Lesson 15: Kotone-sensei's 'Four-Character Idiom Decoding Class' - 'Senzai-ichigu' (A Once-in-a-Thousand-Years Opportunity)

— That moment might only come once in a thousand years. But, you will surely encounter it again.

◆ One day after school, in the classroom

'...I keep thinking that I should have just gone for it.'

Kota muttered as he slowly closed his bag.

The choir competition.
Right before the performance, the student doing the solo lost their voice.
When the conductor asked, 'Can you take over?', Kota couldn't take that step forward.

'When I think, "What if I mess up?", I can't raise my hand...'
'In the end, someone else sang. They were good. It's not quite the same as feeling regret, or anything like that...'
'It's just, I keep thinking, "That might have been my last chance."'

Kotone-sensei nodded quietly.

— Today's phrase is "Senzai-ichigu" (A once-in-a-thousand-years opportunity).
It sounds a bit like the wind, but it's a phrase with a lot of weight.'

◆ Meaning and background of the idiom

'"Senzai" means a thousand years. "Ichigu" means a single, chance encounter.'
'In other words, it means "a precious encounter that happens perhaps once in a thousand years."'

'For example, a big stage, or someone you truly wanted to meet—'
'that is what we call a "chance encounter" that only visits you at that specific time.'

'The source is a Chinese historical text called the "History of Song."
'I think people in the past also had moments where they "lived for a single instant."'

Kota nodded slightly.

'...I see. "A single instant," huh. But thinking about it that way makes me feel even more regretful.'
'Why couldn't I take that step forward...'

◆ Story introduction: At that once-in-a-thousand-years moment

During the Song Dynasty.
In a certain town, there was a young man named Guo.

He was average at reading and writing. His way of speaking was plain.
However, he was better at sword dancing than anyone else.

One day, a troupe of traveling performers came to town and called for auditions for sword dancing.
They said that if you won, you would be guaranteed a recommendation to the imperial court.

Guo's heart raced.
'This might be the stage meant for me.'

But—when he was about to step forward, his legs froze.
'If a nobody like me steps forward, I might just be laughed at.'
Thinking that, he kept his mouth shut.

In the end, it was another man who stepped forward.
He performed a magnificent dance and was invited to the imperial court.

Kaku regretted it.

However, he did not stop practicing his sword dance even after that.
He said, 'So that I may not be ashamed of the self who could not step forward that day.'

Several years later, when ordered to perform an impromptu dance before the royalty, Kaku drew his sword without hesitation.
His dance was more polished than before, and it was magnificent.

Later, people said:

'That moment when he did not step forward the first time was truly his "once in a thousand years."
But he seized the "thousand years that came again" this time.'

◆ Bridging to the Present

'Kota-san, opportunities may look like they only happen "at that moment," but they are actually a "continuation."
Kotone-sensei said, looking out the window.

Kotone-sensei said, looking out the window.

'Keep the "self who couldn't step forward that time" in your heart, and next time, just raise your hand without hesitation.
If you do that, I think you'll be able to respond properly when another once-in-a-thousand-years opportunity comes.'

──A quiet change visited his heart.

Kota smiled just a little.

'...I wonder if such a moment will come again. ...If it does, I feel like I'll be able to go for it next time.'

With those words, his "regret" had turned into "preparation."

【Request for Follows and Likes】

Sometimes, because you missed it once, you can prepare for the next time.
If you like stories about such second chances, I would be happy if you could support me by following or liking.