Kaho’s Japanese Corner: Sayonara/Mata or Ja, mata/Mata-ne

CONTRIBUTED BY KAHO

Kaho’s Japanese Corner: Sayonara/Mata or Ja, mata/Mata-ne

This is not going to be my last time to post since I would like to post about this hair salon that I went recently.  This, however, is going to be my last official post, I think.  I’m writing to say “sayonara” (sa-yo-nah-la) to you all.  Sayonara means “Good bye” or “farewell”.  It can be used to say good-bye to someone you see the next day or good-bye to someone that you might not see again.  Japanese people also say “bai bai” (bye-bye), and it’s the same as sayonara.  Sayonara is formal. I prefer saying “Ja mata” or “mata-ne” even when I move away from one place.  Mata (mah-ta)or Ja, mata (jar without “r”-mah-ta) is like “see you” or “so long”.  It’s gender neutral, so both women and men use it.  Mata-ne means the same as mata/ja, mata, but it sounds soft and I am not sure if Japanese men use it often.

I like ja, mata because you never know when our paths will cross again.  I would like to believe that I will see all these wonderful friends that I made during our time in Okinawa.  I loved my time in Okinawa largely thanks to my friends.  Arigato—!!

My husband and I arrived in Okinawa in March 2006, a little over 2 years ago, with our daughter, who was only a year and 4 months old.  Now she’s 3 and a half years old.  Next month we will leave Okinawa with two daughters.  The younger one was made and born in Okinawa.  This island became special for our family.

I will leave you with “mata-ne”.  I hope to come back to this beautiful coral island.

Arigato gozaimashita (past tense for arigato) for reading!