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Recently I watched again the Kenichi anime, and I went several times through
this proverb. "When a man steps out of the gate, he faces seven enemies" (e.g.
episode 5) Looks like a legitimate proverb, but trying to find its origin or
references, I got nothing at all. So I was wondering if somebody could have
some references or sources about this proverb.

Thank you in advance. :-)


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japanese-language culture historys-strongest-disciple-kenichi
Is the proverb "When a man steps out of the gate, he faces seven enemies" a real one?


Several variants of this proverb can be found on multiple sites but no direct
origin is given:

> "Once outside the gate, a man has seven enemies."
> ([source](https://ejje.weblio.jp/sentence/content/a+gate/5))

> "Seven enemies await outside every man’s gate"
> ([source](http://www.yuko.ca/seeds/))

> "As soon as a man leaves his house he has seven enemies."
> ([source](https://proverbicals.com/japanese-proverbs))

The only explanation of the meaning that I found for it was in _Japan's New
Middle Class_ by Ezra F. Vogel

> Just as the Mamachi resident makes a sharp distinction between friend and
> stranger, so a large barrier separates family members from outsiders.
> Outside the home, one must be more formally dressed, more polite, more
> cautious, and more suspicious. In accord with the well-known proverbs, "If
> you meet a stranger, regard him as a robber," and "Outside your gate, there
> are seven enemies," a person is on his guard outside.
> ([source](https://publishing.cdlib.org/ucpressebooks/view?docId=ft8z09p23r&chunk.id=d0e3600&toc.depth=1&toc.id=d0e3595&brand=eschol))

There seems to be no deeper meaning behind it than to be wary of strangers.


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**The proverb is real, although spoken differently.**

In episode 5 of _Kenichi: The Mightiest Disciple_ , Miu said the following
proverb,

> 男子門口を出れば七人の敵あり ( _danshi kadoguchi wo dereba shichinin no teki ari_ )  
>  A young man, if he steps out of the gateway, there are seven enemies (lit.)

The more known proverbs are:

  1. [男は敷居を跨げば七人の敵あり](https://kotobank.jp/word/%E7%94%B7%E3%81%AF%E6%95%B7%E5%B1%85%E3%82%92%E8%B7%A8%E3%81%92%E3%81%B0%E4%B8%83%E4%BA%BA%E3%81%AE%E6%95%B5%E3%81%82%E3%82%8A-2236086) ( _otoko wa shiki'i wo matageba shichinin no teki ari_ )
  2. [男子家を出ずれば七人の敵あり](https://kotobank.jp/word/%E7%94%B7%E5%AD%90%E5%AE%B6%E3%82%92%E5%87%BA%E3%81%9A%E3%82%8C%E3%81%B0%E4%B8%83%E4%BA%BA%E3%81%AE%E6%95%B5%E3%81%82%E3%82%8A-564039) ( _danshi ie wo izureba shichinin no teki ari_ )
  3. [男子門を出ずれば七人の敵あり](http://kotowaza.nikiran.info/357.html) ( _danshi mon wo izureba shichinin no teki ari_ )

which its interpretation is more about

> A man has many competitors, if man comes out to society.

This can refer to education, career, and similar situations (basically: people
are competing with each other outside; always be on your guard and do not open
a chance to be used by others)

One of the earliest references is on Kunio Kishida's essay _Nihonjin to wa?_
(1951)
([Japanese](https://www.aozora.gr.jp/cards/001154/files/44732_39410.html)),
but no specific origin is known.

>
> 昔から、「人を見たら泥棒と思え」だの、「男子外にいずれば七人の敵あり」だの、とにかく、人間と人間との関係を、おのずから相親しむべきものとせず、かえって、互いに心の許せぬもの、油断をすれば隙に乗ぜられるもの、という風に教えているのである
>
> Since a long time ago, there were sayings like "if you see a man, think of
> him as a robber", "if a young man goes outside, there are seven enemies",
> anyway, it is told that people should not be familiar with each other
> naturally, rather, they are unforgivable to each other, and if they are not
> careful, an opportunity can be taken.


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