がんばる Japanese People
 

"がんばる:GANBARU(verb)" is often translated as "do one's best". It is wrong.

GANBARU means "do more than one can do" and it is very common mind of Japanese to do something serious.

And it also always exists as a pressure for all Japanese to live.

がんばる！ ：GAMBARU ; I will do beyond I can do !

がんばれ！　: GAMBARE ; Do ! more than you can do !
がんばって！： GAMBATTE ; same as above.

In the sports games, the audiences cry " GAMBARE !" to prey the player could perform beyond his/her best.

In a live TV show (last Autumn), Japanese actress "KITAGAWA, KEIKO" challenged "keep your eyes open" challenge in which she has to keep her open without winking for 4 minutes.



Though in such useless goal, Japanese "GAMBARU" to reach the goal.

In March of 2019, another Japanese actress "NANAO" tried the challenge and beat KITAGAWA just for 4 seconds.



In this case, three people tried total four minutes of "keep eyes open" challenge and two people achieved "1:22" total before NANAO.

As NANAO knows the record by KITAGAWA and overcame KITAGAWA'S record by four seconds.

It is actually a religion for Japanese to GAMBARU in their life.

However, there are also anti-thesis of "GAMBARU". It is simply "GAMBARA-NAI".

As it could be the religional taboo, only blave Japanese can declare "GAMBARA-NAI".

I think it began around 1990. Singer-Song-Writer "TOKORO, George" was the first person who said "GAMBARA-NAI" in public.

"GAMBARA-NAI" peoepl are called ”脱力系:DATSU-RYOKU-KEI;power-less type”.

I put "TOKORO, GEORGE" as the first person of "power-less type".



By the way, movie director "KUROSAWA, AKIRA" loved TOKORO's character and utilized him in movies.

These kind of pictures are very popular in Japan because the pandas seem to be free from the pressure of "GAMBARU".

Another sample of "GAMBARA-NAI(NOT to GAMBARU)" singer(s) are "Puffy".



When Puffy made debut in USA, their concept of "GAMBARA-NAI" was not accepted in USA. With some another effort, Puffy made some degree of success (I don't know in detail) but this is an example Japanese production did not understand why "GAMBARA-NAI" was not accepted in foreign country.

As "GAMBARU" is very common and usual concept in Japan, Japanese often make mistake when estimate the work/job which they must do.

As Japan won the war against Russia with the "GAMBARI(noun)", they thought they can also beat USA with more "GAMBARI(noun)" and had lost.

As I am rather older generation, I would say "I can do it" when I think "I can do it with "GAMBARI".". Most of the case, I could achieve the work and sometime I could not. This would be a good advice for the people who are going to work with Japanese.

Here is another sample of "GANBARU(adj)" Japanese.

"How to make a cute Japanese girl"



She has HIROSHIMA or OKAYAMA accent which is not a good sample of Japanese speaking.

Are their any anti-gambaru Japanese people? Hmmmmm?

Yes, there are yet some. However, it is getting severe for them to live because of the COVID-19.