How to Read “泥棒を捕らえて縄を綯う”
Dorobou wo toraete nawa wo nau
Meaning of “泥棒を捕らえて縄を綯う”
This proverb expresses the foolishness of frantically beginning preparations only after something has already happened.
It is a teaching that warns against reactive responses where one starts working on things that should have been prepared in advance only when they are actually needed. In the emergency situation of catching a thief, not having rope to tie them up is clearly a typical example of being unprepared. Even in modern times, it’s used in situations like frantically starting to study the night before an exam or beginning to prepare presentation materials right before the presentation.
The reason for using this proverb is to emphasize the importance of preparation and to encourage reflection on actions lacking planning. In contrast to “if you are prepared, you have no worries,” it characteristically shows the problems of being unprepared through a specific scenario. In modern society, while speed is valued, the importance of basic preparation and planning remains unchanged. Rather, because society has become more complex, the value of advance preparation has become even more important.
Origin and Etymology
The origin of “Catch thief and twist rope” is thought to have emerged from actual law enforcement practices during the Edo period. At that time, it was common for town magistrate offices and village vigilante groups to twist rope on the spot to tie up thieves and criminals after catching them.
The word “nau” (twist) means to create rope by twisting together fibers such as straw or hemp. For people of the Edo period, rope-twisting was a daily task, but it was still work that required considerable time and effort. Originally, rope should have been prepared before catching the thief, but the sight of frantically starting to make rope only after catching them became a perfect example to express being unprepared or reactive responses.
This proverb is said to have appeared in literature from the mid-Edo period onward and became widely used among common people. In actual crime scenes, temporary binding with hand towels or sash cords was sometimes done, but sturdy rope was necessary for proper restraint. Therefore, the situation of “twisting rope after catching the thief” remained in people’s memory as excellent teaching material about the importance of preparation, and is thought to have become established as a proverb.
Interesting Facts
Rope-twisting in the Edo period actually required craftsman-level skills. Making good rope required experience and technique, from selecting materials to the strength of the twist. Hastily made rope was prone to breaking and often useless when it mattered most, which gave this proverb’s lesson even deeper meaning.
The verb “nau” (twist) is rarely used in modern times, but the word “nawa-nai” (rope-twisting) still remains in some regions. Traditional rope-twisting techniques in Okinawa are so valuable that they are still protected as cultural properties today.
Usage Examples
- Not having prepared tomorrow’s presentation materials yet is like “Catch thief and twist rope”
- Looking for storm shutters after the typhoon arrives is pathetic, like “Catch thief and twist rope”
Modern Interpretation
In modern society, the meaning of this proverb has become more complex. With advancing digitization, many preparatory tasks can now be done instantly. Document creation is possible with templates, information gathering with search engines, and communication instantly through messaging apps. Therefore, the sense that “somehow things will work out even without preparation” has indeed spread.
However, on the other hand, precisely because we live in an information-rich era, advance organization and preparation have become more important in some aspects. To select what’s needed from vast amounts of information and produce high-quality results requires even more preparation and planning than before. Especially with the spread of remote work, cases where the quality of planning directly affects results have increased.
What’s interesting is that modern approaches like “agile” and “speed-first” thinking are also valued. Methods of starting first and improving along the way are considered effective rather than waiting for perfect preparation. While this may seem to contradict this proverb, it’s actually an approach built upon basic preparation.
As a result, modern people can be said to need both “minimum necessary preparation and flexible responsiveness.”
When AI Hears This
Toyota’s “Just-in-Time” production system embodies the exact philosophy of “making rope after catching the thief.” Parts are procured the moment they’re needed, and inventory is reduced to the absolute minimum. Actions that would have been ridiculed as “foolish unpreparedness” in the Edo period are now praised as “world-class production efficiency” in modern times.
Behind this reversal lies the information technology revolution. In the Edo period, information took days to transmit, making advance preparation a survival strategy. Today, however, we can grasp demand in real-time and instantly adjust entire supply chains. Toyota’s “kanban system” uses “pull-type” production where downstream processes request only what they need from upstream processes, perfectly achieving the timing of “preparing rope after the thief appears.”
What’s even more fascinating is how this approach dramatically reduces inventory costs. The traditional “just in case” stockpiling mindset leads to enormous unsold inventory risks and storage expenses. But with Just-in-Time, you can generate maximum results with minimal resources.
In other words, the same “reactive” behavior receives completely opposite evaluations when the technological environment changes. This phenomenon—where an Edo period “warning” became a modern “ideal”—reveals how profoundly our values are shaped by the constraints of our times.
Lessons for Today
What this proverb teaches modern people is the importance of thinking about “the quality of preparation.” It’s not just about preparing quickly, but developing the ability to discern what kind of preparation is needed and for what purpose.
In modern society, we sometimes become unable to act because we demand too perfect preparation, or we miss opportunities due to insufficient preparation. What’s important is judging what preparation is truly necessary for each situation and setting priorities. An attitude that values substance over appearance in materials, and essence over form, is required.
Also, this proverb contains the hope that “it’s not too late even now.” Even after catching the thief, rope can still be twisted. When you realize you’re unprepared, take whatever measures you can. That attitude becomes the strength to overcome difficult situations. We want to have the courage to start with what we can do now, even if it’s not perfect. Preparation is an investment in the future and an act of building trust in ourselves.
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