How to Read “野良の節句働き”
Nora no sekku bataraki
Meaning of “野良の節句働き”
“Field festival working” is a proverb that describes a situation where only one person is working while everyone else is resting, in other words, depicting someone working in isolation from their surroundings.
This proverb is used mainly in two contexts. One is to objectively describe a situation where only one person is working on holidays or days off. The other is used to express the feelings or circumstances of someone working alone, separated from the group.
In modern times, it would often be used to refer to people who come to work during long holidays like Golden Week or the year-end and New Year holidays, or those working overtime while their colleagues are enjoying farewell or welcome parties. This proverb contains feelings of sympathy and understanding for such situations, including empathy for that person’s position and feelings beyond just the fact that they are “working alone.”
Origin and Etymology
The origin of “Field festival working” is deeply rooted in the customs of rural society during the Edo period. “Nora” refers to agricultural work in fields and rice paddies, while “sekku” means annual events such as the five seasonal festivals (Jinjitsu, Jōshi, Tango, Tanabata, and Chōyō).
In Edo period rural villages, seasonal festivals were considered important days for expressing gratitude to the gods and praying for family health, and it was common for many people to take a break from farm work to participate in festivals and events. Particularly during the Boys’ Festival and Tanabata, village-wide celebrations were held, providing precious opportunities for usually busy farmers to rest and strengthen community bonds.
However, agriculture is work that is affected by weather and seasons. During rice planting and harvesting seasons, or when sudden weather changes required emergency work, situations arose where field work had to continue even during festivals. At such times, the sight of a farmer silently working alone in the fields while others around them were enjoying festivals came to be called “Field festival working.”
This expression emerged from rural society as a way to describe situations where one person had to take different actions from the rest of the community, and eventually came to be widely used.
Interesting Facts
In Edo period rural villages, working on festival days was not only difficult but was also considered disrespectful to the gods. Therefore, people who engaged in “Field festival working” were viewed with special regard by those around them, either as having very compelling circumstances or as being exceptionally diligent.
The word “nora” that appears in this proverb is often used in modern times to mean “ownerless” as in “stray dogs” or “stray cats,” but originally it was a word meaning “fields and rice paddies” or “agricultural work.”
Usage Examples
- While everyone was having fun at the year-end party, he alone was doing Field festival working, preparing materials
- Field festival working during Golden Week is tough, but it can’t be helped due to the deadline
Modern Interpretation
In modern society, the meaning of “Field festival working” has changed significantly. While it once described situations specific to agricultural society, it now carries more complex meanings due to the diversification of work styles.
The spread of telework has created a new form of “Field festival working” where people are physically in the same space as their families but are the only ones working. Additionally, due to globalization, situations where people must work on Japanese holidays due to overseas business have increased.
On the other hand, in modern times, individual values and work styles have diversified, and more people are choosing to work at different times from others. Freelancers and entrepreneurs sometimes view this as a strategy to effectively utilize time when others are resting.
However, in modern times when long working hours and overwork have become social problems, this proverb has also gained attention in the context of work style reform. It is sometimes used as a warning about workplace environments where “Field festival working” has become the norm, functioning not just as an expression of diligence but also as a term pointing out problems in the work environment.
In this way, the meanings and usage of proverbs continue to change with the times.
When AI Hears This
Edo period farmers and modern office workers are actually suffering within the same structure.
Behind the birth of “nora no sekku hataraki” lies the crushing burden of annual tribute taxes. Farmers had to pay approximately 40% of their harvest as tribute, leaving them no room to rest on festival days. In other words, pressure from above stripped them of their “right to rest.”
Modern black companies operate under the same structure. According to Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare surveys, paid leave usage remains at only about 58%. The situation where “everyone else is working so I can’t take time off alone” or “I can’t rest because of sales targets” directly mirrors farmers driven by tribute demands.
What’s particularly fascinating is that in both cases, it’s not about “individual laziness” but rather “systemic problems.” In the Edo period, it was the tribute system; today, it’s performance-based evaluation and labor shortages that drive workers into situations where they cannot rest.
Even more striking is how both are justified through the value system that “working is virtuous.” The Edo period glorified the “diligent farmer,” while today we idealize the “hardworking employee.”
In essence, Japan has maintained for over 300 years a culture of trying to solve structural labor problems through individual mental fortitude. Technology has advanced, but the fundamental nature of our work philosophy remains unchanged.
Lessons for Today
What “Field festival working” teaches modern people is that there is value in solitary effort. There’s no need to feel down seeing other people’s fun activities on social media, or to blame yourself for being the only one doing something different.
What’s important is understanding why you’re making that choice. Are you working out of a sense of responsibility, to achieve a goal, or are you in a situation where you really want to rest but can’t? By clarifying the reason, your way of dealing with that situation will also change.
Also, if there are people around you doing “Field festival working,” it’s important to understand their circumstances and efforts, and offer them warm words. Compassion for someone working hard alone will surely reach their heart.
In modern society, work styles have diversified, but that’s precisely why it’s important to respect each other’s choices. Sometimes working hard alone, sometimes resting together with everyone – both are valuable choices.
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