作品Free Graded Reading
百面相役者The Hundred-Faced Actor
Hyakumensō Yakusha
by 江戸川 乱歩 · Edogawa Ranpo
A mysterious actor with a hundred faces
What you'll learn
What you'll learnThe narrator recalls his youth as a schoolteacher and his friendship with R, a journalist with eccentric tastes. On a gloomy Sunday, R takes him to a theater to see a master of disguise perform, and the narrator is amazed by the actor's ability to transform completely.
After the play, R takes the narrator home and shows him a newspaper article about a head thief, along with a photograph of an old woman that perfectly matches one of the actor's disguises. They theorize the actor might be using masks made from the stolen heads. Later, R reveals it was all a fantasy he created for fun.
Key vocabulary
Key vocabulary| 書生時代 (しょせいじだい) | student days |
|---|---|
| 百面相役者 (ひゃくめんそうやくしゃ) | master of disguises |
| 首泥坊 (くびどろぼう) | head thief |
| 人肉の面 (じんにくのめん) | human-flesh mask |
| 変装 (へんそう) | disguise |
| 空想 (くうそう) | fantasy |
| 日露戦争 (にちろせんそう) | Russo-Japanese War |
Grammar points you'll meet
Grammar points you'll meet- ～てからというもの N1Indicates that since a certain event, a state or action has continued.さあそれからというものは、僕の頭はこの奇怪な「人肉の面」で一杯だ。
- ～ものだ N3Used to express general truths, reminiscence, or strong emotion.何しろ給料にくらべて物価の方がずっと安い時代だからね。
- ～に違いない N3Expresses strong conviction that something is true.僕も確それに賛意を表した。
- ～ことにする N4To decide to do something.僕は小学教員をかせいで、そのかせぎためた金で、上京して苦学をしようと思い立ったものだ。
- ～かもしれない N4Expresses possibility: 'might' or 'maybe'.最初は、あるいは死体の脳味そをとるのが目的だったかも知れない。
Cultural notes
Cultural notes- Edogawa RampoThe author is Edogawa Rampo, a pioneer of Japanese mystery and horror fiction, heavily influenced by Edgar Allan Poe (his pen name is a tribute). This story exemplifies his fascination with the grotesque and psychological thriller elements.
- Meiji Era TheaterThe story is set in the Meiji period, after the Russo-Japanese War. Theatrical performances like the one described were popular entertainment, often featuring melodramatic plots and special effects. The term '百面相役者' refers to a performer specializing in quick-change acts.
- Head Thief SuperstitionThe newspaper article references the belief that the blackened brains of the dead could cure diseases, a superstition that led to grave robbing. This reflects historical anxieties about body snatching for medical or magical purposes.
Try a comprehension question
Try a comprehension questionWhy did the narrator become a teacher?
- Because he loved teaching.
- To save money to study in Tokyo.
- His family forced him.
- It was the only job available.
Sensei's reading tip
Sensei's reading tipPay attention to the narrative frame: the story is told in retrospect, which creates a sense of distance and mystery.
Read a sample in Japanese
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