Odawara Council - Odawara Council

Japanese: 小田原評定 - おだわらひょうじょう

An analogy for a meeting or discussion that never reaches a conclusion because no one tries to make a responsible decision.

[Example] The enemy is now approaching. It is a desperate and urgent situation. We must hold the Odawara Council and act as quickly as possible. Slow Loose This is not the time to do so [Kikuchi Kan * Chaotic Times | 1921]

[Example of use] The Odawara Conference was held at a temporary emergency meeting of the World Union. Gradually Finally Ku Belly Hara It seems that it has been decided [Umino Juzo * Earth Madness Incident | 1945-46]

[Origin] In 1590, Toyotomi Hideyoshi, who was on the verge of unifying the country, killed the Hojo clan of Odawara Castle. Mr. Maggot Politics Masa・Mr. Maggot straight In addition During the attack on Odawara Castle, the Hojo clan was attacked by the shogunate. Opinions could not be reached within Odawara Castle as to whether to barricade themselves in the castle or to attack, to fight to the death or to seek a path of peace. After wasting time, they finally surrendered, but Ujiyasu committed seppuku, and Ujinao, who was exiled, died in despair, and the Hojo clan as a warring lord was destroyed. From this, the 18th century "Kanhachishu Kosenroku - 17" says that the discussions that were wasted time and did not result in any decision were called "Odawara Dango" in the Kanto region. The 19th century "Matsuya Bunki - 90.43" also calls the same thing "Odawara Council." There is also a theory that the origin of this idiom lies in the fact that the Hojo clan had established a "Council of Deputies" that included lower-ranking samurai, and the discussions dragged on.

[Explanation] ❶ The Hojo clan of Odawara was a powerful feudal lord who controlled the entire Kanto region. Even though the opponent was Toyotomi Hideyoshi, the fact that they surrendered without a fight must have been a big shock to the people at the time. ❷ With that in mind, it is effective to use this phrase when the time spent in a meeting would be a fatal waste.

Source : Dictionary of Idioms and Proverbs About Dictionary of Idioms and Proverbs Information

Japanese:

誰も責任を持って決断しようとせず、いつまでも結論が出ない会議や話し合いのたとえ。

[使用例] 今、敵は眼前に迫って居る。必死危急の場合である。小田原評定をやって、一刻をも緩ゆるうすべき時ではない［菊池寛＊乱世｜1921］

[使用例] 小田原評定をつづけていた世界連合の臨時緊急会議も漸ようやく肚はらが決まったらしく［海野十三＊地球発狂事件｜1945～46］

[由来] 天正一八年（1590）、天下統一まで目前に迫った豊臣秀吉が、小田原城の北条氏うじ政まさ・氏うじ直なおを攻めた際のこと。小田原城内では、城に立てこもるのか出撃するのか、また、徹底抗戦するのか和平の道を探るのか、なかなか意見がまとまりません。いたずらに時を過ごした後、結局は降伏しましたが、氏政は切腹、流罪となった氏直は失意のうちに亡くなり、戦国大名としての北条氏は滅亡してしまいました。ここから、むだに時間ばかりかけて何事も決まらない話し合いを、関東で「小田原談合」と言いはやした、と一八世紀に書かれた「関八州古戦録―一七」にあります。また、一九世紀の「松屋筆記―九〇・四三」では、同じことを「小田原評定」と呼んでいます。なお、北条氏が下級武士を含む代議制の「評定所」を設けていたため、議論が長引いたところにこの故事成語の起源を求める説もあります。

[解説] ❶小田原の北条氏は、関東地方全域を支配する大大名。いくら豊臣秀吉が相手だとはいえ、それが結局は戦わずして降伏してしまったというのは、当時の人々にとって大きな衝撃だったことでしょう。❷それを踏まえて、会議にかけた時間が致命的なロスになる場合に用いると、効果的です。

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