─The "Household Economy" as the Starting Point of Economics─
─Words of Yukichi Fukuzawa to Keep in Mind─

There is an old saying, "Rather than compose poetry, cultivate the fields."
It means that while indulging in refined pursuits can wait, our lives should begin with securing the essentials: food, clothing, and shelter.

Naturally, a life that cultivates fields and composes poetry is ideal, but if forced to choose which to prioritize, most people would likely answer, "First, earn an income, improve our food, clothing, and shelter, and strive to build a sound household economy."
Economics concerns our daily lives—growing food in fields, harvesting it, earning income, and securing food, clothing, and shelter (consumption)—making it something very close to us.

The Etymology of "Economics": "Household Management"

Let us take a moment to consider the meaning of the word "economics."
As you may know, "economics" is "economy" in English. Economy originally meant "a thrifty, sensible activity."
In trivia, economy is translated as "divine providence" or "natural law."

There is also the term "economy of plant," which describes the "orderly workings of nature" in a plant's life cycle—sprouting leaves, blooming flowers, bearing fruit, and eventually shedding its leaves.

Even more interestingly, the etymology of "economy" comes from the Greek words "oikos" (house) and "nomia" (management or law), meaning "care of the house" or "household management."
This allows us to grasp the underlying concept of economics and daily life.
Our daily lives are, of course, broadly connected to society, but the starting point of economics is to properly manage our household finances.

In this sense, Yukichi Fukuzawa, a thinker of the Meiji era who promoted Western culture, stated, "Those who lack the spirit of independence cannot deeply care for their country," establishing the independence of individual lives as an ideal for civilized people. "Deeply" here means profound and intense.
This is a perspective worth contemplating, and it remains an unwavering guiding principle even today, more than a century later.
For reference, "economy" is a combination of the Greek words "oikos" (meaning "house") and "nomia" (meaning "management" or "law").