作品Free Graded Reading
風The Wind
Kaze
by 竹久 夢二 · Takehisa Yumeji
When the wind steals a boy's hat, a wild chase begins.
About this story
About this storyA playful wind dances through town, inviting everyone to join its joyful game.
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): 「童話集 春」小学館文庫、小学館
2004（平成16）年8月1日初版第1刷発行
Typed in by noir. Proofread by noriko saito.
Yomimaru changed the spelling to modern kana and modern kanji, and 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 learnThe wind blows from the mountain, making trees and grass bow. It then comes to the town, inviting various objects to dance. A boy named Kotaro's hat is swept away and chases it. The wind helps Kotaro find his hat hidden behind a beer barrel. Kotaro catches the hat and thanks the wind, but the hat stops dancing.
Key vocabulary
Key vocabulary| お辞儀 | bow |
|---|---|
| 蜻蛉返り | somersault; turning over (like a dragonfly) |
| 鬼ごっこ | tag (game) |
| 干物台 | drying rack for fish or clothes |
Grammar points you'll meet
Grammar points you'll meet- ～そうです (appearance) N4Looks like; seems. Attached to verb/adj stem.
それはたいそう面白そうでした。
- ～ながら N4While doing; indicates simultaneous actions.
風が面白そうな歌をうたいながら、ダンスをして躍廻るので、
- ～てあげる N4Do something for someone (giving).
坊ちゃん、私が見つけてあげましょう。
- ～てしまう N4To finish doing something; regretfully or completely.
こんどはまるで輪のようにくるくると廻りながら駆けだしました。
Cultural notes
Cultural notes- Bowing (お辞儀)Bowing is a fundamental aspect of Japanese etiquette, used to show respect, gratitude, or apology. In the story, the wind makes trees and grass bow, personifying nature with human-like respect.
- Tag (鬼ごっこ)鬼ごっこ is the Japanese version of the game tag. 'Oni' (demon) is the 'it' who chases others. The wind is compared to children inviting friends to play tag.
- Banzai (万歳)Banzai is a Japanese cheer meaning 'long live' or 'hurrah,' often shouted with raised arms during celebrations. Here the boy shouts 'Banzai' upon finding his hat.
Try a comprehension question
Try a comprehension questionWhat does the wind do when it comes to the town?
- It blows strongly and scares people.
- It plays and invites things to dance.
- It makes leaves fall from trees.
- It whistles through chimneys.
Sensei's reading tip
Sensei's reading tipNotice the personification of the wind—it acts like a playful child, singing and dancing. This helps visualize the scene.
Topics & grammar
Topics & grammar
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