Japanese Reader Collection

LEARN JAPANESE WITH STORIES

Volume 9

The Easy Way to Read, Listen, and Learn from Japanese Folklore, Tales, and Stories

Clay & Yumi Boutwell

Copyright © 2019 Kotoba Books
www.ClayBoutwell.com
www.TheJapanShop.com

All rights reserved.

This eBook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This eBook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each person.

DOWNLOAD LINK

Please go to this website to download the MP3s for both stories: (There is an exclusive free gift on kanji waiting there too.)

http://japanesereaders.com/102b9/

Thank you for purchasing and reading this book! To contact the authors, please email them at help@thejapanshop.com. See also the wide selection of materials for learning Japanese www.TheJapanShop.com and the free site for learning Japanese at www.TheJapanesePage.com.

Contents

DOWNLOAD LINK

Introduction

WANT A FREE BOOK (or three)?

The Fountain of Youth with running gloss

The Fountain of Youth in Japanese

The Fountain of Youth  English Summary

Kanji in Focus

The Hundred Tales Game with running gloss

The Hundred Tales Game in Japanese

The Hundred Tales Game English Summary

Kanji in Focus

The Wise Child with running gloss

The Wise Child in Japanese

The Wise Child English Summary

Kanji in Focus

DOWNLOAD LINK

Also by Clay & Yumi Boutwell

Introduction

The key to learning vocabulary is, quite simply, reading. Not only are you more likely to pick up words that interest you, but you also learn them in context. The Japanese Reader Collection Series goes one step further by adding MP3s of the Japanese. Improve your listening comprehension while building your vocabulary, kanji, and reading skills.

FORMAT OF THIS READER

By choosing short stories, the intimidation factor is greatly reduced. Not only that, but we divide the story into tiny, easy-to-swallow segments with complete explanations to give you confidence as you read real Japanese page by page.

The stories are selected to represent certain key aspects of Japanese culture. The tales, characters, and even moral lessons are often found in Japanese conversation, movies, and manga. Knowing the stories will go well beyond simply improving your vocabulary. It will help you understand Japanese culture as well.

WHO IS THIS FOR?

This book is designed so that both those fairly new to Japanese and those in the intermediate stages can equally get value. You will need to know hiragana to use this book. Don't yet know hiragana? No problem. For a quick two-week crash course for mastering hiragana, please see our book: Hiragana, the Basics of Japanese.

FEATURES

·                     Line-by-line: Read the story broken down line-by-line with nearly every vocabulary word defined and explained.

·                     Grammatical Notes:  In addition to vocabulary, we go through important grammatical patterns found in the story and attempt to explain them in plain English.

·                     Full Japanese with Furigana: Read the full story in real Japanese. Every kanji has furigana above it. Furigana is the small hiragana above kanji so even beginners can work through the text.

·                     English Version: Lastly, we are including a simple English translation. This should be avoided until you are sure you understand the story or find it too difficult to figure out on your own.

You may want to try to read the story in Japanese with furigana while listening to the MP3s first. Or if you are a beginner, it may be better to go through the line-by-line story before attempting the full Japanese text. Any way you do it, this book offers several ways to read, listen, and learn.

·                     Kanji in Focus: This is a new section to help with that incredibly difficult task of learning those Chinese characters. We take many of the kanji found in the story and present the readings, meaning(s), and give an example vocabulary word:

·         MP3s: Included at no extra charge are two MP3s of each story. One is read at a normal speed and the other at a slow, easy-to-follow pace. If the MP3s were not included when you purchased this book, please see the end of the book for the link. If you have ANY trouble downloading, please email us at help@thejapanshop.com.

ABOUT THESE STORIES

Normally, we have a theme for each reader. This volume isn't as neatly categorized as our other volumes, but two of the stories deal with children and so, the cover has a cute baby on it. Beyond that, the stories were chosen because they are short, easy to understand, and reveal something about Japanese culture. We have The Fountain of Youth, a traditional Japanese fairy tale, The Hundred Tales Game, a more modern comic horror with a twist, and The Wise Child, a cute story about a, well, wise child who has to figure out which is closer, the capital or the sun.

ABOUT CLAY & YUMI

Yumi was a popular radio DJ in Japan for over ten years. She has extensive training in standard Japanese pronunciation which makes her perfect for creating these language instructional audio files.

Clay has been a passionate learner of Japanese for over twenty years now. His free language learning website, www.TheJapanesePage.com, got its start back in 1999 as a way to help other learners of Japanese as well as himself.

In 2002, they opened www.TheJapanShop.com to help students of Japanese get hard-to-find Japanese books.

Yumi and I are very grateful for your purchase and we truly hope this book will help you improve your Japanese. We love our customers and don't take a single one of you for granted. If you have any questions about this book or Japanese in general, I invite you to contact me below by email or on social media.

Clay & Yumi Boutwell (and Makoto & Megumi)
clay@thejapanshop.com

@theJapanShop | @ClayBoutwell
www.facebook.com/JapaneseReader

http://www.TheJapanShop.com
http://www.TheJapanesePage.com
http://www.ClayBoutwell.com

P.S. Please see the last page of the book to find the download link for the MP3s of these stories free of charge.

WANT A FREE BOOK (or three)?

Get your copy of Kanji 100 absolutely free today.

That includes the Kindle, ePub, PDF versions. We'll even included all the MP3s for all the examples found in the book.

Simply go to http://www.TheJapanShop.com and click on "GET MY FREE BOOK" today!

AND!

If you like fiction, get two of Clay's books FREE. Check out his author site and click on “Yes, send me my books”:
http://ClayBoutwell.com/

The Fountain of Youth with running gloss

STORY ONE:

The Fountain of Youth

若返(わかがえ)りの水(みず)

むかし、むかし、あるところにおじいさんとおばあさんが住(す)んでいました。

むかしむかし a long time ago
あるところに in a certain place [ある shows uncertainty: ある人(ひと) some person; ある日(ひ) one day]
おじいさん grandfather; old man  [don’t confuse this with the shorter おじさん which means “uncle.”]
と and
おばあさん grandmother; old woman  [don’t confuse this with the shorter おばさん which means “aunt.”]
住んでいました lived

おじいさんは、山(やま)で木(き)を切(き)る仕事(しごと)をしていましたから、

山で on the mountain
木 trees
木を切る to cut trees
木を切る仕事 the job of cutting trees
していました did (a job of cutting tree)
から because (he was a woodcutter)

毎日(まいにち)山(やま)へ行(い)って、木(き)を切(き)ったり、運(はこ)んだりしていました。

毎日 every day [毎 means "every": 毎朝(まいあさ) every morning; 毎年(まいとし) every year]
切ったり、運んだり things like cutting and carrying [use the ～たり construction when doing several things. -ing and -ing]

ところが、年(とし)をとるにつれて、だんだん仕事(しごと)がきつくなってきました。

ところが even so; but; however
年をとる to grow old; to age [literally, this is "to take years"]
につれて as (grew old) then (work became difficult) [place this conjunction between cause and effect]
だんだん gradually; by degrees; little by little [use this before the action it describes: だんだん暖(あたた)かくなります gradually getting warmer and warmer]
仕事 work
きつくなってきました became harder [from きつい an adjective meaning "tough," "severe," or "harsh." なって is from なる (to become) and きました means "to come to" and with なって, it acts to emphasize the change.]

