enduring hardship today for future benefit; hundred sacks of rice (literal)
Idiomatic expression originating from a historical anecdote about sacrificing immediate relief (100 sacks of rice) to invest in education for long-term prosperity. Used to convey the ideal of bearing present pain for a better tomorrow.
In the spirit of 'kome hyappyō', we should invest in education precisely when times are tough.
This policy is based on the idea of enduring hardship now for future gain.