Japanese Reader Collection Volume 8:
Hikoichi Revisited

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

Clay & Yumi Boutwell

Copyright © 2018 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.

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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/10221/

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.

Contents

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Introduction

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Hikoichi and the Wonderous Box with running gloss

Hikoichi and the Wonderous Box Grammatical Notes

Hikoichi and the Wonderous Box in Japanese

Hikoichi and the Wonderous Box  English Summary

Kanji in Focus

Hikoichi and the Trickster Tanuki with running gloss

Hikoichi and the Trickster Tanuki Grammatical Notes

Hikoichi and the Trickster Tanuki in Japanese

Hikoichi and the Trickster Tanuki English Summary

Kanji in Focus

The Oni's Mask and The Girl with running gloss

The Oni's Mask and the Girl Grammatical Notes

The Oni's Mask and the Girl in Japanese

The Oni's Mask and the Girl English Summary

Kanji in Focus

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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 out of it. We recommend learning hiragana first, but we are also including rōmaji in the definitions so you can be sure you are reading with the correct pronunciation. 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 this section, we go through important grammatical patterns found in the story and attempt to explain them in plain English. The grammar icon  found in the line-by-line definitions indicates there is a note for that word or phrase. Click or tap the icon to zoom to the specific grammar note. Click the back button to return to the text.

- 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 go here for a download link:  http://japanesereaders.com/10221/
If you have ANY trouble downloading, please email us at help@thejapanshop.com.

ABOUT HIKOICHI

You may know our first Japanese Reader Collection Volume has several Hikoichi stories. By far, those stories have been the most popular among students. Hikoichi is, after all, an interesting character. Smart, sassy, creative in his laziness…In short, his adventures are entertaining. Plus, not many non-Japanese are as familiar with Hikoichi as they are Momotaro or the Moon Princess. So, be one of the few to dig in, enjoy, and learn more about Hikoichi!

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.

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

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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”:
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彦一ひこいち

Hikoichi

Who is this Hikoichi? He is usually portrayed as a poor young man. Sometimes, he is married and sometimes he is the eternal smart-aleck youth. He is said to be wise beyond his years. Wise, but mischievous. He could rightly be said to be lazy and often looks for shortcuts. He has a penchant for getting into trouble but, don't worry, he usually figures out how to get out of that trouble. By his wisdom, he could be compared to Solomon the Wise; by his mischievousness, Denis the Menace. An interesting character without doubt.

Hikoichi and the Wonderous Box with running gloss

STORY　ONE:

Hikoichi and the Wonderous Box

彦一ひこいちさんの不思議ふしぎな箱はこ

むかし、むかし、彦一ひこいちさんというとてもかしこい若者わかものが住すんでいました。

むかしむかしmukashi mukashi—a long time ago
彦一hikoichi—Hikoichi (a name)
という　to iu—such as (names); were so (named)
とても　totemo—very
かしこい　kashikoi—wise; clever; smart
若者　wakamono—young person
が　ga—[particle that often marks the subject]
住んでいました　sunde imashita—lived

彦一ひこいちさんの住すんでいる村むらには、お金持かねもちの庄屋しょうやさんが住すんでいました。

彦一の住んでいる村に　hikoichi no sunde iru mura ni—In the village where Hikoichi lived
お金持ち　okane mochi—rich; a rich man
庄屋さん　shōya san—village headman

ある日ひ、庄屋しょうやさんが家いえに戻もどってくると、大事だいじにしていたつぼが割われていました。

ある日　aru hi—one day
家に　ie ni—to the house
戻ってくると　modotte kuru to—upon returning
大事　daiji—important; cherished
つぼ　tsubo—vase; jar; pot
大事にしていたつぼ　daiji ni shite ita tsubo—a vase that was cherished
割れていました　warete imashita—was broken

家いえで働はたらいている誰だれかが割わったに違ちがいないのですが、誰だれに聞きいても「私わたしではありません。」と言いいます。

家で　ie de—at the house
働いている　hataraite iru—(someone) working (at the house)
誰か　dare ka—someone
割った　watta—broke
～に違いない　~ni chigai nai—without mistake; no doubt; must be
のです　no desu—[explanatory ender; used to explain or stress]
が　ga—but; however
誰に　dare ni—to someone
誰に聞いても　dare ni kiitemo—no matter who was asked…
私　watashi—I; me
私ではありません　watashi dewa arimasen—It wasn't me [polite]
と　to—[quotation marker]
言います　iimasu—said

犯人はんにんがわからない庄屋しょうやさんは、彦一ひこいちさんに相談そうだんしました。

犯人　hannin—offender; criminal; bad guy
わからない　wakaranai—don't know (who the offender was)
庄屋さん　shōya san—village headman
犯人がわからない庄屋さん　hannin ga wakaranai shōya san—the village headman who didn't know who the offender was
彦一さんに　hikoichi san ni—to Hikoichi
相談しました　sōdan shimashita—consulted; discussed with

すると、彦一ひこいちさんは、「わかりました。私わたしが犯人はんにんを見みつけましょう。」

すると　suruto—upon doing so
わかりました　wakarimashita—I understand; I see
見つけましょう　mitsukemashō—allow me to find

しばらくすると、彦一ひこいちさんは、神社じんじゃの神主かんぬしさんを連つれて庄屋しょうやさんの家いえにやってきました。

しばらくすると　shibaraku suruto—after a while; a short time later
神社　jinja—a Shinto shrine
神主さん　kannushi san—Shinto priest
神社の神主さん　jinja no kannushi san—the shrine's priest
を　o—[direct object marker]
連れて　tsurete—led; took along
庄屋さんの家に　shōya san no ie ni—to the house of the village headman
やってきました　yatte kimashita—came around; turned up

手てには古ふるぼけた箱はこを持もっています。

手に　te ni—in (his) hand; carrying
古ぼけた　furu boketa—old looking; worn out
箱　hako—box
持っています　motte imasu—carrying

そして、庄屋しょうやさんの家いえで働はたらく人ひとを全員ぜんいん集あつめて、みんなの前まえでこう言いいました。

そして　soshite—and then
家で　ie de—at the house
働く人　hataraku hito—workers
全員　zenin—everyone
集めて　atsumete—assemble; congregate
みんな　minna—everyone
の前で　no mae de—in front of (everyone)
こう言いました　kō iimashita—said the following

「この箱はこは、この神社じんじゃに古ふるくから伝つたわる不思議ふしぎな箱はこです。

この箱　kono hako—this box
この神社に　kono jinja ni—at this shrine
古くから　furuku kara—from long ago
伝わる　tsutawaru—transmitted; handed down; spoken
不思議な　fushigi na—a strange…; wonderous; miraculous

この箱はこに自分じぶんの名前なまえを書かいた紙がみを入いれてください。

自分　jibun—one’s own
名前　namae—name
自分の名前　jibun no namae—one’s own name
書いた　kaita—written
紙　kami—paper
入れてください　irete kudasai—please put (paper) in (the box)

神主かんぬしさんが祝詞のりとを唱となえると、紙かみに書かかれた名前なまえはみんな消きえてしまいますが、

神主さん　kannushi san—the priest
祝詞　norito—ritual prayer; invocation
唱える　tonaeru—chant
と　to—upon doing so
紙に書かれた　kakareta—written on paper
名前　namae—name
紙に書かれた名前　kami ni kakareta namae—the name that was written on the paper
みんな　minna—everyone
消えてしまいます　kiete shimaimasu—completely disappear
が　ga—but; however

