作品Free Graded Reading
麺くひMy Love for Soba
Menkui
by 桂 三木助 · Katsura Mikisuke
A passionate and humorous love letter to soba noodles.
About this text
About this textA rakugo storyteller reflects on his lifelong love for soba noodles, noting regional differences in Japan.
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): 「日本の名随筆 別巻19 蕎麦」作品社
1992（平成4）年9月25日第1刷発行
1997（平成9）年5月20日第6刷発行
Typed in by 門田裕志. Proofread by noriko saito.
Yomimaru changed the spelling to modern kana and modern kanji.
The furigana are Yomimaru's.
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.
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.
Topics & grammar
Topics & grammar
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