September 21 is Respect for the Aged Day in Japan. Writer and Hobonichi founder Shigesato Itoi’s conversation with schoolchildren and their teacher offers a reason to make memories across generations.
生きてるって、思い出をつくること。
Ikiteru tte, omoide o tsukuru koto.
To live is to make memories.
Shigesato Itoi · 糸井重里 (Itoi Shigesato)
writer and Hobonichi founder
Asked by a teacher how to balance limited time with everything he wanted to do, Itoi recalled this catchphrase he had written for the Hobonichi Techo app. Remembering his own words had persuaded him to attend an event and make a new memory.
Language note:
生きてる (ikiteru) is the conversational form of 生きている (ikite iru), “to be alive.” って (tte) introduces an informal topic or definition. こと (koto) turns the preceding verb phrase into a noun phrase: “making memories.”
A shared conversation can become a memory without becoming a grand event.
Practice:
この秋も、家族と思い出をつくりたい。
Kono aki mo, kazoku to omoide o tsukuritai.
This autumn, I want to make memories with my family too.
Sources:
Hobonichi — Shigesato Itoi on making memories: https://www.1101.com/n/s/shirakawashogakkou/2026-01-26.html
Cabinet Office: Japanese national holidays: https://www8.cao.go.jp/chosei/shukujitsu/gaiyou.html
Hobonichi — about the company and its founder: https://www.1101.com/about.html