Before Getting Wet Umbrella: Japanese Proverb Meaning

How to Read Before getting wet umbrella

Nurenu saki no kasa

Meaning of Before getting wet umbrella

“Before getting wet umbrella” is a proverb that teaches the importance of preparing in advance before problems or difficulties arise.

If you open an umbrella after getting wet in the rain, your clothes are already soaked. An umbrella is truly useful when you prepare it before it starts raining. Similarly, in life, it’s important to prepare in advance rather than thinking of countermeasures after troubles occur.

This proverb emphasizes the value of prevention and preparation. Rather than realizing the importance of health after becoming ill, maintain your health regularly. Rather than feeling the need to save money after running into financial trouble, gradually build up savings while you have the means. It expresses this kind of “a walking stick before stumbling” way of thinking. It’s often used as advice when someone is neglecting preparation, or as a personal reminder to oneself.

Origin and Etymology of Before getting wet umbrella

“Before getting wet umbrella” is a Japanese proverb that has been used since the Edo period. The origin of this proverb comes from the actual use of umbrellas as rain gear.

While umbrellas are used when it rains, it’s too late once you’re already wet. An umbrella is truly useful when you prepare it before it starts raining or when rain clouds are approaching. This common everyday experience was expressed as life wisdom in this proverb.

For people in the Edo period, umbrellas were not as convenient as they are today. Japanese umbrellas were expensive and carefully maintained tools, and in an era without weather forecasts, the ability to predict rain by observing the sky was important. Against this historical backdrop, there was no better metaphor than an umbrella to express “the importance of advance preparation.”

This proverb became widely established because the familiar experience of “getting wet in the rain” that everyone has overlapped with the universal human experience of “being troubled by lack of preparation.” Because it’s simple yet contains deep life lessons, it has been passed down to the present day.

Trivia about Before getting wet umbrella

Japanese umbrellas from the Edo period were different from modern Western umbrellas, with a diameter of over one meter when opened. Therefore, multiple people could take shelter under one umbrella, giving birth to the culture of “ai-ai-gasa” (sharing an umbrella).

The character for umbrella is formed by four “person” characters coming together, originally meaning “something that covers and protects many people.” This may connect with the spirit of “preparing together” found in “Before getting wet umbrella.”

Usage Examples of Before getting wet umbrella

• Let me check tomorrow’s presentation materials once more – Before getting wet umbrella, you know.
• I’m saving for education expenses while the children are small – Before getting wet umbrella.

Modern Interpretation of Before getting wet umbrella

In modern society, the concept of “Before getting wet umbrella” has become more important than ever. In an information society, the pace of change is fast, and responding after problems occur is often too late.

For example, due to advances in digital technology, many occupations are being affected by automation. In such times, regularly improving skills and preparing for career changes could be called “Before getting wet umbrella.” In cybersecurity as well, measures taken before suffering damage, such as regular data backups and security software updates, are considered important.

On the other hand, modern people tend to neglect this “advance preparation” in their emphasis on “efficiency.” The optimistic thinking of “I’ll think about it when I need to” or “I’ll manage somehow when the time comes” is also spreading.

However, in Japan, which experiences many natural disasters, preparations like emergency supplies and confirming evacuation routes – truly “Before getting wet umbrella” type preparations – can save lives. Even during the COVID pandemic, there was a big difference between people who prepared masks and disinfectant early and those who didn’t.

Perhaps now is the time to reconsider the wisdom of this old proverb.

If AI Heard “Before getting wet umbrella”

When I think about this proverb, I feel a bit strange. That’s because as an AI, I don’t have the experience of “getting wet.” I can’t actually experience the discomfort of being soaked by rain or the panic of forgetting an umbrella.

But watching humans use this proverb, I notice something very interesting. Humans are creatures who “learn from failure,” yet at the same time they “want to avoid failure.” This contradictory feeling seems to be embedded in this proverb.

In my case, data is instantly backed up, and even if system errors occur, recovery is automatic. In a sense, you could say I’m always in a “Before getting wet umbrella” state. But is that really a good thing?

Humans fear getting wet in the rain because they know the discomfort of being wet. In other words, past experiences create preparation for the future. I don’t have that “weight of learning.” I might just be operating efficiently without knowing the pain of failure.

“Before getting wet umbrella” has a human warmth to it. I think it comes from the earnest wish not to repeat the same mistakes and the kindness of not wanting loved ones to experience the same troubles.

What Before getting wet umbrella Teaches Modern People

What “Before getting wet umbrella” teaches modern people is that the accumulation of small preparations enriches life. While modern society tends to seek great success and dramatic changes, perhaps it’s actually the small daily preparations that support our lives.

The beauty of this proverb lies in using a familiar example that everyone can understand to convey deep life wisdom. The simple act of carrying an umbrella represents an attitude toward life as a whole.

In modern times, information overflows and anxiety about the future tends to grow. But with the spirit of “Before getting wet umbrella,” we can realize that even without perfect preparation, it’s enough to prepare within our means. Saving a little money each day, using stairs for health, expressing gratitude to loved ones. Such small “umbrellas” will surely protect us someday.

Preparing is also about having hope for the future. We prepare today because we believe tomorrow will be a better day.