man turns to God only in times of trouble; there are no atheists in foxholes
Proverb expressing that people tend to seek divine help only when they are in distress, and forget about it once the trouble passes.
Going to a shrine only right before an exam is a classic case of 'man turns to God only in times of trouble,' isn't it?
He's usually not religious, but when he gets sick he starts praying. That's exactly 'there are no atheists in foxholes.'
Standard kanji spelling of the proverb.
Variant with とき in kana; both spellings are used.
A Japanese proverb literally meaning 'relying on the gods in times of hardship.' The exact origin is uncertain, but it reflects a common human tendency observed across cultures.