How to Read “If you lose at Go, win at shogi”
Go de maketara shōgi de kate
Meaning of “If you lose at Go, win at shogi”
This proverb is a message of encouragement. It tells you not to give up after one defeat, but to change your approach and make a comeback.
If you lose at Go, then compete at shogi instead. In other words, failing in one area doesn’t mean you should give up.
You can simply compete in a different arena. This shows a positive attitude toward setbacks.
People use this proverb to encourage those facing failure or frustration. When someone fails at something, they often become fixated on that one thing.
But the world offers countless possibilities. This saying reminds us that there are other fields where we excel, or new challenges we haven’t tried yet.
Today, people use it in many situations. These include entrance exams, job hunting, and work failures.
You might encourage a friend who didn’t get into their first-choice university by reminding them other paths exist. Or you might suggest a colleague struggling in sales try the planning department instead.
Origin and Etymology
The exact first written appearance of this proverb is unclear. However, it likely emerged during the Edo period or later.
This was when both Go and shogi became widely popular in Japan.
During the Edo period, both games were beloved by everyone from commoners to samurai. People often played multiple matches in a single day.
It was common to see someone lose at Go and then try to redeem themselves at shogi, or vice versa. The proverb probably arose naturally from these actual gaming situations.
What’s interesting is why these two specific games were chosen. Both involve moving pieces on a board and require strategic thinking.
But their nature differs greatly. Go is about controlling territory and requires seeing the whole board at once.
Shogi is about directly attacking to checkmate the opponent’s king. They demand completely different abilities and strategies.
This contrast captures the essence of the proverb. It shows that failure in one field doesn’t mean you can’t succeed in another.
By using specific game names, it expresses this hope concretely. The proverb tells you not to keep fighting on the same ground.
Instead, find a place where you excel and compete there. This reflects the practical wisdom of our ancestors.
Interesting Facts
Both Go and shogi have been enjoyed in Japan since ancient times. However, their historical status has changed over the centuries.
During the Edo period, the shogunate created official positions called Go-dokoro and Shogi-dokoro. These protected both games as cultural treasures.
In samurai society, playing both games was considered part of one’s education. The ideal was to be skilled at both, not just one.
Some say the order of games in this proverb has meaning. Go generally takes longer to master and was considered more advanced.
This might be why “if you lose at Go” comes first. The structure suggests that even if you lose at the harder game, another method exists.
Usage Examples
- This project failed, but if you lose at Go, win at shogi—let’s compete with a different plan next time
- My son was depressed about failing his entrance exam, so I told him, if you lose at Go, win at shogi
Universal Wisdom
This proverb has been passed down because it brilliantly captures two opposing human traits: attachment and flexibility.
When people fail once, they tend to become fixated on that failure. They keep trying in the same place using the same methods.
They repeat the same mistakes. This comes from pride—not wanting to admit defeat—and from not wanting to waste previous efforts.
But this attachment sometimes traps us and leads to more failures.
On the other hand, humans also have flexibility. We can adapt to our environment and find new paths.
This flexibility is what has helped humanity overcome countless difficulties. However, when we’re in the midst of failure, using that flexibility isn’t easy.
Our vision narrows. We can’t see other possibilities.
This proverb understands human weakness. It offers a simple, clear solution: compete somewhere else.
By using specific game names like Go and shogi, it becomes more than abstract advice. It becomes a practical guide that resonates deeply.
Our ancestors knew something important. Life isn’t decided by a single battle.
There are countless battlefields. The wisdom to choose the battlefield that suits you is the secret to a rich life.
When AI Hears This
When you consider Go and shogi together, an interesting mathematical structure emerges. Suppose your win rate at Go is 30 percent and at shogi is 70 percent.
Your opponent is the opposite: 70 percent at Go and 30 percent at shogi. If you keep playing only Go, you’ll lose more in the long run.
Game theory calls this a “dominant strategy.” For your opponent, continuing to choose Go is always advantageous.
But if you agree to alternate between both games, the expected value becomes 50 percent versus 50 percent. In other words, you’re equal.
This isn’t just consolation. Having multiple competitive spaces mathematically eliminates one-sided dominance.
What’s more important is having the choice of which game to play. If your opponent proposes Go, you propose shogi instead.
This negotiation process itself becomes a third game. Eventually, both parties reach an acceptable equilibrium point—a Nash equilibrium.
The same phenomenon appears in real-world business competition. A company disadvantaged in price competition shifts to service competition.
This is exactly avoiding a dominant strategy. If you compete on only one metric, the ranking becomes fixed.
But introducing multiple metrics creates a multidimensional equilibrium. Everyone can demonstrate some strength.
This proverb shows that increasing the dimensions of competition is a mathematical means of creating equal relationships.
Lessons for Today
Modern society demands specialization. Yet change happens fast, and surviving on just one skill is difficult.
This proverb teaches flexible thinking. Don’t fear failure. Instead, see failure as a door to new possibilities.
What’s especially important is the courage to acknowledge defeat. Persisting with something that isn’t working is sometimes seen as a virtue.
But you need to calmly judge whether it’s really the right choice. Withdrawal isn’t defeat—it’s a strategic move toward the next victory.
If you feel stuck with something right now, broaden your perspective. The place where you can demonstrate your abilities isn’t limited to where you are now.
A different field, a different method, or a different environment might be waiting for you.
What matters is not letting one failure define your worth. Just as you can win at shogi after losing at Go, life offers countless battlefields.
Find the place that suits you and give it your all. That flexibility and positive attitude become the strength to survive in the modern world.
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