Uchikura & Co., LLC

Waking a Sleeping Child

 

Japan has a saying: "Neta Ko wo Okosu" (寝た子を起こす), which literally means "to wake a sleeping child."

 

At first glance, it sounds simple. A child is asleep. Why wake them up?

 

However, the expression carries a deeper meaning. It refers to bringing up an old issue, conflict, or problem that had already settled down and was no longer causing trouble. By mentioning it again, you risk creating new conflict where none existed before.

 

A similar English expression is "Let sleeping dogs lie."

 

This idea is surprisingly important in both politics and business.

 

In politics, leaders sometimes revisit historical disputes that have been quiet for years. While understanding history is important, repeatedly reopening old wounds can make cooperation more difficult and create unnecessary tension between people or nations.

 

The same principle applies in business. A disagreement between employees, a past mistake, or an old customer complaint may have already been resolved. Bringing it up again without a good reason can damage relationships, lower morale, and distract people from moving forward.

 

Of course, not every issue should be ignored. Some problems need to be addressed and corrected. The wisdom of the saying is not to avoid difficult conversations, but to carefully consider whether reopening an issue will actually improve the situation.

 

Before raising an old problem, it may be worth asking:

 

Will this help solve something today, or am I simply waking a sleeping child?

 

Sometimes the wisest decision is not what you say, but what you choose to leave undisturbed.