悪わるいことをした人ひとの名前なまえだけは消きえずに残のこります。」

悪いことをした人　warui koto o shita hito—person who did something bad
名前だけ　namae dake—only the name (of the bad person)
消えずに　kiezu ni—won’t erase; won’t disappear
残ります　nokorimasu—remain; stay behind

そこにいたみんなが、紙かみに自分じぶんの名前なまえを書かいて箱はこに入いれると、

そこにいたみんな　soko ni ita minna—everyone there; those present
紙に　kami ni—on the paper
自分の名前　jibun no name—one’s own name
書いて　kaite—write
箱に　hako ni—in the box
入れると　ireru to—upon putting in

彦一ひこいちさんは、神主かんぬしさんに祝詞のりとを唱となえてもらいました。

神主さん　kannushi san—the priest
祝詞　norito—ritual prayer; invocation
唱えてもらいました　tonaete moraimashita—chanted

そして、箱はこを開あけて、中なかの紙かみを見みてみると、

そして　soshite—and then
箱　hako—box
開けてakete—opened
中の紙　naka no kami—the paper inside
見てみると　mite miru to—upon looking

名前なまえの書かいてある紙かみはそのままで、たった一枚いちまい名前なまえの書かいてない紙かみが入はいっていました。

名前の書いてある紙　namae no kaite aru kami—the paper that had the name written on it
そのままで　sono mama de—just like before; without change
たった一枚　tatta ichi mai—only one piece (of paper)
書いてない　kaite nai—wasn’t written
入っていました　haitte imashita—was entered; was inside

庄屋しょうやさんは、「これは、どうしたことだ？みんなが犯人はんにんで、一人ひとりだけは違ちがうということですか？」

これは　kore wa—as for all this; about all this
どうしたことだ　dōshita koto da—what’s all this; what’s going on
みんな　minna—everyone
犯人hannin—the offender
で　de—and; because of
一人だけ　hitori dake—only one person
違う　chigau—different (not the offender)
ということですか　to iu koto desu ka—Is that the meaning?

と、彦一ひこいちさんにたずねると、彦一ひこいちさんは、首くびを振ふってこう答こたえました。

と　to—[quotation marker]
彦一さんに　hikoichi san ni—to Hikoichi
たずねると　tazuneru to—upon asking
首を振って　kubi o futte—shaking (his) head
こう答えました　kō kotaemashita—answered like this

「実じつは、この箱はこはなんでもない箱はこで、不思議ふしぎな箱はこではありません。

実は　jitsu wa—actually; in reality
この箱　kono hako—this box
なんでもない　nan demo nai—nothing; of no concern
不思議な箱　fushigi na hako—magical box
ではありません　dewa arimasen—isn’t (a magical box) [polite]

つぼを割わってしまった犯人はんにんが、自分じぶんの名前なまえだけは消きえないと思おもい、

つぼ　tsubo—vase; jar
割ってしまった　watte shimatta—(unfortunately) broke
犯人　hannin—offender
自分の名前　jibun no name—one’s own name
だけ　dake—only
消えない　kienai—disappear
と思い　to omoi—thought (only his name would disappear)

初はじめから名前なまえを書かかないで箱はこに入いれたのです。」

初めから　hajime kara—from the start
書かないで　kakanaide—didn’t write
箱に入れた　hako ni ireta—put in the box
のです　no desu—[expanatory ender]

そこで、一人一人ひとりひとり調しらべていくと、名前なまえを書かかなかったのは、平吉へいきちという人ひとだとわかりました。

そこで　soko de—and then; therefore
一人一人　hitori hitori—one by one; each one; everyone individually
調べていくと　shirabete iku to—upon proceeding to examine
書かなかったのは　kakanakatta no wa—as for the one (who) didn’t write
平吉　heikichi—Heikichi
という人　to iu hito—such a person as
だとわかりました　da to wakarimashita—(it was) figured out

平吉へいきちは、「すみません。私わたしがつぼを割わりました。

平吉　heikichi—Heikichi
という人　to iu hito—such a person as
だとわかりました　da to wakarimashita—(it was) figured out
すみません　sumimasen—sorry; forgive me
私　watashi—I; me
つぼを割りました　tsubo o warimashita—broke the vase

許ゆるしてください。」と、庄屋しょうやさんに謝あやまったということです。

許してください　yurushite kudasai—please forgive
と　to—[quotation marker]
庄屋さんに　shōya san ni—to the village headman
謝った　ayamatta—apologized
ということです　to iu koto desu—that’s that; that’s how it happened

おしまい。

おしまい　oshimai—the end

Hikoichi and the Wonderous Box Grammatical Notes

1. むかしむかし　mukashi mukashi—a long time ago

This is sometimes written in kanji as昔々. The々　is used as a repetition mark instead of writing the kanji twice.

2. 彦一　hikoichi—Hikoichi (a name)

The彦　in his name means “lad” or “boy.” Hikoichi of Japanese lore was a poor, but smart and mischievous young man.

3. 若者　wakamono—young person

This is made of若　waka(young)者　mono (person); there are two “mono”:者　mono—a person and 物　mono—a thing

4. 彦一の住んでいる村に　hikoichi no sunde iru mura ni—In the village where Hikoichi lived

Sometimes it is helpful to read a sentence from the end and work to the beginning:村に　mura ni (in the village) +住んでいる村に　sunde iru mura ni (living in the village) |彦一の住んでいる村に　hikoichi no sunde iru mura ni (Hikoichi’s village; or the village where Hikoichi was living)

5. 庄屋さん　shōya san—village headman

In the Edo period and particularly in western Japan, the庄屋　shōya were officials who collected village taxes and made petitions to the lords for the villagers. The庄屋　shōya were usually rich and owned lots of land. The land would be let out to the villagers for their livelihood.

6. ある日　aru hi—one day

Just as withあるところ　(a certain place), the aruinある日shows uncertain generality.ある人　aru hito—a certain person

7. 戻ってくると　modotte kuru to—upon returning

Theくる　implies the returning as in “returning back”; theと　adds the “upon” or “and once (returning…)” meaning.

8. 大事にしていたつぼ　daiji ni shite ita tsubo—a vase that was cherished

大事　literally means “big thing” or “big matter”; Japanese often waits to reveal the subject or object until the end. “The cared-for vase”

9. 割れていました　warete imashita—was broken

Theいました　shows the past-tense state of the vase: was broken

10. 家で　ie de—at the house

Theで　particle indicates location of action.

11. 働いている　hataraite iru—(someone) working

The～ている　shows a continuing action

12. 誰か　dare ka—someone

Theか　shows uncertainty.いつか　itsuka—someday;どこか　dokoka—somewhere

13. 誰に聞いても　dare ni kiitemo—whomever (he) asked, all…; no matter who was asked…

~ても　“even if” or “although”;話しても　hanashitemo—even if (someone) talks;飲んでも　nondemo—even if (someone) drinks;日本人でも　nihonjin demo—even a Japanese person…

14. 犯人がわからない庄屋さん　hannin ga wakaranai shōya san—the village headman who didn’t know who the offender was

Again, work from the end to the beginning: the headman + didn’t know + offender

15. 見つけましょう　mitsukemashō—allow me to find

~mashou is often used to make a request or invitation.

