作品Free Graded Reading
一つ枕The One Pillow
Hitotsu Makura
by 柳川 春葉 · Yanagawa Shun'yō
A ghostly woman vanishes into a cupboard. Only an oil-stained pillow remains.
About this story
About this storyA man in Yoshiwara is disturbed by a mysterious woman while trying to sleep, leading to an eerie encounter.
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): 「文豪怪談傑作選・特別篇 百物語怪談会」ちくま文庫、筑摩書房
2007（平成19）年7月10日第1刷発行
Typed in by 門田裕志. Proofread by noriko saito.
Yomimaru changed the spelling to modern kana and modern kanji, and replaced some archaic words with modern ones.
The furigana are Yomimaru's.
What you'll learn
What you'll learnA man tells a story about his friend's experience at a Yoshiwara brothel. The friend, feeling unwell, goes to sleep and is visited by a mysterious woman who later vanishes into a cupboard, leaving only an oil-stained pillow.
Key vocabulary
Key vocabulary| 談 (だん) | tale, story |
|---|---|
| 吉原 (よしわら) | Yoshiwara (historic red-light district) |
| 敵娼 (てきしょう) | regular prostitute |
| 遊女 (ゆうじょ) | courtesan, prostitute |
| 戸袋 (とぶくろ) | cupboard for sliding doors |
Grammar points you'll meet
Grammar points you'll meet- ～と N4When; as soon as (quoting/content)見ると自分の敵娼でもなく
- ～ながら N4While; despite男は寝ながら黙って
- ～てしまう N4To finish doing; regrettably doesスーと入ってしまった
- ～かというと N3If asked why...; the reason is如何いうわけか跳起る気力も出ないで
Cultural notes
Cultural notes- Yoshiwara (吉原)Yoshiwara was the famous red-light district in Edo (modern Tokyo), established in the early 17th century. It was a licensed quarter for prostitution and a center of entertainment, often featured in Japanese literature and art.
- 青楼 (Brothel)青楼 literally means 'green tower' and was a euphemism for a high-class brothel in the Edo period. These establishments often had multiple floors and were lavishly decorated.
Try a comprehension question
Try a comprehension questionWhere does the story take place?
- A teahouse in Kyoto
- A brothel in Yoshiwara
- A temple in Edo
- A rural inn
Sensei's reading tip
Sensei's reading tipPay attention to older vocabulary like 敵娼 and 戸袋; look them up if unfamiliar.
Topics & grammar
Topics & grammar
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