Tag Archives: impossible

From a land before credit?

Posted on October 20, 2019 by Confanity

(Actually, tools allowing you to use money that you don’t actually possess have existed in Japan for centuries. A quick search turned up one source* saying that multiple such systems have existed since at least the Muromachi period. And now … Continue reading →

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You can try it if you’d like, but…

Posted on February 19, 2017 by Confanity

Before you entrust an important job to someone with zero experience, maybe make sure the stakes aren’t too high. 習わぬ経は読めぬ (Narawanu kyou wa yomenu; “You can’t recite a Buddhist sutra you’ve never studied.”) Definition: Complicated tasks are impossible to perform … Continue reading →

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Life finds a way

Posted on November 27, 2016 by Confanity

炒り豆に花が咲く ((I)rimame ni hana ga saku; “Flowers growing from roasted beans”) Definition: An example of something that had declined, failed, or withered flourishing again beyond all expectations. By extension, an impossible event. Something happening that’s about as likely as roasted … Continue reading →

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You’ve got to really “stick” it in?

Posted on November 6, 2016 by Confanity

連木で腹を切る (Rengi de hara wo kiru; “To cut one’s belly with a wooden pestle”) Definition: An impossible event or task. By extension, attempting to achieve the impossible. Attempting a task that is as daunting as slicing one’s belly open with … Continue reading →

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