Nana Korobi Ya Oki

Nana Korobi Ya Oki [Fall Seven Times, Rise Eight] – Japanese proverb

My friend has this tattooed on her back, which is where I first heard this quote, and it’s really stuck with me – it even inspired our first HATW hoodie design.

Nana Korobi Ya Oki literally means “Fall seven times – rise eight times”. I guess if we wanted to find a song that fitted this spirit, it would be “Tubthumping (I Get Knocked Down)” by Chumbawamba – “I get knocked down but I get up again, you’re never gonna keep me down”

The idea behind this is that no matter how many times you get knocked down, or you trip up, or life generally gets you down, just keep getting up. Don’t let life, bullies, people around you, money, school, work, anything negative, get you down and keep you down. Because you’re better than that; you’re made of tougher stuff. And when it comes to standing up to all the crap that people throw your way, nothing shuts them up, and puts them in their place like refusing to give in or stay down. Or if you fall down yourself – if you relapse, or you have a moment of weakness, don’t let it keep you down. Just keep getting up, and trying again

The proverb says “fall seven times, rise eight”, but it could read “fall 99 times, rise 100” or “fall 1,000 times, rise 1,001”. It doesn’t matter how many times life will try and push you down, keep getting back up, and every time you do, you’ll find yourself a little stronger, and a little more resilient for the next time.

– Si