16. やってきました　yatte kimashita—came around; turned up

やってくる　is a set phrase meaning “to come around” made up ofやる　to do; to undertake +くるto come about; to come

17. みんな　minna—everyone

This is often shortened toみな.

18. 古くから　furuku kara—from long ago

Another way to say this is昔から　mukashi kara—from a long time ago

19. 消えてしまいます　kiete shimaimasu—completely disappear

Theしまいます　shows completed action and often includes a feeling of regret.

20. 悪いことをした人　warui koto o shita hito—person who did something bad

悪い　warui—bad |悪いこと　warui koto—something bad |悪いことをした　warui koto o shita—did something bad |悪いことをした人　warui koto o shita hito—the person who did something bad

21. 唱えてもらいました　tonaete moraimashita—chanted

もらう　means “get”; “receive”; “be given.” Here, the “chanting” is what is “given.” We are told who the giver is with the particleに.
神主さんに祝詞を唱えてもらいました。
kannushi san ni (from the priest) | norito (invocation) | o (marks the invocation as the object) | moraimashita (received)
We received a chanting of an invocation from the priest.

22. 見てみると　mite miru to—upon looking

Theみる　added to theて　form of verbs often adds an “and see” or “try out” or “see what will happen” meaning:見てみる　try looking…;食べてみる　eat and see (if it is good)
Use it when you are trying something out.
Theと　adds the “upon” meaning.

23. たった一枚　tatta ichi mai—only one piece (of paper)

Japanese has many counters, words that are used with numbering objects. English has a few too: a cup of coffee; two pairsof gloves.枚　mai is the counter used with flat objects like paper.

24. 入っていました　haitte imashita—was entered; was inside

Theいる　after aて　form of a verb shows current action (-ing) in the present and shows something that has been done in the past.

25. どうしたことだ　dōshita koto da—what’s all this; what is going on?

A more common way to phrase this would beどういうことですか？　dō iu koto desu ka? Orどういう意味ですか？　dō iu imi desu ka? What is the meaning of this?

26. で　de—and; because of

みんなが犯人で　minna ga hannin de—everyone is the offender and…
This use of the particleで　is probably a shortened form ofです　and shows a relationship between what was just said and what will follow: and; and therefore

27. ということですか　to iu koto desu ka—Is that the meaning?

Previously, we have どう　which makes the phrase a question. Hereと, the quotation marker, is used to ask if what was just said is what happened.

28. 割ってしまった　watte shimatta—(unfortunately) broke

しまうshimau shows completion and usually some regret.

29. 調べていくと　shirabete iku to—upon proceeding to examine

Theいく　adds a “proceeding to…” or “(shows something) taking place” meaning.

30. 書かなかったのは　kakanakatta no wa—as for the one (who) didn’t write

The topic particle,は, may be best thought of as “As for…”:私は　watashi wa—as for me, I…
Theのは　means “As for the preceding text…”

Hikoichi and the Wonderous Box in Japanese

彦一ひこいちさんの不思議ふしぎな箱はこ

むかし、むかし、彦一ひこいちさんというとてもかしこい若者わかものが住すんでいました。

さんの住すんでいる村むらには、お金持かねもちの庄屋しょうやさんが住すんでいました。

ある日ひ、庄屋しょうやさんが家いえに戻もどってくると、大事だいじにしていたつぼが割われていました。家いえで働はたらいている誰だれかが割わったに違ちがいないのですが、誰だれに聞きいても「私わたしではありません。」と言いいます。犯人はんにんがわからない庄屋しょうやさんは、彦一ひこいちさんに相談そうだんしました。

すると、彦一ひこいちさんは、「わかりました。私わたしが犯人はんにんを見みつけましょう。」

しばらくすると、彦一ひこいちさんは、神社じんじゃの神主かんぬしさんを連つれて庄屋しょうやさんの家いえにやってきました。手てには古ふるぼけた箱はこを持もっています。そして、庄屋しょうやさんの家いえで働はたらく人ひとを全員ぜんいん集あつめて、みんなの前まえでこう言いいました。

「この箱はこは、この神社じんじゃに古ふるくから伝つたわる不思議ふしぎな箱はこです。この箱はこに自分じぶんの名前なまえを書かいた紙がみを入いれてください。神主かんぬしさんが祝詞のりとを唱となえると、紙かみに書かかれた名前なまえはみんな消きえてしまいますが、悪わるいことをした人ひとの名前なまえだけは消きえずに残のこります。」

そこにいたみんなが、紙かみに自分じぶんの名前なまえを書かいて箱はこに入いれると、彦一ひこいちさんは、神主かんぬしさんに祝詞のりとを唱となえてもらいました。

そして、箱はこを開あけて、中なかの紙かみを見みてみると、名前なまえの書かいてある紙かみはそのままで、たった一枚いちまい名前なまえの書かいてない紙かみが入はいっていました。

庄屋しょうやさんは、「これは、どうしたことだ？みんなが犯人はんにんで、一人ひとりだけは違ちがうということですか？」と、彦一ひこいちさんにたずねると、彦一ひこいちさんは、首くびを振ふってこう答こたえました。

「「実じつは、この箱はこはなんでもない箱はこで、不思議ふしぎな箱はこではありません。つぼを割わってしまった犯人はんにんが、自分じぶんの名前なまえだけは消きえないと思おもい、初はじめから名前なまえを書かかないで箱はこに入いれたのです。」

そこで、一人一人ひとりひとり調しらべていくと、名前なまえを書かかなかったのは、平吉へいきちという人ひとだとわかりました。

平吉へいきちは、「すみません。私わたしがつぼを割わりました。許ゆるしてください。」と、庄屋しょうやさんに謝あやまったということです。
おしまい。

Hikoichi and the Wonderous Box
English Summary

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

A LONG TIME AGO, there lived a very wise young man named Hikoichi.

In the village that Hikoichi lived, there was a rich chieftain.

One day, when the chieftain returned home, he found a very special vase broken. It was certain one of the household workers had broken it, but no matter who was asked, each replied, "It wasn't me."

Not knowing who did it, the chieftain asked Hikoichi for his advice.

Hikoichi said, "I understand. I will find out who did this."

After a while, Hikoichi brought a priest from a shrine to the chieftain's house. In his hand was a beaten, old box. He gathered all the household workers together and said this before them:

"This box has, for a long time, been a mysterious box at the shrine. Please write your name on a piece of paper and put it in the box. When the priest chants his invocation, all names will disappear except the offender's. Only his will remain.

All those present wrote their names on paper and placed it inside the box. Hikoichi had the priest start chanting.

Then, he opened the box and upon looking at the pieces of paper, all of the papers still had the names written on them except one. That paper did not have a name written on it at all.

The chieftain said, "What's all this? Does this mean everyone but one person is the culprit?"

Hikoichi shook his head and replied, "Actually, there's nothing special about this box. It isn't a mysterious box at all. The person who broke the vase is the one who didn't write his name from the beginning."

They investigated the names one by one until it was determined Heikichi was at fault.

Heikichi apologized to the chieftain and said, "I'm sorry. I broke the vase. Please forgive me."

The end.

Kanji in Focus

The following are most of the kanji found in this book. The underlined reading is probably the most used. If there is a . that means what comes before the dot is in the kanji and what goes after the dot follows the kanji in hiragana.

