AbstractDoi's paper has successfully spelled out several important points onAmae: (1)Amaeis an interpersonal process; (2) the origin ofamaeprobably lies in the infant‐mother relationship; (3) the concept ofamaeprovides no absolute standard to classify a behavior in terms ofamae; (4)amaeis best understood as a combination of patterns of behaviors; and (5)amaeis a very broad concept.Implicit, but insufficiently recognized in Doi's paper, is the concept thatamaeis an interpersonal process of negotiation that is continuously revised throughout life. It is not just a motivational factor embedded in an individual; underneath the surface phenomenon ofamae, anamaeru‐ing person usually allows the other to feel needed, valued, and respected. Operationalizing the concept ofamaefor international research requires that the term be defined in relation to a combination of patterns of behaviors observable in the infant/child‐mother