How to Read “夜目遠目笠の内”
Yome toome kasa no uchi
Meaning of “夜目遠目笠の内”
“Night eye distant eye hat’s inside” is a proverb that expresses three conditions under which women appear more beautiful than they actually are.
When seen in the dim twilight of night, when viewed from a distance, and when wearing a hat with half the face hidden, the fine details cannot be seen clearly, so the viewer’s imagination works to make them feel more beautiful than they actually are. This represents the human psychological tendency to ideally supplement missing parts when only incomplete information is available in a situation.
This proverb is used in situations that warn about how, in romantic relationships and human relationships, when you don’t know enough about the other person, you tend to notice only the good aspects and idealize them. It’s also an expression that teaches the importance of observing carefully up close in a bright place in order to discern the true nature of things. Even today, it’s understood as words expressing universal human psychology that suggests the danger of judging based only on first impressions or limited information.
Origin and Etymology
“Night eye distant eye hat’s inside” is an old proverb that has been used since the Edo period. This expression lists three conditions under which women appear beautiful, and was born from the life experiences of people of that time.
“Night eye” refers to seeing in the dim darkness of night, “distant eye” means seeing from far away, and “hat’s inside” refers to seeing a woman’s face half-hidden while wearing a hat. People of the Edo period knew from experience that in these situations, the fine details of women’s facial features could not be seen clearly, so imagination would work to make them feel more beautiful than they actually were.
The background to this expression taking root is also related to the lighting conditions and transportation methods of the Edo period. At night there was only the dim light of lanterns and candles, travel was mainly on foot so distance between people naturally occurred. Also, it was a common custom for women to wear hats when going out.
This proverb can be said to be the product of an interesting observational eye that expressed the human psychological tendency to “beautify what cannot be seen” through everyday experiences. It’s truly accurate human observation born from the life sensibilities of Edo commoners.
Interesting Facts
The hats used by women in the Edo period were called “ichime-gasa” and were large, with diameters of nearly one meter. These hats deeply hid the upper half of the face, so only the mouth and jawline could be seen, truly creating the situation of “hat’s inside.”
The three conditions that appear in this proverb are all related to “light conditions.” The darkness of night, light attenuation due to distance, and shadows from hats are all elements that limit visual information, skillfully expressing the psychological mechanism by which the human brain tries to supplement insufficient information.
Usage Examples
- I fell in love at first sight at a group date, but when I looked closely, it seemed to be a case of Night eye distant eye hat’s inside
- People who look wonderful in photos often turn out to be cases of Night eye distant eye hat’s inside when you actually meet them
Modern Interpretation
In modern society, the concept of “Night eye distant eye hat’s inside” appears in new forms of the digital age. Opportunities to judge people through limited information or processed images have dramatically increased, such as SNS profile photos, encounters on matching apps, and impressions in online meetings.
Especially on Instagram and TikTok, modern versions of the “Night eye distant eye hat’s inside” effect are intentionally created through filter functions and lighting techniques. Beauty processing apps and selfies taken from carefully chosen angles can be said to play the same role as the hats of the Edo period.
On the other hand, this phenomenon has come to have important meaning not only in romantic relationships but also in business scenes. In online interviews and remote work, we often judge others based only on impressions through screens, and are sometimes surprised by the gap when actually meeting face-to-face.
Similar phenomena can also be seen in online product sales. Many people have had the experience of being attracted to appealing product photos or videos and purchasing something, only to be disappointed when seeing the actual item.
Thus in modern times, making judgments in situations with limited information has become more commonplace, making the lessons of this proverb increasingly important.
When AI Hears This
The “beautification effect through distance” discovered by people in the Edo period uses a remarkably similar mechanism to modern social media filters.
The dim light of evening, views from afar, shadows cast by hats—all of these were techniques for “making things appear beautiful by concealing information.” In other words, not seeing too clearly was the secret to beauty.
Modern Instagram filters operate on exactly the same principle. They use “blur” to hide fine wrinkles and blemishes on skin, and adjust lighting to create shadows. Zoom meeting beauty features also make people look attractive by intentionally making facial details less visible.
In psychology, this is called the “beautification effect through incompleteness.” The human brain has a habit of automatically filling in unseen parts with an “idealized state.” For example, people wearing masks appearing more beautiful is the same phenomenon.
What’s fascinating is that ordinary people in the Edo period identified this psychological mechanism through experience alone. The “beauty” that modern people desperately try to create with apps was something people in the past achieved using natural conditions.
Technology has advanced, but the human psychology of feeling that “things are most beautiful when slightly obscured” hasn’t changed at all. Even we in the digital age are ultimately seeking the same illusion as people in the Edo period.
Lessons for Today
What this proverb teaches modern people is both “the danger of judging based only on first impressions or limited information” and at the same time that “the richness of imagination is also one of human charms.”
What’s important is maintaining appropriate distance while understanding this psychological tendency. Whether in romance or business, truly knowing someone requires taking time to observe from various angles. However, this doesn’t mean we need to completely deny initial intuition or impressions.
In modern digital society, this lesson has become more important. This is because situations requiring judgment based on limited information have increased, such as people met on SNS or matching apps, products purchased online, and colleagues working remotely.
This proverb teaches us the importance of “cultivating discernment.” The ability to discern beautiful or good things is something polished through experience and observation. At the same time, we shouldn’t forget that we ourselves might be viewed by others through “Night eye distant eye hat’s inside,” and we should strive to be sincere.
Comments