「ああ、山(やま)の仕事(しごと)はきついな。若(わか)い頃(ころ)にもどれればいいんだが。」と、おじいさんはつぶやいていました。

ああ ah! oh! alas!
山の仕事 mountain work
きつい hard; severe; harsh
な (sentence ender to show emotion)
若い頃 one's youth [若(わか)い young + 頃(ころ) time; about; around; season]
もどれればいいん it would be good to go back (to youth)
だが but; however; and yet…
と (quotation marker)
つぶやいていました muttered; grumble [つぶやく to mutter]

そんなある日(ひ)、一日中(いちにちじゅう)、木(き)を切(き)っていたおじいさんは、とてものどが渇(かわ)きました。

そんな such a; like that; that sort of
ある日 one day
一日中 all day long [中 means "all … long" or "throughout": 一年中(いちねんじゅう) all year long; 町中(まちじゅう) throughout the town]
木を切っていた cut trees down
木を切っていたおじいさん the old man who cut trees down
とても very
のどが渇きました was thirsty [literally, throat was dried]

その日(ひ)は、とても暑(あつ)くて、持(も)ってきた水は全部(ぜんぶ)飲(の)んでしまいました。

その日 on that day
暑くて hot and… [the て indicates continuing action]
持ってきた水 water (he) had brought [putting the action before water describes what happened to the water: the brought water]
全部 all
飲んでしまいました drank it all up [しまいます is added to verbs to indicate completeness and usually some regret. Drank it all up.]

「どこかに水(みず)はないかな？」

どこかに at somewhere [The か adds uncertainty, the "some" in somewhere. に means "at"]
ないかな (I) wonder if there isn't any … [水(みず)はない means "no water." The かなsentence ender makes it a hopeful question, "I wonder" or "I hope that." He is speaking to himself wondering if there isn't any water around.]

おじいさんは、あたりを歩(ある)き回(まわ)って、水(みず)がないか、探(さが)しました。

あたり nearby; vicinity
歩き回って to walk about; to and fro [this is a compound verb: 歩(ある)くto walk and 回(まわ)る to turn; to go around]
水がないか wondering if there's no water [the か shows a questioning or wondering if there is no water]
探しました searched

すると、岩(いわ)の間(あいだ)から湧(わ)き出(で)ている泉(いずみ)をみつけました。

すると upon doing so
岩 rock; boulder
の間 space; gap (in the boulder)
湧き出ている gushing forth [湧(わ)く to well up + 出(で)る to come out]
湧き出ている泉 the gushing spring
みつけました found; discovered

冷(つめ)たそうな水(みず)が湧(わ)き出(で)ています。

冷たそう looks cool (temperature) [the そう after -masu stem verbs or adjectives gives the meaning of "appearing that" or "seeming to be": おいしそう looks delicious]
水 water
湧き出ています gushing out (water)

「おお、こんなところに泉(いずみ)があったなんて知(し)らなかった。さっそくいただこう。」

おお  oh!; good heavens!; ah!
こんな such a [spoken about an object close to the speaker]
こんなところに in such a place as this
泉 spring; fountain
あった was
なんて how…!; what…! [exclamation used when surprised: なんて大(おお)きな猫(ねこ)でしょう。 What a large cat!]
知らなかった (I) didn't know [知(し)る to know; 知(し)らない don't know; 知らなかった didn't know]
さっそく at once; immediately; without delay
いただこう I'll partake [the volitional form: I decide to partake. The polite form would be いただきましょう]

大喜(おおよろこ)びで、おじいさんはその泉(いずみ)の水(みず)をゴクゴクと飲(の)みました。

大喜びで with great joy [大 before some words makes it bigger: 大人(おとな)adult (big person); 大学(だいがく) university (big learning)]
その that
泉の水 spring water [the AのB construction shows a relationship. Think of it as the apostrophe S: spring's water]
ゴクゴクと gulping repetitively [the と makes it into an adverb (modifying 飲みました: how he drank)]
飲みました drank

すると、どうでしょう。あんなに痛(いた)かった腰(こし)が急(きゅう)に伸(の)びて、

すると thereupon; hereupon
どうでしょう  what do you suppose happened? [どう how; in what way + でしょう I wonder]
あんなに to that extent; to that degree
痛かった hurt
腰 lower back
あんなに痛かった腰 for a back that had hurt so much
急に suddenly
伸びて straightened

足(あし)にも腕(うで)にも力(ちから)が湧(わ)き上(あ)がってきました。

足にも even his legs
腕にも also his arms
力 power; strength
湧き上がってきました to arise; to boil up; to be excited [this emphasizes the sudden healing and strengthening he felt.]

「おや、なんだか体(からだ)が楽(らく)になったぞ。」

おや oh?; my!
なんだか somehow
体 body
楽になった became comfortable [adverbial form 楽に easily + なる to become]
ぞ (male sentence ender used to add force or command)
楽々と comfortably; easily [the と makes it an adverb: easily carried]
荷物 baggage; luggage; his burden

おじいさんは、楽々(らくらく)と荷物(にもつ)を担(かつ)いで家(いえ)に帰(かえ)りました。

楽々と comfortabily; easily [the と makes it an adverb: easily carried]
荷物 baggage; luggage; his burden
担いで carrying
家に to house
帰りました returned (home)

「ばあさんや、今帰(いまかえ)ったぞ。」

ばあさんや old woman [drops the お for familiarity; や male ender]
今帰ったぞ I've just come home [ぞ for emphasis]

おばあさんは、中(なか)から出(で)てきて、不思議(ふしぎ)そうな顔(かお)でおじいさんに言(い)いました。

中から from inside
出てきて appearing (from inside)
不思議そうな顔 curious face [不思議 means mysterious; strange; or curious. As stated previously, そう means "seems like." A 不思議そうな顔 would be a incredulous or surprised face]
で with (describes what kind of face she had)
おじいさんに to the old man
言いました said

「あの、どちらさまですか？」

あの umm; well; excuse me (interjection)
どちらさま who are you (polite; honored sir from where?)

「わしじゃ、わしじゃ、じいさんじゃ。」

わし I [used mostly by elderly men]
じゃ is (It's me!)

