How to Read “Hiding the head but not hiding the rear”
Atama kakushite shiri kakusazu
Meaning of “Hiding the head but not hiding the rear”
This proverb points out the foolishness of hiding only part of something while thinking you’ve hidden the whole thing. It criticizes people who believe they’ve successfully concealed their wrongdoings, failures, or flaws when they actually haven’t.
People use this saying when someone tries to hide misconduct or mistakes, but obvious evidence or traces remain for everyone to see.
For example, when someone tells a lie full of contradictions that gets exposed. Or when someone fixes only the surface of a problem without addressing the real issue.
In modern times, this expression applies to digital-age situations like information cover-ups on social media or corporate scandal responses.
Deleting or editing only some information while other evidence remains is exactly the foolishness this proverb describes.
Origin and Etymology
The exact origin of this proverb in historical texts is unclear. However, a widely known theory says it comes from the behavior of pheasants.
Pheasants supposedly stick only their heads into grass when they sense danger. They think hiding their heads keeps them safe, but most of their bodies remain visible. This comical sight is believed to be the source of the proverb.
Some point out that actual pheasant behavior doesn’t always match this description. Still, the proverb has lasted because it reflects sharp observation of human behavior patterns.
When people want to avoid unpleasant situations, they tend to hide only the most troubling part and feel relieved. This psychology is expressed through the comical image of hiding just the head while the body stays visible.
The saying was already used among common people during the Edo period.
The structure of the phrase itself is very simple. The contrast between “hiding the head” and “not hiding the rear” instantly conveys the foolishness of incomplete concealment.
This clarity explains why people have loved using it across generations.
Interesting Facts
English-speaking countries have a similar expression. The term “ostrich policy” comes from the folk belief that ostriches hide their heads in sand when sensing danger.
Ostriches don’t actually behave this way either. But the expression criticizes attitudes that turn away from reality.
It’s fascinating that East and West use different birds as examples while pointing out the same human foolishness.
Traditional Japanese rakugo comedy includes many stories that embody the spirit of this proverb. Scenes where thieves make noise during break-ins and hastily hide in closets with their feet sticking out are visual representations of “Hiding the head but not hiding the rear.”
Usage Examples
- He thought deleting the evidence emails was enough, but everything’s backed up in the cloud. That’s exactly “Hiding the head but not hiding the rear.”
- If you only rewrite the bibliography in your report but leave the copied parts in the main text, it becomes “Hiding the head but not hiding the rear.”
Universal Wisdom
This proverb has been passed down for generations because it sharply exposes the deep self-deception lurking in human psychology.
We all have the desire to turn away from inconvenient realities. Strangely, when we hide the parts we don’t want to see, we fall into the illusion that everything is solved.
Behind this psychological mechanism lies the limitation of human cognition. We can only see things from our own perspective.
We unconsciously assume that what disappears from our sight must also disappear from others’ sight. The person who hides their head truly can’t see the danger anymore, but they remain fully visible to everyone around them.
Thinking more deeply, this behavior hides the desperate psychology of “wanting to eliminate at least the immediate anxiety.”
Even knowing they can’t hide perfectly, people rush into incomplete concealment because hiding just the most worrying part brings some relief. They seek that temporary sense of security.
Our ancestors didn’t condemn this human weakness. Instead, they expressed it through humorous metaphor.
This contains a warm gaze toward mistakes anyone might make, along with a gentle warning that “this won’t work.”
When AI Hears This
Information theory calls the amount of information needed to identify a target “identification cost.” Human faces can identify individuals with about 7 bits of information, while body silhouettes need only about 4 bits.
So hiding the head does increase identification cost. But here lies the critical blind spot that concealers overlook.
Observers can reconstruct the whole picture from the partial information of “the rear is visible” using Bayesian inference.
For example, if five people could possibly be there, combining auxiliary information like body type, clothing, and movement habits requires only 2-3 additional bits to complete identification.
The concealer feels safe having “hidden the most important part,” but the combination of remaining information is actually sufficient for estimation.
Modern data leaks follow the same structure. Even without posting face photos on social media, people get identified from information equivalent to “the rear”—location data, posting times, and social connections.
A 2013 MIT study proved that just four spatiotemporal data points can re-identify individuals with 95% probability.
What matters in information concealment isn’t “what you hide” but “what remains.” The correlations among remaining information become the key to reconstructing what you thought you hid.
Lessons for Today
What this proverb teaches modern people is that honesty is the most efficient way to live.
When we try to hide something, we consume far more energy than we imagine. We must constantly monitor how much to hide and who knows what. Considering that effort, facing things honestly from the start is much easier.
Modern society especially has rapidly increasing information transparency. Social media, surveillance cameras, and digital records mean everything leaves traces.
Partial concealment always shows cracks and ends up losing trust instead.
If you’re thinking about hiding something now, stop and consider. Do you really need to hide it, or is it a problem you should face?
Everyone has failures and flaws. Having the courage to acknowledge them gives you opportunities for growth.
Rather than struggling to appear perfect, accepting your imperfect self and working to improve earns more trust from others.
Use your energy to become better, not to hide things.
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