's funny was when we first meet back in 82 I use to cal her Etchan. As years by Etchan turnd into Chan then Cha....lol. I know this sounds horrible when I call her on the phone I call her Baa Baa and answers with Jii Jii. It's so funny. I also get a lot of Bakka, Bakkachin, Aaho. As you can see, I mess up a lot, but we love each other.

i get called ji ji all the time. bakachan, depending on the tone:D

[P_chan]

The only name my wife calls me is bakachin, and sometimes aho:D.

[hankypanky]

aho, have a customer that calls me that all the time, in jest that is:D

[Big_Papa]

Its funny that I found this forum. Tsuma and I were just talking about this earlier. When Mari and I first started dating, it was strange who they spoke in the 3rd person and I always spoke in the first. It kinda flipped my lid. After our first child was born, she started calling me Papa, which is more mainlanderish, I'm presuming.

Then, after struggling for a couple of years to learn Hiroshima Hogan, we moved down here. Now, I'm struggling with the local hogan, but many of our friends explain it to my wife, and she in turn explains it to me.

I've noticed that here, the folks call my son Ni-Ni now that we have a daughter. I used to always ask, why do the keep saying that. Its not creepy, its kinda fun to try to keep up with.

Does anybody else's wife ever use kids words with you, trying to sound cute? Or is that a mainland thing too?

BTW, reading these posts has made me want to meet many of you. Even tho I'm not your age, and my wife (10yrs younger) isn't even close, I think you guys would be nice to talk to face to face. Its funny that no matter the age difference, or the regional difference many are having the almost exact same experiences. At least the Japanese have remained consistent on this matter. LOL

[Doomrider]

My girlfriend calls me fleshbeast and we run through flower fields spewing lazer beams out of our mouths.

[Isaak Brodsky]

In the U.S. spouses may refer to one another occasionally as "mom" or "dad" depending on the situation and if the child is present, but in Japan many couples will begin to refer to each other as "mom" and "dad" when directly addressing each other -- even if the child is not there. I find that creepy.

One of my American friends who is married to a Japanese lady will talk to her calling her "okaasan" and she him "otoosan." Again, I just find that creepy.

How about you foreigners who are married to Japanese; have you picked up on that part of culture here, and have you too adopted that in referring to your wife?

I agree. It's really difficult to re-configure my mind after I refer to my wife as mommy and that want to jump between her mellow yellow thighs.

[proudtobnotpc]

sorry never found it strange. I've always been referred to as papa and I call my wife mama. The only time she uses my real name is when shes pissed

[lilboomba]

I dont find it wierd or creepy but I do find that if my kids are around and I call my hubby baby or babe...for instance lastnight my hubby was leaving and I said alright Love ya babe and my daughter copies me "Love ya babe" that weirds me out more than me calling my hubby dada in front of my kids. but usually when the kids are around it is dada or daddy and if not then it is his Name or baby!