Exploring the Decline of ‘You Should Be Willing to Buy the Hardships When You Are Young’

A Japanese phrase, "Wakai toki no kuro wa katte demo seyo," is literally translated into English as "You should be willing to buy the hardships when you are young." It can be paraphrased as "Your hard work in youth will definitely pay off" or "Heavy work in youth is quiet rest in old age." The underlying message appears to be that if someone is willing to endure challenges during their youth for the sake of others or society, they will not only enhance their own abilities but also receive the rewards of their virtuous actions. In this context, youth may symbolize the vigor and resilience required to overcome difficulties. During my younger years, I frequently encountered this phrase. However, over the past few decades, its usage has become increasingly rare, possibly due to the prevailing societal trend of people believing less in everyone's shared welfare.

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