「なんと、じいさんか？すっかり若(わか)くなってしまって、みちがえたわ。」

なんと what's this? [show of surprise and confusion]
じいさんか is it you, old man? [like her husband, she drops the お in casual speech]
すっかり completely; totally
若くなってしまって became young [しまう implies completeness]
みちがえた hardly recognized; mistook (you) for someone else [見(み)る to see + 違(ちが)える to mistake]
わ (feminine ender indicating emphasis or emotion)

おばあさんに言(い)われて、おじいさんは自分(じぶん)が若返(わかがえ)っていることに気(き)づきました。

おばあさんに言われて hearing the old woman speak; having been spoken to by the old woman…
自分 himself
若返っている becoming younger [若(わか) young + 返(かえ)る return; go back]
こと (nominalizing suffix) [turns 若返(わかがえ)っている into a noun phrase]
に気づきました noticed; became aware of (his youthful appearance after she spoke)

「ああ、あの時(とき)、泉(いずみ)の水(みず)を飲(の)んだからに違(ちが)いない。」

ああ ah!; oh yes!
あの時 that time
泉の水 spring water
飲んだから because (I) drank [から means because]
に違いない no doubt; I am sure; must have been

おじいさんは、おばあさんに泉(いずみ)のことを話(はな)しました。

泉のこと about the spring
話しました spoke (about the spring)

おばあさんもその泉(いずみ)に行(い)って若返(わかがえ)りたいと、おじいさんに場所(ばしょ)を聞(き)いて山(やま)へ出(で)かけました。

おばあさんも the old lady too
その泉に to that spring
行って go and [the て form shows continuing action; … and …]
若返りたい want to become young
と and
おじいさんに場所を聞いて she asked/got from the old man the location and…
山へ toward the mountain
出かけました left; departed

おじいさんは、おばあさんが若返(わかがえ)って帰(かえ)ってくるのを今(いま)か今(いま)かと待(ま)っていましたが、

おじいさんは as for the old man [this is said from the old man's perspective; he waited for…]
若返って rejuvenate and …
帰ってくる come back
の (nominalizing particle) [this makes the preceeding おばあさんが若(わか)返(かえ)って帰(かえ)ってくる a noun phrase: (waiting for) the old woman to rejuvenate and come home]
今か今かと eagerly (waiting); (waiting) impatiently [と makes it an adverb: waiting impatiently]
待っていました waited
が but; however

日暮(ひぐ)れ頃(ころ)になっても、戻(もど)ってきません。

日暮れ twilight; sunset; dusk; evening
頃 about the time (of twilight)
になっても even when it became (twilight)
戻ってきません (she) didn't come back

「こりゃ、暗(くら)くなってしまう。迎(むか)えに行(い)こう。」

こりゃ I say; well now [from これは (as for this)]
暗くなってしまう it will be dark (soon)
迎えに行こう (I) will go and get (her) [expression used to go to meet someone; 迎える to go out to meet + 行く to go]

おじいさんが泉(いずみ)に来(き)てみると、赤(あか)ん坊(ぼう)の泣(な)き声(ごえ)が聞(き)こえてきます。

泉に来てみると upon arriving at the spring [literally, upon coming and seeing the spring]
赤ん坊 baby; infant [a more common word for baby is 赤ちゃん]
泣き声 cry; crying voice [another word with the same pronunciation is 鳴き声; this is the chirping or crying of an animal or bird]
聞こえてきます became able to hear [聞く to hear; 聞こえる to be able to hear; the きます means the sound was gradually getting louder]

「おやおや、こんなところに赤(あか)ん坊(ぼう)が。あ、まさか。」

おやおや my goodness; oh dear!
こんなところに in such a place as this
あ ah
まさか  it can't be [said when something is unexpected but suddenly seems likely—especially something not wanted]

おじいさんが赤(あか)ん坊(ぼう)を抱(だ)き上(あ)げると、そこにはおばあさんの着(き)ていた着物(きもの)が落(お)ちていました。

抱き上げると upon holding (the baby) in (his) arms [抱く to hold or to embrace + 上げる to raise; to lift up + と upon doing so…]
そこに there; in that area
着ていた着物 the kimono (clothing) (she) had worn [use a past tense verb behind the noun to describe a previous action to it: 使った紙 used paper; 負けた選手 the athlete who lost]
落ちていました had fallen

おばあさんは、泉(いずみ)の水(みず)を飲(の)みすぎて赤(あか)ん坊(ぼう)になってしまったのでした。

泉の水 the spring water
飲みすぎ drank too much [～すぎ too much; over-: 食(た)べすぎ ate too much; or with adjectives: 太(ふと)りすぎ too fat]
赤ん坊 baby
になってしまった became [the しまった usually shows regret]
のでした  (explanation)

おしまい。

おしまい oshimai—the end

The Fountain of Youth in Japanese

若返(わかがえ)りの水(みず)
Try to figure out the correct pronunciation or follow along while listening to the audio files.

むかし、むかし、あるところにおじいさんとおばあさんが住んでいました。おじいさんは、山で木を切る仕事をしていましたから、毎日山へ行って、木を切ったり、運んだりしていました。

ところが、年をとるにつれて、だんだん仕事がきつくなってきました。

「ああ、山の仕事はきついな。若い頃にもどれればいいんだが。」と、おじいさんはつぶやいていました。

そんなある日、一日中、木を切っていたおじいさんは、とてものどが渇きました。その日は、とても暑くて、持ってきた水は全部飲んでしまいました。

「どこかに水はないかな？」

おじいさんは、あたりを歩き回って、水がないか、探しました。すると、岩の間から湧き出ている泉をみつけました。冷たそうな水が湧き出ています。

「おお、こんなところに泉があったなんて知らなかった。さっそくいただこう。」

大喜びで、おじいさんはその泉の水をゴクゴクと飲みました。

すると、どうでしょう。あんなに痛かった腰が急に伸びて、足にも腕にも力が湧き上がってきました。

「おや、なんだか体が楽になったぞ。」

おじいさんは、楽々と荷物を担いで家に帰りました。

「ばあさんや、今帰ったぞ。」

おばあさんは、中から出てきて、不思議そうな顔でおじいさんに言いました。

「あの、どちらさまですか？」

「わしじゃ、わしじゃ、じいさんじゃ。」

「なんと、じいさんか？すっかり若くなってしまって、みちがえたわ。」

おばあさんに言われて、おじいさんは自分が若返っていることに気づきました。

「ああ、あの時、泉の水を飲んだからに違いない。」

おじいさんは、おばあさんに泉のことを話しました。

おばあさんもその泉に行って若返りたいと、おじいさんに場所を聞いて山へ出かけました。

おじいさんは、おばあさんが若返って帰ってくるのを今か今かと待っていましたが、日暮れ頃になっても、戻ってきません。

「こりゃ、暗くなってしまう。迎えに行こう。」

おじいさんが泉に来てみると、赤ん坊の泣き声が聞こえてきます。

「おやおや、こんなところに赤ん坊が。あ、まさか。」

おじいさんが赤ん坊を抱き上げると、そこにはおばあさんの着ていた着物が落ちていました。

おばあさんは、泉の水を飲みすぎて赤ん坊になってしまったのでした。

おしまい

The Fountain of Youth
English Summary

Please try to tackle the Japanese first and use this only as needed.

