What JLPT level is 火星の魔術師?

火星の魔術師 is suitable for JLPT N1 level readers (estimated JLPT N1).

How long does 火星の魔術師 take to read?

火星の魔術師 takes about 67 minutes (around 5339 words) to read at a learner's pace.

作品さくひんFree Graded Reading

火星の魔術師The Magician of Mars

Kasei no Majutsushi

by 蘭郁二郎 · Ran Ikujirō

JLPT N1Short StoryQuiz ready

A mysterious magician on Mars leads a humorous adventure

About this story

Two friends visit a highland in autumn for Mars observation, but one is unimpressed by the scenery.

Read a sample in Japanese

高原こうげんの秋あき「いい空気くうきだなア――」英二えいじはそういって、小鼻こばなをびくびくさせ、両りょうの手てを野球やきゅうの投手とうしゅのように思おもい切きり振ふ廻まわした。「うん。まったく澄すみ切きってるからね、――どうだい矢やッ張はり来きてよかったろう、たまにこういうところに来くるのも、なんともいえん気持きもちじゃないか」大村おおむら昌作しょうさくは、あまり気きのすすまなかったらしい英二えいじを、勧誘かんゆうこれつとめた挙句あげく、やっとこの、いささか季節きせつはずれの高原こうげんに引ひっ張ぱって来きた手前てまえ、どうやら彼かれが気きに入いった様子ようすに、何なによりも先まずホッとした。「そういわれると困こまるな」英二えいじがすぐ振ふり向むいて「何なにしろここまで来くると空気くうき以外いがいに褒ほめもんがないんですからね」「まあ、そういうなよ、今年ことしは十じゅう五ご年ねんぶりで火星かせいが近ちかづいているんだ、この空気くうきの澄すんでいる高原こうげんは、火星かせい観測かんそくには持もって来きいなんだよ」「そりゃそうかも知しれんけど……、その辺あたりを一寸ちょっと歩あるいて見みませんか、星ほしが出でるまでにはまだ間まがありますよ」「うん……」

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Source

This 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): 「火星の魔術師」国書刊行会
1993（平成5）年7月20日初版第1刷発行

Typed in by 門田裕志. Proofread by 川山隆.

Yomimaru has not changed the spelling or the wording.

The furigana are Yomimaru's.

What you'll learn

Eiji and Ōmura arrive at a highland to observe Mars. Ōmura is enthusiastic about Mars, but Eiji is less impressed. They go for a walk.

Ōmura and Eiji discuss the possibility of life on Mars. They suddenly find themselves in a bizarre landscape with giant fruits and vegetables.

The two men are shocked by the giant fruits and vegetables. They meet a man who calls them 'Mars fruits' and invites them to his house.

Language difficultyIntermediate · 60/100

Key vocabulary

染色体せんしょくたい	chromosome
火星かせい	Mars
進化しんか	evolution
魔術師まじゅつし	magician
覚さめる	to wake up

Grammar points you'll meet

～かたがた N1Means 'while also doing; partly for the purpose of'. Used to indicate that an action serves multiple purposes.
骨ほね休やすみかたがたやって来きたわけであった。
～てしまう N4Indicates completion or regret. In this context, it expresses that something has happened completely or accidentally.
立たち竦すくんでしまったのである。
～かもしれない N4Means 'maybe; perhaps'. Expresses uncertainty or possibility.
地球ちきゅうのものとはまるで違ちがっているかも知しれないけど
～など N5Particle meaning 'such as; like; etc.' Used to list examples or indicate something trivial.
栗くりの木きや柿かきの木きなど、そういったものがあるとすれば

Cultural notes

Private Observatory CultureIn Japan, there is a tradition of amateur astronomers building private observatories, often in remote highlands for clear skies. This story reflects that culture.
Mars Observation in the 1930sThis story was likely written in the 1930s when Mars was a popular topic due to its close approach. The idea of Martian canals and life was widely discussed.