Insights from Naoko Hosokawa on the Japanese Language

*Watch the full playlist above.

Understanding Kotodama (The Spirit of Language)

Kotodama is a popular myth of the spirit of language; with words they use, one can attract the goals he/she wants to achieve. Naoko explains how the idea of kotodama is often associated with the linguistic identity of Japan.

Kotodama is often linked with the linguistic identity of Japan.

Nick: So this is probably a good spot for us to start, what is kotodama? How would you describe it?

Naoko: So in general, I think we can say that it is a popular myth of the spirit of language, and people often use the expression such as if you keep saying what you would like to achieve in your life, you'll be able to achieve reality. Thanks to kotodama. So that's a very general idea of kotodama today. 

However, the origin of the term is actually unknown. So, with some earliest record of the term used in history, we can say that kotodama was the link to the idea of Yamato, which is the old name for Japan. 

So the notion of a kotodama is often linked with the linguistic identity of Japan. And what is interesting is that the narrative surrounding kotodama has been reinvented according to non-linguistic factors surrounding Japan, and also the idea of purity of language in general.

The Japanese Use of Loan and Direct Translation

Naoko shares that to preserve the purity of the Japanese language, some people argue that they use loan translation over direct translation; they think using loanwords is against the concept of kotodama.

Kotodama is often linked with the linguistic identity of Japan.

Nick: Your article talks a lot about the idea of purity of language, and loanwords. Some Japanese believe that loanwords are threatening the country of Kotodama or this idea of kotodama. 

So I think that presents an interesting debate. And it got me thinking, if Japanese don't use loanwords, what are they to use? Do they just make up words to represent these loanwords or concepts?

Naoko: So yes, as you said, at the early time of the modernization that Japanese tended to translate the Western words into a loan translation, and those who would like to use more of the pure form of Japanese or criticise the use of Western loanwords tend to argue that we should use the technique of loan translation more than direct translation.

Even today, it is quite rare as the number of loanwords that we use in the Japanese language is increasing quite rapidly. So yeah, today, we often hear this idea of kotodama in the context of the use of loanwords. 

So, once the war-face has finished, we continue to talk about Kotodama even though the context has slightly changed, and now people associate this term not so much with the political identity, but more with the cultural and linguistic identity. 

And when we talk about, for example, the use of loanwords, and the increasing number of English words, for example, used in the Japanese language, some people think it is against the concept of kotodama. 

So people argue that we should use the loan translation. And we should kind of learn from the examples from the late 19th century when we used a lot of loan translation, so that is some of the arguments that they still use today regarding the use of the Western words.

Nick: All right, so obviously, there's a clear difference between loan translation and direct translation. Loan translation seeks to keep the purity or maintain the purity of the language. Where I guess direction translation's acknowledging we're accepting a foreign word.

Creating Balance With People From Other Countries

With Japan being admired by many foreign people, Naoko believes that it should practice harmony within its society and among people from other countries -- keeping its traditions while being open to ideas from different cultures.

Japan's potential to create harmony among other counries

Nick: I loved living in Japan and I want to go back but at the same time, I love Japan because of its uniqueness. And I guess in some way because of its purity, this dichotomy of Japan should have more people going in, but Japan should maintain its culture and its traditions and customs. And that might be a real challenge with a foreign population. 

But maybe, I'm thinking of a term I talked with Ken Mogi about, nagomi. And he often gave examples of indigenous Japanese concepts and foreign concepts working together to create this nagomi, this balance of harmony. So maybe that's the goal, to find this nagomi, this balance, harmony in, I guess refugee intake, and I guess increased immigration.

Naoko: Yes, indeed, actually, this traditional idea of harmony, or as you mentioned, nagomi can be applied in a very positive way to harmonise society with people from other countries, and not only referring to the purity of Japanese society. 

And I think once this idea kicks into Japanese society, actually, Japan might be one of the leading countries to kind of create this harmony within the society with different people, with different origins. So at the moment, it has not reached this level yet. 

