[Grandpa's Grumbles] Recent pretend play includes PayPay payments!?
(Grandchild) Grandpa, get the tent out.
(Grandpa) Yes, yes. Is here okay?
(Grandchild) That's fine! I'm going to get ready, so wait in that room.
(Grandpa) Okay.
(Grandchild) Grandpa, come here!
(Grandpa) Oh, is the inside of the tent a candy shop?
(Grandchild) First, please come here. (With a non-contact thermometer) Beep, 36.5°C, that's fine. Please disinfect your hands with the alcohol there.
(Grandpa) Oh, that's authentic.
(Grandchild) What would you like?
(Grandpa) Well then, I'll have this candy, the chocolate, and the Umaibo, please.
(Grandchild) Beep, beep, beep... That will be 150 yen. How would you like to pay? You can use PayPay if you want.
(Grandpa) Then I'll pay with PayPay. <Shows smartphone>
(Grandchild) PayPay. Thank you very much.
The word 'mama' in 'mamagoto' (pretend play) refers to food, and 'manma' (a child's word for food) also comes from this. Pretend play as a game is said to refer to imitating food preparation, cooking, gift-giving, entertaining guests, and receiving visitors.
Many people think it means 'imitating mama (mother),' but when I looked it up, the explanation above seems to be the correct one.
However, it seems that many dialects for 'mamagoto' in various regions actually refer to 'mama-goto' (imitating mother).
In Akita Prefecture, it is called 'Jojabokko,' and in Nara Prefecture, it is called 'Okatasagoto' in dialect, but both are said to mean 'imitating mama.'
In the DX era, children who have never experienced receiving change will soon become the norm, so electronic money transactions will become common sense, and the era of 'PayPay' in pretend play seems to be arriving.
Also, for us Showa-era people, doing housework, which feels completely natural, might become 'papa-goto' (imitating papa) in this era of gender equality.
Or perhaps 'mamagoto' will become an obsolete word, and it will simply become 'housework/childcare play' to avoid any misunderstanding!?
(Grandchild) Okay, now Grandma, you come to the store.
(Grandma) Alright, Grandma would like this and this, please.
(Grandchild) That will be 340 yen. Bags cost extra, would you like one?
(Grandma) I have my own bag. Here is 1000 yen, please give me my change.
(Grandchild) We only accept electronic payments here. Please pay by card or PayPay.
(Grandma) I only have cash. Can't you calculate the change for me?
(Grandchild) I'm sorry, but I can't give change.
(Grandma) Oh, come on, just quickly calculate the change. <Grandma's grumbles>
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