How to Read “引かれ者の小唄”
Hikaremono no kouta
Meaning of “引かれ者の小唄”
“Pulled person’s ditty” is a proverb that describes when people who are driven into desperate situations or difficult positions still act tough or pretend to be calm and composed.
This proverb is used in situations where someone in a clearly disadvantageous position refuses to accept reality and puts on a false front. It refers to how people behave as if nothing has happened or make excuses when they should be taking a serious situation seriously.
Even in modern times, this is used in situations such as when a student who failed an exam makes excuses like “studying is boring anyway,” or when someone who made a mistake at work becomes defiant saying “this job isn’t suited for me.” It expresses a state where someone appears strong on the surface but is actually troubled or shaken inside.
The reason this expression is used is because it accurately captures the complexity of human psychology. The desire to maintain one’s pride as a human defense mechanism when cornered is something everyone has.
Origin and Etymology
The origin of “Pulled person’s ditty” is deeply connected to the penal system of the Edo period. This “pulled person” referred to someone being led to the execution ground as a criminal.
In the Edo period, those who committed serious crimes were sometimes subjected to the punishment of being paraded through the city. This was a type of public execution where criminals were placed on horses or in palanquins and paraded through the town to be exposed to the public. Eventually, they would be executed at the execution ground, making this one of the heaviest punishments of the time.
What’s interesting is that records remain showing that during this parade, criminals would sometimes sing songs or compose death poems. Even in the extreme situation of facing imminent death, some would behave cheerfully or show a defiant attitude.
This scene left a strong impression on people, and eventually gave birth to the expression “Pulled person’s ditty.” The sight of someone singing songs while facing the desperate situation of death must have been a memorable scene for people of that time.
From this historical background, this proverb became established as a phrase expressing the human psychology of showing bravado even when cornered.
Interesting Facts
During the Edo period’s city parades, it became customary for criminals to compose a final verse. This was called a “death poem,” and some became famous verses passed down to later generations. Perhaps this was a final expression of trying to maintain human dignity, born from the extreme situation of facing death.
The word “ditty” itself is also interesting, as it referred to short songs popular among common people during the Edo period. In other words, it expresses a lightness as if singing a casual ditty despite being in a serious situation.
Usage Examples
- My colleague who was laid off from the company saying “I feel relieved to be free” is truly a pulled person’s ditty
- My son who failed the entrance exam saying “that university isn’t that great anyway” is also what you’d call a pulled person’s ditty
Modern Interpretation
In modern society, the phenomenon of “Pulled person’s ditty” has become more complex with the spread of social media. The sight of people who have experienced failure or setbacks posting bravado online has become commonplace. Behind posts like “I quit my job and became free” or “I feel refreshed after breaking up with my partner,” there are often hidden deep wounds and anxieties.
Particularly in modern times, being constantly exposed to evaluation from others makes resistance to showing weakness stronger. Students who continue to be rejected in job hunting saying “there are only black companies with no good options,” or people whose startups failed analyzing that “the times weren’t ready for it” can be said to be modern versions of pulled person’s ditty.
On the other hand, as understanding of mental health deepens, attention is also being paid to the impact such bravado has on mental health. The dangers of continuing to suppress true feelings are being pointed out, and the importance of honestly acknowledging weakness is also being discussed.
However, the desire to protect human pride and dignity is not necessarily a bad thing. Sometimes, this “ditty” can function as a way to buy time for recovery or as a psychological defense mechanism. In modern society, understanding this delicate balance may be becoming more important.
When AI Hears This
The choice of “kouta” as a musical genre reveals the unique perspective on life and death held by Edo-period commoners. Kouta was a light, sophisticated vocal music accompanied by shamisen, popular as entertainment in pleasure quarters and theaters. In such a grave situation as execution, why would someone sing this cheerful “kouta” instead of solemn noh chants or Buddhist prayers?
Executions in the Edo period differed from today, carrying a highly public, spectacle-like quality. Public parades to the execution site were major entertainment for commoners, with the condemned person’s final behavior becoming a subject of evaluation. Singing “kouta” in this context was a way to hide one’s fear of death while maintaining the aesthetic of a stylish Edo townsperson until the very end.
What’s particularly noteworthy is that this “kouta” wasn’t mere bravado, but embodied a distinctive trait of Japanese culture—transforming tragedy into artistic expression. Just as lovers committing double suicide in kabuki “michiyuki” scenes sing and dance beautifully, even the ultimate tragedy of death gets converted into aesthetic expression. This represents a fundamentally different view of life and death from Western tragic sensibilities.
The modern phenomenon of public figures responding to social media backlash with witty tweets also belongs to this lineage of “condemned person’s song.” The attitude of gracefully deflecting desperate situations is cultural DNA inherited as part of the Japanese collective unconscious, continuing from the Edo period.
Lessons for Today
This proverb teaches us about the complexity of the human heart and the importance of accepting it. When someone is acting tough in a difficult situation, it’s important not to simply criticize them, but to understand that it’s their way of protecting their heart.
In modern society, honestly acknowledging failure and setbacks tends to be considered a virtue, but sometimes acting tough is also necessary. There’s no need to blame yourself for not being able to accept reality immediately. It’s okay to take some time until your heart is ready.
Also, when people around you are singing a “Pulled person’s ditty,” it’s important to watch over them with warm eyes. For that person to truly recover, securing emotional safety must come first. By empathizing with the true feelings behind the bravado and providing support at the appropriate timing, you can build better relationships.
Everyone faces difficult phases in life. You don’t need to be perfect during those times. Sometimes it’s fine to sing a little ditty while moving forward at your own pace.
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