作品Free Graded Reading
或る風潮についてOn a Certain Trend
Aru Fuuchou ni Tsuite
by 岸田 国士 · Kishida Kunio
JLPT N1ArticleQuiz ready
A critical look at the trend of praising Japan and the complexities of nationalism
What you'll learn
What you'll learnThe author observes a recent trend of Japanese praising Japan to each other, acknowledging its necessity but critiquing the awkwardness of excessive nationalism. He discusses a radio lecture on Japanese physique, a treatise on Japanese painting, and a book on leprosy, using these to explore deeper issues of cultural identity, modernity, and self-criticism.
Language difficultyExpert · 85/100
Key vocabulary
Key vocabulary| 呼吸 (こきゅう) | breath; nuance; subtlety |
|---|---|
| くすぐったい | ticklish; embarrassing; cringe-worthy |
| 日本的教養 (にほんてききょうよう) | Japanese-style education/culture |
| 希臘 (ギリシア) | Greece (classical) |
| 癩 (らい) | leprosy (Hansen's disease) |
Grammar points you'll meet
Grammar points you'll meet- ～がち N3Tends to; prone to. Often used with negative connotations.とかく親類へは無沙汰がちになる
- ～ごとき N1Such as; like; of the kind of (often derogatory or humble).学生の芸術ではなく、大人の芸術であると考へられ、
- ～たところで N1Even if (one does); no matter; (used with negative outcome).幾百年の後には、洋画の流れもそこに行きつくであらうといふ見透しぐらゐつけてほしいものである。
Cultural notes
Cultural notes- 1930s Japanese Cultural NationalismThe essay reflects the rise of Japanese cultural nationalism in the late 1930s, a period when many intellectuals debated the balance between Western influence and traditional Japanese values. The author critiques superficial praise of Japan while acknowledging the need for national confidence amid international tensions.
- Leprosy in Pre-War JapanThe author mentions the book '小島の春' (Spring on a Small Island), a famous memoir about leprosy patients. This highlights the social stigma and inadequate facilities for Hansen's disease patients in Japan at the time, and the author calls for improvement.
Try a comprehension question
Try a comprehension questionWhat is the author's main criticism of the movement to praise Japan?
- It is unnecessary in times of national crisis.
- It is often done in a clumsy or embarrassing way.
- It ignores the superiority of Western culture.
- It is only practiced by uneducated people.
Sensei's reading tip
Sensei's reading tipFocus on the author's argument structure: each paragraph introduces a viewpoint, then offers a critique or extension.
Read a sample in Japanese
Read a sample in Japanese日本人が日本人に向かって日本のことを褒めて話すという風潮が近頃目立つようであるが、これは現在の日本においてはたしかにその必要があるからだと思うけれども、そこにちょっと微妙な呼吸があって、それほど変でないものと、妙にくすぐったい、もうやめてくれと言いたくなるようなものとがある。日本人でありながら、頭から日本を馬鹿にしていたような人々に対して、一言警告を与えることはもちろん賛成だ。そうでなくても、日本人は、殊に、日本の知識層は、最近いくぶん日本人であることの自信を失いかけていたことは事実で、その点、もっと楽観的であってもいい理由を強調するものがあっていいわけである。
Read the full text with furigana + instant lookups in Yomimaru →
Topics
More N1 reads
