作品Free Graded Reading
麺くひMy Love for Soba
Menkui
by 桂 三木助 · Katsura Mikusuke
JLPT N2ArticleQuiz ready
A passionate and humorous love letter to soba noodles.
What you'll learn
What you'll learnThe author expresses his love for soba noodles, compares regional differences, criticizes poor quality soba, and laments his reduced appetite after stomach surgery.
Language difficultyAdvanced · 70/100
Key vocabulary
Key vocabulary| 商売柄 (しょうばいがら) | by nature of one's business; due to one's occupation |
|---|---|
| 場違い (ばちがい) | out of place; inappropriate for the location |
| 情け無く (なさけなく) | pitiful; disappointing; pathetic |
Grammar points you'll meet
Grammar points you'll meet- ～たがる N4Shows that someone else wants to do something (third person desire).帰り度くなる時が有る。
- ～てしまう (～て仕舞う) N4Expresses completion of an action, often with a nuance of regret or finality.うんざりして仕舞います。
- ～というわけではない N2Means 'it's not that...', used to deny a general assumption or inference.但し旨い蕎麦だというのでは無く違った意味で
Cultural notes
Cultural notes- Soba Culture in JapanSoba (buckwheat noodles) is a quintessential Japanese food, especially popular in the Kanto region (Tokyo area), while udon is more associated with Kansai (Osaka area). The text challenges this stereotype by praising Osaka soba.
- Namiki Yabu Soba ShopThe author references '並木のやぶ', a famous Edo-period soba restaurant in Tokyo known for its light, aromatic soba.
- Daimaru Department Store CafeteriaThe author recalls eating soba at the Daimaru department store cafeteria in Osaka during his training in 1926, highlighting the historical significance of department store dining in Japan.
Try a comprehension question
Try a comprehension questionWhat is the author's attitude toward soba that is served in mountain areas?
- He enjoys it because it's authentic.
- He is disappointed because it's often poor quality.
- He avoids it and orders something else.
- He doesn't care about the location.
Sensei's reading tip
Sensei's reading tipNotice the use of casual vs. polite forms: the author mixes です/ます with plain だ, reflecting personal narrative style.
Read a sample in Japanese
Read a sample in Japanese私の母が蕎麦好きだった故 ？ 私も大変蕎麦好きです。が、その割に量は頂けません。「もりそば」を二つ並木のやぶのような軽く盛ってある家ので、せいぜい三枚というところですか。でも、蕎麦屋の前を通った時、あのなんとも言えない蕎麦の香りが鼻に入ると堪らなくなります。商売柄よく旅行をしますが、仕事前に出される軽食というと僕は必ず蕎麦を注文します。海の近くなら兎に角、山の中で場違いの鮪に粉わさびの寿司などを出されるとうんざりしてしまいます。その点、蕎麦は田舎は田舎なりに美味しい蕎麦を出してくれる時が随分あります。昔から関西はうどん、関東は蕎麦と思い込んでいる僕なぞに、近頃、大阪のお蕎麦の美味しいのに驚いています。以前から美味しい家があったのかもしれないが、土地不案内というのか、井の中の蛙だったのか、誠にお恥ずかしい次第です。
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