Survey Finds 6% of Japanese People Plan Concrete Mother's Day Actions

More than 60% of people in Japan plan to do something for their mother or mother-in-law on Mother's Day, a survey by Tokyo-based research company Intage has shown. The survey, conducted online in late March 2026, covered people age 15 to 79 who are registered as Intage questionnaire respondents. Valid responses were received from 5,000 of them.

6% answered that they will do something for the occasion. 2% of those surveyed said they will give confectioneries, the largest share.

The survey also highlighted differences in expectations by asking mothers what they would be happy to receive. 7% said they would be happy to receive words of gratitude. 2% who preferred spending time together as a family, such as having meals.

Mother's Day in Japan in 2026 falls on Sunday, May 10. Amid persisting inflation, other Intage surveys conducted this year have shown a decline in budgets for occasions such as cherry blossom-viewing gatherings. Still, the average budget for those planning to do something for Mother's Day in 2026 stood at ¥5,102 ($33).

Last year's average spending for Mother's Day reported by about 2,000 respondents was ¥5,063. "On Mother's Day, the price range for gifts and other items tends to be relatively fixed," Intage analyst Emiko Mori said. " Japan Times reported the full findings from the Intage survey on Thursday.