Omote
and ura are two concepts representing a way of looking at things that
is unique to the Japanese language. They indicate a two-fold meaning that
suggests the double-sidedness of things and imply the problem of point
of view. Omote is the side that is visible to the eye; ura is the side
that is not. Therefore, when the point of view shifts, omote and ura may
be transposed. There is nothing strange about this. This becomes even
clearer when considered in light of the fact that omote and ura correspond
to soto (outside) and uchi (inside or house) in human relations. That
is, since soto and uchi are different for each individual, what is soto
for one person may become uchi for a person included in that soto. Clearly,
the former's omote becomes the latter's ura. In this sense, omote and
ura are extremely relative, and it is for this reason that they suggest
a quality of two-sidedness. They operate as two sides of a single entity.
They are not split; they suggest unity.