息が長い

The idiom literally means 'breath is long'. This refers to the ability to maintain one's breath for a long time, which is then metaphorically applied to a person's ability to continue an activity or maintain their presence for an extended period. The concept of 'breath' in Japanese can often be associated with life force, endurance, or sustained effort. Therefore, having 'long breath' implies having a strong life force or great endurance, leading to a prolonged career or lasting appeal. The exact historical origin of this specific idiom isn't definitively documented as a single event, but rather evolved from the natural metaphorical extension of 'breath' to 'endurance' within the Japanese language. This type of metaphorical usage is common in many languages, where physical attributes are used to describe abstract qualities. For instance, in English, we might say someone has 'staying power' or 'legs' for a long run, which draws on similar physical analogies. The usage likely became common as people observed individuals or phenomena that persisted for a significant duration, and found 'breath' to be a fitting metaphor for this sustained existence. It's not a newly coined phrase but has been part of the Japanese lexicon for a considerable time, suggesting an organic development over centuries rather than a specific invention at a particular point. Its prevalence in literature and everyday speech over a long period further solidifies its status as a well-established idiom with deep roots in the language's metaphorical framework.