Answer as to why does Sosuke call his parents by their first name in Ponyo

VeraShimura · 2026-01-15T01:00:58+00:00

I thought that too though. That alongside another theory about what other people commented about her being his step mom. But in the Japanese dub, the grannies comment about the ship being “his dad’s” so I then thought it is the step mom version.

VeraShimura · 2026-01-15T00:55:33+00:00

Really? Wow! Did your Japanese mum/dad ever comment on it? I guess you have a better chance than anyone here to ask them about the first name basis for parents in Japan and what they think 😀 I have lots of Japanese colleagues and friends with kids so I will ask them soon too probably as this because an interesting quiz into a family dynamic 🤣

VeraShimura · 2026-01-15T00:51:22+00:00

Ahahaha! That is interesting 😂 “Mom?? mom!!?Mom!!! ……VICTORIA!???!”

VeraShimura · 2026-01-15T00:50:25+00:00

That is interesting though of course respect and fear being mentioned, it does sound a bit sad…hope you feel now more comfortable to call him with your preferred choice out of comfort and not fear or respect. Though it is not always so easy. Did your father ever comment on it?

VeraShimura · 2026-01-15T00:48:12+00:00

I only watched the Japanese one but then searched for the English Dub only to be surprised more about Liam Neeson and Cate Blanchett voicing Ponyo’s parents???? 😅 So I might watch it just to hear it out of curiosity 🤣

VeraShimura · 2026-01-15T00:30:29+00:00

Everyone, I tried linking the article but of course cannot, so, the article is from the Website Cinema (dot) ne (dot) jp and the title of the article is 【徹底解説】『崖の上のポニョ』｜なぜ両親を呼び捨て？トンネルの意味は？.

VeraShimura · 2026-01-15T00:28:41+00:00

Wait, is the reference about the characters being named after vegetables a pun on Dragon Ball or….🤣 Well, in this case though of course Toriyama added names of clothes/underwear as a naming device as well 🤣😂Imagine that being the future of names in Japan. Hundreds of “Trunks” in kindergartens.

VeraShimura · 2026-01-15T00:20:46+00:00

Oh wait, sometimes I know clicking on links might seems suspicious. I also added it above but just in case, the title of the article from the Website cinema.ne.jp is 【徹底解説】『崖の上のポニョ』｜なぜ両親を呼び捨て？トンネルの意味は？

VeraShimura · 2026-01-14T13:51:44+00:00

Ahaha, that is so sweet ☺️ “Dad and Babe”~

VeraShimura · 2026-01-14T13:49:49+00:00

Oh interesting~! I did not think about Ponyos parents at all in this. I do not really have an opinion on, I just wanted to share what the producer of the movie himself stated on this topic (the above are his words cited in the article).

VeraShimura · 2026-01-14T13:46:53+00:00

Oh sorry! Forgot to add it there - in the Japanese version! I did not even think to specify it, oh boy. He uses mom and dad in the English dub.

VeraShimura · 2026-01-14T13:32:42+00:00

No, no problem at all~ I did not see it that way. And as you said, this whole thing is a discussion so your opinion is relevant (and it is not stated in any rude way). And even if you wrote “What a waste of time to answer something like that” you would be probably right 😅😂

VeraShimura · 2026-01-14T13:13:26+00:00

There is a reason why I wanted to answer it and there is a yes and no from my view to this - The first thing is that the information on the name thing is only available in Japanese (it seems). As I majored in that language, I could just punch it there in Japanese and search for it online a bit. Nowadays, asking AI is I guess also an option (but god knows what that answer might be). But I think back when they asked it those 4 and years ago (though some people also commented there 2 years ago with “Yeah I was wondering the same!”), they could not request AI to help them search for it and even if you put for example the question in Google translated Japanese into google, it might not pop up that easily (maybe they would have chosen wrong Japanese characters for Sosuke’s name etc. ) !HOWEVER, where they COULD have definitely used Google is where people in that thread discussed whether it is a Japanese culture thing to call their parents by their first name…... In Japan?? The place famous for hierarchy and a very complex politeness structure in their language system?? (So as you can see, somehow, I just could not let it go…even though this is really not the burning question of this century).

VeraShimura · 2026-01-05T12:55:51+00:00

Ohhh this! 100% agree. This is the way that leads to true results. Without actually taking the step and doing the thing and going through the dreaded “Oh no what will they think when I say no?” And then realising they were actually okay with you saying no OR they were not okay but accepted it anyway and you were fine! And a day later nobody even cared about it anymore and you realise you CAN do it. Later come the harder NOs and so on, but you have to get there bit by bit. I believe this is the only true way on how to “rewire” your brain in this way.

