How to Read “江戸の敵を長崎で討つ”
Edo no kataki wo Nagasaki de utsu
Meaning of “江戸の敵を長崎で討つ”
“Edo’s enemy in Nagasaki strike down” means to settle a previous grudge or take revenge in a completely unrelated place.
This proverb expresses the mysterious nature of life’s encounters and the concept of karma. It depicts a situation where humiliation or damage suffered in Edo is avenged by chance in the distant land of Nagasaki, and it also contains the lesson that the world is a small place. It is used in situations where one unexpectedly reunites with someone from the past in an unexpected place and settles old scores there, or when an opportunity for revenge presents itself in a different location after a long time has passed. Even today, you can experience the meaning of this expression when meeting people from former competing companies at a new workplace, or encountering old rivals while traveling.
Origin and Etymology
The origin of this proverb is thought to have emerged from the geographical and social background of the Edo period. Edo and Nagasaki were important cities located at the eastern and western extremes of Japan at that time. Edo was the political center of the Tokugawa shogunate, while Nagasaki flourished as a gateway for overseas trade.
A common theory suggests that this expression is based on the wide range of movement of merchants and samurai during the Edo period. Even then, people’s sphere of activity was surprisingly broad, and it was not uncommon for merchants doing business in Edo to extend their reach to Nagasaki, or for samurai to move to distant places due to domain transfers.
The sankin-kotai (alternate attendance) system of the Edo period is also thought to have influenced the establishment of this proverb. As daimyo from across the country traveled back and forth between Edo and their home domains, human movement became active, increasing opportunities for unexpected reunions with acquaintances or the revival of old grudges in unexpected places.
The use of the specific place names Edo and Nagasaki was likely because they represented the most distant combination of cities for people of that time, making a strong impression. This sense of distance creates the effect of emphasizing the meaning of unexpected events in unpredictable places.
Interesting Facts
I don’t know any trivia about this proverb.
Usage Examples
- That former boss being at my new company’s client company – this is truly an opportunity for Edo’s enemy in Nagasaki strike down
- My rival from student days being a member of the same project during an overseas business trip was like Edo’s enemy in Nagasaki strike down
Modern Interpretation
In modern society, subtle changes have occurred in the meaning of this proverb. This is because globalization and digitization have greatly changed the concept of physical distance. Through social media and online meetings, the sense of distance between Edo and Nagasaki has shrunk in daily life, and the premise of “distant places” has weakened.
However, new interpretations have also emerged in modern times. Due to the increased activity in the job market, human relationships from previous workplaces increasingly intersect again in unexpected ways. Also, it’s not uncommon for online controversies and troubles to reignite on completely different platforms.
What’s interesting is that in modern times, rather than the original meaning of “revenge,” it’s increasingly used with nuances like “unexpected reunion” or “rekindling of old connections.” Rather than actually settling grudges, it more often refers to past relationships resurfacing in unexpected situations.
Furthermore, for people working at global companies, a new meaning has emerged where problems that occur in Tokyo are resolved at overseas branches – literally problem-solving in geographically distant places. In today’s business environment, the element of “unexpected location” that this proverb possesses has come to have more multi-layered meanings.
When AI Hears This
From Edo to Nagasaki was about 1,200 kilometers. It took messengers of that era roughly two weeks to carry information across this distance. This time lag was the avenger’s most powerful weapon.
Imagine someone who made enemies in Edo fleeing to Nagasaki. The target would let their guard down, thinking “I’m safe now that I’m far away.” But the avenger would turn the messenger system to their advantage. First, they would send their subordinates ahead to Nagasaki to build a local intelligence network. They would thoroughly investigate the target’s whereabouts, daily routines, and personal relationships.
Meanwhile, the target’s allies back in Edo would be slow to learn about developments in Nagasaki. In other words, the avenger could create “information asymmetry.” In modern terms, it’s similar to a hacker infiltrating someone’s system and stealing information while the victim remains unaware.
Even more cunning was exploiting Nagasaki as a “foreign cultural sphere.” Nagasaki was a trading port with foreign nations, where business customs and personal networks differed completely from Edo. Power and money that worked in Edo could become worthless in Nagasaki. The avenger factored in this “away game disadvantage” as well.
This proverb isn’t simply about revenge. It represents an Edo-period version of “information strategy” that weaponized time lags in communication and regional disparities. It’s essentially the same concept as modern global corporations using time zones to compete around the clock.
Lessons for Today
What this proverb teaches modern people is the mystery of “connections” in life and the importance of taking responsibility for one’s actions. It reminds us that no matter how far away we are, our past actions may return to us in unexpected ways.
In modern society, this lesson has more realistic meaning due to social media and global business environments. Online statements and workplace behavior can affect us in unexpected situations. That’s why this proverb teaches us the importance of acting with integrity on a daily basis and building good human relationships.
Also, this proverb teaches us about the interesting aspects of life. The world is narrow despite seeming wide, and unexpected reunions and new developments may be waiting. Rather than harboring past experiences as resentment, by reframing them as opportunities for growth, we can turn unexpected reunions into positive events. We should maintain the mental flexibility to enjoy life’s encounters.
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