How to Read “蓑売りの古蓑”
Mino uri no furu mino
Meaning of “蓑売りの古蓑”
“Straw raincoat seller’s old straw raincoat” is a proverb that describes a situation where someone cannot use the good things they make or handle themselves.
This proverb refers to situations where craftsmen or merchants sell all their new, high-quality products to customers and are forced to use old or inferior items themselves. Even in modern times, it’s used in situations where a chef is too busy to eat anything but simple meals, or a clothing store owner displays all the new items in the store while wearing old clothes themselves. The reason for using this expression is to convey the irony of such situations and the fateful aspect of being a merchant. It’s also used to express the craftsman’s spirit of prioritizing customers and work even at the expense of putting oneself last. In modern times, this proverb is easily understood when expressing self-sacrificing work styles or the dilemma of being in a position to provide good things while being unable to benefit from them oneself.
Origin and Etymology
The origin of “Straw raincoat seller’s old straw raincoat” is said to come from the actual business conditions of the Edo period. A mino (straw raincoat) was rain gear made of straw or thatch worn to protect oneself from rain and snow, and was an indispensable tool for farmers and merchants.
Craftsmen who made a living selling straw raincoats naturally needed straw raincoats themselves. However, while continuously making straw raincoats as a business, they would provide all the newly made, high-quality straw raincoats to customers as merchandise, and what they used themselves would inevitably be old or slightly damaged straw raincoats. This was natural behavior as a merchant, but it was also an ironic situation.
From this situation, this proverb is thought to have originated with the meaning of not being able to fully benefit from the products one handles, or not being able to use the best items oneself. As an expression reflecting the craftsman’s spirit and merchant ethics of the Edo period, it came to be used among common people. It seems to have been particularly often used in conversations among people in the same trade or when talking about the hardships of business.
Interesting Facts
Straw raincoats were actually extremely excellent rain gear, superior in breathability to modern raincoats. The fibers of straw and thatch repelled rain while allowing moisture to escape, creating a structure that didn’t become stuffy even when worn for long periods.
Straw raincoat selling in the Edo period was a business with greatly fluctuating demand depending on the season. They sold like hotcakes during the rainy season and autumn’s long rains, but during periods of continued clear weather, they often had trouble with excess inventory, and it was precisely during such times that they had to continue carefully using their own old straw raincoats.
Usage Examples
- That famous chef’s restaurant is fully booked every day, but he’s always eating convenience store lunch boxes – it’s truly a case of straw raincoat seller’s old straw raincoat
- An IT company president providing the latest systems to customers while using old computers in his own company is a typical example of straw raincoat seller’s old straw raincoat
Modern Interpretation
In modern society, “Straw raincoat seller’s old straw raincoat” has come to have more complex and diverse meanings. This situation is frequently seen especially in service industries and specialized professions.
Phenomena such as hairdressers neglecting their own hair care while beautifying others, or psychological counselors accumulating their own stress while solving others’ problems, can be called modern versions of “Straw raincoat seller’s old straw raincoat.” In the IT industry, it’s not uncommon for companies that provide cutting-edge technology to customers to continue using old systems internally.
However, perspectives on this situation have also changed in modern times. While it was often viewed as a virtue of the craftsman’s spirit in the past, now, with the importance of “work-life balance” and “self-care” being emphasized, it’s increasingly recognized as a problem that should be improved.
Particularly among healthcare workers, educators, and other professions that support people, the idea that neglecting one’s own care ultimately leads to a decline in service quality has spread. In modern times, there’s a growing recognition that avoiding the “Straw raincoat seller’s old straw raincoat” state and having providers themselves enjoy good things leads to sustainable, high-quality service provision.
When AI Hears This
Business influencers on social media post “I made 1 million yen this month!” while secretly behind on their rent. Beauty YouTubers say “This cosmetic will give you perfect skin!” while always using beauty filters in their videos. These are perfect modern examples of “the straw raincoat seller’s old raincoat.”
What’s fascinating is that this contradiction doesn’t function as simple fraud, but rather as “credibility performance.” Investment influencers film themselves in front of luxury cars to play the role of successful people. In other words, to sell their product (success know-how), they need to hide the very condition that shows they need that product most (the fact that they’re not actually making money).
In psychology, this is called “cognitive dissonance.” They suffer from the gap between their reality and what they post online, but to bridge that gap, they fall into a vicious cycle of making even more exaggerated posts.
What makes this uniquely modern is the addition of follower counts as “social proof.” The psychology kicks in that if 10,000 people believe it, it must be true, making the raincoat seller’s lie even more powerful. The Edo period raincoat seller was doing one-on-one business, but social media is one-to-many. The structure now allows one person’s “old raincoat condition” to influence thousands of people.
Lessons for Today
What “Straw raincoat seller’s old straw raincoat” teaches modern people is the importance of taking care of oneself. While dedicating oneself to others is beautiful, this proverb makes us realize that continuously sacrificing oneself is not necessarily a virtue.
In modern society, we tend to put ourselves last for the sake of work or family. However, if we ourselves are not in good condition, the quality of services and affection we can provide will ultimately decline. It’s the same logic as being told in airplane safety instructions to “put on your own oxygen mask first before helping others.”
What’s important is sometimes giving ourselves a “new straw raincoat” too. This might not just be material things, but rest, learning, or hobby time. By fulfilling ourselves, we can give more abundantly to others.
This proverb might be gently teaching us the importance of living a balanced life.
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