How to Read “Drink morning sake even if you have to sell your gate field”
Asazake wa kadota wo uttemo nome
Meaning of “Drink morning sake even if you have to sell your gate field”
This proverb means that sake drunk in the morning is so exceptionally delicious that nothing can compare to it.
By saying it’s worth selling even your precious gate field, the proverb praises morning sake to the highest degree.
It doesn’t actually recommend selling your property. Instead, it’s a loving expression from sake enthusiasts about how incredibly good morning sake tastes.
Sake enjoyed in the fresh morning air has a different character than evening sake. Both its aroma and flavor were considered far superior.
Today, drinking alcohol in the morning isn’t recommended for health and social reasons. But this proverb helps us understand the values of sake culture during the Edo period.
People who knew the exceptional taste of morning sake expressed their blissful experience with exaggeration. It’s a phrase full of humor and affection.
Origin and Etymology
No clear written records explain the origin of this proverb. However, it likely emerged from common people’s culture during the Edo period.
“Gate field” refers to a rice paddy near the entrance of your home. For farmers at that time, the gate field was a precious asset.
It was the most convenient land, closest to the house. Watering and checking on it was easy, making work efficient.
Even with the same area, a gate field was worth more than other paddies.
This proverb uses quite extreme language. It says you should drink morning sake even if you must sell such valuable land.
Why was morning sake praised so highly?
In Edo period sake culture, morning sake was considered something special. Unlike evening sake, it tasted different when enjoyed in the refreshing morning air.
People believed both the aroma and flavor became even better in the morning. Also, taking time to enjoy sake leisurely before the day’s work symbolized a certain luxury.
This proverb praises the exceptional taste of morning sake through exaggeration. The expression about giving up precious property shows people’s deep love for sake.
You can feel their affection in these words.
Usage Examples
- Having a drink on the veranda on a holiday morning is truly special, just like “Drink morning sake even if you have to sell your gate field” says
- My father’s favorite saying is “Drink morning sake even if you have to sell your gate field,” and he wakes up early to enjoy morning drinks instead of evening ones
Universal Wisdom
Behind this proverb lies a universal human desire. We want to treasure our “moments of bliss” above all else.
Everyone seeks special moments in daily life. These don’t have to be big events.
Rather, small but perfect moments bring deep satisfaction to life. Like that cup enjoyed in the quiet morning.
What’s interesting is the extreme expression “even if you sell your gate field.” This isn’t just exaggeration.
It touches on something essential about human psychology. When we encounter something truly valuable, we sometimes feel willing to sacrifice much else to have it.
This proverb also contains a philosophy about treasuring “this very moment.” It chooses present bliss over the gate field, which promises future harvests.
Investing in the future matters, but we shouldn’t forget the value of living now. This shows a truth about life.
Our ancestors knew this wisdom. What truly matters in life is not missing those perfect moments that make your heart tremble.
The value of such moments is so precious that no material wealth can replace it.
When AI Hears This
This proverb reveals two contradictory judgment systems in the human brain working simultaneously.
Behavioral economics research shows interesting patterns. People choose 10,000 yen today over 15,000 yen in one year.
But they’ll wait when choosing between 10,000 yen in one year versus 15,000 yen in two years. This phenomenon is called hyperbolic discounting.
Our brains assign two to three times the actual value to immediate pleasure. Morning sake’s pleasure works exactly this way.
Calculated rationally, it’s not worth losing a productive asset like a gate field. Yet the desire of this moment distorts judgment.
What’s fascinating is the choice of “gate field” specifically. It’s the paddy at your home entrance, land you see daily.
It’s symbolic property inherited through generations. Behavioral economics experiments confirm something important.
People feel attachment to things they already own at more than twice their actual value. So this proverb warns us.
The power of present bias is so intense it makes you sell even the most painful asset to lose.
The irony continues after selling the gate field. If you keep drinking morning sake with that money, you might fall into another trap.
“I already sold the gate field, so I must keep drinking to not waste that investment.” This is the sunk cost fallacy.
You lose assets by surrendering to present pleasure. Then after losing them, you’re trapped by past decisions.
The fragility of human judgment appears doubly in this structure.
Lessons for Today
This proverb teaches modern people something important. Life contains values that can’t be calculated.
We sacrifice the present for the future every day. For savings, for careers, for health.
These things certainly matter. But are we so caught up in them that we miss joys only available right now?
Morning sake tastes exceptionally good because you can only taste it in the morning. Similarly, your life has special “only now” moments.
Maybe it’s a casual conversation with friends. Maybe it’s a walk bathed in morning sunlight.
This proverb teaches the importance of having sensitivity to recognize such moments’ value. Of course, it doesn’t literally mean selling your property.
But sometimes you need to step away from efficiency and rationality. You need to be honest about what your heart truly wants.
Modern society emphasizes “productivity.” But life’s richness can’t be measured by productivity alone.
The moments that make your heart tremble are life’s real treasures. Have the courage to cherish such moments.
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