Traditional Culture That Demands Dignity | Nihongo Sprit [日本語道] Series #2
Author: Katsuyuki Hasegawa
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Nihongo Sprit Series : Japanese Mythology
- The Truth of “Impermanence” and “As Is”
- Traditional Culture That Demands Dignity
- Yokai Fit in with Japanese Life
- Japanization of Foreign Culture and Co-existence
- Compassionate Language that Avoids Conflict
Warming up Audio
Keywords and summary
| Japanese Word | Furigana | English Word | Example Sentence (Japanese & English) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 相撲 | すもう | Sumo wrestling | 相撲は日本の伝統文化の一つです。 Sumo wrestling is one of Japan’s traditional cultures. |
| 力士 | りきし | Sumo wrestler | 力士は非常に大きな体を持っています。 Sumo wrestlers have very large bodies. |
| 階級 | かいきゅう | Rank, class | 相撲には6つの階級があります。 There are six ranks in sumo. |
| 幕内 | まくうち | Top division of professional sumo | 幕内力士たちはとても強いです。 The wrestlers in the top division are very strong. |
| 横綱 | よこづな | Yokozuna, highest rank in sumo | 横綱になるには、力量だけでなく品格も必要です。 To become a yokozuna, both strength and character are necessary. |
| 品格 | ひんかく | Character, dignity | 横綱にふさわしい品格があるかどうかも重要です。 Whether one has the appropriate character for a yokozuna is also important. |
| 勝負 | しょうぶ | Match, bout | 相撲は勝負が決着するまで続きます。 Sumo matches continue until there is a winner. |
| 土俵 | どひょう | Sumo ring | 相撲の試合は土俵の上で行われます。 Sumo matches take place on the sumo ring. |
| 敗者 | はいしゃ | Loser | 相撲では敗者への気遣いも大切です。 Consideration for the loser is also important in sumo. |
| 修行 | しゅぎょう | Training, discipline | 日本の文化には修行が大切な要素として取り入れられています。 Training is an important aspect of Japanese culture. |
| 精神性 | せいしんせい | Spirituality | 日本文化を学ぶことは精神性を高めることにつながります。 Studying Japanese culture can lead to an increase in spirituality. |
| 接客 | せっきゃく | Hospitality, customer service | 茶道では接客が重要な要素です。 Hospitality is an important aspect of tea ceremony. |
| 精神力 | せいしんりょく | Mental strength | スポーツ選手は精神力も重要な要素です。 Mental strength is an important aspect for athletes. |
| 人格 | じんかく | Personality, character | 茶の作法を通じて人格を磨くことができます。 You can hone your personality through tea etiquette. |
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Izanami (いざ波)
Sumo, considered the national sport, has a history of more than 1,500 years, and over this long history it has become both a stylized and a traditional culture. There are six divisions of sumo wrestlers separated according to their strength.
国技と言われる相撲は1500年以上の歴史があるとされ、その長い歴史の中で様式化され、伝統文化になりました。力士の力量に応じた6つの階級があります。
Izanagi (いざ凪)
The highest division is called makuuchi. There are ranks within the makuuchi divisions, with yokozuna being the highest.
最上位の階級は幕内と呼ばれます。その中でもランクがあり、最高位は横綱です。
Izanami (いざ波)
Only a rikishi (wrestler) with a good record can become yokozuna. However, being strong is not enough to become a yokozuna.
横綱になれるのは、良い成績を積み上げた力士のみです。しかし、強いだけでもなれません。
Izanagi (いざ凪)
The Yokozuna Council decides whether a rikishi is fit to be a yokozuna. Its rules state that a yokozuna must have “outstanding dignity and strength.”
横綱にふさわしいかどうかは横綱審議会が決めます。その規定には「品格、力量が抜群であること」とあります。
Izanami (いざ波)
Dignity is required even after becoming yokozuna.
品格は横綱になった後も求められます。
Izanagi (いざ凪)
It is not enough to just win the bout; they must also win with dignity and without tricks.
