{
  "id": 19423706,
  "title": "Why people in Japan hardly ever say “sayonara,” and what they say instead",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/11/11/why-people-in-japan-hardly-ever-say-sayonara-and-what-they-say-instead",
  "topic": "culture",
  "section": "Culture",
  "published": "2026-11-11T01:00:26.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "SoraNews24",
    "slug": "soranews24",
    "url": "https://soranews24.com/2026/11/11/why-people-in-japan-hardly-ever-say-sayonara-and-what-they-say-instead/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Sayonara, a widely known Japanese word, isn't often heard in Japan. Contrary to the popular belief, saying goodbye in Japan doesn't always require uttering the word sayonara. In fact, there are multiple phrases that people use in everyday situations instead of saying sayonara, such as ja, mata, dewa, sore ja, and osaki ni.\n\nJa is a shortened version of phrases like \"if it's like that\" or \"well then,\" and is a common way to say goodbye among friends or peers in social situations. Mata, another abbreviation, can be found at the end of phrases like \"let's get together again\" or \"see you tomorrow.\" Dewa, a more formal alternative to ja, also takes the place of sayonara in many situations.\n\nIn addition to these common phrases, there are a couple of other expressions that don't translate literally as \"goodbye\" but are frequently used in place of it. One such phrase is otsukarasama desu, which is commonly used between coworkers at the end of the day, while osaki ni shitsurei shimasu is used when leaving before others who are still working.\n\nDespite knowing all this, sayonara carries a significant emotional weight that makes it unsuitable for casual interactions. Sayonara is most often used for significant partings, such as at a graduation or when someone quits their job permanently. For example, when workers at Cold Stone in Kamakura, the last branch of the chain in east Japan, said \"sayonara\" to the reporter, it was a bittersweet moment, signifying the shop's closing. The heavy emotional context behind sayonara is what makes it a phrase reserved for special circumstances.",
  "summary": "Everyone knows that sayonara means goodbye in Japanese, but goodbye in Japan doesn’t always mean you need to say it. You don’t have to be an anime otaku, foodie with a penchant for matcha and wagyu, or obsessive linguistics enthusiast that know that sayonara means “goodbye” in Japanese. Like loco in Spanish and merci in French, […]",
  "key_points": [
    "Sayonara rarely used in Japan, contrary to popular belief",
    "Alternatives include ja, mata, dewa, sore ja, osaki ni",
    "Ja for friends, mata for future meeting, dewa for formal"
  ],
  "editors_take": "The heavy emotional weight of sayonara restricts its use to permanent or significant partings, forcing speakers to rely on context-specific phrases to navigate the nuances of daily social and professional interactions.",
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}