作品Free Graded Reading
怪人の眼The Strange Man's Eye
Kaijin no Me
by 田中 貢太郎 · Tanaka Kōtarō
JLPT N1Short StoryClassical / archaicQuiz ready
A samurai's hunt leads to a bizarre supernatural vision.
What you'll learn
What you'll learnSamurai Tanji Kosaka tries to shoot a crane but it doesn't fall; he then encounters a surreal vision of hina dolls covering the mountain. He escapes and later tells a friend about the experience, emphasizing the strange eyes of a short man he met.
Language difficultyAdvanced · 75/100
Key vocabulary
Key vocabulary| 鶴 (つる) | crane (bird) |
|---|---|
| 雛壇 (ひなだん) | tiered stand for Hina dolls |
| 火縄 (ひなわ) | matchlock fuse |
| 怪異 (かいい) | mystery; strange phenomenon |
| 目 (め) | eye |
Grammar points you'll meet
Grammar points you'll meet- ～ていた N4Past continuous action or state.鶴は平気で長い頸を傾げるようにしていた。
- ～てしまう N4To finish completely or regrettably.そっと撃とうと思いだした。
- ～そうだ (hearsay) N4Used to report something heard.鶴は動かなかった。
- ～ようだ N3Seems like; appears to be (subjective judgment).赤い毛氈を敷いた雛壇のような壇が一面に見えた。
- ～はずだ N3It is expected; it should be.たしかに手応えがしたぞ、何故落ちないだろう
Cultural notes
Cultural notes- Hina Matsuri (Doll Festival)Hina dolls are displayed on a tiered stand covered with red cloth during the Hinamatsuri festival on March 3. The vision of hina dolls in the story represents a supernatural or festive vision.
- Tosa DomainTosa was a feudal domain in Shikoku, known for its samurai class and role in the Meiji Restoration. The story is set shortly before the Restoration.
- Firearm Hunting in Feudal JapanTanji uses a matchlock gun (火縄銃) for hunting. Hunting cranes was prohibited, reflecting strict regulations on hunting in feudal Japan.
Try a comprehension question
Try a comprehension questionWhy doesn't Tanji shoot the crane immediately?
- He doesn't have a clear shot.
- Hunting cranes is prohibited.
- He is afraid of the crane.
- He wants to shoot it later.
Sensei's reading tip
Sensei's reading tipPay attention to verb endings to understand tense and politeness, as the story mixes narrative and dialogue.
Read a sample in Japanese
Read a sample in Japanese小坂丹治は香美郡佐古村の金剛岩の辺で小鳥を撃っていた。丹治は土佐藩の侍であった。それは維新のすこし前のことであった。秋風が山の木の葉を吹いていた。丹治は岩と雑木に挟まった径を登って、聳え立った大岩の上へ出たところで、ふと見ると、直ぐ上の方の高い黒松の梢に一羽の大鶴がとまっていた。「おう、鶴がおるぞ」丹治の眼は思わず輝いたが、鶴を捕ることは禁じられていたので彼はしかたなく諦めたものの、まだ二羽位しか小鳥の獲物を獲っていないうえに、矢比が非常に好いので諦めて去ることができなかった。彼は銃を握りしめたままで鶴の方を見ていた。と、鶴は羽をばさばさとやりながら松から放れて空高く飛んだが、すぐまたぐるりと引返して来て元の枝へとまった。「初めよりも撃ちよくなったぞ、撃ちたいな」丹治は惜しそうに鶴を見詰めていた。
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