作品Free Graded Reading
化物丁場The Monster Worksite
Bakemono Chōba
by 宮沢 賢治 · Miyazawa Kenji
JLPT N2Short StoryClassical / archaicQuiz ready
A cursed construction site keeps collapsing - is a monster to blame?
What you'll learn
What you'll learnOn a train after a long rain, the narrator overhears a railway worker talking about a notorious construction site. They strike up a conversation, and the worker recounts the repeated collapses and the exhausting, futile repair efforts, culminating in a strange, eerie atmosphere.
Language difficultyIntermediate · 65/100
Key vocabulary
Key vocabulary| 化物丁場 (ばけものちょうば) | monster construction site; a nickname for a notoriously difficult and accident-prone construction site |
|---|---|
| 庚申さん (こうしんさん) | the star Altair; also a reference to the Kōshin festival or the Kōshin faith, often associated with star viewing |
| トロッコ | small railway trolley or handcar used for transporting materials |
| 乱杭 (らんぐい) | staggered stakes or piles driven into the ground for reinforcement |
| 春木場 (はるきば) | a place name; likely a local area or station |
Grammar points you'll meet
Grammar points you'll meet- ～てたまらない N2Indicates that the speaker cannot stand or is extremely bothered by something. Used with adjectives or verbs expressing emotion.気味の悪いったら
- ～たところで N1Expresses that even if one does something, it will not lead to a desired result. Often used with negative outcomes.崩れたところへ夜中に行ったって何じょするんだ
- ～となく N1Means 'without a specific target or purpose', often used in '誰に言うとなく' (without addressing anyone in particular).誰に言うとなく大きな声でそう言っていたのです。
- ～たって (same as ～ても) N3Casual form of ～ても, meaning 'even if'.番をするったって、何を頼りってこともなし
- ～かも知れません N4Polite form of 'かもしれない' (might be, perhaps).いや、その検査官かも知れませんよ。
Cultural notes
Cultural notes- Monster Construction Site (化物丁場)A colloquial nickname for a construction site plagued by repeated, unexplained collapses. Reflects the superstition and frustration of workers, attributing the failures to a supernatural 'monster' rather than engineering causes.
- Kōshin (庚申) faithA folk religion combining Shinto, Buddhism, and Taoism, often associated with star worship. '庚申さん' here refers to the star Altair, visible in the summer sky. Workers used the star as a time or weather indicator.
- Railway work in early 20th-century JapanThe story depicts manual labor and reliance on simple tools (trolleys, picks, shovels) for railway construction. Workers lived in makeshift huts, endured harsh weather, and had a hierarchy of supervisors and inspectors.
Try a comprehension question
Try a comprehension questionWhat is the nickname of the construction site that the worker talks about?
- The Ghost Construction Site
- Monster Construction Site
- The Cursed Zone
- The Iron Triangle
Sensei's reading tip
Sensei's reading tipPay attention to the contrast between the polite narrative and the casual, dialect-rich dialogue. This helps distinguish the narrator's voice from the worker's.
Read a sample in Japanese
Read a sample in Japanese五、六日続いた雨が、やっとあがった朝でした。黄金の日光が、青い木や稲を照らしてはいましたが、空には方角の決まらない雲がふらふら飛び、山脈も非常に近く見えて、なんだかまだ本当に晴れたというような気がしませんでした。私は西の仙人鉱山に小さな用事がありましたので、黒沢尻で軽便鉄道に乗り換えました。車室の中は割合空いておりました。それでもやっぱり二十人くらいはあったでしょう。がやがや話しておりました。私のあとから入ってきた人もありました。話はここでも、本線の方と同じように、昨日までの雨と洪水の噂でした。大抵は南の方のことでした。「狐禅寺では、北上川が一丈六尺増した」と誰かが言いました。「宮城の品井沼の岸では、稲がもう四日も泥水を被っている。どうしても今年はあの辺は半作だろう」と、また誰かが言っていました。ところが私の後ろの席で、突然太い強い声がしました。「雫石、橋場間、まるでめちゃくちゃだ。
Read the full text with furigana + instant lookups in Yomimaru →
Topics
More N2 reads
