“Obasan” literally means, “aunt,” but the term isn’t only reserved for relatives.
As is the case in many Asian countries, Japanese people call strangers “aunt,” “uncle,” “brother,” and “sister” based on the age and gender of the individual.
Women who appear to be middle-aged are called “obasan.” Obasan are a bit of a cultural icon…Especially around Osaka. Obasan constantly are in-your-face and say what they want. Sometimes they can appear rude and sometimes they are unbelievably helpful.
If you go to the supermarket you can be sure to bump into some (especially during a “time sale,” when there is literally a sale that goes on for a matter of hours).
