作品Free Graded Reading
名士訪問記Visit to a Celebrity
Meishi Houmonki
by 海野 十三 · Unno Jūza
Interview with a doppelgänger patent attorney
About this story
About this storyA man visits a lookalike lawyer, leading to a humorous exchange.
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): 「海野十三全集 別巻2 日記・書簡・雑纂」三一書房
1993（平成5）年1月31日第1版第1刷発行
Typed in by 田中哲郎. Proofread by 土屋隆.
Yomimaru has not changed the spelling or the wording.
The furigana are Yomimaru's.
What you'll learn
What you'll learnThe narrator, on assignment from an editor, visits Mr. Sano, a patent attorney, at his office. Sano claims his business is booming despite high fees, and the narrator grows uneasy and decides to leave, feeling defeated.
Key vocabulary
Key vocabulary| 弁理士 (べんりし) | patent attorney |
|---|---|
| 特許 (とっきょ) | patent |
| 出勤簿 (しゅっきんぼ) | attendance book |
| 門前雀羅 (もんぜんじゃくら) | deserted; no visitors (lit. 'sparrows set traps at the gate') |
| 敗退 (はいたい) | defeat; retreat |
Grammar points you'll meet
Grammar points you'll meet- ～そうだ (hearsay) N4Indicates hearsay or that something is said to be true. Attached to the plain form of verbs or adjectives.人の話によると、佐野昌一氏と僕とはたいへんよく似ているそうで、途中で会っても佐野氏やら海野やらちょっと見分けがつかないそうである。
- ～ねばならない / ～なければならない N3Expresses obligation: 'must do' or 'have to do'. Often used in formal writing.弁理士という職業はサーヴィス第一なんだから、なるべく発明者に面倒をかけないようにしなければならぬと思います。
- ～次第 (しだい) N2Means 'as soon as' or 'immediately after'. Often used in formal or business contexts.電気の特許に関しては、御一報次第参上して、発明者から十分間ぐらいお話を伺うだけで、あとは何も御面倒をかけません。
Cultural notes
Cultural notes- 弁理士 (Patent Attorney)A professional who represents clients in obtaining patents and handles related legal matters. In Japan, patent attorneys must pass a national exam and are regulated by the Japan Patent Attorneys Association.
- 出勤簿 (Attendance Book)A traditional physical book used to record employee attendance, often with a personal stamp (hanko). Still common in many Japanese companies as a formal record of work hours.
- 門前雀羅 (Monzen jakura)A Japanese idiom meaning 'a deserted house' or 'no visitors'. Literally, 'sparrows set traps at the gate'. Used to describe a place that once was busy but now has few customers or visitors.
Try a comprehension question
Try a comprehension questionWhy does the narrator visit Mr. Sano?
- To apply for a patent
- To write an article for a magazine
- To complain about being mistaken for Sano
- To ask for a job at the patent office
Sensei's reading tip
Sensei's reading tipPay attention to the contrast between the narrator's and Sano's statements to catch the humor.
Topics & grammar
Topics & grammar
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