donburi is the Japanese name for a large bowl of rice where the main dish (e.g. meat or fish) is served on top. Depending on these other ingredients on top of the rice, those dishes are called different names, but all of them end in ~どん. This text written by Kondo Maiko at the Japan… Continue reading [N5] どん、どん、どん
Author: Ariane
[N3] 飯田(いいだ)くん
Iida Kunihiko was born in Manchuria in 1942, but was soon brought to Hiroshima by his mother. There he experiences and survives the atomic bombing in 1945… This story was created by the NPO 平和(へいわ)の大切(たいせつ)さを伝(つた)える日本語教材(にほんごきょうざい)をつくる会(かい) which I would translate as 'Association for the creation of Japanese language teaching materials to convey the importance of peace'.… Continue reading [N3] 飯田(いいだ)くん
[N4] サムライ漫画(まんが)
You can get a taste of samurai manga with this story about a nameless rōnin who experiences a typical day full of fights, selfish heroism and hospitality. This short manga was written and illustrated by Yuki Sengoku for the Japan Foundation's anime-manga website. The language of this manga itself can be challenging, but with the… Continue reading [N4] サムライ漫画(まんが)
[N2] 名探偵コナン 純黒(じゅんこく)の悪夢 (ナイトメア)
This is the novelisation of the 20th Detective Conan movie The Darkest Nightmare by Mizuki Shima. The plot takes place in the Tōto Aquarium, which is built like a theme park. While on a trip there with Professor Agasa, Conan and the Detective Boys discover a confused woman who has lost her memory. However, she… Continue reading [N2] 名探偵コナン 純黒(じゅんこく)の悪夢 (ナイトメア)
[N5] うらしま たろう
Urashima Tarō is a Japanese folklore character. He rescues a turtle and rides on its back to the bottom of the sea, where the beautiful ocean princess Otohime is waiting for him. This retelling for N5 has rather short sentences, but includes some more unusual words. At about 5 sentences per page, it is also… Continue reading [N5] うらしま たろう
[N3] 君の名は。
When Mitsuha and Taki wake up, they sometimes find themselves in the wrong body. Mitsuha experiences life as Taki in Tokyo and Taki learns about Mitsuha's life as a shrine maiden in a small town. They leave eachother messages in their notebooks and phones, but of course still cause some problems for each other. Publisher:… Continue reading [N3] 君の名は。
[N4] お弁当(べんとう)って面白い
This non-fiction text by McPherson Tanaka Naemi is about bento - what types of bento there are, when the food culture around it emerged and how the discussions around it are also socially linked.
[N2] 30歳まで童貞(どうてい)だと魔法使いになれるらしい
The day after his 30th birthday, virgin Adachi Kiyoshi suddenly possesses the ability to hear another person's thoughts when he touches them. After some accidental contact with his charming colleague Kurosawa Yuichi, Adachi learns of the passionate feelings Kurosawa has for him. This manga series by Toyota Yuu is also known as 「チェリまほ」/ "Cherry Magic"… Continue reading [N2] 30歳まで童貞(どうてい)だと魔法使いになれるらしい
[N5] 動物(どうぶつ)の声(こえ)
What sound does a sheep make? Baaa! Or in Japanese, 「メー」. In this case, English and Japanese differs, but the German word is very similar: määäh! How about a dog, a rooster or an elephant? Find out in this text by Seto Toshihiko on Nihongo Tadoku Dōjō. This text has many pictures and audio embeddings,… Continue reading [N5] 動物(どうぶつ)の声(こえ)
[N3] かぐや姫(ひめ)
This version of the fairy tale of Princess Kaguya for learners with N3 abilities was written by Takahashi Sōko for a graded reader series by ask and NPO Tagengo Tadoku. I've introduced it already during the #letsreadkaguyahime reading challenge. Kaguya is found inside fresh cut bamboo as a child and grows up to become a… Continue reading [N3] かぐや姫(ひめ)
