What JLPT level is 世帯休業?

世帯休業 is suitable for JLPT N1 level readers (estimated JLPT N1).

How long does 世帯休業 take to read?

世帯休業 takes about 92 minutes (around 7343 words) to read at a learner's pace.

作品さくひんFree Graded Reading

世帯休業Household Holiday

Setai Kyūgyō

by 岸田国士 · Kishida Kunio

JLPT N1Short StoryQuiz ready

A hilarious day when a family decides to take a holiday from housework.

About this story

A man returns to find his house locked and encounters strange visitors in this comedic play.

Read a sample in Japanese

人物じんぶつ夫おっと　渋谷しぶや八はち十じゅう一いち妻つま詩人しじん　鳥羽とば妻つまの母はは君くんい女おんな　かも子こ夫おっとの友人ゆうじん　茶木ちゃき八百やおや第だい一場いちじょう舞台ぶたいは、すべて戸締とじまりをした家いえの内部ないぶ。正面しょうめんやゝ高たかきところに鉄格子てつごうしをはめたスリ硝子がらすの小しょう窓まど。外そとの光ひかりがその小しょう窓まどから射さし込こんで、茶ちゃの間まの一部いちぶをかすかに浮うき出ださせてゐる。表ひょうで戸とをたゝく音おん。声こえ　　留守るすですか、僕ぼくです。おい、僕ぼくですよ、奥おくさん、鳥羽とばですつたら……。やがて、正面しょうめんの小しょう窓まどが開ひらく。長髪ちょうはつの男おとこが家いえの中なかをのぞき込こむ。男おとこ　　今頃いまごろ家かをあけるなんて、しやうがないなあ。僕ぼくはまあ仕方しかたがないとして、御ご亭主ていしゅが帰きつて来きたら、問題もんだいだぜ、これや……。それとも、僕ぼくが国くにへ帰きつたのを幸こうひ、今日きょうは夫婦ふうふ連づれで浅草あさくさへでも出掛でかけたかな。さうだとすると、僕ぼくは鍵かぎをもつてないから、家いえん中なかへはひることができない。どれ、鞄かばんを縁えんの下したへでも放ほうり込こんどいて、ひとつ、鴨かも子こ嬢じょうのところへ遊あそびに行くだりつて来こよう。（硝子がらす戸とを締しめ、立たち去さる）

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Source

This 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): 「岸田國士全集5」岩波書店
1991（平成3）年1月9日発行

Typed in by kompass. Proofread by 門田裕志.

Yomimaru has not changed the spelling or the wording.

The furigana are Yomimaru's. In the app it is split into 3 parts.

What you'll learn

The poet Toba returns to the lodging house to find the wife absent and the husband at home. The couple explains their experimental 'household holiday' contract. Toba offers to act as arbitrator for the remaining days.

The next morning, Toba cooks breakfast while the husband and wife ignore each other. Friction arises over domestic matters, and Toba enforces the contract. The wife's mother arrives with news of an inheritance from an uncle in Moji.

In the evening, the husband and wife discuss the inheritance in private, but are interrupted by Toba. They argue about how to use the money, touching on the limitations of their contract. The scene ends with the wife dreaming of a better life.

Language difficultyExpert · 85/100

Key vocabulary

倦怠期けんたいき	period of boredom/ennui
世帯休業せたいきゅうぎょう	household holiday/temporary break from domestic duties
戯談じょうだん	joke
取扱ひとりあつかい	treatment
規約きやく	rules/contract

Grammar points you'll meet

～つたら N1Colloquial form of といったら, used to call someone with emphasis or mild annoyance.
おい、僕ぼくですよ、奥おくさん、鳥羽とばですつたら……。
～たる N1Formal attributive form of である, meaning 'being' or 'as a (status)'.
夫婦ふうふの一方いっぽうが、疾病しっぺいに罹かかりたるときは、隣人りんじんとして看護かんごの労ろうをとること
～云々 N1Used to indicate 'and so on' or 'such things', often in formal documents.
「故こら相手あいてに苦痛くつうを与あずかへんとする言動げんどうを犯おかしたる時とき云々うんぬん」の項こうです。
～ものを N1Used to express regret or contradiction, meaning 'but/although'.
さうだわ、お金かねが入にゅうつたら、真先まっさき

Cultural notes

Household Holiday (世帯休業)The couple's concept of a temporary break from marital duties and domestic responsibilities, reflecting early 20th-century modern thoughts on marriage in Japan.
Showa-era Literary CirclesThe poet Toba represents the bohemian artist figure common in Taisho/Showa literature, often lodging with families and engaging in intellectual discussions.
Financial Expectations from RelativesThe news of an inheritance from a relative in Moji (Fukuoka) highlights the extended family economic ties common in early 20th-century Japan.