The word “kenminsei” (県民性) means “prefectural culture” or the “cultural tendencies of the people in a particular prefecture.” Regardless of the degree to which pronouncements about the “kenminsei” of people in Kumamoto are based in fact, such statements do come up from time to time in Japanese-language conversations about local events.
The word that comes up most frequently in regard to the “kenminsei” of people in Kumamoto is “mokkosu.” The Japanese Wikipedia page on “Higo mokkosu” (Higo is the old name for Kumamoto) defines it as follows:
“純粋で正義感が強く、一度決めたら梃子でも動かないほど頑固で妥協しない男性的な性質を指す。” (Pure of heart and possessing a strong sense of justice, a masculine tendency to become implacable and stubbornly refuse to compromise once one has made up ones mind. – Translation by Kirk)
https://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/肥後もっこす
Perhaps if the “masculine” part is abridged, the word may be applied to the strength shown by Ms. Ogata in the face of resistance from the Kumamoto City Council leadership. (And, of course, we should note that she has combined a limited willingness to compromise with her “stubborn” insistence on social justice for working women.)
Another “kenminsei” expression that I have heard in relation to Ms. Ogata’s case is “薩摩の芋づる、肥後の引き倒し” (Satsuma no imozuru, Higo no hikidaoshi; Pulling up potatoes in Kagoshima, cutting [people] down to size in Kumamoto). Here’s an explanation about meaning of the first phrase about Kagoshima (taken from the blog post I like to at the end of this post):
“他者の成功を周囲も喜び、その成功者の影響を受けて応援者も成功していく。” (Celebrating the success of others, supporters are stimulated to achieve similar success)
And here’s the blogger’s explanation of the second phrase about Kumamoto:
“成功者が出ると足を引っ張ることを考え、故に成功者が出にくい。” (When someone is successful, others think about how to put them back in their place, thus making it difficult for anyone to succeed)
In Ms. Ogata’s case, we are not talking about success, at least not yet. But, I heard the “Higo no hikidaoshi” expression used in relation to her case, perhaps in the sense of 出る杭は打たられる (deru kui wa utareru; hammer down the nail that sticks out).
Personally, I’m skeptical about blanket statements regarding the “kenminsei” of the people in Kumamoto, or anywhere else for that matter. On the other hand, I wrote this up in the hope that non-Japanese that live here might be interested in how Japanese people sometimes talk about the local culture.
Perhaps these expressions could be interesting topics of conversation with Japanese friends and/or students. :)
– Kirk
