Yakusoku

Yakusoku is a Japanese noun meaning "promise" or "agreement." It refers to a commitment made between people or a personal pledge. The related verb is yakusuru or the phrasal form yakusuru, shown in common usage as 約束する, meaning "to promise." Phrases such as 約束を守る (to keep a promise) and 約束を破る (to break a promise) illustrate typical daily usage. The term also appears in more specific contexts, such as promises made in personal relationships, schooling, or professional settings.

The word is written with two kanji characters: 約 and 束. 約 conveys the sense of binding or obligation, while 束 carries the notion of a bundle or restraint. Together, they form a concept of a binding obligation. In modern Japanese, yakusoku is read with kun-yomi as a single word, though the individual characters have their own readings in other compounds. The term has ancient roots in East Asian languages and has been in continuous use in Japanese for centuries, evolving to its current common sense of a formal or informal commitment.

In culture, Yakusoku appears frequently as a motif in literature, music, film, and manga, where it often centers on trust, loyalty, and the consequences of keeping or breaking a vow. It is also widely used in titles and lyrics, reflecting the universal narrative importance of promises in human relationships. Related concepts include keiyaku (契約, contract) and the broader idea of obligation within social ethics.