Like a Rolling Stone

In Japanese an expression exists which goes 「転石苔むさず」tenseki koke musazu’, which translates to ‘a rolling stone gathers no moss.’ Native English speakers have probably heard this before at one time or another.

This expression can have two very different meanings in Japanese, one being more traditional, while the other being more progressive.

The first meaning is that a person who frequently changes their position in society will not accumulate enough skill to become a real success. On the other hand, a person who sticks to one thing (or stays at one company) will become great and accumulate a lot of skill and wealth… in other words, ‘moss’. If you have ever visited a Japanese garden you will quickly notice that the moss on the rocks contributes to the beauty of the garden. So the lesson here is not to move, and gather that moss! When Japanese use this expression they almost always have this interpretation in mind.

The second interpretation of this proverb is completely different and claims that moss is a bad thing. A person who is constantly moving will not be hindered by unsightly moss growing on their back. They will always be fresh and ready for the next adventure. When the expression ‘a rolling stone gathers no moss’ is used in English, it always has this meaning. Incredibly progressive young Japanese may also associate this positive meaning to the phrase, but it is still rare.

I think the differences in the interpretations of this phrase really highlight the differences in Japanese and Western culture. I am from the West but have lived in Japan for a few years now. Even though, I think I will never abide by the Japanese interpretation of this proverb. I got to keep on moving!

- Harvey