“ありがとう” Unisex T-shirt

The word can also be written in kanji as 有り難う, although this form is much less common today. These kanji reveal the deeper meaning behind the familiar expression.

有り comes from 有る (aru), meaning “to exist” or “to be,” while 難 means “difficult.” The word comes from the older Japanese 有り難し (arigatashi), literally meaning “difficult to exist.” In other words, something arigatai is rare, precious, and never to be taken for granted.

Nothing is simply a given. When we recognize how extraordinary it is that something—or someone—exists at all, we begin to understand what arigatai truly means. That realization becomes gratitude, and gratitude becomes the word ありがとう: “thank you.”

This T-shirt features the words for “thank you” in languages from around the world. They are scattered across the design. The world is overflowing with “thank yous.” They help keep it round—whole and harmonious—yet they can be hard to notice.

If we treat everything as a given and forget gratitude, the world around us begins to fall apart. That is why I want to be able to notice “thank you,” feel it, and express it.