In a woman’s life, she has perhaps no greater teacher than her mother. As she encounters and overcomes life’s various twists and turns, a woman may begin to realize her mother told her things that are important and sometimes even a little profound.
And now everyone can share in this maternal wisdom (if you speak Japanese) thanks to a new Twitter account called Haha no Meigen, or “My Mom’s Famous Sayings.”
Collected from the mutterings and exclamations of mothers all over the country, this account is sure to pull at your heartstrings. For your reading pleasure, here are a few samples of Japanese mothers’ homespun wisdom:
– People mirror each other. If you frown, people around you will frown too, but if you smile, they will smile back at you.
– After you get married, you only need to keep one eye on your husband, but while you are dating, you better keep both eyes WIDE open.
– Marry someone who’s at your level or better because sometimes a man’s inferiority complex is even worse than a woman’s.
– A guy who lives at his own pace or a guy who’s a little sketchy, fine, but never marry a liar. Eventually you will wonder if you can even trust his love for you, and that is truly hard.
– You are going to be seeing your own face your whole life, so whether you love it or hate it, you better take care of it!
– Making little girls look cute takes work.
– It’s fine to depend on men, just not your father.
– Unlucky year? For women, your whole life will be an unlucky year. If you think of it that way, you might be able to muddle through somehow.
– Women should smile because there’s no use in making a scary face.
– Nobody can stand hearing the woman they love say “But I love you!”
– If you want to be beautiful, don’t let your worries show on your face. A woman’s worries turn her into an ogre, you know.
– A woman who has never experienced pain or trouble is like a beautiful glass ball. The slightest tap will shatter her. Only a woman who has experienced every hardship will be like an unbreakable jewel.
– Women are beautiful because of the troubles they’ve lived through.
Oh, that one really gets to me! I’ve lived through some troubles at my age, but if I think of them as worthwhile experiences that are making me a more beautiful person, I get the strength to be positive and carry on.
Haha no Meigen is full of lots more of these maternal gems, both funny and touching. Sometimes strict and sometimes gentle, moms are always looking out for you and can teach you the important lessons about womanhood and about life.
Image: Twitter

Japanese mom’s advice to daughter: Ask your boyfriend for many selfish things
Dead mom walking – Does anime have a maternal mortality hairstyle trope?
What’s it like to be a working mother in China? We asked a Chinese mom
Japanese girl says she won’t get married because she loves Frieza too much, mom has epic response
Japan’s cherry blossom season predicted to start earlier than we’d thought, especially in Tokyo
Starbucks Japan unveils new sakura cherry blossom collection for hanami season 2026
Live-action One Piece’s Luffy teaches Sesame Street’s Elmo a Japanese word for friendship[Video]
One Piece creator has hidden secret of anime treasure’s identity in chest at bottom of real-world ocean
The results are in! One Piece World Top 100 characters chosen in global poll
Viral Japanese cheesecake from Osaka has a lesser known rival called Aunt Wanda
7-Eleven Japan now sells bagels…cooked in bamboo steamers
Japan’s Human Washing Machine pods are now on sale for home use, and they’re not cheap
Taste-testing Japan’s real-world Dragon Balls and Senzu Beans at Marugame Seimen
One-Punch Man knit cap is the one piece of anime winter gear you need to keep your head warm
Starbucks Japan releases first-ever Hinamatsuri Girls’ Day Frappuccino
Japanese restaurant chain serves Dragon Ball donuts and Senzu Beans this spring
Is Tokyo Station’s startlingly expensive wagyu bento boxed lunch worth its high price?[Taste test]
Japan Extreme Budget Travel! A trip from Tokyo to Izumo for just 30,000 yen [Part 2]
Japan’s craziest burger chain takes menchi katsu to new extreme levels
Sakura Festival in Chiyoda mixes illuminations, boats, music, and Rilakkuma in the heart of Tokyo
Japan’s newest Shinkansen has no seats…or passengers [Video]
Starbucks Japan releases new sakura goods and drinkware for cherry blossom season 2026
Foreigners accounting for over 80 percent of off-course skiers needing rescue in Japan’s Hokkaido
Super-salty pizza sends six kids to the hospital in Japan, linguistics blamed
Starbucks Japan unveils new sakura Frappuccino for cherry blossom season 2026
Foreign tourists in Japan will get free Shinkansen tickets to promote regional tourism
The 10 most annoying things foreign tourists do on Japanese trains, according to locals
Take a trip to Japan’s Dododo Land, the most irritating place on Earth
Naruto and Converse team up for new line of shinobi sneakers[Photos]
Survey asks foreign tourists what bothered them in Japan, more than half gave same answer
Japan’s human washing machines will go on sale to general public, demos to be held in Tokyo
Starbucks Japan releases new drinkware and goods for Valentine’s Day
We deeply regret going into this tunnel on our walk in the mountains of Japan
Studio Ghibli releases Kodama forest spirits from Princess Mononoke to light up your home
Major Japanese hotel chain says reservations via overseas booking sites may not be valid
Put sesame oil in your coffee? Japanese maker says it’s the best way to start your day【Taste test】
No more using real katana for tourism activities, Japan’s National Police Agency says
Japanese mom’s husband trash talks her for using frozen dumplings, maker fires back on Twitter
Chip ‘n’ who? One Japanese mom’s Disney character blunder has Twitter cracking up
You can now buy text messages from “your mom” from Japanese capsule toy machines
Japanese advice columnist shuts down mother who doesn’t want to give son permission to marry
High school students create petition to change the name of Family Mart’s “Mom’s Diner” line
Japanese mom lists 14 ways life with a spouse is different from life with someone you’re dating
Japanese man surprises his busy wife with the best gift a mom can receive
Mom makes authentic-looking Recon Corps uniform for baby daughter, Colossal Titan mask for herself
5 powerful reasons to be a woman in Japan 【Women in Japan Series】
Graduating high-schoolers in Japan tweet photos of the last lunch bentos their moms made for them
Mom in Japan finds notebook filled with messages of love from schoolgirl daughter who passed away
Japanese mom’s don’t-touch-my-baby-stroller sign stirs up debate【Video】
This luxurious maternity hospital makes us want to have all the babies in Japan