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2011/11/30

Water in Japanese Culture: No. 3

Japanese used to use many expressions using water;
“Be careful with the water you will have there.”
“This water doesn’t suit me.”
“Now I get used to this water.”
“So, it was the WATER to cause this problem.”

These are expressions to describe the place you were born, or to send wishes to the person who are leaving or living away from you.  People used these expressions all the time in their daily life 50 years ago.

People often used “water” to describe something they did not know the reason or cause.  In that context, the water means climate and environment which surround us around.  These expressions, I think, display both delicacy and boldness of Japanese characters well.

Water also takes on the character of delicacy and boldness at the same time.  To be honest, that describes the water very well.

If you are people of Japan, which is so blessed with the water, we can learn from the water to be delicate and bold at the same time.
Why don’t you take a minute to imagine the way of life like water?