Hikoichi and the Trickster Tanuki with running gloss

STORY　TWO:

Hikoichi and the Trickster Tanuki

彦一ひこいちさんといたずらたぬき

a　real　life　tanuki

むかし、むかし、彦一ひこいちさんというたいへんかしこい若者わかものがおりました。

むかし、むかし　mukashi, mukashi—a long, long time ago
彦一さん　hikoichi san—Hikoichi (a name)
という　to iu—such as (names); were so (named)
たいへん　taihen—very
かしこい　kashikoi—wise; clever; smart
若者　wakamono—young person
が　ga—[particle that often marks the subject]
おりました　orimashite—was; existed

彦一ひこいちさんの住すんでいる村むらの裏山うらやまには、たぬきが住すんでいましたが、

彦一さんの住んでいる村　hikoichi san no sunde iru mura—the village where Hikoichi lived
裏山　urayama—the hill behind one’s home
たぬき　tanuki—raccoon dog; tanuki
住んでいました　sunde imashita—lived

いたずらばかりするので、みんな困こまっていました。

が　ga—but; however
いたずら　itazura—prank; mischief; trick
ばかり　bakari—only; nothing but
いたずらばかり　itazura bakari—always playing tricks
する　suru—to do
ので　node—therefore; because  of; that being the case…
みんな　minna—everyone
困っていました　komatte imashita—troubled; bothered

ある日ひのこと、たぬきが旅人たびびとに化ばけて彦一ひこいちさんの家いえにやってきました。

ある日　aru hi—one day
ある日のこと　aru hi no koto—it happened one day…
旅人　tabibito—travelers
に化けて　ni bakete—to change into; to take the form of…
家に　ie ni—to the house
やってきました　yatte kimashita—came around

彦一ひこいちさんは、すぐにたぬきが化ばけていることがわかりましたが、

すぐにsugu ni—very soon; immediately
化けていること　bakete iru koto—the changing into…; about the transformation
わかりました　wakarimashita—understood; knew
が　ga—but; however

何なにも言いわずに家いえにあげて、食事しょくじを出だして、お酒さけも飲のませ、もてなしてあげました。

何も　nani mo—nothing; not any
言わずに　iwazu ni—without saying anything
家にあげて　ie ni agete—allowed in the house
食事　shokuji—food
出して　dashite—brought out
お酒　osake—sake; alcohol
飲ませ　nomase—drank
もてなして　 motenashite—entertain; hospitality
あげました　agemashita—gave

すると、たぬきがこう言いいました。

すると　suruto—upon doing so
こう言いました　kōiimashita—said the following

「彦一ひこいちさん、今日きょうはもてなしてくださってありがとうございます。

今日kyō—today
もてなして　motenashite—entertainment; hospitality
もてなしてくださってありがとうございます　motenashite kudasatte arigatō gozaimasu—thank you for giving me your hospitality

とてもゆっくり休やすめました。ところで、彦一ひこいちさんがこの世よで一番いちばん怖こわいと思おもうものは何なんですか？」

とても　totemo—very
ゆっくり　yukkuri—took it easy; relaxing; restful
休めました　yasumemashita—rested
ところで　tokoro de—by the way
この世で　kono yo de—in this world
一番　ichi ban—the most
怖い　kowai—scary
と思う　to omō—do you think
一番こわいと思うものは　ichiban kowai to omō mono wa—the scariest thing you can think of
何ですか　nan desu ka—what is it?

彦一ひこいちさんは、たぬきがいたずらをするとわかっていたので、こう答こたえました。

いたずらをする　itazura o suru—to do mischief
とわかっていた　to wakatte ita—understood (he was doing mischief)
ので　 node—therefore; because
こう答えました　kō　kotaemashita—answered like this

「私わたしの一番いちばん怖こわいものですか？誰だれにも言いわないでくださいよ。

私の　watashi no—my
一番怖いもの　ichiban kowai mono—scariest thing
誰にも　dare ni mo—no one (takes negative verb)
言わないで　iwanaide—don’t say (to anyone)
ください　kudasai—please
よ　yo—[ender that indicates certainty or emphasis]

実じつは、この世よで一番いちばん怖こわいものは、　まんじゅうです。

実は　jitsu wa—actually
この世で　kono yo de—in this world
まんじゅう　manjuu—manjuu; steamed yeast bun with filling

あれは、考かんがえただけでも恐おそろしい。」

あれは　are wa—as for that…
考えた　kangaeta—thought
考えただけでも　kangaeta dake demo—even the thought
恐ろしい　osoroshii—scary; terrible; frightful

それを聞きいたたぬきは、翌朝よくあさ、彦一ひこいちさんの家いえの前まえに、

それ　sore—that
聞いた kiita—heard
それを聞いたたぬき　sore o kiita tanuki—the tanuki hearing that
翌朝　 yoku asa—the next morning
彦一さんの家　 hikoichi san no ie—Hikoichi’s house
家の前に　ie no mae ni—in front of the house

まんじゅうを山やまのように積つんで、かげからこっそりのぞいていました。

山のように yama no yō　ni—like a mountain
積んで tsunde—pile up
かげから kage kara—from the shadow (behind the manjuu)
こっそり kossori—stealthily; secretly
のぞいていました　nozoite imashita—peeked; looked

彦一ひこいちさんは、まんじゅうを見みつけると、大おおきな声こえで、こう言いいました。

見つけると mitsukeru to—upon finding
大きな　ooki na—big; large
声　koe—voice
大きな声で　ooki na koe de—with a big voice
こう言いました　kō iimashita—said like this

「きゃー、恐おそろしい。まんじゅうがこんなにたくさんあるなんて、怖こわい怖こわい！」

きゃー　kya—yikes!
恐ろしい　osoroshii—scary; dreadful; frightening; terrible
こんなに　konna ni—so; like this; in this way
たくさん　takusan—many; lots
あるaru—exists; there are
なんて　nante—such as (manjuu); like [used as an exclamation]
怖い　kowai—scary

そう言いいながら、大喜おおよろこびで山やまのようなまんじゅうをすっかり食たべてしまいました。

そう言いながら　sōii nagara—while saying like this
大喜びで　oo yorokobi de—with great joy
山のようなまんじゅう　yama no yō na manjuu—a pile of manjuu as big as a mountain
すっかり　sukkari—all; complete; thoroughly
食べてしまいました　tabete shimaimashita—ate it all up

たぬきは、だまされたとわかるとかんかんに怒おこって、

だまされた　damasareta—tricked
とわかると　to wakaru to—upon realizing…
かんかんに　kankan ni—angrily; flaring-up
怒ってokotte—became angry

村中むらじゅうの石いしころを集あつめて、彦一ひこいちさんの畑はたけにまきました。

村中　murajuu—throughout the village
石ころ　ishikoro—stones; rocks; pebbles
集めて　atsumete—collect; gather
畑　hatake—field (for fruits or vegetables); cultivated land
まきました　makimashita—sprinkled; spread out; scattered

畑はたけが石いしころだらけになった彦一ひこいちさんは、すぐにたぬきの仕業しわざだとわかり、

畑　hatake—field (for fruits or vegetables); cultivated land
まきました　makimashita—sprinkled; spread out; scattered
石ころだらけ　ishi koro darake—full of rocks
になった　ni natta—became (full of rocks)
すぐに　sugu ni—soon; immediately
仕業　shiwaza—(tanuki’s) doing; activity
とわかり　to wakari—understanding that

