Hiya...

How would you say 'mother' in the affectionate?  Somehow, 'okaachan'
doesn't seem right, but I'm not sure...

Believe it or not? 'Mama' would work best. 'Kaachan' is also correct.

	

	Actually the familiar term for mother in proper Japanese is "ha ha" for
father it it "chi chi"
little sister it is "imooto" little brother it is "itooto" for older sister it
is "Ane", for older brother it is "Ani", for grandmother it is obaba, or
obaba-san or obaba-chan that is all I can think of at the moment, and I am not
sure but I might have the older brother and sister mixed up, I'd have to get
my Japanese book out to find out.  

	Now here is my question for the list.  Why on earth do you people wish to use
words from a language that you don't understand?!  If you don't know the
words, will your reader?  What is the point of writing a fic that over half
the phrases are lost to your readers level of comprehension?!  Isn't the point
of the written word to communicate?  If that is your aim and you wish to
communicate with your readers, then do so in ENGLISH!  

	It wont take anything away from your story, it is generally accepted that
most Anime and Manga series take place in Japan and the characters are
speaking Japanese, whether the dialogue is written that way or not.  Even I
myself am guilty of doing this especially in my first chapter of my story and
I am in the process of a rewrite.  I know it is fun to sprinkle these words
through your stories and in doing so parade your intelligence for your
readers, but please do yourself a favor and at the VERY LEAST include a
glossary, or try not to use Japanese words at all ^_^
Just my two cents.

ja.

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