鬼火を追う武士The Samurai Who Chased the Will-o'-Wisp

Read a sample in Japanese

What you'll learn

A samurai in Tsuruoka castle town chases a flameless fireball (鬼火) late at night. The fireball darts into a farmhouse window, and the samurai overhears an old woman inside saying she fled from a samurai who tried to kill her, implying the fireball is her spirit.

Key vocabulary

Grammar points you'll meet

• ～てみる N4Try doing something. Expresses an attempt.
  武士はその時、その火玉を斬ってみたくなった。
• ～と (when/upon doing) N3When A happens, B happens (often unexpected result).
  火玉は物に驚いたように非常な速力で飛び出した。それを見て武士も、どんどんと走って追いかけた。そのうちに、火玉の前方に一軒の小さな農家が見えた。
• ～てしまう N4Indicates completion or regret about an action.
  武士はそれを見て、「人家があるな」と思った時、火玉はいきなりその農家の小窓の中へ飛び込んでしまった。
• ～そう (seems like, hearsay) N4Expresses appearance or hearsay. ～そうだ can mean 'I heard that'.
  「あぁ、怖かった、怖かった。わしは、この煩いではとても助からんと思って、今、娘のところへ暇乞いに行って、帰っておると、お武家さんが見つけて斬りに来たから、一生懸命になって逃げてきた。あぁ、怖かった」

Cultural notes

• 鬼火 (Will-o'-the-Wisp)In Japanese folklore, 鬼火 are mysterious flames often seen over swamps or graveyards, believed to be spirits or ghosts. This story uses it as a central element, tying it to the soul of an old woman.
• 暇乞い (Farewell Visit)暇乞い is a traditional Japanese custom of visiting someone to say goodbye, especially when expecting a long absence or death. In the story, the old woman visits her daughter before expecting to die from her illness.

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Topics & grammar

Short Storyghost storysupernaturalfeareeriesuspensefulとto · and / with / quotation〜そうだsou da · I heard that (hearsay)てみるte miru · try doing〜てしまうte shimau · ended up (regret)