A LONG TIME AGO, in a certain place, there lived an old man and old woman. The old man worked as a woodcutter in the mountains. Every day, he went to the mountains, cut trees, and carried the wood.

However, as he grew older, the work gradually became harder.

"Ah, this mountain work is harsh. If only I could return to my youth…" the old man said, complaining.

On one such day, after cutting trees all day, the old man was thirsty. That day was very hot and he had finished all the water he had brought.

"I wonder if there is any water around."

The old man walked around the area searching to see if there was any water or not. And then, he found a spring gushing out from a rock. The water bubbling out seemed cool and tasty.

"Oh, I didn't know there was a spring in such a place as this. I will drink some now."

With great delight, the old man gulped down the water. Upon doing so, what do you suppose happened? His back, which had caused him so much pain, straightened; his legs and arms also bubbled over with power.

"What's this? My body seems more comfortable now."

The old man carried his burden with ease and headed home.

"Old lady, I'm home!"

The old lady came from the back and said with a confused expression, "Um, who might you be, sir?"

"It's me! It's me! The old man!"

"What? My old man? You became so young. I didn't recognize you."

Upon being spoken to by the old woman, the old man realized he had been rejuvenated.

"Oh, it must have been when I drank from that spring."

The old man told the old woman about the spring. The old woman wanted to go to the spring and rejuvenate herself and upon hearing the location, she set off toward the mountain.

The old man waited eagerly for the old woman to rejuvenate and come home, but as twilight came upon him, she hadn't returned.

"Well, now. It will be dark soon. I'd better go get her."

The old man arrived at the spring and heard the sound of a baby crying.

"What's this? What's a baby doing in such a place as this? Ah! It can't be."

The old man picked up the baby and saw the clothes the old woman was wearing had fallen there.

The old woman had drunk too much and became a baby.

The end.

Kanji in Focus

The following are most of the kanji found in this story. The underlined reading may be the most used, although that can change depending on context.

Look at the kanji on one screen and try to come up with the English meaning and at least one pronunciation before going to the next screen.

住

住

ジュウ; すむ; すまう
dwell; reside; live
住宅(じゅうたく) residence; housing

山

山
サン; セン; やま
mountain
火山(かざん) volcano

木

木
ボク; モク; き

tree; wood
木曜日(もくようび) Thursday

事

事
ジ・ズ; こと
matter; thing; fact
仕事(しごと) work

毎

毎
マイ; ごと
every
毎日(まいにち) every day

日

日
ニチ; ジツ; ひ
day; sun
今日(きょう)は today; this day

行

行
コウ; ギョウ; アン; いく; ゆく; おこなう
going; journey
銀行(ぎんこう) bank

運

運
ウン; はこぶ
carry; transport
運動(うんどう) exercise

年

年
ネン; とし
year
今年(ことし) this year

若

若
ジャク; ニャク; ニャ; わかい
young
若者(わかもの) youth; young person

中

中
チュウ; なか; うち
inside; middle
中国(ちゅうごく) China

切

切
セツ; サイ; きる; きり
cut
大切(たいせつ) important; necessary; precious

暑

暑
ショ; あつい
hot; sultry
蒸(む)し暑(あつ)い humid

持

持
ジ; もつ
hold; have
気持(きも)ち feeling; mood; sensation

飲

飲
イン; オン; のむ
drink
飲(の)み物(もの) a drink; beverage

水

水
スイ; みず
water
水曜日(すいようび) Wednesday

The Hundred Tales Game with running gloss

STORY TWO:

The Hundred Tales Game

百物語(ひゃくものがたり)

In the Edo period, Hyakumonogatari was a popular parlor game. It involved lighting a hundred candles (or lanterns) and telling a hundred ghostly stories. As each story was told, one candle was extinguished. With each passing tale, the room became darker and darker until the hundredth story was told and all the candles were extinguished. It was said a supernatural monster would then appear.

昔(むかし)から百物語(ひゃくものがたり)をすると、恐(おそ)ろしいものが現(あらわ)れるといわれています。

昔から from long ago
百物語 A Hundred Tales (round of ghost stories)
すると upon doing so
恐ろしいもの something scary; a scary monster
現れる appear; materialize
といわれています it is said

百物語(ひゃくものがたり)というのは、夜中(よなか)に皆(みな)であつまってろうそくを百本(ひゃくほん)つけます。

というのは as for this; about this
夜中 middle of night
皆で with everyone
あつまって gathering
ろうそく candles
百本 a hundred (candles) [本 is a counter for slender objects]
つけます light (candles)

順番(じゅんばん)に怖(こわ)い話(はなし)をして、ひとつの話(はなし)が終(お)わったら、ろうそくを一本(いっぽん)ずつ消(け)していきます。

順番に in turn [順番(じゅんばん) means "turn" or "order of things." The に shows the tales were told in order]
怖い話 scary story
ひとつの話 one story; a story
終わったら once finished [終(お)わる to finish; 終(お)わったら upon finishing; if finished]
ろうそく candles
一本ずつ one (candle) at a time [本(ほん) is a counter for slender objects like candles. ずつ means "apiece" or "(one) at a time": one candle at a time]
消していきます continue to extinguish [消(け)す can mean to erase (pencil markings) or turn off (lights), but here it means to extinguish the fire and いく as an auxiliary verb means "to continue to do something": to continue extinguishing the candles]

百回目(ひゃっかいめ)の話(はなし)が終(お)わると、最後(さいご)のろうそくが消(け)されて、あたりはまっくらになります。

百回目 the hundredth (story) [百回(ひゃっかい) means a hundred times; 目(め) makes numbers an ordinal number (denoting a position in a sequence: "first," "second," "third," etc.)
終わると upon finishing [the と means "after (doing this)"]
最後の the last (candle)
消されて is extinguished [passive voice for not specifying who did it]
あたり vicinity; around
まっくら totally dark; pitch black
になります became (dark)

そこへ、恐(おそ)ろしいものが現(あらわ)れるといううわさがあるのです。

そこへ there [the へ particle indicates direction or a goal and is pronounced as "e" in modern Japanese]
恐ろしいもの  something frightful; a scary thing [the もの can mean a thing or a being]
現れる to appear
といううわさ such a rumor [という means "such a" ]
がある (such a rumor) exists
のです (explanatory ender) [this is sometimes shortened to んです]