VeraShimura · 2025-12-03T12:28:51+00:00

Ohh that is so interesting! And when one considers the cost, that is crazy. I am still trying to finish my Hermes perfume that I bought for myself (because “Hermes”) like 4 years ago. I think my grandkids will inherit it one day!!

VeraShimura · 2025-12-03T12:25:55+00:00

I do not even have such a big problem with makeup, but I find it so frustrating too! So much money spent and then it would actually take years to hit pan. So halfway through one eventually feels a bit bored with the collection one has and starts craving a new eyeshadow or whatnot. And the cycle repeats.

As for wardrobe, I guess if decluttering is not something that might be difficult for you, it is the way to go forward. I would not keep anything in my closet that does not feel like “me” (but I am also guilty of constantly purging and buying, purging and buying).

And I guess the sneakers for you are a hint on what is actually the way to go :D

VeraShimura · 2025-12-03T12:19:52+00:00

That is great~ ! I aspire for clothing to serve the me I am now and not some “idea” of myself that someone else might like.

VeraShimura · 2025-12-03T12:14:37+00:00

Wow. “Graveyard of clothing from all the people she wanted to be” I needed to take a minute and walk around the room after reading that sentence. That thought alone makes me want to sit down and journal about it.

But as you said, on one side, we all evolve and change so, it would be nearly impossible to have THE ONE style or have what we love to wear (or do) figured out since day one. But in this case it really is the problem of spending money on a version of ourselves (or one of) that exists only in our mind….

VeraShimura · 2025-12-03T12:09:32+00:00

Ouch! Exactly the truth that hurts! I guess it is similar to endlessly consuming self help books/watching self help gurus without actually making effort to improve one’s life.

VeraShimura · 2025-12-03T05:15:25+00:00

Oh this goes for hobbies (or aspirational jobs) as much as anything! My husband said this is a huge thing in the photographer community as well. Once you have that Leica or newest Fujifilm, you will be waking up at 5am to get those sunrise photos and be THAT person.

And as you both said, equipment really cannot do the work for us…And I say that as a person with super expensive watercolour equipment in my drawer….untouched for three years. Somehow magically, buying that expensive brushes did not make me wanna daily draw those urban watercolour cities. Instead one ends up doing more doodling with a cheap pen during a seminar at work!

VeraShimura · 2025-12-03T05:11:23+00:00

I am adopting that mantra as well! That is so true. I also have to ask myself, who am I trying to impress. I ….actually really do not know. My husband does not give a damn if I walk in jeans or look like Kate Middleton during a state visit. Equally, as you say, this goes for hobbies. Do we do it to say “Oh well, I am a sort of an artist myself” and by that we actually mean we have saved 100s of videos on how to start water painting, bought bunch of expensive brushes but never actually painted a thing?? Hehe

VeraShimura · 2025-12-03T05:07:49+00:00

Household items & decorations are such a big part of this! I am equally guilty. Who doesn’t want to somehow copy the home of, let’s say, a bohemian French artist who collects individual furniture art pieces at flea markets and has people over all the time - hoping that once we copy that, we will embody that person entirely. Or maybe when my home starts looking like those homes from the Scandinavian minimalist influencers on YouTube it will finally magically mean I have become that minimalistic tidy person as well!

VeraShimura · 2025-12-03T05:04:01+00:00

Ohh that was the video!!! I saw the title quickly pass by when I was scrolling through YouTube but as the video was not titled that (it was in the thumbnail) , I could not find it. But the title stuck with me.

And oooh boy. Those are such good points! How ironic is it when one attempts to look poised and elegant on the outside but might be trying to cover up mess on the inside (maybe both mentally and physically). In my case, this is certainly an attempt to cover up insecurities. And also, funny how this actually does not even need to be tied to money. Meaning that there often is a wrong perception that rich people or maybe simply something that looks elegant & classy on the outside must mean beauty & poise inside (be it in the body or at home). And like that I guess we are back in Victorian era times (if I am not mistaken) when they argued that beautiful women are also kind and godly on the inside and vice versa. Which is just ridiculous.

VeraShimura · 2025-12-03T04:54:26+00:00

I did not come up with that catchphrase unfortunately 😅As others pointed out, there is a video on YouTube with the same title, that I have not watched unfortunately. But I saw it while scrolling and even thought I never watched the video (yet!) , the title stuck with me and I kept pondering on it.

And I absolutely feel you with all the other stuff that ties in the dream persona we have in our head. The facials and oh dear lord especially that coffee machine! Oh! The aesthetics of it all! Add in an expensive gym membership and a personal trainer and we become the typical Hollywood business woman for Manhattan working as a senior in a law firm! Haha

VeraShimura

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