＜prologue＞
I started a blog called “The Baby Boomer Generation’s Miscellaneous Blog”（Dankai-sedai no garakutatyou:団塊世代の我楽多（がらくた）帳） in July 2018, about a year before I fully retired. More than six years have passed since then, and the number of articles has increased considerably.
So, in order to make them accessible to people who don’t understand Japanese, I decided to translate my past articles into English and publish them.
It may sound a bit exaggerated, but I would like to make this my life’s work.
It should be noted that haiku and waka （Japanese short fixed form poems） are quite difficult to translate into English, so some parts are written in Japanese.
If you are interested in haiku or waka and would like to know more, please read introductory or specialized books on haiku or waka written in English.
I also write many articles about the Japanese language. I would be happy if these inspire more people to want to learn Japanese.
my blog’s URL:団塊世代の我楽多（がらくた）帳 | 団塊世代が雑学や面白い話を発信しています
my X’s URL:団塊世代の我楽多帳（@historia49）さん / X
I previously wrote articles about “Japanese words that are easily confused” and “Idioms that are easily confused.” This time, I’d like to introduce some proverbs that are easily confused.
(1) “Kareki mo yama no nigiwai”(Even a dead tree adds to the beauty of the mountain.)(「枯れ木も山の賑わい」)
This means that even something as insignificant as a dead tree is still better than nothing.
It is incorrect to say that “Even something as insignificant as a dead tree can be lively when gathered together.”
(2) “Nasake ha hito no tamenarazu”(Kindness is not for the benefit of others.)(「情けは人の為ならず」)
This means that showing kindness is not for the benefit of others, but ultimately for your own benefit.”
This does not mean that showing kindness will not benefit the person.
(3) “Tazan no ishi”(Learn from others.)(「他山の石」)
This is an analogy that suggests that “anything someone says or does, even if it is wrong or inferior, can be used to hone one’s own wisdom and virtue or as material for reflection.”
It does not mean “other people’s good behavior should be emulated.”
It comes from the Book of Songs, which says, “A lesson from another mountain can be used to sharpen one’s own jewel.(＊)”
（＊）「他山の石、以て玉を攻むべし」
It means, “Even a crude stone from another mountain can be used as a whetstone to polish one’s own jewel.”
(4) “Sode huriau mo tasyo no en”(Even a chance encounter with someone means that there is a connection from a past life.)（「袖振り合うも他生の縁」）
This does not mean, “Even a chance encounter with someone means that there is a connection between you and that person, and that connection should be cherished.”
Note that saying, “Even a chance encounter with someone means that there is a connection between you and that person, and that connection should be cherished（＊）” is incorrect.
（＊）「袖触れ合うも多少の縁」
(5) “Hyotan kara koma ga deru”(A horse comes out of a gourd.)（「瓢箪から駒が出る」）
This phrase means “something said half-jokingly comes true” or “something unthinkable becomes reality.” “Koma” does not refer to a shogi piece, but a horse. It originates from the following Chinese legend:
A long time ago, a Chinese immortal named “Shogu Lao” was wandering around on his white horse. When he tried to rest from his travels, he was troubled by the presence of his large horse, so he put it inside a small gourd. Then, when he resumed his journey, he brought another large horse out of the gourd.
(6) “Mago nimo isyo”（Even a horseman needs a costume）（「馬子（まご）にも衣裳」）
“Any person will look good if dressed appropriately.”
It does not mean “Any grandchild will look cute no matter what they wear.”
(7) “Miso wo tsukeru”(Staining with miso)（「味噌を付ける」）
It means “to fail and be embarrassed” or “to mess up and lose face.”
It does not mean “It looks unsightly when miso is on a dish or other object.”
There are two theories about the origin of this proverb.
① It comes from the fact that artisans would sometimes get burned if they made a mistake, and each time they would apply miso to the wound.
② Kanzashi artisans work with fire, and kanzashi made by artisans who burn themselves and apply miso to the wound would have a bad reputation.
(8) “Inaka no gakumon yori kyo no hirune”(A nap in Kyoto is better than learning in the countryside.)（「田舎の学問より京の昼寝」）
The implication is that “taking a nap in the capital is better than studying in the countryside,” and that “in the capital, you can naturally broaden your horizons.”
This does not mean that “if you get into a university in Tokyo, even if you fall asleep in class, it will be much better than studying at a university in the countryside.”
One explanation is that “even if you study hard in the countryside, where the academic environment is not favorable, the level you can reach will be limited. Instead, if you are in a city like Kyoto, which is rich in cultural stimuli, you will naturally acquire knowledge even if you are lazy, which is an advantage.”
However, this proverb was applicable before the Edo period, when Kyoto and Edo (and Nagasaki) were centers of advanced learning and culture, and such learning was not possible in the countryside.
The situation is different in today’s internet-enabled world, where you can easily learn advanced things even in the countryside, and I think that the number of unnecessary temptations and stimuli in the city can actually get in the way of your studies.
Also, when looking at the modern era or society, I feel it is easier to discern the truth from a distance, like the countryside, than from the middle of a city.