作品Free Graded Reading
カゴカキThe Palanquin Bearer
Kagokaki
by 新美 南吉 · Niimi Nankichi
A samurai mishears palanquin bearers and flees, only to find they were returning his sword.
About this story
About this storyA cowardly samurai overhears his palanquin bearers plotting to murder him as they travel along a moonlit road.
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): 「校定 新美南吉全集第四巻」大日本図書
1980（昭和55）年9月30日初版第1刷発行
1987年（昭和62）年2月15日第3刷発行
Typed in by 高松理恵美. Proofread by 川向直樹.
Yomimaru rewrote this all-katakana text in the hiragana and kanji a modern edition would use. It also replaced classical grammar with its modern form.
The furigana are Yomimaru's. In the app it is split into 2 parts.
What you'll learn
What you'll learnA samurai accepts a ride in a kago and overhears the carriers talking about killing him. He escapes in terror, but one carrier returns his sword and explains they were only trying to scare away a stray dog.
Key vocabulary
Key vocabulary| カゴ (かご) | palanquin, basket |
|---|---|
| サムライ (さむらい) | samurai |
| カタナ (かたな) | sword |
| ツエ (つえ) | stick, cane |
| ノライヌ (のらいぬ) | stray dog |
Grammar points you'll meet
Grammar points you'll meet- ～てしまう (old form: ～てしまふ) N4Indicates completion or regret; here in the form ～テ シマヒマシタ (てしまいました).「メンダウダ コロシテ シマハウ。」
- ～たところで N1Just when ~; at the point of ~. Here: キタ トコロデ.タニガワノ オトガ ダンダン チカク ナツテ キタ トコロデ、トツゼン カゴカラ トビダシ…
- ～ので (from ノデ) N4Because; since. Used with ～タノデ.イキガ キレタノデ、ミチバタヘ バツタリ スワツテ シマヒマシタ。
- ～う (volitional) (old form: ～ハウ) N4Let's ~; shall we. Here ホリコマウト (ほりこもうと) and シマハウ (しまおう).モウ スコシ サキノ ガケノ 上カラ タニ川ヘ ホリコンデ ヤラウ。
- ～と言う (old form: ～ト イフ) N5Quotative particle と + 言う. Here ト イヒマシタ (と言いました).「シーツ。」ト イヒマシタ。
Cultural notes
Cultural notes- Kago (Palanquin)A kago is a traditional Japanese palanquin used for transportation, especially in the Edo period. It was carried by two or more bearers. The story revolves around a samurai riding in a kago.
- Samurai and SwordsSamurai were the warrior class in feudal Japan, and their swords (katana) were symbols of their status. In the story, the samurai draws his sword in fear and later forgets it, which highlights his panic.
- Archaic Japanese OrthographyThe text uses historical kana usage (e.g., ヰ for い, ヱ for え, ツ for っ) and is written in katakana mixed with kanji. This reflects pre-modern Japanese writing and can be challenging for modern readers.
Try a comprehension question
Try a comprehension questionWhy did the kago carriers want to throw the samurai into the ravine?
- They wanted to rob him.
- They wanted to scare away a stray dog that was following them.
- The samurai had insulted them.
- They were ordered to kill him.
Sensei's reading tip
Sensei's reading tipPay attention to the old kana usage: for instance, ヰ (wi) is pronounced い, and ヱ (we) is え. This will help with reading.
Topics & grammar
Topics & grammar
同級More at N2
Fresh reads in your inbox
A short monthly note when we add new graded stories. No spam.