大おおきな声こえでたぬきに聞きこえるようにこう言いいました。

大きなookina—a big (voice)
声でkoe de—with (his) voice
聞こえるkikoeru—to be able to hear
たぬきに聞こえるように　tanuki ni kikoeru yō ni—in order for the tanuki to hear
こう言いましたkō iimashita—said the following

「おや、うちの畑はたけにいっぱい石いしがあるな。

おや　oya—what’s this?; oh!; my!
うちの　uchi no—our…
畑に　hatake ni—in the field
いっぱい　ippai—a lot of; many
石　ishi—rock
ある　aru—exists (rocks)
な　na—[sentence ender indicating emotion or emphasis]

おお、これはいいことだ。

おお　oo—oh
これは　kore wa—as for this
いいことii koto—a good thing

石いしの肥料ひりょうは３さん年ねんは持もつというから、これから３さん年ねん間かんは毎年まいとし豊作ほうさくだ。

石の肥料ishi no hiryō—rock manure
３年間　san nen kan—three years time
毎年mai toshi—every year
豊作　hō saku—abundant harvest; bumper crop

でも、これが馬うまのふんだったら、大変たいへんなことになっていた。

でも　demo—but; however
これ　kore—this
馬のふんuma no fun—horse manure
だったら　dattara—if it were
大変taihen—terrible; troublesome
大変なことtaihen na koto—a terrible thing
大変なことになっていた　taihen na koto ni natte ita—it would have been bad

全然ぜんぜん作物さくもつが実みのらないからな。」

全然　zenzen—not at all [takes a negative verb]
作物saku motsu—produce; crops
実らない　minoranai—won’t bear fruit; won’t produce
から　kara—because of; therefore
な　na—[sentence ender indicating emotion or emphasis]

たぬきは、これを聞きくと、夜中よなか、こっそり石いしころを畑はたけから運はこび出だして、

これを聞くと　kore o kiku to—upon hearing that…
夜中yonaka—in the middle of the night
こっそり　kossori—secretly
石ころ　ishi koro—rocks
畑から　hatake kara—from the field
運び出して hakobi dashita—carried out

馬うまのふんを彦一ひこいちさんの畑はたけにまきました。

馬のふん　uma no fun—horse manure
まきました　makimashita—spread about

馬うまのふんのおかげで、彦一ひこいちさんの畑はたけでは食物しょくもつがよく実みのり、大豊作だいほうさくになりました。

馬のふんのおかげで　uma no fun no okagede—thanks to the horse manure
食物shokumotsu—food
よく実り　yoku minori—abudant harvest
大豊作dai hō saku—large harvest
になりました　ni narimashita—became

くやしがっているたぬきに、彦一ひこいちさんは「これは、お礼れいです。」

くやし　kuyashi—vexing; annoying; frustrating
くやしがっている　kuyashi gatte iru—feeling frustrated
くやしがっているたぬき　kuyashi gatte iru tanuki—the tanuki who was feeling frustrated
お礼　orei—expression of gratitude

と言いって、とうもろこしをあげたそうです。

おしまい。

と言って　to itte—saying that
とうもろこし　tōmorokoshi—corn
あげた　ageta—gave
そうです　sō desu—it is said; it appears (that was done)
おしまい　oshimai—the end

Hikoichi and the Trickster Tanuki Grammatical Notes

1. 彦一さんの住んでいる村 hikoichi san no sunde iru mura—the village where Hikoichi lived

Japanese often saves the most important information for the last. Village—lived in—Hikoichi’s

2. 裏山 urayama—the hill behind one’s home

Literally, this is “back mountain” but refers to a hill or mountain behind one’s home.

3. たぬき　tanuki—raccoon dog; tanuki

The tanuki is an animal usually translated as “raccoon dog” in English. In Japanese lore, the tanuki is a cunning trickster.The kanji is狸　which combines the kanji parts for dog (犭kemono hen) and village (里　sato hen).

4. ばかり　bakari—only; nothing but

ばかり　means “only; merely; nothing but”;言い訳ばかり　iiwake bakari—nothing but excuses;いいことばかり　ii koto bakari—nothing but good things;泣いてばかり　naite bakari—crying all the time

5. ある日のこと　aru hi no koto—it happened one day…

こと　koto is a versatile word. Here it means an “incident,” “occurrence,” or “event.”

6. 旅人　tabibito—travelers

Learning kanji really pays off with words like旅人. Even if you had never seen this word, you would know旅　tabimeans “travel” and人　hito (pronounced here, bito) means person: traveler

7. に化けて　ni bakete—to change into; to take the form of…

化ける　bakeru means to “change one’s form” like a shape shifter. Some creatures in Japanese lore have this ability.

8. やってきました　yatte kimashita—came around

A similar combination phrase isやってみる　meaning “to have a go” or “to try and do (something)”

9. 化けていること　bakete iru koto—the changing into…; about the transformation

Theこと　here makes the verb化けている　into a noun phrase. “The act of changing into”

10. 何も　nani mo—nothing; not any

This takes a negative verb ending. In this example言わず　iwazuis used (theず　is the negative verb ender).

11. 家にあげて　ie ni agete—allowed in the house

In Japan, most houses have steps leading to the front door. So, one must go up (上げる　ageru—go up) to enter.

12. お酒　osake—sake; alcohol

Theお　is honorific, but in some words likeお酒　osake (sake) orお茶　ocha (tea), it has essentially become part of the word.

13. 飲ませ　nomase—drank

飲む　nomu—to drink;飲ませる　nomaseru—to give someone a drink

14. もてなしてくださってありがとうございます　motenashite kudasatte arigatōgozaimasu—thank you for giving me your hospitality

To say “Thank you for…” say theて　form of a verb and addありがとうございます.

15. この世で　kono yo de—in this world

この世　kono yo literally means “this world” or “this generation” and refers to the land of the living.

16. 一番　ichi ban—the most

Literally, this means “number one” but it is used to mean “the best” or “greatest”:一番すき　ichiban suki—liked the most;一番高い　ichiban takai—the highest

17. 一番こわいと思うものは　ichiban kowai to omō mono wa—the scariest thing you can think of

Very often, questions drop the何ですか　and end with theは.

18. 私の　watashi no—my

This is the possessive of私　watashi—I; me

19. まんじゅう　manjuu—manjuu; steamed yeast bun with filling

This is a popular Japanese sweet. It is made with flour, rice powder, and anko (sweet bean paste).

Manjuu

20. あれは　are wa—as for that…

When speaking theoretically about something (therefore, far away), use are wa. If it is within reach, use kore wa. If it is nearby, use sore wa.

21. 考えただけでも　kangaeta dake demo—even just the thought

This has three parts考えた　kangaeta—thought;だけ　dake—only;でも　demo—even: Even just the thought

22. それを聞いたたぬき　sore o kiita tanuki—the tanuki hearing that

Verb and noun phrases can be stacked before a noun to describe that noun’s appearance or actions. This is the tanuki that “heard that.”

23. 翌朝 yoku asa—the next morning

The翌　yokumeans “next”:翌日　yoku jitsu—the next day

24. 山のように yama no yōni—like a mountain

Addのように　no yōnito say a noun is like something.雪のように白い　yuki no yōni shiroi—white as snow

25. かげから kage kara—from the shadow (behind something)

This is literally “from shadows” but it implies hiding behind something, in this case, a mountain of manjuu.