勝負に勝てばよいのではなく、小細工をせず堂々と勝つことが求められます。
Izanami (いざ波)
Also, even if you win, do not show joy in the ring. Care and respect for the loser is also important.
また、勝っても土俵上で喜びを表してはいけません。敗者への気遣いや敬意も大切な要素です。
Izanagi (いざ凪)
A yokozuna from Mongolia once made a fist pump when he won an important match, and that brought a lot of disapproval frowns.
モンゴル出身の横綱が大事な一番に勝利した時にガッツポーズをして、ひんしゅくを買ったことがありました。
Izanami (いざ波)
The Dutch wrestler who defeated a Japanese wrestler in the judo final of the 1964 Tokyo Olympics greatly impressed the Japanese as he gestured with his hands to calm down overwhelmingly excited Dutch fans.
1964年の東京オリンピックの柔道決勝で日本人選手に勝ったオランダの選手は、興奮したファンの歓喜を手で制して、日本人に大きな感動を与えました。
Izanagi (いざ凪)
Japanese cultural training emphasizes the importance of a balance between “mind, technique, and body.” It cultivates oneʼs own mental strength, develops a superior technique, and a healthy body. In addition to consideration for others.
日本文化の修行は「心技体」のバランスが大切とされます。自身の精神力と優れた技、健康的な体を鍛え、さらに他者を思いやる心を養います。
Izanami (いざ波)
This attitude of consideration for others is often seen in interviews with Japanese athletes.
相手を思いやる姿勢は、日本人スポーツ選手のインタビューでもよく見られます。
Izanagi (いざ凪)
Most of the winners say, “This victory is thanks to your support.” This is not a cliché; the players truly believe it.
勝者のほとんどが、「この勝利は、皆さんのサポートのおかげです」と言います。これは決まり文句でなく、選手は心からそう思っているのです。
Izanami (いざ波)
Caring for others leads to good performance in team competitions, such as in the Olympic events.
人を思いやる気持ちは、オリンピックなどの団体競技で好成績につながります。
Izanagi (いざ凪)
Many athletes, even if their individual performance is inferior, perform better because they do not want to disappoint their peers.
個々の成績がふるわなくても、仲間を失望させたくないという気持ちから、実力以上の力を発揮するアスリートは少なくありません。
Izanami (いざ波)
The word “dou” (training) is attached to many aspects of Japanese culture, including martial arts such as judo, kendo, and aikido, as well as sado (tea ceremony) and kado.
柔道、剣道、合気道などの武道や、茶道、華道などの日本文化の多くに「道」がついています。
Izanagi (いざ凪)
Japanese culture can be described as a discipline meant to improve oneʼs spirituality and become a person of dignity through sports and lessons.
日本の文化は、スポーツや習い事を通じて精神性を高め、品格のある人物を目指す修行とも言えます。
Izanami (いざ波)
For example, the tea ceremony is not just about tasting tea. It is a practice to entertain others and improve oneʼs character through the tea ceremony etiquette.
例えば、茶道は単に茶を味わうことが目的ではありません。茶の作法を通じて相手をもてなし、人格を磨く修行です。
Izanagi (いざ凪)
In the world of tea ceremony, there is a saying, “once-in-a-lifetime chance.” It means that a tea ceremony is considered to be a once-in-a-lifetime event, and that both the host and the guest of the tea ceremony should give their sincerity to the event.
茶の世界には「一期一会」という言葉があります。茶会は生涯に一度だと考え、茶会の主と客どちらも誠意を尽くすべきだという意味です。
Izanami (いざ波)
This awareness permeates the Japanese people and can be seen in various situations, including customer service.
この意識は日本人に浸透し、接客をはじめ、さまざまな場面で見られます。
Izanagi (いざ凪)
The culture of caring for others is also connected to the Japanese mentality of putting oneʼs heart and soul into creating products.
人を思いやる文化は、ものづくりに心を込める日本人の精神性にもつながっていると言えるでしょう。
Finally, let’s listen to it in Japanese only!
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