ninjo

Ninjo (人情) is a Japanese noun meaning "human feelings" or "humaneness." The term describes sympathy, compassion, and the inner emotions that guide a person's actions in response to others' needs or distress. It is often contrasted with giri (義理), obligation or social duty, creating a tension between private desires and public requirements.

Historically, ninjo has been a central theme in Japanese literature and theater, especially in Edo-period works and in samurai narratives, where characters face conflicts between loyalty, debt, or social duty and personal mercy or love. The ninjo–giri dichotomy was used to explore moral judgments and social order, as protagonists sometimes choose compassion over strict obligation or vice versa. In traditional forms such as bunraku and kabuki, the idea is enacted through stories about filial piety, friendship, or mercy.

In modern usage, ninjo remains a common descriptor for a character's inner feelings or motivations and is used to analyze social behavior in Japan. It is frequently referenced in film, literature, and anime to explain why a person might break rules or resist social pressure for the sake of family, friends, or compassionate action. The concept is also discussed in cross-cultural contexts as part of the broader study of how duty and personal sentiment interact in Japanese society.

Related terms include giri (obligation) and enryo (self-restraint).