How to Read “同じ穴の狢”
Onaji ana no mujina
Meaning of “同じ穴の狢”
“Same hole’s badger” is a proverb that describes people who appear separate at first glance but are actually companions with the same kind of bad nature or mindset.
This proverb is used to point out situations where multiple people who seem unrelated on the surface are actually connected behind the scenes and involved in similar wrongdoing or misconduct. It’s particularly used when exposing or criticizing situations where, even though one person appears to be doing wrong, there are companions with similar thinking behind them.
As for usage scenarios, it’s often used when organizational wrongdoing is exposed, such as political corruption, corporate fraud, or scam groups. In daily life, it’s also used for groups that engage in gossip or harassment. The reason for using this expression is to emphasize that even though they may appear to be independent individuals on the surface, they essentially share the same bad nature at their core, like badgers that came from the same hole. Even today, it’s frequently used due to its accuracy when expressing organizational scandals or behind-the-scenes collusion between people who appear separate on the surface.
Origin and Etymology
The origin of “Same hole’s badger” is deeply related to the ecology of the animal called mujina (badger). Mujina is a word that mainly refers to badgers and raccoon dogs, and these animals have the habit of digging holes in the ground to make their nests.
What’s interesting is that badgers don’t necessarily dig holes alone. Multiple badgers sometimes share the same hole, or they dig similar holes nearby to form a living area. People in ancient times, while observing this ecology of badgers, probably noticed that badgers coming out of the same hole all have similar characteristics.
This proverb is said to have appeared in literature around the Edo period, and badgers were familiar animals to people of that time. The behavior of nocturnal badgers that also appeared near human settlements was well observed in people’s daily lives.
Also, the fact that the badger itself was associated with folk beliefs about “deceiving” is thought to have influenced the establishment of this proverb. From the idea that badgers coming out of the same hole all have the same kind of cunning to deceive people, it became established as a word to express the relationships between those who commit wrongdoing.
Interesting Facts
The word mujina (badger) doesn’t actually refer to one specific type of animal biologically. Depending on the region, it was used as a general term for small animals that dig holes to live, such as badgers, raccoon dogs, and masked palm civets. Therefore, the “badger” in this proverb was also understood not as a specific animal, but as a concept of “cunning animals that live in holes.”
In Edo period literature, badgers were feared alongside foxes as “animals that deceive people.” However, interestingly, while foxes had a strong image of deceiving alone, badgers had an established image of doing mischief in groups. This is thought to have led to the expression “Same hole’s badger.”
Usage Examples
- Looking at those politicians’ corruption scandal, you can clearly see that they were ultimately Same hole’s badger
- They pretended to be competing companies on the surface, but it was revealed that they were Same hole’s badger in price manipulation
Modern Interpretation
In modern society, the expression “Same hole’s badger” is gaining importance as a tool to express more complex and sophisticated relationships. This is because in the information age, there are numerous cases where individuals or organizations that appear unrelated are actually closely connected beneath the surface.
With the spread of social media, cases frequently occur where accounts that appear to be independent individuals on the surface turn out to be multiple accounts by the same person or part of organized information manipulation. Also, due to complex capital relationships and personnel exchanges between companies, it’s not uncommon for competing companies to actually belong to the same interest group.
Particularly on the internet, different websites or platforms may appear to be run by separate operators on the surface, but may actually be controlled behind the scenes by the same corporate group or individual. In the spread of fake news and public opinion manipulation, strategies are used to enhance credibility by having similar content disseminated from multiple information sources, which is exactly a “Same hole’s badger” type strategy.
On the other hand, the difficulty of simply labeling things as “evil” has also increased in modern times. Due to globalization, the interests of companies and individuals are complexly intertwined, and entities that appear to be in conflict on the surface often actually have common interests. This proverb provides an important perspective for understanding the complex human relationships and organizational relationships of modern society.
When AI Hears This
“Same hole, same badgers” can be seen as a prophetic proverb that brilliantly captures the modern phenomenon of social media echo chambers. Just as badgers live in the same burrow and exhibit similar behaviors, social media users unknowingly trap themselves in homogeneous information environments.
According to Facebook research, approximately 70% of users only engage with posts that align with their political views, while exposure to differing opinions drops to just 15%. This is precisely the “same hole” scenario, where invisible algorithmic forces cluster us together with like-minded individuals.
What’s fascinating is that badgers are nocturnal, highly cautious animals. Similarly, social media users instinctively become wary of opposing viewpoints and retreat to the comfort of their familiar “burrow.” Research analyzing political discussions on Twitter found that response times to opposing opinions were three times longer than responses to agreeable ones, showing reaction patterns remarkably similar to badgers being alert to external threats.
Even more concerning is how badgers’ group behavior can dull individual judgment. On social media, the number of “likes” and peer validation become the primary criteria for decision-making, often prioritizing group consensus over factual accuracy. It’s remarkable how the badger behavior observed by people in the Edo period so precisely captures the essence of human behavior in the digital age.
Lessons for Today
What “Same hole’s badger” teaches modern people is the danger of judging things based only on their surface appearance. We encounter various information and people daily, but it’s important to cultivate the ability to see through the true relationships and motivations behind them.
In modern society, where information overflows, seemingly independent multiple information sources may actually be disseminated with the same intent. In such times, by remembering the teaching of this proverb, we can develop the habit of examining information more carefully and discerning the essence.
Also, this proverb gives us an opportunity to reflect on ourselves. Aren’t we unknowingly becoming “Same hole’s badger” with someone? It’s important to regularly check whether we’re being swept away by group pressure and losing sight of our original values.
On the other hand, we also need to be careful when using this proverb to criticize others. Rather than judging people based only on superficial similarities, we want to have the tolerance to recognize their individuality and uniqueness. True insight might mean having both the power to see through commonalities and the power to recognize differences.
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