五色温泉スキー日記Ski Diary at Goshiki Hot Springs

About this text

A man and his friends, driven by an inexplicable craving for snow, embark on a ski trip to Goshiki Hot Springs.

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Source

This 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): 「山と雪の日記」中公文庫、中央公論社
1977（昭和52）年4月10日初版
1992（平成4）年12月15日6版

Typed in by 林　幸雄. Proofread by ちはる.

Yomimaru has not changed the spelling or the wording.

The furigana are Yomimaru's.

What you'll learn

The narrator and his two friends, Koike and Kobayashi, travel by train to Goshiki for a skiing trip. They endure a crowded train and arrive at a snowy, serene inn. After checking in, they practice skiing on a nearby field.

The group continues skiing. They meet Kōichi, the innkeeper's son, who teaches them advanced techniques. The narrator reflects on the beauty of the pure white snow and how it cleanses the world.

The group attempts to climb the back mountain in strong winds and snow. The climb is treacherous, and they eventually turn back. The descent is also dangerous, with deep soft snow causing falls.

Key vocabulary

虫喰むしくい	bug-eaten; term used here to mean someone obsessed with skiing (lit. 'eaten by a bug')
神出鬼没しんしゅつきぼつ	appearing and disappearing mysteriously; elusive
巍然ぎぜん	towering; lofty
ディビッている	unclear; possibly slang for 'debating' or 'arguing'
わっぱ	kid; also a type of traditional Japanese snowshoe (here used as a nickname for a snowshoe)

Grammar points you'll meet

• ～しかない N2Expresses that there is no choice but to do something; 'have no choice but to'

  どうしても起おきられない。杖つえはどこまでももぐるし身体しんたいももぐる。どうしても三さん分ふん以上いじょうはもがかねばならない。

• ～に違いない N3Expresses strong conviction that something is true; 'must be', 'no doubt'

  無む暗くらと騒さわぐので四方しほうで迷惑めいわくしたに違ちがいない。

• ～ざるを得ない N1Expresses that one cannot help but do something; 'cannot avoid doing'

  谷たにが実際じっさいにひかえているのだからおじけざるを得えない。

• ～としたら N3Expresses a hypothetical condition; 'if it were the case that'

  雪ゆきの塊かたまりがあるなと思おもったら板谷いたやの停車場ていしゃじょうに着ついていた。

Cultural notes

• 五色温泉 (Goshiki Onsen)A hot spring resort in Yamagata Prefecture, known for its snowy landscape and skiing. The name 'Goshiki' means 'five colors', likely referring to the changing colors of the water or the surrounding nature.
• 炬燵 (Kotatsu)A traditional Japanese heated table, covered with a blanket, that provides warmth in winter. It is a common feature in Japanese homes and inns during cold months.
• スキー文化 (Skiing Culture)Skiing became popular in Japan in the early 20th century, especially in mountainous regions like Goshiki. The text describes the enthusiasm for the sport and the camaraderie among skiers, including interactions with foreign skiers from Austria and Germany.

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