作品Free Graded Reading
ひかるShining
Hikaru
by 新美 南吉 · Niimi Nankichi
A vibrant poem celebrating everyday things that shine.
About this story
About this storyA simple poem about everything shining brightly during the daytime.
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): 「日本児童文学大系 第二八巻」ほるぷ出版
1978（昭和53）年11月30日初刷発行
Typed in by 菅野朋子. Proofread by noriko saito.
Yomimaru changed the spelling to modern kana and modern kanji.
The furigana are Yomimaru's.
What you'll learn
What you'll learnThe poem states that various things shine in the daytime: hats, footballs, teachers, branches, voices, and the school sky.
Key vocabulary
Key vocabulary| ひさし | brim (of a hat) |
|---|---|
| フツトボール | football (likely soccer) |
| せんだん | chinaberry (a type of tree) |
| こうてい | school ground/playground |
Grammar points you'll meet
Grammar points you'll meet- ～んだ（ explanatory のだ） N5Explanatory or emphatic sentence ending, adding nuance of explanation or reason. Used in casual speech.
ひるはどこもがひかるんだ。
Cultural notes
Cultural notes- Repetition in Japanese PoetryThis poem uses extensive repetition of the phrase '～がひかるんだ' (shines). Repetition is a common technique in Japanese children's poetry (dōyō) and haiku-like verse to create rhythm and emphasize imagery. The poem likely appears in a beginner reading exercise.
Try a comprehension question
Try a comprehension questionWhat is the main theme of the poem?
- The darkness of night
- Things that shine in the daytime
- A football game
- The school rules
Sensei's reading tip
Sensei's reading tipFocus on the repeated pattern '～がひかるんだ' to understand the core meaning: everything shines.
Topics & grammar
Topics & grammar
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