26. なんて　nante—such as; (things) like [used as an exclamation]

This is often used in sentences to show incredibility or amazement at something. How! What!

27. そう言いながら　sōii nagara—while saying like this

This has three parts:そう　sō—like this;言い　ii—speak;ながら　nagara—while

28. 村中　murajuu—throughout the village

The 中　can be juu or chuu.Although, literally, this kanji means “the middle,” it is used to mean “throughout” for spatial words or “during” for temporal words.町中　machi juu—thoughout the town;仕事中　shigoto chuu—during work

29. 石ころだらけ　ishi koro darake—full of rocks

だらけ　darakeis used to show there is a lot of something and it is usually unwanted.矛盾だらけ　mujun darake—full of contradictions;ゴミだらけ　gomi darake—full of trash;血だらけ　chi darake—lots of blood

30. とわかり　to wakari—understanding that

Think of theと　to as a quotation marker that marks what was understood.

31. 聞こえるkikoeru—to be able to hear

聞く　kiku—to hear;聞こえる　kikoeru—to be able to hear

32. 石の肥料ishi no hiryō—rock manure

Obviously, rocks don’t have manure, but here Hikoichi is trying to trick the tanuki.

33. ３年間　san nen kan—three years time

Just３年　could mean three years, third year, or year three. Adding the間　kan means a span of three years.

34. これを聞くと　kore o kiku to—upon hearing that…

this—(direct object marker)—to hear—upon

35. 運び出して hakobi dashita—carried out

This combines運ぶ　hakobu—to carry with出す　dasu—to take out

36. くやしがっている　kuyashi gatte iru—feeling frustrated

Whenがる　is added to adjectives, it adds a “a feeling of…” meaning

37. とうもろこし　tōmorokoshi—corn

Don’t mix this up with友殺し　tomo koroshi which means “killer of a friend.”

Hikoichi and the Trickster Tanuki in Japanese

彦一ひこいちさんといたずらたぬき

むかし、むかし、彦一ひこいちさんというたいへんかしこい若者わかものがおりました。

彦一ひこいちさんの住すんでいる村むらの裏山うらやまには、たぬきが住すんでいましたが、いたずらばかりするので、みんな困こまっていました。

ある日ひのこと、たぬきが旅人たびびとに化ばけて彦一ひこいちさんの家いえにやってきました。

彦一ひこいちさんは、すぐにたぬきが化ばけていることがわかりましたが、何なにも言いわずに家いえにあげて、食事しょくじを出だして、お酒さけも飲のませ、もてなしてあげました。

すると、たぬきがこう言いいました。

「彦一ひこいちさん、今日きょうはもてなしてくださってありがとうございます。とてもゆっくり休やすめました。ところで、彦一ひこいちさんがこの世よで一番いちばんこわいと思おもうものは何なんですか？」

彦一ひこいちさんは、たぬきがいたずらをするとわかっていたので、こう答こたえました。

「私わたしの一番いちばんこわいものですか？誰だれにも言いわないでくださいよ。実じつは、この世よで一番いちばんこわいものは、　まんじゅうです。あれは、
考かんがえただけでも恐おそろしい。」

それを聞きいたたぬきは、翌朝よくあさ、彦一ひこいちさんの家いえの前まえに、まんじゅうを山やまのように積つんで、かげからこっそりのぞいていました。

彦一ひこいちさんは、まんじゅうを見みつけると、大おおきな声こえで、こう言いいました。

「きゃー、恐おそろしい。まんじゅうがこんなにたくさんあるなんて、こわいこわい！」

そう言いいながら、大喜おおよろこびで山やまのようなまんじゅうをすっかり食たべてしまいました。

たぬきは、だまされたとわかるとかんかんに怒おこって、村中むらじゅうの石いしころを集あつめて、彦一ひこいちさんの畑はたけにまきました。

畑はたけが石いしころだらけになった彦一ひこいちさんは、すぐにたぬきの仕業しわざだとわかり、大おおきな声こえでたぬきに聞きこえるようにこう言いいました。

「おや、うちの畑はたけにいっぱい石いしがあるな。おお、これはいいことだ。石いしの肥料ひりょうは３さん年ねんは持もつというから、これから３さん年ねん間かんは毎年まいとし豊作ほうさくだ。でも、これが馬うまのふんだったら、大変たいへんなことになっていた。全然ぜんぜん作物さくもつが実みのらないからな。」

たぬきは、これを聞きくと、夜中よなか、こっそり石いしころを畑はたけから運はこび出だして、馬うまのふんを彦一ひこいちさんの畑はたけにまきました。

馬うまのふんのおかげで、彦一ひこいちさんの畑はたけでは食物しょくもつがよく実みのり、大豊作だいほうさくになりました。

くやしがっているたぬきに、彦一ひこいちさんは「これは、お礼れいです。」と言いって、とうもろこしをあげたそうです。

おしまい。

Hikoichi and the Trickster Tanuki English Summary

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

A LONG TIME AGO, there was a very smart young man named Hikoichi. On the mountain behind the village where Hikoichi lived, there was a tanuki. This tanuki always loved to play pranks that troubled all the people.

One day, the tanuki transformed himself into a traveler and went to Hikoichi's house. Hikoichi immediately knew that it was a transformed tanuki, but without saying anything, he let the tanuki inside, gave him food to eat, let him drink sake, and entertained him.

Then, the tanuki said, "Hikoichi, thank you for today's hospitality. It was very relaxing. By the way, what is the one thing in all the world that frightens you the most?"

Hikoichi, knowing that the tanuki was wanting to play a prank, answered like this, "What frightens me the most? Please don't tell anyone else. Actually, the one thing I'm most afraid of in the world is a manjuu. Just thinking of that frightens me."

Upon hearing that, early the next morning, the tanuki piled up a mountain of manjuu and waited in the shadows to watch his reaction.

When Hikoichi saw the manjuu mountain, he cried out in a loud voice. "Oh, how frightening! There are tons of manjuu here. Scary! Scary!"

While saying that, he went through and happily ate up the manjuu mountain.

The tanuki, realizing he had been tricked, became very angry and collected all the rocks from the village and put the rocks into Hikoichi's vegetable field.

Realizing his field was filled with rocks and it had been the work of the tanuki, Hikoichi cried out in a loud voice so the tanuki could hear it. "What's all this? My field is full of rocks. Oh, this is a great thing. This rock manure will bring in abundant harvests for three years! But if this was horse manure, that would be bad. It wouldn't bring in anything."

The tanuki, upon hearing this, in the middle of the night, secretly brought out all of the rocks from the field. He spread out horse manure in its place. Thanks to the horse manure, Hikoichi's field had lots of food and a big harvest.

It is said, Hikoichi gave the vexed tanuki some corn and said, "This is a token of my thanks."

The end.

Kanji in Focus

The following are a few of the most important kanji found in this story. The underlined reading is probably the most used. If there is a . that means what comes before the dot is in the kanji and what goes after the dot follows the kanji in hiragana.