ある村(むら)で、若者(わかもの)たちがあつまって「百物語(ひゃくものがたり)」をしようということになりました。

ある村で in some village [ある shows uncertainty: ある日(ひ) someday]
若者たち young people [若者(わかもの) youth + たち (plural ending)]
あつまって gathering
「」 (quotation marks)
しよう (decision to do something)
ということになりました did such a thing; such a thing was decided

怖(こわ)いもの知(し)らずの若者(わかもの)たちは、最後(さいご)にどんな恐(おそ)ろしいものが現(あらわ)れるのか、怖(こわ)さ半分(はんぶん)、おもしろさ半分(はんぶん)で百物語(ひゃくものがたり)を始(はじ)めました。

怖いもの知らず to know no fear [literally, to not know scary thing]
の若者たち the young people (who knew no fear)
最後に in the end; at last
どんな what kind
恐ろしいもの something scary
現れる to appear
のか (questioning ender: wonder (what kind of scary thing will appear)
怖さ半分 half scared [半分(はんぶん) means half]
おもしろさ半分 half excited
で with; being (half scared and half excited)
百物語 hundred tales game
始めました started

百回目(ひゃっかいめ)の話(はなし)がおわって、ろうそくが吹(ふ)き消(け)されると、部屋(へや)はまっくらになりました。

百回目 on the hundredth (story)
おわって finished and [て connects finished with the blowing out of candles]
ろうそく candle
吹き消されると upon blowing out (passive) [吹(ふ)く to blow + 消(け)す to extinguish + と upon]
部屋 room
まっくらになりました became totally dark

すると、天井(てんじょう)ががたがたっとなって、なにやら箱(はこ)のようなものが、どさっと落(お)ちてきました。

すると upon doing so
天井 ceiling
がたがた rattling; clattering
っと (quotation particle for speech or onomatopoeia)
なって began (rattling)
なにやら something; for some reason; some kind of
箱のようなもの something like a box [よう means “similar to”]
どさっと with a thud [the と makes the thud sound どさ into an adverb]
落ちてきました fell [the auxiliary verb きました is from くる which emphasizes the action]

若者(わかもの)たちは、びっくりしましたが、どうやらそれは重箱(じゅうばこ)のようです。

若者たち the young people
びっくり surprised
が but; however
どうやら somehow; it appears that
それは as for that
重箱 multi-tiered food box; stacked boxes
のよう like; similar to

おそるおそる開(あ)けてみると、中(なか)には、おいしそうなぼたもちがたっぷりと入(はい)っています。

おそるおそる fearfully; timidly [恐(おそ)る恐(おそ)る]
開けてみると upon opening [the みると means upon seeing: to open and see and…]
中に inside
おいしそうな delicious looking [そう means "looking" or "seems"]
ぼたもち sweet azuki bean mochi [A proverb is 棚(たな)から牡丹餅(ぼたもち)。 This means "receiving a windfall" or "having an unexpected piece of luck." Literally it is "(taking) botamochi from a shelf."]
たっぷりと fully; amply; lots of
入っています was contained; held

「これは、うまそうだ。みんなでいただこう。」と、

これは as for this
うまそう looks delicious [the そう ending means "seems like"]
みんなで let's all; together
いただこう let's partake [you may recognize this from いただきます which is said before eating.]
と (quotation marker)

若者(わかもの)たちはあっという間(ま)にぼたもちをたいらげてしまいました。

若者たち young people
あっという間に (set phrase) in a twinkling of an eye; just like that [literally, "in the time to say 'ah'"]
ぼたもち sweet azuki bean mochi
たいらげてしまいました to eat up completely [Literally, this is to make flat or level out. To eat it all up completely.]

「百物語(ひゃくものがたり)をしても、恐(おそ)ろしいものなんて出(で)てこないぞ。

百物語をしても even when doing a hundred story game [しても means "even doing"]
恐ろしいもの a scary thing
なんて such a [used as an exclamation: such a thing as a scary monster…]
出てこないぞ (scary thing) didn't come out [ぞ adds force]

それどころか、おいしいぼたもちが現(あらわ)れたじゃないか。

それどころか on the contrary [set phrase]
おいしいぼたもちdelicious azuki bean mochi
現れた appeared
じゃないか didn't it? (didn't delicious botamochi appear) [the speaker is using this as a reason to play again.]

もう一回(いっかい)百物語(ひゃくものがたり)をしよう。

もう一回 one more time
しよう let's (play one more time)

またおいしいものが食(た)べられるかもしれない。」と、

また again
おいしいもの delicious things
食べられる able to eat [食べる to eat; 食べられる able to eat]
かもしれない perhaps; might
と (quotation marker)

誰(だれ)かが言(い)ったので、また次(つぎ)の日(ひ)もみんなで百物語(ひゃくものがたり)をすることになりました。

誰か someone
言った said
ので therefore; because of that
また again
次の日も the next day also
みんなで everyone (together)
することになりました it was decided upon

また前(まえ)と同(おな)じように、百回(ひゃっかい)目(め)の話(はなし)が終(お)わってろうそくを消(け)した時(とき)のことです。

また again
前と同じ like before
ように just like
百回目 the hundredth (story)
終わって finished and [the て shows continuing action]
ろうそく candle
消した時 when extinguished [literally, extinguished time]
のこと the matter; what happened when (the 100th candle was extinguished)

またもや天井(てんじょう)ががたがたとなって、どさっと何(なに)かが落(お)ちてきました。

またもや once more
天井 ceiling
がたがたとなって rattled; clattered [がたがた is an onomatopoeia and となって means "became and"]
どさっと with a thud
何か something
落ちてきました came falling down

「今度(こんど)は、お茶(ちゃ)もほしいな。」と、誰(だれ)かが言(い)いました。

今度 this time
お茶も also tea
ほしいな (I) want [な as a sentence ender for emphasis. He really wants tea too]
と (quotation marker)
誰か someone
言いました said

しかし、今度(こんど)は重箱(じゅうばこ)ではありません。

しかし but; however
重箱 multi-tiered food box; stacked boxes
ではありません isn't [polite]

そこには、ひげのはえたおじいさんが片手(かたて)に帳面(ちょうめん)、片手(かたて)にそろばんを持(も)って座(すわ)っていました。

そこには as for in there
ひげのはえたおじいさん old man with a grown beard [ひげ moustache or beard + はえた grew (hairs) + おじいさん old man]
片手に in one hand [片手 means one hand]
帳面 notebook; account book
そろばん soroban; abacus
持って held
座っていました sat

