Nippon Note #008: Gaman/我慢

Gaman (我慢) is perhaps one of Japan's most complex and profound cultural concepts, representing the ability to endure suffering, hardship, or inconvenience with patience, dignity, and self-control. The term literally combines "ga" (我, self/ego) and "man" (慢, pride/arrogance), suggesting the transcendence of selfish desires through disciplined endurance. Unlike mere passive suffering or resignation, gaman represents an active choice to persevere through difficulty while maintaining inner strength and composure. This concept has shaped Japanese character for centuries, influencing everything from individual behavior during personal crises to collective responses to national disasters like earthquakes, tsunamis, and economic hardship.

The roots of gaman extend deep into Japanese history, drawing from Buddhist teachings about the impermanence of suffering, Confucian ideals of self-cultivation, and samurai principles of stoic discipline. During the Edo period (1603-1868), gaman became essential for maintaining social harmony in a rigidly structured society where expressing discontent could disrupt collective stability. The concept was further reinforced during World War II and its aftermath, when entire populations had to endure extreme deprivation, bombing campaigns, and post-war reconstruction. More recently, gaman was widely displayed during the 2011 Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami, when survivors demonstrated remarkable patience and orderliness even while facing unimaginable loss and hardship.

Historical and Cultural Foundations:

Learn More About Gaman:

In 1998, as Studio Ghibli was at the height of its creative powers, Hayao Miyazaki conceived something unprecedented: a museum that wouldn't simply display animation but would embody the very spirit of discovery and wonder that defines his films. Planning began that year, with construction starting in March 2000, and on October 1, 2001—the same year Spirited Away was released—the Ghibli Museum opened in Mitaka's Inokashira Park. Miyazaki himself designed every aspect, from the maze-like architecture with no fixed route to the basement Saturn Theater with automated window shades designed to comfort children who might fear enclosed spaces. This isn't just a museum about animation—it's Miyazaki's philosophy made tangible: "Let's get lost together."

Essential Ghibli Museum Facts & Why You Should Visit:

In 1959, at the Government Industrial Research Institute in Osaka, a quiet breakthrough was about to revolutionize industries worldwide. Dr. Akio Shindo was working on a seemingly mundane problem: how to stabilize polyacrylonitrile (PAN) fibers through controlled heating. What he discovered changed everything. By 1961, his process had created carbon fibers with a modulus of over 140 GPa—three times stronger than anything available at the time. This "quiet study by Japanese researchers" was largely unknown to Western scientists, but it sparked an industrial revolution. Toray Industries, Japan's largest synthetic fiber manufacturer, quickly recognized the potential and opened a carbon fiber research facility in 1961, beginning the commercial journey of what would become the world's most advanced lightweight material.

Essential Carbon Fiber Facts & Global Impact:

"Fall down seven times, get up eight"

“七転び八起き”

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The Nippon Note Team