The Oni’s Mask and The Girl with running gloss

STORY　THREE:

The Oni’s Mask and the Girl

鬼おにのお面めんと女おんなの子こ

むかし、むかし、あるところに女おんなの子こが住すんでいました。

むかし、むかし　mukashi, mukashi—a long time ago
あるところに　aru tokoro ni—in a certain place
女の子　onna no ko—girl
住んでいました　sunde imashita—lived

女おんなの子こは、お母かあさんと二人ふたりで住すんでいましたが、

お母さん　okaasan—mother
とto—with
二人　futari—two (people)
お母さんと二人で　okaasan to futari de—with the mother, the two of them
が　ga—but; however

とても貧乏びんぼうで、とうとう女おんなの子こは、奉公ほうこうに出でることになりました。

とても　totemo—very
貧乏　binbō—poor; destitute
とうとう　tōtō—finally; at last
奉公　hōkō—service; apprenticeship; public duty
に出る　ni deru—to go out
ことになりました　koto ni narimashita—it was decided…

自分じぶんの家いえを離はなれて、お店みせで働はたらくことになったのです。

自分　jibun—oneself
自分の家　jibun no ie—one’s own house
離れて　hanarete—part; separate from
お店　omise—store
働くこと　hataraku koto—working; the act of working
になった　ni natta—became; did
のです　no desu—[explanatory ender]

女おんなの子こは、とても優やさしい子こで、家いえに一人残ひとりのこしていったお母さんが心配しんぱいでなりません。

優しい子　yasashii ko—a gentle child
で　de—and then; so… [a conjunction]
家に　ie ni—at home
一人残していった　hitori nokoshite itta—left alone
お母さん　okaasan—mother
心配でなりません　shinpai de narimasen—couldn’t help worry

お母かあさんによく似にた女おんなの人ひとのお面めんを買かって、

よく　yoku—very; greatly
似た　nita—resembled
お母さんによく似た　okaasan ni yoku nita—greatly resembled her mother
お面　omen—mask
買って　katte—bought

毎日まいにち、元気げんきでいますようにとお祈いのりしていました。

毎日　mainichi—every day
元気でいますように　genki de imasu yō ni—may (she) be in health
お祈りしていました　 o inori shite imashita—prayed

ある時とき、女おんなの子こがいない間あいだに、

ある時　aru toki—one time; once
いない間に　inai aida ni—when not around

いたずら好ずきな近所きんじょの子供こどもが、そのお面めんを鬼おにのお面めんと取とり替かえてしまいました。

いたずら　itazura—prank; mischief
いたずら好きな　itazura zuki na—(one) who likes to play pranks
近所　kinjo—neighborhood
子供kodomo—child
そのお面　sono omen—that mask
鬼　oni—demon; ogre
鬼のお面　oni no omen—a demon’s mask
取り替えてしまいました　tori kaete shimaimashita—switched out

女おんなの子こが自分じぶんの部屋へやに帰かえってくると、

自分の部屋　jibun no heya—(her) own room
帰ってくると　kaette kuru to—upon returning

お母かあさんのお面めんが鬼おにのお面めんになっているので、

になっている　ni natte iru—had become
ので　node—therefore; because

とても驚おどろいて、「これは、不吉ふきつな！お母かあさんに何なにかあったに違ちがいない。」

とても驚いて　totemo odoroite—very surprised
これは　kore wa—as for this
不吉な　fukitsu na—ominous; bad luck; ill omen
何かあった　nani ka atta—something (bad) happened
に違いない　ni chigai nai—without doubt

と、大急おおいそぎで鬼おにのお面めんを持もって、お母かあさんの住すむ村むらに出でかけて行いきました。

大急ぎで　oo isogi de—hurriedly; with great speed
鬼のお面　oni no omen—the demon mask
持って　motte—carried
お母さんの住む村　okaasan no sumu mura—the village her mother lived in
に出かけて行きました　ni dekakete ikimashita—left for

ところが、暗くらい山道やまみちを一人ひとりで歩あるいていると、山賊さんぞくが出でてきて、

ところが　tokoro ga—however
暗い　kurai—dark
山道　yama michi—mountain road
一人で　hitori de—by herself
歩いていると　aruite iru to—upon walking (by herself)
山賊　sanzoku—bandits; brigands
出てきて　dete kite—came out

女おんなの子こをさらってしまいました。

さらってしまいました　saratte shimaimashita—kidnapped

山賊さんぞくたちは、女おんなの子こに「腹はらが減へったから、飯めしを炊たけ！」と、命令めいれいしました。

山賊たち　sanzoku tachi—the bandits
腹が減った　hara ga hetta—(I’m) hungry
飯を炊け　meshi o take—cook some rice
と　to—[quotation marker]
命令しました　meirei shimashita—ordered; commanded

女おんなの子こは、火ひを起おこしてご飯はんを炊たき始はじめましたが、

火　hi—fire
起こして　okoshite—started
ご飯　gohan—rice
炊き始めました　taki hajimemashita—began to cook (rice)
が　ga—but; however

たき木ぎがぬれていて煙けむりがいっぱい出でてきました。

たき木　taki gi—firewood
ぬれていて　nurete ite—was wet
煙　kumuri—smoke
いっぱい　ippai—lots of; large amount; much
出てきました　dete kimashita—came out

あまりに煙けむいものですから、

あまりに　amari ni—too much; excessively
煙いものkemui mono—smoky
ですから　desu kara—therefore; because of that

女おんなの子こは、持もっていた鬼おにのお面めんを顔かおにかぶって、

持っていた　motte ita—carrying
鬼のお面　oni no omen—the ogre’s mask
顔に　kao ni—to (her) face
かぶって　kabutte—wear (mask)

フーフーと息いきを吹ふきかけました。

フーフーと　fu-fu- to—[sound of heavy breathing]
息を吹きかけました　iki o fukikakemashita—breathed out

火ひに照てらされたその姿すがたは、まるで本物ほんものの鬼おにのよう。

火に照らされた　hi ni terasareta—the fire illuminating…
その姿　sono sugata—that figure; that form
まるで marude—as if; just like
本物の　honmono no—a real…
鬼のよう　oni no yō—like an ogre; resembles an ogre

山賊さんぞくたちは怖こわがって、宝物たからものを置おいてみんな逃にげてしまいました。

山賊たち　sanzoku tachi—bandits
怖がって　kowagatte—be afraid of; fearing
宝物　takura mono—treasure
置いて　oite—left behind
みんな　minna—everyone; all (bandits)
逃げてしまいましたnigete shimaimashita—ran away

女おんなの子こは、山賊さんぞくが置おいていった宝物たからものを持もって、お母かあさんの家いえに帰かえりました。

置いていった宝物 oite itta takura mono—the treasure that was left
お母さんの家に　okaasan no ie ni—at the mother’s house
帰りました　kaerimashita—returned

子供こどもがいたずらして鬼おにのお面めんに取とり替かえただけですから、お母かあさんはとても元気げんきで、

いたずらして鬼のお面　itazurashite oni no omen—the ogre mask that had been a prank
に取り替えた　ni tori kaeta—swapped; exchanged
だけですから　dake desu kara—was only that; due to only that
とても元気で　totemo genki de—was very healthy

女おんなの子こが持もって帰かえってきた宝物たからもので、お金持かねもちになって幸しあわせに暮くらしたそうです。

持って帰ってきた宝物　motte kaette kita takaramono—the treasure (she) brought back
で　de—because of; due to that…
お金持ち　okane mochi—rich
になって　ni natte—became
幸せに　shiawase ni—in happiness
暮らした　kurashita—lived
そうです　sō desu—so it seems

おしまい。

おしまい　oshimai—the end

The Oni’s Mask and the Girl Grammatical Notes

1. 二人　futari—two (people)

お母さんと二人で　okaasan to futari de means “with mother makes two people” Just the girl and her mother. Two people.

