Independence is about relying on others
While reading a book by Nietzsche, I found that Ken Nishi wrote,
Independence is not about not relying on others, but rather being able to properly communicate to others when you need their help.
that.
The other day, in the March 31st issue of the Nikkei newspaper's "My Resume" column, I also came across a quote that Atsuko Muraki heard from Professor Shinichiro Kumagaya of the University of Tokyo:
Independence is not about not being dependent.
Independence is about becoming able to depend on many things little by little.
I encountered this as well.
This seems to be Kumagaya's personal theory. It's even on Wikipedia.
Binary oppositions are not good for anything, are they?
Independence ⇔ Dependence.
However, there is dependence within independence.
And there is likely independence within dependence as well.
It's a matter of degree, isn't it?
I tell my middle and high school sons, "Growth is being able to appropriately borrow the strength of others. Use your father as much as you can."
*August 14, 2026, PRESIDENT, page 68: Professor Shinichiro Kumagaya also speaks from his own experience (in his childhood, he required 24-hour care due to the aftereffects of cerebral palsy) that "independence is increasing the number of places you can depend on." I recommend this issue of PRESIDENT!