Words Cannot Reach Those Who Cannot Be Reached

 “Of course, ordinary people do not want war.

But it is always easy to get the people to take part in a war.

It is very simple.

All you have to do is tell them that they are under attack and openly denounce pacifists as unpatriotic people who are putting the country in danger.

This method works just as well in any country.”

(Attributed to Joseph Goebbels, the Nazi Minister of Propaganda, although some say it was said by Hermann Göring, Reich Marshal of Nazi Germany.)

“When the Nazis came for the Communists [Note 2], I did not speak out, because I was not a Communist.

When they imprisoned the Social Democrats, I did not speak out, because I was not a Social Democrat.

When they came for the trade unionists, I did not speak out, because I was not a trade unionist.

When they came for me, there was no one left to speak out for me.”

(Martin Niemöller, German pastor)

I feel that these two statements still sound a warning today. Yet the reality is that words simply do not reach some people.

I remember helping with a civic movement when I was in my twenties. Even when a politician supported by that organization quoted Martin Niemöller’s words, nobody stopped or even turned around to listen.

To digress a little, the Takaichi Cabinet reportedly continues to maintain an approval rating in the 60-percent range, according to the Nikkei [1].

I think there are several possible reasons for this:

•  She is Japan’s first female prime minister.

•  She is not a hereditary politician and has had to work her way through school. (For more details, see here.)

•  She is good at knowing when to smile and when to adopt a serious expression.

These might be some of the reasons. (My mother, however, does not seem particularly impressed with her.)

I, too, oppose revising the Constitution (that is the biggest line I draw). But there are also sayings such as:

“One Cabinet, One Accomplishment.”

“Singers are discarded after one year; prime ministers after two.”

(Both remarks were made by former Prime Minister Noboru Takeshita.)

Given those sayings, should the Takaichi Cabinet be a short-lived administration of two years or less, or should it remain in power for the longer term?

Perhaps that, too, depends on whom you ask.

That reminds me of the Parable of the Sower, told by Christ in the Bible (Matthew 13:3–23; Mark 4:1–20; Luke 8:4–15).

The seeds represent God’s word or salvation, while the sower represents Christ or someone who spreads God’s word.

The seeds meet four different fates, depending on the kind of ground on which they fall:

1.  The path. Birds immediately eat the seeds.

(People who hear the message but remain indifferent, so it leaves no impression on them.)

2.  Rocky ground. The seeds sprout, but without roots the plants soon wither.

(People who accept the message but abandon it when they face adversity.)

3.  Among thorns. The seeds sprout, but the thorns choke the plants and prevent them from bearing fruit.

(People who are overcome by the worries, temptations, and desires of life.)

4.  Good soil. The plants grow well and produce yields of thirty, sixty, or a hundred times what was sown.

(People who accept the message, endure adversity, and go on to bear fruit.)

Based on my own experience in civic activism, the overwhelming majority of people do not even remember the words, let alone allow them to bear fruit.

In other words, the overwhelming majority of seeds are eaten by birds.

That is even more true today, when social media and other sources have left us drowning in information.

Under these circumstances, the sower—that is, the person trying to convey a message—also needs to put some thought into how to do it.

We need to try to make sure that as many seeds as possible fall on good soil.

I suppose I am trying to do something similar myself. I want to introduce Japanese culture, including Hakkenden (The Eight Dog Chronicles), to people overseas, with the ultimate aim of making Japan a major tourism destination.

To that end, I try things such as:

•  Communicating in English as much as possible.

•  Incorporating “Cool Japan” elements (such as my “Eight Dog Warriors as Harem Anime Protagonists” and “Eight Dog Warriors as Girls und Panzer Team Captains” concepts).

•  Using comparisons such as “Japan’s Avengers” and “the Super Sentai of the Edo period.”

I try to present my ideas in ways that will stick in the minds of people overseas.

Even so, the fact remains that my words will not reach people overseas who are unreceptive to them.

Perhaps the key is finding as much “good soil” as possible—in other words, people whom my words can reach. But blog posts and social media content reach people in a rather indiscriminate way.

ChatGPT has made suggestions such as posting on smaller social media platforms, including Reddit, whenever possible.

But are there any other good approaches?

The best way to adapt how we share information may differ from person to person.

Still, when I am unsure what to do, perhaps asking ChatGPT or similar tools for advice is an option.

REFERENCE

[1] Nikkei (2026). “Takaichi Cabinet Approval Ratings Show Little Change; Agriculture Minister’s Resignation Has No Significant Impact: Public Opinion Polls by News Organizations.”

https://www.nikkei.com/article/DGXZQOUA2517L0V21C26A0000000/