そして、持(も)っている帳面(ちょうめん)を見(み)て、そろばんをぱちぱちと弾(はじ)いてから、

そして and then
持っている帳面 the notebook (he was) holding
見て saw; looked at (the notebook)
そろばん soroban; abacus
ぱちぱちと popping; clapping (the sound of the old man working the abacus)
弾いて flicking (the abacus beads)
から from (calculating on the abacus and seeing the notebook)

みんなを見回(みまわ)してこう言(い)いました。

みんな everyone
見回して looking around
こう言いました said this

「昨日(きのう)の夜(よる)は、ここにいるみんなはぼたもちを食(た)べたな？

昨日の夜 yesterday night; last night
ここにいるみんな everyone (who was) here [literally, here; existing; everyone]
ぼたもち sweet azuki bean mochi
食べたな ate [the な is a sentence ender asking confirmation; a mild question]

今日(きょう)は、その支払(しはら)いをしてもらおう。」

今日は as for today
その支払い that payment
してもらおう (I will) make (you) do; I'll have you…

確(たし)かに、百物語(ひゃくものがたり)をすると、恐(おそ)ろしいものが現(あらわ)れると、

確かに certainly; for sure
百物語 hundred scary tales game
すると upon doing so
恐ろしいもの a scary thing
現れると upon appearing

若者(わかもの)たちはふるえあがったそうです。

若者たち the young people
ふるえあがった trembled violently [震(ふる)え to shake; 上(あ)がる to increase]
そうです that's right

おしまい。

おしまい the end

Botamochi—sweet azuki bean paste around rice.

The Hundred Tales Game in Japanese

百物語(ひゃくものがたり)

Try to figure out the correct pronunciation or follow along while listening to the audio files.

昔から百物語をすると、恐ろしいものが現れるといわれています。

百物語というのは、夜中にみんなであつまってろうそくを百本つけます。順番に怖い話をして、ひとつの話が終わったら、ろうそくを一本ずつ消していきます。百回目の話が終わると、最後のろうそくが消されて、あたりはまっくらになります。そこへ、恐ろしいものが現れるといううわさがあるのです。

ある村で、若者たちがあつまって「百物語」をしようということになりました。怖いもの知らずの若者たちは、最後にどんな恐ろしいものが現れるのか、怖さ半分、おもしろさ半分で百物語を始めました。

百回目の話がおわって、ろうそくが吹き消されると、部屋はまっくらになりました。すると、天井ががたがたっとなって、なにやら箱のようなものが、どさっと落ちてきました。

若者たちは、びっくりしましたが、どうやらそれは重箱のようです。

おそるおそる開けてみると、中にはおいしそうなぼたもちがたっぷりと入っています。

「これは、うまそうだ。みんなでいただこう。」と、若者たちはあっというまにぼたもちをたいらげてしまいました。

「百物語をしても、恐ろしいものなんて出てこないぞ。それどころか、おいしいぼたもちが現れたじゃないか。もう一回百物語をしよう。 またおいしいものが食べられるかもしれない。」

と、誰かが言ったので、また次の日も皆で百物語をすることになりました。

また前と同じように、百回めの話が終わってろうそくを消した時のことです。

またもや天井ががたがたとなって、どさっと何かが落ちてきました。

「今度は、お茶もほしいな。」と、誰かが言いました。

しかし、今度は重箱ではありません。そこには、ひげのはえたおじいさんが片手に帳面、片手にそろばんを持って座っていました。

そして、持っている帳面を見て、そろばんをぱちぱちと弾いてから、みんなを見回してこう言いました。「昨日の夜は、ここにいるみんなはぼたもちを食べたな？今日は、その支払いをしてもらおう。」

確かに、百物語をすると、恐ろしいものが現れると、若者たちはふるえあがったそうです。

おしまい。

The Hundred Tales Game English Summary

Please try to tackle the Japanese first and use this only as needed.

FROM ANCIENT TIMES, it is said when people play the Hundred Tales Game, something fearful appears.

To play the Hundred Tales Game, people light a hundred candles in the middle of the night. Each, in turn, tell a scary ghost story and as each story finishes, one candle is extinguished. Once the hundredth story is finished, the last candle is extinguished, and everything becomes completely dark. And then, so it is said, something scary appears.

In a certain village, a group of young people gathered and decided to play the Hundred Tales Game. The fearless youths started the game half scared and half excited about what might appear.

After the hundredth story was finished, the last candle was extinguished, and the room became completely dark. And then, a clanging sound came from the ceiling. Some kind of box-like thing fell with a clunk.

The youths were surprised, but it appeared to be a special multi-tiered food box.

With fearful anticipation, they opened the box but the inside was filled with delicious botamochi sweets.

"This looks delicious. Let's eat!"

The youths ate up the botamochi in an instant.

"Even though we did the Hundred Tales Game, nothing scary appeared. Far from it. Didn't we get something delicious? Let's play the Hundred Tales Game again. Perhaps we'll get something delicious again," someone said.

It was decided to again play the Hundred Tales Game the following day.

It was the moment, as before, when the hundredth story finished, and the candles were extinguished. Once again, a clanging came from the ceiling and something fell with a clunk.

"This time, tea would be nice," someone said.

But, this time it wasn't a multi-tiered food box. There, sitting before them was an old man with a full beard. In one hand he had a notebook. In the other, he had an abacus.

Then, once he studied the notebook and worked the abacus, he looked up at everyone and said, "Last night, everyone here ate the botamochi, right? Today, I'll have you pay for it."

Surely, playing the Hundred Tales Game always produces something scary, the youths realized while trembling violently.

The end.

Kanji in Focus

The following are most of the kanji found in this story. The underlined reading may be the most used, although that can change depending on context.

Look at the kanji on one screen and try to come up with the English meaning and at least one pronunciation before going to the next screen.

昔

昔
セキ・シャク・むかし
long time ago; old times; once upon a time

昔話(むかしばなし) folk tales; fairy tales

百

百
ヒャク・ビャク・もも
hundred
百万(ひゃくまん) one million; 1,000,000

物

物
ブツ・モツ・もの
thing; object

動物(どうぶつ) animal

語

語
ゴ・かたる・かたらう
word; speech; language
英語(えいご)  English (language)

