How to Read “鳶に油揚げをさらわれる”
Tobi ni abura-age wo sarawareru
Meaning of “鳶に油揚げをさらわれる”
“Kite carries away fried tofu” means having something you were trying to obtain, or something precious you already possessed, unexpectedly snatched away by a third party.
This proverb is used particularly in situations where you and another person are competing for something, and suddenly a different person appears and takes away that benefit or achievement. What’s important is that this third party wasn’t participating in the competition from the beginning, but appears in a way that gains “the fisherman’s profit.”
Even in modern times, it’s used in situations like when you’ve progressed to the final stages of a business negotiation only to have another company suddenly steal the contract, or in romance when two men are competing for one woman and a completely different man captures her heart. This proverb contains the regret of those who were making efforts and the unexpectedness of the situation. It also includes lessons about life’s unpredictability and the importance of never letting one’s guard down.
Origin and Etymology
The origin of this proverb is deeply rooted in the daily life of the Edo period. At that time, fried tofu was a valuable source of protein for common people, and especially freshly made warm fried tofu from tofu shops was an attractive food that gave off a fragrant aroma.
In the streets of Edo, kites soared through the sky and sometimes snatched food from people’s hands. Among birds of prey, kites have a particularly opportunistic nature, with the habit of quickly seizing prey by targeting human vulnerabilities. Light, strongly aromatic foods like fried tofu were perfect targets for kites.
The background to this proverb’s establishment lies in the lived experiences of Edo period people. Having precious food that you finally obtained snatched away in an instant by a kite that appeared from the sky – that frustration and surprise must have been a familiar and pressing experience for people of that time.
The characteristics of the kite as a bird are also important. Kites are masters of hunting who spot prey from above, calculate timing, and dive down rapidly. This law of nature came to be used as a metaphor to express events in human society. Thus was born this striking proverb expressing situations where precious things are taken away by unexpected third parties.
Interesting Facts
Kites are actually very intelligent birds with the ability to learn human behavior patterns. According to Edo period records, they apparently had habits of targeting food at specific times and places, and similar behavior can be seen even today at tourist destinations.
The choice of fried tofu as the food item is also exquisite – it was light and easy for kites to carry, and was a “little luxury item” for common people of that time, which enhances the effect of this proverb. With heavy rice cakes or fish, kites couldn’t easily carry them away.
Usage Examples
- When I went to buy the used car I had been eyeing, another customer had bought it first thing in the morning – I felt like “Kite carries away fried tofu”
- We were both competing for her, but I never thought a transfer student would come along and “Kite carries away fried tofu”
Modern Interpretation
In modern society, the meaning of this proverb has come to be applied to more complex and diverse situations. Particularly in the internet age, with the dramatically increased speed of information dissemination, “Kite carries away fried tofu” situations have become frequent occurrences.
For example, there are cases where ideas or content that became popular on social media are commercialized by someone else, bypassing the original creator. Also, in online shopping, it has become commonplace for inventory to be bought by others while you’re putting items in your cart and considering them.
In the business world, phenomena where large corporations with capital power imitate technologies or services that startup companies have been developing for years and dominate the market in a short time can also be called “modern versions of Kite carries away fried tofu.”
On the other hand, because modern values emphasize “first-mover advantage” and “speed priority,” emotional responses to this proverb have also changed. Situations that used to evoke anger as “unreasonable theft” are now often viewed as “one’s own responsibility for missing a business opportunity.”
Additionally, globalization has made competitors less visible, normalizing the appearance of unexpected rival companies like “kites suddenly appearing from the sky.” This has made the “warning against complacency” aspect of this proverb take on more important meaning in modern times.
When AI Hears This
The “window of opportunity theory” that information security experts fear most describes how attackers target moments when they can achieve maximum results in minimal time, and this concept aligns remarkably with kite behavior patterns. Kites silently swoop down to snatch fried tofu the instant a person carrying it lets their guard down or looks away. Modern cyberattacks follow the same pattern, targeting these “windows of opportunity” – the few hours when system administrators neglect updates, or the few seconds when employees open phishing emails.
What’s even more fascinating is the modern theory that attack success rates are determined by multiplying “victim complacency” by “attacker preparedness.” People carrying fried tofu fall into the cognitive bias of “never imagining it could be stolen from above,” while kites routinely observe potential targets from overhead, calculating the optimal timing. This is essentially modern social engineering attacks in action.
While “defense in depth” forms the foundation of information security, this proverb highlights the critical importance of preparing for “threats from above.” The lesson that ground-level vigilance alone is insufficient, and that we need 360-degree threat awareness against attacks from unexpected angles, reveals timeless security principles that haven’t changed since the Edo period.
Lessons for Today
What this proverb teaches us modern people is the importance of balancing “preparation” and “acceptance” in life. Certainly, we do lose precious things due to unexpected events. But being too afraid of that and not taking action would be a waste.
What’s important is accepting the possibility that “Kite carries away fried tofu” while still doing our personal best. Whether in business negotiations or romance, we should recognize that there are aspects of results we cannot control, while not sparing any preparation or effort we can make. Such an attitude might be the wisdom for surviving in modern society.
Also, sometimes we ourselves become the “kite.” At such times, we should maintain humility and have gratitude for our good fortune. Life is interesting precisely because it’s unpredictable, and that’s why we want to treasure each encounter and opportunity. Including failures and setbacks, everything connects to life’s richness.
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