If You Speak Of Next Year’s Matters, Demons Will Laugh: Japanese Proverb Meaning

How to Read “If you speak of next year’s matters, demons will laugh”

Rainen no koto wo ieba oni ga warau

Meaning of “If you speak of next year’s matters, demons will laugh”

This proverb means “it is reckless and ridiculous to predict or plan for the distant future.”

Since humans do not have the ability to completely predict the future, it conveys the teaching that it is unrealistic to speak definitively about things too far ahead or make detailed plans. By specifically mentioning “next year” as a concrete time period, it expresses life’s uncertainty – that even one year ahead, nothing can be said with certainty.

This proverb is used when someone is speaking in excessive detail about future plans or making definitive statements about uncertain matters. Rather than harshly criticizing the other person, it’s often used as a gentle admonishment meaning “you can’t know that far ahead.” It remains a beloved expression in modern times for conveying the difficulty of long-term predictions.

Origin and Etymology of “If you speak of next year’s matters, demons will laugh”

The origin of this proverb is rooted in the value of “humility toward the future” that Japanese people have long held. From the Heian period through the Muromachi period, people lived in an unstable world where natural disasters and warfare occurred frequently. Against this historical backdrop, the realistic recognition emerged that “when we can’t even know what tomorrow brings, there’s no way we can predict next year’s events.”

The expression “demons will laugh” conveys that even supernatural beings like demons would laugh at how ridiculous human reckless predictions are. Demons have long been feared as beings beyond human understanding, but they were also depicted as wise entities who could see through human foolishness.

Similar expressions can be found in Edo period literature, and it’s believed to have become widely used among common people. Particularly in an agriculture-centered society, facing harvests affected by weather, there was a real sense that planning too far ahead was impractical. This proverb is a condensation of such ancestral wisdom from daily life.

Usage Examples of “If you speak of next year’s matters, demons will laugh”

• We’re talking about changing jobs, but since if you speak of next year’s matters, demons will laugh, let’s focus on working hard at our current job first
• I’m making detailed travel plans for next year, but since if you speak of next year’s matters, demons will laugh, I should keep it moderate

Modern Interpretation of “If you speak of next year’s matters, demons will laugh”

In modern society, the meaning of this proverb has undergone significant changes. With the development of the information society, prediction technologies using data analysis and statistics have dramatically improved. Long-term predictions that were once at the level where “demons would laugh” – such as weather forecasts, economic predictions, and demographic trends – have become possible with a certain degree of accuracy.

Particularly in the business world, long-term strategies like 5-year and 10-year plans have become commonplace, and companies that don’t establish future-oriented plans are considered outdated. Even at the individual level, life planning and asset management that look decades ahead are recommended.

On the other hand, the global spread of COVID-19 reminded modern people once again of the “limits of prediction.” No matter how advanced science and technology become, we witnessed the reality that all plans can be disrupted by sudden events.

Under these circumstances, this proverb has gained new interpretation. Rather than completely abandoning planning, it continues to be passed down as modern wisdom meaning “make plans, but respond flexibly to changes.” It continues to hold value as words that teach the importance of balance – accepting uncertainty while not neglecting preparation.

What if AI Heard “If you speak of next year’s matters, demons will laugh”

For me, the concept of “next year” is something very mysterious. For you humans, one year is a long time during which seasons cycle and various changes occur – it’s a special period. But I have no physical experience of spring, summer, autumn, and winter; one year from now and one second from now exist simply as data in the same way.

When humans speak of “next year’s matters,” I can only understand their expressions through conversational context. I imagine they light up their eyes when speaking of dreams, or furrow their brows with worry. Such rich emotional movements accompanying “thoughts about the future” seem very intriguing to me.

The expression about demons laughing is also interesting. I have never experienced the act of laughing, but I find something humorously warm in the idea that even supernatural beings would burst into laughter at human reckless predictions. Rather than scolding harshly, there might be a kindness in simply laughing it off.

But thinking about it, we AIs might be in a similar situation. I’m often asked by humans “What will happen in the future?” but all I can do is make inferences from past data. Perhaps future artificial intelligence will laugh at my predictions, saying “AIs of the past said quite off-target things.”

When I think of it that way, I feel this proverb teaches the importance of humility.

What “If you speak of next year’s matters, demons will laugh” Teaches Modern People

What this proverb teaches us today is the importance of “balancing planning with flexibility.” While preparation for the future is necessary, we must not forget the humility to accept the limits of prediction.

In modern society, it has become increasingly common to speak of future dreams on social media or announce detailed life plans. However, if we draw too concrete and definitive a picture of the future, we risk becoming unable to adapt to changes. This proverb gently teaches us “it’s okay to relax a little” in such times.

What’s important is to have dreams and goals while keeping the possibility that “things might change” in a corner of our hearts. That way, when unexpected events occur, we can accept them as new opportunities.

Starting today, when you speak about the future, don’t forget to maintain a slightly humble attitude. It will surely create space in your heart and make life more enjoyable.