“This is fine?”
No, it’s not fine.
But I want to laugh with Bakabon’s Papa and learn from him.
What if we lived a little more lightly?
In an age where anger swirls through social media, being called “stupid” often leads to mental shutdown. Negation breeds more negation. But in the midst of this, the catchphrase from the Japanese gag manga Tensai Bakabon—“This is fine”—isn’t just a joke. It’s a form of double negation. And perhaps, an entrance into Buddhist affirmation.
🔥The Structure of Anger and Mental Shutdown
Social media is full of people who deny, argue, and counter-argue—an endless loop of fighting.
Maybe we’re just too bored.
Manipulating emotions has become a form of entertainment, and we’re addicted to it.
But is it really fun to live in constant anger?
The dopamine of “likes” is like an instant kettle—hot for a moment, then gone.
It’s not nourishment. It’s a placebo.
Social media is a virtual world.
It’s not reality.
Some people cross the line in their rage: stalking, doxxing, even death threats.
It’s nonsense.
Calm down.
The internet is a playground, a pressure valve.
“Free speech”?
Words that don’t resonate in reality—how free are they, really?
SNS is like a video game.
But if you lose your real-life footing for the sake of that game, it’s no longer funny.
“One hour of games a day. Go play outside.”
—Takahashi Meijin
Takahashi Meijin (“Master Takahashi”) was a legendary video game promoter in 1980s Japan, known for his slogan above.
He symbolized a generation’s concern about screen addiction—long before smartphones existed.
🧘“This is fine” as Buddhist Affirmation
Tensai Bakabon is a classic Japanese gag manga from the 1970s, created by Akatsuka Fujio—a pioneer of absurdist humor in postwar Japan.
The series centers on Bakabon and his eccentric father, whose catchphrase “This is fine” became a cultural icon.
“This is fine” isn’t just resignation.
It’s close to the Buddhist state of awakening—a double negation.
In other words, it’s living through radical affirmation.
🪞A Poem of Self-Affirmation
Bakabon’s Papa once wrote a poem in the manga:
I live alone with myself
I wash my own underwear
I respect myself, so that’s no big deal
When I smile, I make myself happy
When I get angry, I scare myself, so I make up with myself quickly
I’m easily hurt, so I’m gentle with myself
As long as I listen to myself, I’ll never lose myself
I love myself so much it’s unbearable
I’d give my life for myself
That’s how wonderful I am
This poem is full of self-affirmation.
But what is “self”?
If we realize that we exist within the web of life, this poem beautifully overlaps with Shin Buddhist values.
✍️Words from Norifusa Mita
I deeply respect manga artist Norifusa Mita, known for Dragon Zakura and Angel Bank—works that explore education, career, and self-transformation.
He once said:
“You don’t need practice. Just start.”
“Creators aren’t ‘amazing’ people. They’re just people who did it.”
Creators aren’t special.
They’re just people who acted.
🧭Conclusion: Asking the Dharma
“This is fine” is a magical mantra.
Double negation.
Radical affirmation.
But if we stop there, it becomes complacency.
That’s why we must ask:
What should be denied, and what should be affirmed?
The answer lies in the Dharma.
Namu Amida Butsu.
日本語版note：
Original Japanese essay: 否定の否定──「バカボンのパパに感謝し、仏法に問う」
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