*** Japanese Culture and Language Series #2 ***

This is another pair of words that expresses one of the most basic aspects of Japanese culture that touches my heart.

"Itterasshai" (行ってらっしゃい) and "ittekimasu" (行ってきます) are spoken every time someone leaves the home. The person who leaves says "iitekimasu" (literal translation is "I'm going and returning"), while the person (or people) who remains in the home would say "itterasshai" (literal translation is "go and come back safely, though safely is implied).

This acknowledgment of each other's presence and well-being is a central part of life in Japan, and when I'm not in Japan or staying with a Japanese friend abroad, I feel a little emptiness each time I step out of the house.

Just like the first pair of words, "tadaima" and "okaeri" that I shared in a previous note (note198xs3pm0lk7tl0wcxm4qgvyc6jpmvrl93fp8s2g774urx6l27ryqd3tfrx), the airport in Tokyo bids people who live in Japan when they leave on a trip "itterasshai" in a more formal way where the implied "go and return safely" is fully expressed. In the photo below, you'll see お気をつけていってらっしゃいませ in Japanese, but to the foreigners, it says "We hope to see you again" in English. 🤭

I hope that when you leave Japan after visiting for #Nostrasia 🇯🇵 in #Tokyo that you'll leave with your heart a little fuller. ❤️

#japaneselanguage #japaneseculture