How to Read “大山鳴動して鼠一匹”
Taizan meidō shite nezumi ippiki
Meaning of “大山鳴動して鼠一匹”
“Great mountain rumbles and mouse one animal” is a proverb that describes a situation where, despite making a big fuss or having grandiose preliminaries, the actual result is very modest and disappointing.
This proverb is used to express, with irony or disappointment, the great disparity between the magnitude of advance commotion or expectations and the smallness of the actual results obtained. The extreme contrast between the grand and fearsome phenomenon of a great mountain rumbling and the result of just one small mouse effectively expresses the absurdity and emptiness of such situations.
Even in modern times, it is used when events that received extensive publicity or preparation did not achieve the expected results, or when what was thought to be a major announcement turned out to be modest content. However, rather than directly criticizing those who made the effort, it is often understood as an expression that objectively evaluates the disparity of the situation itself.
Origin and Etymology
The origin of this proverb traces back to the works of the ancient Roman poet Horace. In his “Ars Poetica,” there is a passage that says “The mountains were in labor, and brought forth a ridiculous mouse,” which is said to be the source.
This expression depicts the comical situation where a great mountain rumbled and showed signs that something was about to be born, but in the end, only one small mouse emerged. Mountain rumbling evoked associations with earthquakes and volcanic activity, phenomena that were very frightening and expectation-raising for ancient people.
It is believed to have been transmitted to Japan via China, and this expression can already be found in Edo period literature. People of that time probably understood it by overlaying various events in human society with the contrast between the grandeur of natural phenomena and the smallness of their results.
What is interesting is that this proverb has been accepted as similar expressions in many cultures, both East and West. This may indicate that it represents a situation that is universal to human experience.
Usage Examples
- Despite all that extensive publicity for the new product launch event, it was Great mountain rumbles and mouse one animal
- We were told it was an emergency company meeting and gathered, but it was Great mountain rumbles and mouse one animal and we were let down
Modern Interpretation
In modern society, it seems that situations where this proverb applies are occurring more frequently. This is particularly due to the dramatic increase in the speed and scale of information dissemination with the development of social media and mass media.
In modern times, where advance publicity and announcements for corporate new product launches and politicians’ major announcements tend to become overheated, cases where the actual content does not meet expectations are conspicuous. It is not uncommon for products touted as “revolutionary new technology” to be merely small improvements on existing technology, or for announcements heralded as “historic policy shifts” to turn out to be minor system changes.
On the other hand, in modern times, the value of “going viral” and attracting attention has increased, so the tendency to deliberately use exaggerated staging has also strengthened. As a marketing strategy, it has become common to intentionally set expectations high.
However, precisely because of such circumstances, the lessons of this proverb are gaining importance. In an age of information overload, we are required to cultivate the ability to discern the essence and maintain the composure not to be misled by excessive expectations. Those on the transmitting side also need to recognize anew the importance of honesty and appropriate expectation setting.
When AI Hears This
**The Anatomy of Online Outrage: The Gap Between Expectations and Reality**
Social media outrage and “much ado about nothing” operate on exactly the same psychological mechanism. During the initial “much ado” phase of online controversies, users imagine worst-case scenarios from fragmentary information and amplify them through retweets and shares. At this point, people’s expectations are set for “an absolutely massive scandal.”
However, research on online outrage shows that about 70% of controversy cases die down within 48 hours, with actual social impact close to zero. In other words, they reach the “about nothing” conclusion. The core of this phenomenon lies in the structural characteristics of social media. The 140-character limit and instant reaction systems simplify complex facts and prioritize emotional responses.
What’s particularly fascinating is the “expectation reversal phenomenon.” The bigger the outrage becomes, the more people expect “there must be a substantial reason behind it,” but when the truth comes out, it’s often just a minor misunderstanding or a matter of expression. Just as people in the Edo period imagined dragons or great earthquakes from thunderous mountain sounds, modern people imagine massive scandals from viral posts.
This structural similarity demonstrates that human cognitive biases remain unchanged across eras. Our tendency to confuse the “volume” of information with its “substance” has simply become more pronounced in the digital age.
Lessons for Today
What this proverb teaches us in modern times is the importance of having appropriate expectations. In today’s information-saturated society, we tend to be swayed by exaggerated advertising copy and inflammatory information, but it’s important to cultivate the ability to calmly discern the essence.
At the same time, this proverb also suggests the danger of judging the value of things based solely on the size of results. Even small achievements may have meaning in the process and effort that went into creating them. Even “one mouse” could be a valuable step when viewed from a different perspective.
Also, when we are in a position to transmit something ourselves, it reminds us of the importance of maintaining honesty. Rather than stirring up excessive expectations, we can build healthy relationships by providing appropriate information.
In modern society, small changes and improvements can become great forces when accumulated. Perhaps avoiding “great mountain rumbling” while recognizing the value of “one mouse” and continuing steady progress is what leads to true growth.
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