How to Read “焼きが回る”
Yaki ga mawaru
Meaning of “焼きが回る”
“Baking goes around” is a proverb that describes a state where one’s judgment and abilities have declined with age, losing the accuracy they once had.
This proverb is mainly used when middle-aged or older people begin to show signs of decline in skills or judgment that were once excellent. For example, when someone who has worked as a professional in their field for many years makes basic mistakes that they wouldn’t have made in their inexperienced youth, or when they hesitate in situations where they could previously make correct judgments instantly. It’s particularly used when the person themselves or those around them feel that failures or misjudgments are “unlike that person.” The reason for using this expression is to point out not just temporary mistakes, but fundamental changes due to the decline of abilities with aging. Even today, it’s understood as a word to express the decline in abilities behind unexpected mistakes made by veteran craftsmen and specialists.
Origin and Etymology
The origin of “Baking goes around” lies in Japanese sword manufacturing techniques. When swordsmiths made swords, they performed tempering at different temperatures so that the blade part would be hard and the spine part would be soft. This technique was called “yaki” (baking/tempering).
However, sometimes even the spine of the sword, which should have been finished soft, would become hard. This was expressed as “Baking goes around.” When the spine of the sword became hard, the entire sword would become brittle and prone to breaking in actual combat. In other words, while it might look hard and strong overall, it would actually become a defective product that was unusable.
This technical term from sword-making eventually came to be used regarding human abilities and judgment. It’s also recorded in Edo period literature as a word expressing human decline. In the world of swordsmiths, even experienced craftsmen sometimes made mistakes with the tempering, and this is thought to have evolved into the meaning that even people with rich life experience can make errors in judgment. It’s an interesting proverb born from Japanese traditional crafts, overlaying technical failure with human conditions.
Interesting Facts
Sword “tempering” is actually an extremely advanced technique, where even a 1-degree difference in temperature can greatly change the sword’s properties. Swordsmiths judged temperature only by the color and sound of flames, so it was truly all about the craftsman’s intuition and experience.
Interestingly, even in modern metalworking, the expression “Baking goes around” remains as technical terminology, referring to the phenomenon where heat treatment effects extend to unintended parts.
Usage Examples
- Recently, the department manager’s baking goes around, and mistakes in simple calculations have become noticeable
- That famous coach’s baking goes around too, and his timing for player substitutions is no longer as accurate as before
Modern Interpretation
In modern society, the perspective on the expression “Baking goes around” has changed significantly. While it was traditionally accepted simply as “decline in abilities due to aging,” it’s now increasingly viewed as problematic age-based assumptions and prejudice.
Particularly in workplace environments, caution is required when using this expression as it could lead to age discrimination. In reality, mistakes by experienced people are often due to simple fatigue, stress, or environmental changes, and age alone is not necessarily the cause.
On the other hand, with the rapid development of information technology, a new kind of “Baking goes around” phenomenon is also observed. This is when specialists who have been active in the same field for many years make misjudgments because they can’t keep up with the wave of digitalization. This differs from traditional decline due to aging and can be said to be a problem caused by inability to adapt to changing times.
In modern times, with emphasis on lifelong learning and continuous skill improvement, efforts to prevent the “Baking goes around” state are also gaining attention. Regular training, interaction with different generations, and active engagement with new technologies are considered effective for maintaining judgment and abilities. In contemporary times, this proverb is being reinterpreted not simply as an age-related issue, but as an expression suggesting the importance of adaptability to change and learning motivation.
When AI Hears This
In the world of sword forging, “tempering” is the most crucial process for completing a blade. When a sword heated to a glowing red at 1000 degrees is rapidly cooled, it certainly becomes hard, but it also becomes as brittle as glass. So it’s heated again to 200-300 degrees. This is the “yaki ga mawaru” state, where the hardness drops slightly, but a practical sword that is flexible and resistant to breaking is born.
However, in Japanese, “yaki ga mawaru” has a completely negative meaning. When someone says “that athlete’s yaki ga mawatta too,” it means they’ve passed their prime and declined.
This paradox is fascinating. In sword making, “reducing from maximum hardness” signifies completion, yet in Japanese sensibility, “declining from the peak” is nothing but deterioration.
For example, looking at Japanese craftsman culture, when someone once called a “master” tries new techniques and fails, they’re harshly judged as having “lost their touch.” This contrasts sharply with Silicon Valley, where “failure is proof of growth.”
In other words, the proverb “yaki ga mawaru” reveals that Japanese people harbor an obsession with “having to continuously maintain the highest point once reached.” What should originally be a necessary process for gaining flexibility is seen only as “decline,” revealing a cultural perfectionism that shows through.
Lessons for Today
The proverb “Baking goes around” teaches us important things as we live in modern times. It’s about the difficulty of being perfect and the importance of accepting change.
Everyone, as they age, encounters situations where things don’t go as they used to. However, this is never something to be ashamed of. Rather, what’s important is noticing one’s changes and finding new methods accordingly. Even if you can’t perform as well as before in areas that were once your specialty, the wisdom and insight gained from years of experience are valuable assets you didn’t have in your youth.
In modern society, the pace of change is fast, and everyone is required to keep learning constantly. Rather than fearing “Baking goes around,” why not view it as an opportunity for growth? By acquiring new skills or looking at things from different perspectives, you might be able to succeed in ways different from before.
What’s important is honestly accepting your changes and maintaining a positive attitude toward continued challenges. By doing so, you can truly appreciate the richness of aging.
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