恐

恐
キョウ・おそれる・おそる・おそろしい・こわい・こわがる
fear; dread; awe
恐怖(きょうふ) fear; terror; horror

現

現
ゲン・あらわれる・あらわす
present; actual; existing
現実(げんじつ) reality; actuality

夜

夜
ヤ・よ・よる
night; evening
深夜(しんや) late at night

中

中
チュウ・なか・うち・あたる
middle; inside; center
中国(ちゅうごく) China

皆

皆
カイ・みな・みんな
everyone; all; everything
旅人(たびびと) traveler

順

順
ジュン
obey; order; turn
順番(じゅんばん) turn; order

番

番
バン・つがい
turn; number in a series
番組(ばんぐみ) (TV or Radio) program

話

話
ワ・はなす・はなし
talk; tale
電話 telephone

終

終
シュウ・おわる・~おわる・おわる・おえる
end; finish
終了(しゅうりょう) end; final

消

消
ショウ・きえる・けす
extinguish; turn off; cancel
消費者(しょうひしゃ) consumer

村

村
ソン・むら
village; town
市町村(しちょうそん) cities, towns, and villages

若

若
ジャク・ニャク・ニャ・わかい
young; immature
若者(わかもの) young person

者

者
シャ・もの
someone; person
忍者(にんじゃ) ninja

知

知
チ・しる・しらせる-
know; wisdom
知識(ちしき) knowledge; information

吹

吹
スイ・ふく
blow; breathe
吹雪(ふぶき) blizzard; snow storm

箱

箱
ソウ・はこ
box; chest
ゴミ箱(ばこ) garbage can; trash can

落

落
ラク・おちる・おち・おとす
fall; drop
落語 rakugo; comic storytelling

開

開
カイ・ひらく・あく・あける
open; unfold
開始 start; commencement

出

出
シュツ・スイ・でる・~で・だす
exit; leave; go out
思(おも)い出(で) memories; recollections

食

食

ショク・ジキ・くう・くらう・たべる・はむ
eat; food
食事(しょくじ) meal; to eat

次

次
ジ・つぐ・つぎ
next; order; sequence
時期(じき) next term; next period

同

同
ドウ・おなじ
same; agree; equal
同時(どうじ) at the same time; simultaneous

時

時
ジ・とき
time; hour
時代(じだい) period; era; age

前

前
ゼン・まえ
in front; before
午前(ごぜん) morning; a.m.

何

何
カ・なに・なん
what
何(なに)より above all; most

茶

茶
チャ・サ
tea
紅茶(こうちゃ) black tea

言

言
ゲン・ゴン・いう・こと
say; word
言葉(ことば) language; word; speech

確

確
カク・たしか・たしかめる
assurance; firm; confirm; clear
確実(かくじつ) certainty; reliability

The Wise Child with running gloss

STORY THREE:

The Wise Child

かしこい子供(こども)

Which is closer? The sun or Edo?

In this story, a young boy tries to figure out which is closer: the sun or Edo. Edo, the old name for Tokyo, was the capital for the shogunate.

むかしむかし、とてもかしこい男(おとこ)の子(こ)がいました。

むかしむかし a long time ago
とても very
かしこい wise; clever; smart
男の子 boy [literally, man's child; 男(おとこ)の人(ひと) (grown) man]
いました was; there lived; existed

ある日(ひ)、お父(とう)さんがその子(こ)に聞(き)きました。

ある日 one day [ある shows uncertainty: ある人(ひと) some person; あるところ some place]
お父さん father
その子に to that child
聞きました asked (the son) [the に after その子(こ) shows where the question was asked. きく can mean both "to listen" and "to ask." While this can be confusing, context is king. Also, に is used when asking and を is used for listening: 音楽(おんがく)をきく to listen to music; 先生(せんせい)にきく to ask the teacher]

「空(そら)に見(み)えている太陽(たいよう)と、江戸(えど)とどっちが近(ちか)いと思(おも)うか？」

空に in the sky [the に particle shows direction]
見えている able to see (the sun you are able to see in the sky)
太陽と the sun and (Edo)
江戸と Edo and (the sun) [と is used when you have a complete list: アメリカとフランスとイギリスと行(い)きたいです。 I want to go to America, France, and England. The final と can be omitted. Edo is modern day Tokyo]
どっち which
近い close; near
と思うか (which) do you think?

子供(こども)は、しばらく考(かんが)えてから、こう言(い)いました。

子供 child [depending on context, this could mean children plural.]
しばらく a while
考えてから after thinking
こう言いました said the following

「太陽(たいよう)の方(ほう)が近(ちか)い。太陽(たいよう)は、ここから見(み)えるけれども、江戸(えど)はここからは見(み)えないから。」

の方が近い (sun) is closer [の方(ほう)が is placed after the greater of a comparison]
ここから from here [ここ here + から from]
見える can see [見(み)る to see; 見(み)える able to see]
けれども but; however [more commonly and casually this is shortened to けど]
見えない not able to see [見(み)ない to not see; 見(み)えない to not be able to see]
から because of that [when used at the end of a sentence, it is an explainer. Because he can't see Edo from here.]

お父(とう)さんは、その答(こた)えを聞(き)いて「この子(こ)は、かしこい子(こ)だ。」と、感心(かんしん)しました。

お父さんは as for the father
その答え that answer [その that + 答(こた)え answer (noun of verb 答(こた)える to answer)]
聞いて listening and (said) [the て form indicates a continuation]
この子 this child [この this (something) その that (something) あの that (something far off)]
かしこい子 a wise child
と (quotation marker)
感心しました impressed; took to heart [感心(かんしん) means to take interest in]

ある日(ひ)、江戸(えど)からお客様(きゃくさま)がやってきました。

ある日 one day
江戸から from Edo
お客様 visitor; customer
やってきました came by [きました by itself means "came," but やって makes it feel like an effort: came along; turned up]

お父(とう)さんは、子供(こども)に同(おな)じ質問(しつもん)をしました。

子供に to the child
同じ same
質問 question [noun; verb form with する: 質問(しつもん)をする to ask a question]
同じ質問をしました asked the same question

「江戸(えど)と太陽(たいよう)とどっちが近(ちか)いと思(おも)うか。」

どっち which
どっちが近い which is closer [どっちが速(はや)い which is faster?]
と思うか (which) do you think?

子供(こども)は、よく考(かんが)えて、そして、お客(きゃく)さんの顔(かお)をよく見(み)てから、答(こた)えました。

よく考えて thought long and hard [よく means "well done"]
そして and; and then
お客さんの顔 the visitor's face
よく見てから after looking for a while [literally: well; looking; after]
答えました answered

「江戸(えど)の方(ほう)が近(ちか)いと思(おも)う。」

江戸の方が近い Edo is closer
と思う (I) think

お父(とう)さんは、この前(まえ)と返事(へんじ)が違(ちが)うので、こう言(い)いました。

この前 previously; what (you said) before [literally, this is "this before"]
と and [comparing the previous answer with the new one]
返事 reply
違う different [depending on context, this can also mean "wrong"]
ので therefore
こう言いました said the following; said this

「この前(まえ)は、太陽(たいよう)の方(ほう)が近(ちか)いと言(い)ったじゃないか？なぜ、今日(きょう)は江戸(えど)が近(ちか)いと言(い)うんだい？」

この前 previously
太陽の方が近い the sun is closer [の方(ほう)が comes after what's greater]
と言った said
じゃないか didn't you; wasn’t it?
なぜ why
今日 today
江戸が近い Edo is closer
と言うんだい (you) said? [だい is a casual question marker]

