作品Free Graded Reading
最小人間の怪The Mystery of the Smallest Human
Saishō Ningen no Kai
by 海野 十三 · Unno Jūza
A scientist discovers a two-centimeter-tall humanoid that claims to be the future ruler of Earth.
About this story
About this storyA scientist recounts his eerie encounter with a mysterious tiny humanoid creature in the mountains.
Read a sample in Japanese
Read a sample in JapaneseWhat you'll learn
What you'll learnThe narrator recounts a secret story from Dr. N about encountering a miniature human named Yanatsu in the mountains. Yanatsu claims his species will inherit the Earth after humanity's demise. The narrator is taken to a cavern where many miniature humans live, experiences strange size changes, and later sees Yanatsu's wife's head in a museum.
Key vocabulary
Key vocabulary| 秘話 (ひわ) | secret story |
|---|---|
| 前代未聞 (ぜんだいみもん) | unprecedented |
| 微小人間 (びしょうにんげん) | miniature human |
| 媚香 (びこう) | seductive incense |
| 仁王 (におう) | Niō (temple guardian statue) |
Grammar points you'll meet
Grammar points you'll meet- ～ことなしに N1Without doing ~今は、博士の許可を得ることなしに、ちょっぴり書き綴るわけだが、
- ～に過ぎなかった N2nothing more than; only背丈が二三センチに過ぎなかった。
- ～てたまるか N1lit. 'how can I let ~ happen?' expressing strong refusalこんな蛙の子みたいな妖怪に、わが人類のあとを継がれてたまるものかと思った。
- ～わけにはいかない N2cannot bring oneself to; it's impossible toヤナツなどの微小人間の擡頭することを認めないわけにはいかなくなった。
Cultural notes
Cultural notes- Nicola Tesla's Mysterious ExperimentsThe text mentions an 'N博士' (Doctor N) who shared a secret story. While fictional, the character might be inspired by Nikola Tesla, known for his mysterious experiments and fascination with the occult.
- Yanagita Kunio and Japanese FolkloreThe story of miniature humans (微小人間) resembles yōkai from Japanese folklore, like the 'Kappa' or 'Zashiki-warashi'. The author may have been influenced by folklorist Yanagita Kunio's collections.
- Ueno Science MuseumThe story ends at the Ueno Science Museum in Tokyo, a real museum. The description of a preserved head matches the museum's exhibits on shrunken heads, though the museum's collection may not include such items.
Try a comprehension question
Try a comprehension questionWhat does the narrator initially mistake the miniature human for?
- A frog tadpole
- A new species of insect
- A small bird
- A rat pup
Sensei's reading tip
Sensei's reading tipFocus on the dialogue between the narrator and Yanatsu to understand the evolution theory debate.
Topics & grammar
Topics & grammar
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