作品Free Graded Reading
夏の葬列Summer Funeral Procession
Natsu no Souretsu
by 山川 方夫 · Yamakawa Masao
JLPT N1Short StoryQuiz ready
A haunting summer funeral procession from childhood memories.
What you'll learn
What you'll learnA man returns to a coastal town where he was evacuated during WWII. He recalls a traumatic event where he pushed a girl, Hiroko, during an air raid, believing he caused her death. On the present day, he sees a funeral procession and learns that the deceased is actually Hiroko’s mother, who went mad after her daughter was killed in that same raid. The man realizes he is not directly responsible for Hiroko's death, but is haunted by the irony and lasting impact of the past.
Language difficultyAdvanced · 75/100
Key vocabulary
Key vocabulary| 疎開児童 (そかいじどう) | evacuated child |
|---|---|
| 葬列 (そうれつ) | funeral procession |
| 艦載機 (かんさいき) | carrier-based aircraft |
| 柩 (ひつぎ) | coffin |
| 防空壕 (ぼうくうごう) | air-raid shelter |
| 皮肉 (ひにく) | irony |
Grammar points you'll meet
Grammar points you'll meet- 〜たことがない N5Indicates that someone has never experienced something.彼は一度もこの町をたずねたことがない。
- 〜てしまう N4Indicates completion of an action, often with a sense of regret.駅前の風景はすっかり変ってしまっている。
- 〜ように N3Used to express 'as if' or 'like'.突然、彼は化石したように足をとめた。
- 〜かもしれない N4Express possibility 'might' or 'maybe'.くれるかもしれない
Cultural notes
Cultural notes- 疎開 (そかい)During World War II, many children from major cities were evacuated to rural areas to avoid bombing. These children were called 疎開児童. They often lived with host families or in group shelters. This story's protagonist was one such child.
- 国民学校 (こくみんがっこう)From 1941 to 1947, Japanese elementary schools were renamed 国民学校 (National Schools) as part of the wartime national mobilization. The text mentions '当時は国民学校といったが' to indicate the historical context.
- 葬列の習慣Traditional Japanese funerals involve a procession (葬列) from the home or funeral hall to the cemetery. The coffin is carried on the shoulders of pallbearers, and family and friends follow. In rural areas, such processions were common even during wartime.
Try a comprehension question
Try a comprehension questionWhy did the man push Hiroko during the air raid?
- He was trying to protect her from gunfire.
- He panicked and wanted her to go away because her white dress made her a target.
- He wanted to run faster without her.
- He thought she was an enemy soldier.
Sensei's reading tip
Sensei's reading tipPay attention to tense shifts between present and past to follow the flashbacks.
Read a sample in Japanese
Read a sample in Japanese海岸の小さな町の駅に下りて、彼は、しばらくはものめずらしげにあたりを眺めていた。駅前の風景はすっかり変っていた。アーケードのついた明るいマーケットふうの通りができ、その道路も、固く鋪装されてしまっている。はだしのまま、砂利の多いこの道を駈けて通学させられた小学生の頃の自分を、急になまなましく彼は思い出した。あれは、戦争の末期だった。彼はいわゆる疎開児童として、この町にまる三カ月ほど住んでいたのだった。――あれ以来、おれは一度もこの町をたずねたことがない。その自分が、いまは大学を出、就職をし、一人前の出張がえりのサラリーマンの一人として、この町に来ている……。東京には、明日までに帰ればよかった。二、三時間は充分にぶらぶらできる時間がある。彼は駅の売店で煙草を買い、それに火を点けると、ゆっくりと歩きだした。夏の真昼だった。
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