作品Free Graded Reading
飴だまThe Candy Drop
Amedama
by 新美 南吉 · Niimi Nankichi
A samurai on a boat draws his sword - but only to split a candy for two quarreling children.
About this story
About this storyOn a spring day, a mother and her two children share a boat with a sleepy samurai, leading to a conflict over a single candy.
Read a sample in Japanese
Read a sample in JapaneseSource
SourceThis text comes from Aozora Bunko (青空文庫), the volunteer-run library of Japanese writing that is out of copyright. See this work on Aozora Bunko
Base edition (底本): 「ごんぎつね 新美南吉童話作品集1」てのり文庫、大日本図書
1988（昭和63）年7月8日第1刷発行
Typed in by めいこ. Proofread by 鈴木厚司、もりみつじゅんじ.
Yomimaru has not changed the spelling or the wording.
The furigana are Yomimaru's. In the app it is split into 2 parts.
What you'll learn
What you'll learnA mother and her two children board a spring boat. A samurai jumps on just before departure. The samurai falls asleep but wakes when the children fuss over a single piece of candy. He cuts it in two with his sword and gives each child a piece, then resumes napping.
Key vocabulary
Key vocabulary| 舟 | boat |
|---|---|
| 飴だま | candy |
| さむらい | samurai |
| 刀 | sword |
Grammar points you'll meet
Grammar points you'll meet- ～ている N5Indicates ongoing action or state.
さむらいは舟のまん中にどっかりすわっていました。
- ～てしまう N4Indicates completion or regret.
お母さんはこまってしまいました。
- ～なければならない N4Must do something.
（not used directly, but implied）
Cultural notes
Cultural notes- Samurai in FolkloreSamurai often appear in Japanese stories as symbols of discipline and honor, but this story shows a samurai using his sword in a surprising, kind way.
- Candy (飴だま)Ame-dama are traditional Japanese hard candies, often given to children as treats. They come in various flavors and colors.
Try a comprehension question
Try a comprehension questionWhy did the mother look pale when the samurai drew his sword?
- She thought he would kill her children.
- She was cold.
- She wanted to fight him.
- She lost her candy.
Sensei's reading tip
Sensei's reading tipPay attention to onomatopoeia like 'ぱちん' to enhance imagery.
Topics & grammar
Topics & grammar
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