2. とうとう　tōtō—finally; at last

This is used when something that was waited for finally arrives or, as in this case, when there no other options.

3. に出る　ni deru—to go out

Literally, this means “to go out” but here it is to leave to become an apprentice.

4. ことになりました　koto ni narimashita—it was decided…

ことになる　means “it has been decided” or “it has been arranged for…”

5. 働くこと　hataraku koto—working; the act of working

Addingこと　makes a verb a noun phrase.

6. のです　no desu—[explanatory ender]

のです　or sometimesんです　is a sentence ender that shows an explanation. “The expectation is that…” “the reason is that…” “the fact is…”

7. 心配でなりません　shinpai de narimasen—couldn’t help worry

心配でならない　is an expression that means “can’t help worrying” or “besides myself with worry.” Literally, it means “with worry can’t help doing”;ならない　by itself has the “cannot help (doing)” or “cannot resist…”

8. お母さんによく似た　okaasan ni yoku nita—greatly resembled her mother

～に似た　Whatever is similar goes before theに

9. 毎日　mainichi—every day

毎　mai—every:毎晩　maiban—every evening;毎年　maitoshi—every year

10. 帰ってくると　kaette kuru to—upon returning

帰って　kaette—returning;くる　kuru—coming back;と　to—upon doing…

11. 不吉な　fukitsu na—ominous; bad luck; ill omen

吉　means lucky; good fortune. The不　negates the word.不安　fuan—anxiety;不動産　fudousan—real estate (literally, no moving product)

12. に出かけて行きました　ni dekakete ikimashita—left for

に　ni—to;出かけて　dekakete—went out;行きました　ikimashita—went

13. 出てきて　dete kite—came out

出て　dete—(go) out;きて　kite—came

14. 山賊たち　sanzoku tachi—the bandits

Theたち　is explicitly plural (pluralizing suffix); while山賊　alone is without a plural marking, it could also be plural.

15. 腹が減った　hara ga hetta—(I’m) hungry

Literally, this is “stomach has decreased.”

16. ご飯　gohan—rice

Some words with honorific prefixes have become the word itself. You wouldn’t say “han” without the “go.” Another example is ocha (tea). Since rice is the staple crop, gohan has come to also mean “meal” in general.

17. 炊き始めました　taki hajimemashita—began to cook (rice)

炊く　taku—to cook (rice);始める　hajimeru—to begin

18. フーフーと　fu-fu- to—[sound of heavy breathing]

She is breathing hard here due to the smoke or to get the fire starting again, but it sounds creepy coming from the oni’s mask.

19. 息を吹きかけました　iki o fukikakemashita—breathed out

吹きかける　fuki kakeru—to blow upon;  to breathe on. She puts on the mask, but blows on the fire to try to get it going. The result is smoke, a scary mask, and strange breathing sounds.

20. 逃げてしまいましたnigete shimaimashita—ran away

しまいました　shows completion and usually some regret. They completely ran away.

The Oni’s Mask and the Girl in Japanese

鬼おにのお面めんと女おんなの子こ

むかし、むかし、あるところに女おんなの子こが住すんでいました。女おんなの子こは、お母かあさんと二人ふたりで住すんでいましたが、とても貧乏びんぼうで、とうとう女おんなの子こは、奉公ほうこうに出でることになりました。自分じぶんの家いえを離はなれて、お店みせで働はたらくことになったのです。

女おんなの子こは、とても優やさしい子こで、家いえに一人残ひとりのこしていったお母さんが心配しんぱいでなりません。お母かあさんによく似にた女おんなの人ひとのお面めんを買かって、毎日まいにち、元気げんきでいますようにとお祈いのりしていました。

ある時とき、女おんなの子こがいない間あいだに、いたずら好ずきな近所きんじょの子供こどもが、そのお面めんを鬼おにのお面めんと取とり替かえてしまいました。

女おんなの子こが自分じぶんの部屋へやに帰かえってくると、お母かあさんのお面めんが鬼おにのお面めんになっているので、とても驚おどろいて、「これは、不吉ふきつな！お母かあさんに何なにかあったに違ちがいない。」と、大急おおいそぎで鬼おにのお面めんを持もって、お母かあさんの住すむ村むらに出でかけて行いきました。

ところが、暗くらい山道やまみちを一人ひとりで歩あるいていると、山賊さんぞくが出でてきて、女おんなの子こをさらってしまいました。

山賊さんぞくたちは、女おんなの子こに「腹はらが減へったから、飯めしを炊たけ！」と、命令めいれいしました。

女おんなの子こは、火ひを起おこしてご飯はんを炊たき始はじめましたが、たき木ぎがぬれていて煙けむりがいっぱい出でてきました。あまりに煙けむいものですから、女おんなの子こは、持もっていた鬼おにのお面めんを顔かおにかぶって、フーフーと息いきを吹ふきかけました。

火ひに照てらされたその姿すがたは、まるで本物ほんものの鬼おにのよう。山賊さんぞくたちは怖こわがって、宝物たからものを置おいてみんな逃にげてしまいました。

女おんなの子こは、山賊さんぞくが置おいていった宝物たからものを持もって、お母かあさんの家いえに帰かえりました。

子供こどもがいたずらして鬼おにのお面めんに取とり替かえただけですから、お母かあさんはとても元気げんきで、女おんなの子こが持もって帰かえってきた宝物たからもので、お金持かねもちになって幸しあわせに暮くらしたそうです。

おしまい。

The Oni’s Mask and the Girl English Summary

鬼おにのお面めんと女おんなの子こ

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

A LONG TIME AGO, in a certain place, there lived a girl. This girl and her mother lived together, but because they were very poor, the young girl had to become an apprentice. She left her home and began to work in a store.

The young girl was very kind and often worried about her mother whom she left back home. Buying a mask that looked like her mother, the young girl would pray every day that her mother would be healthy.

One time, when the girl was out, a neighborhood kid who loved to play pranks switched out that mask with a mask of an oni. Upon returning to her room, the little girl saw that her mother’s mask had changed into an oni’s and was very surprised.

“This is bad luck! Surely something has happened to mother," she said and, grabbing the mask, she fled to her mother’s village.

However, while walking around a mountain road alone and in the dark, some bandits appeared and threatened her.

These bandits commanded the girl, “I’m hungry so cook some rice!"

The girl lit a fire and began to cook some rice, but the wood was wet and a lot of smoke came out. There was so much smoke the girl had to put the mask on her face while breathing out to restart the fire. With the fire and smoke reflecting her mask, it truly looked like a real oni. The bandits were afraid, and leaving their treasure, they ran away.

The girl, picking up the bandits’ treasure, returned home to her mother.

Since it was just a prankster who had switched out the mask, her mother was fine. With the treasure the girl brought with her, they became rich and lived happily ever after.

The end.

Kanji in Focus

The following are a few of the most important kanji found in this book. The underlined reading is probably the most used. If there is a . that means what comes before the dot is in the kanji and what goes after the dot follows the kanji in hiragana.

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/10221/

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 1-7

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.