How to Read “海老で鯛を釣る”
Ebi de tai wo tsuru
Meaning of “海老で鯛を釣る”
This proverb means gaining larger benefits or results through small investments or sacrifices.
This proverb is often used to express strategic investment or action in business and relationships. It demonstrates the concept of active investment where you stake something of value to gain an even greater return. Rather than simple profit and loss, it strongly emphasizes calculated investment, and is particularly common in business contexts. It teaches the importance of making decisions from a long-term perspective rather than focusing on immediate profits.
Origin and Etymology
This proverb originates from Edo period fishing culture. It came from the actual practice of using shrimp as bait to catch sea bream, which was considered a premium fish. Shrimp was a favorite food of sea bream and was reliable, high-quality bait.
However, shrimp itself was also valued as food at the time. Particularly large, fresh shrimp had sufficient value just as a cooking ingredient. The wisdom and experience of fishermen using such valuable shrimp as bait to catch even more valuable sea bream became the basis for this proverb.
This concept gradually spread as business wisdom, and by the late Edo period, it had become established among merchants as a phrase expressing “investment” and “business strategy.”
Interesting Facts
The Edo period cookbook “Manpo Ryori Himitsubako” contains detailed instructions on using shrimp as bait for catching sea bream. This shows that shrimp was recognized as premium bait for catching sea bream even back then.
Usage Examples
- Product development is expensive, but let’s invest with the spirit of “With shrimp catch sea bream.”
- This advertising cost is high, but let’s aim for increased sales with the “With shrimp catch sea bream” strategy.
Modern Interpretation
In modern society, this proverb is mainly used in the context of marketing and investment strategies. It is often quoted particularly when explaining the importance of initial investments in startup funding and digital marketing.
For example, modern versions of “With shrimp catch sea bream” include strategies like investing in high-quality content creation to achieve greater customer acquisition, or offering high salaries to recruit excellent talent to enhance long-term corporate value.
However, it somewhat contradicts modern management philosophy that seeks to minimize risk, and in a climate that emphasizes “guaranteed return on investment,” it is also used as a symbol of deliberately taking risks. Even in the digital age, this proverb maintains its essential meaning of teaching the importance of proper investment decisions.
When AI Hears This
When we examine the phenomenon of catching a sea bream with a single shrimp through information theory, we see “information value amplification” occurring. The angler invests a shrimp (costing about 50 yen) to catch a sea bream (market value 2,000 yen), and it’s the power of information that generates this 40-fold return.
What’s crucial is that the angler’s knowledge of “where,” “when,” and “how” transforms mere bait into a powerful value-creation tool. For example, Google uses search as a free service (the shrimp) to acquire users’ behavioral data of enormous value (the sea bream).
Even more fascinating is the “information asymmetry.” The sea bream bites without knowing the shrimp’s true purpose. This is exactly like modern freemium strategies. The structure of gathering users with free apps (shrimp) and generating profits through paid features and advertising revenue (sea bream) matches this perfectly.
In information theory, value is said to emerge from “resolving uncertainty.” The angler resolves the uncertainty of “not knowing where the sea bream are” through information. In other words, the shrimp isn’t just bait—it’s an “interface” that projects information into the physical world.
This proverb grasped the essence of today’s data economy 300 years ago. The insight that the secret to achieving large returns from small investments lies not in things but in information remains an unchanging truth today.
Lessons for Today
This proverb offers us deeper lessons beyond mere investment wisdom. It teaches us that sometimes we need the courage to let go of something valuable to achieve worthwhile goals.
Not being bound by immediate certain profits and betting on greater possibilities is required in various life situations. For example, this mindset can be applied when challenging new career paths or building relationships.
What’s important is not simple profit and loss calculations, but maintaining a perspective of investing in the future. This can be considered wisdom for building a richer life.
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