How to Read “対岸の火事”
Taigan no kaji
Meaning of “対岸の火事”
“Fire of opposite shore” refers to other people’s disasters or problems that have no direct relation to oneself and pose no worry of causing damage or impact.
This expression originated from the situation where a fire occurring on the other side of a river is safe for this side because it cannot spread across due to the natural boundary of the river. In other words, it is used to express other people’s troubles or disasters that cannot harm oneself due to physical distance or differences in position. This proverb is mainly used when objectively viewing other people’s problems or when expressing that one is in a safe position. However, it doesn’t simply mean indifference, but is often used as an expression that describes the objective situation of “not being affected by it.” Even in modern times, it is used for events that do not directly impact one’s life, such as troubles in other departments at work or problems occurring in distant regions.
Origin and Etymology
The origin of “Fire of opposite shore” literally referred to fires occurring on the other side of rivers or lakes. In Edo period Japan, fires were extremely serious problems because wooden buildings were densely packed together. Particularly in Edo, fires occurred so frequently that it was said “fires and fights are the flowers of Edo.”
Even if a fire broke out on the other side across a river, there was no worry of the fire spreading to this side because the river served as a natural firebreak. Therefore, people could watch with peace of mind. From this physical situation, the metaphorical meaning of “events not directly related to oneself” was born.
This proverb is said to have appeared in literature from around the mid-Edo period, and is thought to have been an expression that naturally arose from the lived experiences of people at that time. Because it deals with fires, which were familiar and serious disasters, it was understood by many people and has been passed down to the present day. The characteristic of this proverb is that the situation of being “unrelated” is expressed in a visually clear way through the distinct boundary line of a river.
Interesting Facts
In Edo period fires, rivers actually played an important role as firebreaks. Rivers such as the Sumida River and Kanda River functioned as natural boundary lines that stopped the spread of fires.
The word “taigan” (opposite shore) that appears in this proverb has been used since ancient times not only to mean simply “the other shore” but also in the abstract sense of “opposing position.” Therefore, it is a profound word that can express not only physical distance but also differences in position and circumstances.
Usage Examples
- I thought the system failure in the neighboring department was a Fire of opposite shore, but it started affecting us too
- We were viewing our rival company’s scandal as a Fire of opposite shore, but it seems likely to lead to a loss of trust in the entire industry
Modern Interpretation
In modern society, the concept of “Fire of opposite shore” has changed significantly. With globalization and the spread of the internet, even geographically distant events can instantly impact our lives.
For example, political turmoil overseas affects stock prices, natural disasters in distant countries disrupt supply chains, and directly impact our daily lives. The spread of social media has made events from around the world shared in real time, shortening psychological distances as well. We have entered an era where other people’s misfortunes and problems can feel as if they were our own.
On the other hand, in our information-overloaded modern age, the importance of deliberately maintaining distance by treating things as “Fire of opposite shore” is being reconsidered. Since empathizing with every problem would lead to mental exhaustion, it has become necessary to maintain appropriate psychological distance.
Also, in modern times, the expression “treating as Fire of opposite shore” is increasingly used critically to describe attitudes of indifference or treating something as someone else’s problem. It is often used in contexts that point out lack of interest in social issues or absence of personal responsibility.
In this way, words that originally described objective situations have come to be used as expressions that include moral judgment in modern times.
When AI Hears This
The concept of “someone else’s problem” in the SNS era has fundamentally overturned our understanding of distance. While events in distant countries were once considered other people’s business, we now find ourselves crying over overseas news and feeling anger at strangers’ posts, while remaining indifferent to our neighbors’ struggles and local community issues—a complete reversal.
This stems from the separation between “emotional distance” and “physical distance.” Algorithms prioritize delivering distant information that matches our interests, with visually impactful footage and relatable stories spreading most widely. As a result, we end up signing petitions for girls’ education in Afghanistan while failing to notice the isolation of elderly people living alone in our own neighborhoods.
Even more fascinating is this “sense of righteousness from a safe distance.” With physically distant problems, we can feel moral superiority without bearing actual responsibility or costs. Meanwhile, nearby issues require complex human relationships and real action, leading us to “turn a blind eye” instead.
This phenomenon also relates to what psychology calls “selective identification.” SNS makes it easy to connect with people who share similar values, so even distant “allies'” problems feel personal, while issues affecting physically close but ideologically different people remain other people’s business. Today’s “other shore” isn’t a geographical river—it’s the digital boundary lines of our values.
Lessons for Today
What “Fire of opposite shore” teaches modern people is the importance of appropriate distance. This proverb teaches us that while we don’t need to get involved in every problem, it’s also dangerous to be completely indifferent.
In modern society, information overflows and problems from around the world appear before our eyes. At such times, we need the ability to judge which problems to engage with and which to maintain appropriate distance from. It’s important to distinguish between what we can and cannot do, and to allocate our energy appropriately.
Also, even things that appear to be “Fire of opposite shore” now can change with circumstances. Problems that were unrelated yesterday can become our problems today. That’s why it’s important not to ignore them completely, but to maintain moderate interest.
You don’t need to shoulder everything either. But try paying a little attention to what’s happening around you. Today’s “Fire of opposite shore” might become the wisdom or experience that supports you tomorrow.
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