The Quiet Power and Price of Gaman
Have you ever been told to “hang in there,” even when life feels overwhelming? In Japan, this simple encouragement has a deeper name: gaman (我慢). It describes the act of enduring hardship with patience, dignity, and emotional restraint. For centuries, gaman has been celebrated as one of Japan’s quiet strengths—a way of maintaining harmony and grace even in the face of difficulty.
Yet, while gaman reflects remarkable resilience, it also reveals an important truth about mental health. The ability to persevere is powerful, but when taken too far, it can lead people to suppress emotions, carry heavy burdens in silence, and delay seeking help. Understanding this balance is essential to supporting emotional well-being, especially in a culture where endurance and composure are deeply valued.
The Quiet Pressure to Endure
From childhood, many Japanese people are taught that emotional restraint is a virtue. Showing distress in public can feel uncomfortable or impolite. In schools, workplaces, and families, maintaining harmony is often prioritized over expressing personal pain. This mindset can make it difficult to admit when one is struggling with stress, anxiety, or depression.
In my clinical experience, I have seen how gaman can both inspire and isolate. Patients may come in with fatigue, headaches, or insomnia and describe themselves as “just tired.” Often, these symptoms are signs of emotional strain that has gone unspoken for too long. When emotions are held in, the body tends to speak for us instead.
Mental health concerns are not a sign of weakness. They are part of being human. But in a culture that prizes endurance, many people try to push through their struggles quietly, believing they should be able to manage on their own. This belief, while rooted in strength, can lead to feelings of isolation and exhaustion.
Recognizing the Signs of Emotional Strain
Understanding the signs of stress and burnout is the first step toward healing. These can include:
Persistent fatigue or difficulty sleeping
Changes in appetite or unexplained physical symptoms
Loss of interest in activities once enjoyed
Difficulty concentrating or feeling emotionally detached
A sense of hopelessness or guilt
If these feelings last more than a few weeks, or if they begin to interfere with daily life, it may be time to seek help. Speaking with a professional can help untangle these emotions and provide perspective.
Just as Japan values the art of precision and balance in its traditions—from the tea ceremony to calligraphy—mental health care is about restoring balance within the self. It is not about eliminating struggle entirely, but learning how to move through it with support and awareness.
How Torii Health Supports Mental Wellness
We recognize that mental health is an essential part of overall well-being. Our bilingual team provides care that respects both cultural understanding and medical best practices. We offer mental health support for a range of concerns including anxiety, depression, stress management, and adjustment challenges for those living abroad.
Our approach combines professional counseling, medication management when appropriate, and supportive lifestyle strategies. We aim to create a safe, confidential space where patients can speak openly without fear of judgment. Whether someone is experiencing burnout, struggling with transitions, or simply needing someone to listen, our goal is to help them feel seen, supported, and empowered to heal.
For many patients, taking that first step—scheduling an appointment or opening up about how they feel—is the hardest part. But every step toward help is a sign of courage. It is a modern form of gaman: enduring with awareness, and seeking support when endurance alone is no longer enough.
Enduring Together: The New Gaman
Gaman will always be a part of Japanese identity. It represents the ability to stay calm in the storm, to face adversity with grace, and to find beauty in perseverance. But just as Japan’s culture continues to evolve, our understanding of strength can evolve too.
True gaman does not mean suffering in silence. It means facing difficulty with honesty, allowing space for emotion, and reaching out for support when needed. Strength and vulnerability are not opposites—they are partners in healing.
If you have been holding on for too long, I encourage you to take a breath and consider sharing that weight. Whether through a friend, a therapist, or a physician, your story deserves to be heard. We are here to listen and to help you rediscover your balance, one small step at a time.
Torii Health — Guiding You to Balanced Well-Being
📍 Telehealth across U.S. bases in Japan and physical location near Camp Zama
🕘 Appointments available Monday–Saturday
📅 Book your consultation today www.toriihealth.org/appointments
References
Tincher, D. (2022). Gaman—The gritty Japanese word for an integral national characteristic. More Than Tokyo.
Kitanaka, J. (2012). Depression in Japan: Psychiatric Cures for a Society in Distress. Princeton University Press.
Hidaka, B. H. (2012). Depression as a disease of modernity: Explanations for increasing prevalence. Journal of Affective Disorders, 140(3), 205–214.
Sugimoto, Y. (2014). An Introduction to Japanese Society (4th ed.). Cambridge University Press.
Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare, Japan (2023). Mental Health and Suicide Prevention Measures.
Takahashi, Y. (2019). Rethinking Gaman: Cultural resilience and emotional expression in Japanese mental health. Asian Psychiatry Journal, 28(4), 65–72.
Wikipedia contributors. (2023). Ma (kana). In Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia.
