Ishi no Ue ni mo Sannen " sitting on a stone for three years "

Japanese consider it a virtue to out-sit the competition. The common practice of making an investment, even at a loss, with the belief that at return will come in the long run comes from this simple, down-to-earth philosophy. Sitting on a rock for three years requires ontrageous tenacity,but the longer you sit, the more secure you are in your position. And more to the point, you become the master of the situation because you have stuck with it. In fact, the cold "stone" may even seem warm and comfortable after three long years.