怪人の眼The Strange Man's Eye

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What you'll learn

Samurai 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.

Key vocabulary

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

• 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.

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Topics & grammar

Short Storyhistoricaltemptationsupernaturalsuspensefuleerie〜はずですhazu desu · supposed to / should be〜そうだsou da · I heard that (hearsay)〜ていたte ita · was doing (past continuous)〜てしまうte shimau · ended up (regret)