「お父(とう)さん、江戸(えど)からはこうしてお客様(きゃくさま)がいらしたけれども、太陽(たいよう)からはまだ一度(いちど)もお客様(きゃくさま)が来(き)たことはないからだよ。」

お父さん father
江戸から from Edo
こうして (a visitor) such as this one [こうして means "thus" or "like this"; similar in form to そうして and どうして]
お客様がいらした visitor came [polite]
けれども but; however
太陽からは as for from the sun [think of は (pronounced "wa") as meaning "as for…"]
まだ not yet
一度も not even once; never [ends with a negative verb]
お客様  guest; customer; visitor
来たことはない has not come; has never come
から therefore; because (of that)
だよ ender showing assertion or confidence

お父(とう)さんは、「なるほど。」と、納得(なっとく)したそうです。

なるほど I see; I understand; indeed
と (quotation marker)
納得した impressed; agreed with conclusion; satisfied with (explanation)
そうです it appears; seemed (to be satisfied with explanation)

おしまい。

おしまい oshimai—the end

The Wise Child in Japanese

かしこい子供(こども)

Try to figure out the correct pronunciation or follow along while listening to the audio files.

むかしむかし、とてもかしこい男の子がいました。

ある日、お父さんがその子に聞きました。

「空に見えている太陽と、江戸とどっちが近いと思うか？」

子供は、しばらく考えてから、こう言いました。

「太陽の方が近い。太陽は、ここから見えるけれども、江戸はここからは見えないから。」

お父さんは、その答えを聞いて

「この子は、かしこい子だ。」

と、感心しました。

ある日、江戸からお客様がやってきました。

お父さんは、子供に同じ質問をしました。

「江戸と太陽とどっちが近いと思うか。」

子供は、よく考えて、そして、お客さんの顔をよく見てから、答えました。

「江戸の方が近いと思う。」

お父さんは、この前と返事が違うので、こう言いました。

「この前は、太陽の方が近いと言ったじゃないか？なぜ、今日は江戸が近いと言うんだい？」

「お父さん、江戸からはこうしてお客様がいらしたけれども、太陽からはまだ一度もお客様が来たことはないからだよ。」

お父さんは、「なるほど。」と、納得したそうです。

おしまい。

The Wise Child English Summary

かしこい子供(こども)

Please try to tackle the Japanese first and use this only as needed.

A LONG time ago, there lived a very smart boy. One day, the boy’s father asked his son, “The sun which you can see in the sky or the city Edo, which do you think is closer?”

The child thought for a while and said, “The sun is closer. I can see the sun from here, but I cannot see Edo from here.”

Upon hearing that answer, the father was impressed and said, “This child is a wise child.”

One day, a visitor from Edo came along. The father asked the child the same question. “Edo or the sun, which do you think is closer?”

The child thought for a while and then, staring at the visitor, he answered, “I think Edo is closer.”

Since the answer was different from before, the father said, “Previously, didn’t you say the sun was closer? Why do you say Edo is closer today?”

“Father, I’ve seen guests such as this one from Edo, but I have never seen a guest come from the sun.”

The father said, “I see,” and was impressed.

The end.

Kanji in Focus

The following are most of the kanji found in this story. The underlined reading may be the most used, although that can change depending on context.

Look at the kanji on one screen and try to come up with the English meaning and at least one pronunciation before going to the next screen.

男

男

ダン・ナン・おとこ・お
male

男女(だんじょ) men and women; both sexes

子

子

シ・ス・こ
child

子供(こども) child

日

日
ニチ・ジツ・ひ・~び・~か
sun; day

日本(にほん) Japan

父

父

フ・とう・ちち
father

お父(とう)さん father

聞

聞

ブン・モン・きく・きこえる
hear; ask; listen

新聞(しんぶん) newspaper

空

空

クウ・そら・あく・あき・あける・から・すく
sky; empty

空港(くうこう) airport

見

見

ケン・みる・みえる・みせる
see; idea

意見(いけん) opinion

近

近

キン・コン・ちかい
near

最近(さいきん) recently

思

思

シ・おもう
think

思(おも)い出(で) memories; recollections

考

考

コウ・かんがえる・かんがえ
consider; think

考(かんが)え方(かた) way of thinking

言

言

ゲン・ゴン・いう・こと
word; say

言葉(ことば) word; phrase; language

答

答

トウ・こたえる・こたえ
answer; solution

答(こた)え an answer; reply

同

同

ドウ・おなじ
same; agree; equal

同時(どうじ) simultaneous

客

客

キャク・カク
guest; customer; visitor

乗客(じょうきゃく) passenger (on trains, planes, etc.)

問

問

モン・とう・とい・とん
question; ask; problem

質問(しつもん) question

顔

顔

ガン・かお
face; expression

笑顔(えがお) smiling face; a smile

違

違

イ・ちがう
wrong; difference; differ

違反(いはん) violation; offense; infringement

DOWNLOAD LINK

Please go to this website to download the MP3s for both stories: (There is an exclusive free gift on kanji waiting there too.)

http://japanesereaders.com/102b9/

Thank you for purchasing and reading this book! To contact the authors, please email them at help@thejapanshop.com. See also the wide selection of materials for learning Japanese at www.TheJapanShop.com and the free site for learning Japanese at www.TheJapanesePage.com.

Also by Clay & Yumi Boutwell

Japanese Readers Collection: Volumes 1-9

Volume 1: Hikoichi
Volume 2: Momotaro
Volume 3: Inch-high Samurai
Volume 4: The Mouse Bride
Volume 5: The Cut-Tongue Sparrow
Volume 6: Yuki Onna

Other Japanese Lesson Titles:

Japanese Grammar 100 in Plain English
101 Common Japanese Idioms in Plain English
200 More Japanese Idioms
Japanese Sentences: Haiku
Japanese Dialogues: Meeting and Greetings
Learn Japanese through Dialogues: at the Restaurant
Japanese Dialogues: Directions
Kotowaza, Japanese Proverbs and Sayings
Hiragana, the Basics of Japanese
Katakana, the Basics of Japanese
Sound Words in Japanese
Ninja Penguin Talks Japanese in Japan
100 Useful Kanji (Get it FREE at www.TheJapanShop.com)
Clay’s Fiction

THE TEMPORAL SERIES
Carritos (Get it FREE at www.ClayBoutwell.com)
The Temporal
A Temporal Trust

THE AGORA MYSTERIES
Two Tocks before Midnight (Get it FREE at www.ClayBoutwell.com)
The Penitent Thief
The Peace Party Massacre
The Curse of the Mad Sheik
The Captain’s Play
Murder by Monday

TANAKA
Tanaka and the Yakuza’s Daughter

Visit www.ClayBoutwell.com for the latest information.