つんぼ桟さ敷じき

noun

being kept uninformed; out of the loop

Figurative use derived from the literal 'deaf seat' in a theater. Describes a situation where someone is deliberately or inadvertently excluded from information or decisions. The term つんぼ is now considered discriminatory; this expression is sensitive and should be used with caution.

• 重じゅう要ような会かい議ぎに呼よばれず、つんぼ桟さ敷じきに置おかれた気き分ぶんだ。

  I wasn't invited to the important meeting, and I feel like I've been kept in the dark.

noun

upper gallery with poor acoustics; blind seat

Archaic literal meaning: a seat in a theater (especially in the upper gallery) where the performance cannot be heard well. The term originally referred to seats for deaf people, but is now obsolete and offensive.

• 江え戸ど時じ代だいの芝しば居い小屋ごやには、つんぼ桟さ敷じきと呼よばれる席せきがあった。

  In Edo-period playhouses, there were seats called 'tsunbo sajiki' (deaf seats).