And it seems to me that a lot of Japanese people have a much more close mindset, that I think there has been a potential for the Japanese society to catch up with this idea and actually try to promote its traditional values in kind of a positive way to accept the diversity. So that's my hope for the future.

What’s In a Word

Naoko's areas of study are words and languages. When asked what her favourite word or expression is, she thinks of the term lorem ipsum: the one used in blank documents. In this video, Naoko explains the reason behind it.

Taking sufferings in exchange for something better

Nick: So, for someone who studies the impact of words and language, what is your favourite word? Or what are your favourite words?

Naoko: It is very difficult to choose. So as you say, there was something very, it's like a creature, so it evolves in a way, in an unexpected way and takes some meaning that was not meant to be as you mentioned, in terms of ikigai or the case with refugees as well.

So, as a kind of researcher in this field, I try to take a distance to observe how the words evolved. So I try not to kind of make some personal likings in terms of particular expressions, or particular words. 

But when someone asked me what my favourite word is, jokingly I said lorem ipsum, which is the word that comes up as a blank document. Well, it actually was kind of random, that it is not a language, but it's kind of based on a text written in Latin.

And I find it interesting that actually it was taken from existing Latin documents about discussing the suffering. So lorem ipsum actually comes from the expression that dolorem ipsum, which is a kind of suffering itself. 

And this is part of the text saying, no one likes suffering itself, but in exchange with some greater pleasure, sometimes people take on some sufferings as an exchange, and giving an example of training yourself and going jogging every day, it might be difficult, but in the end, you get stronger, or you get healthier. 

So, you accept the suffering. So, this is the idea originally meant in this Latin text, which was kind of deformed on purpose to mean nothing, and used as a kind of example, the fonts or template of something.

By knowing this origin I find it very interesting that when I see a blank document, a blank presentation, I think, yes, this is a suffering to start writing, but for the satisfaction of writing a good piece, I need to take on this suffering. 

So, in a way I find a meaning behind it. So, it's interesting, and it's a creative word, and it's not a word, but it's used. So in a way, I like this expression.

Nick: Well, I didn't know that. I mean, I'm aware of it, and people use it to fill out websites when they're designing them to show how the text will look like.

So if it means suffering, it almost relates to Buddhism, you know, and yeah, looking for someone who's just finished a book, and I know, you've also finished a writing project, looking at a blank page thinking, ah, how do I write this next chapter, can be quite painful. 

But that experience of overcoming suffering or facing a challenge also relates to ikigai. And ikigai is, I guess, a concept that has all these different perceptions. For many Japanese, it's something small, that might be their pets or their favourite food.

But I guess in the field of research, it has all these associations or connections to positive psychology or existential positive psychology. 

You Need to Do What You Really Love

Naoko shares what she's passionate about and gives her a sense of ikigai: languages, words, and having interesting discussions with others.

Going after things you're passionate about

Nick: So what is your ikigai? Is it the study of language? Or the study of words?

Naoko: Yeah, I mean, of course, it definitely takes a large part of my ikigai. So yeah, I was going to say that this concept that I was talking about in terms of the lorem ipsum, is definitely related to this idea of ikigai, that you need to take every challenge in your life from a positive point of view to achieve your goal.

And yeah, so I really find my research as part of my kind of greater goal in my life. And rather than saying, my research, or my kind of looking at words and languages, is ikigai. But I kind of decided to turn my ikigai into my work.

So previously, I worked in a totally different sector, and I really wanted to spend my life looking at things I really get passionate about. So I could not think of anything else than languages and the words that I have always been passionate about. 

So I thought, if you live only once, you definitely need to do what you really love. And that was the language. And the way to think about language or the time in my life was to become a researcher in linguistics.

So yeah, I think it is fair to say that it is part of my ikigai. And also, in general, I'm interested in language, and more generally, I'm interested in communication. 

So when I'm having a very good, interesting discussion with other people, that gives me really great pleasure, that this exchange of ideas is something that I appreciate a lot. So that's the moment I feel that this is the most beautiful part of life in general.

So yeah, I'd say that, in general, these languages, words, and communication give me a sense of ikigai.

For the full podcast episode, go to: Kotodama: the purity of the Japanese language