These words were originally intended to explain the attitude toward learning. Mr. Mieno, however, found in them the importance of fulfilling the responsibilities of the central bank with determination. He always said "one should not run away even when faced with great adversity."
Mr. Mieno enjoyed a good relationship for a long time with Liu Hongru, who was Deputy Governor of the People's Bank of China (PBC) at that time (Slide 2). Mr. Mieno once told me that, upon the two of them having drunk their hotel dry, Mr. Liu gave Mr. Mieno a nickname, "Mr. Prodigious Drinker (海量先生<Hǎi Liàng xiān sheng>)."