人情（にんじょう） Ninjo - Human Feelings

Ninjo corresponds to various human feelings such as love, sympathy, compassion, and friendship, between parent and child, lovers, friends, and so on; yet, it has a somewhat more special meaning in Japanese society. Ninjo is often compared to moral obligation in that, while moral obligation is a principle of human relations that advocates returning debts of gratitude received from others, ninjo is a spontaneous expression of feeling toward others. The phrase, "being warm in ninjo" points out someone kind and thoughtful, but, at the same time, keeping up with moral obligation is necessary to be considered a member of society. In short, moral obligation and ninjo were the two key elements, traditionally applied to human relations among the common people in Japan. Both are certainly inherited by contemporary society as well.