作品Free Graded Reading
集団見合Group Blind Date
Shūdan Miai
by 坂口 安吾 · Sakaguchi Ango
JLPT N1Short StoryQuiz ready
A chaotic group blind date descends into absurdity with a zany cast of characters.
What you'll learn
What you'll learnThe narrator recounts the lead-up to a group blind date event at Tama River, involving a young reporter named Takagi and other eccentric characters. He describes the chaotic scene with fake participants, photographers, and the genuine awkwardness of the real marriage-seekers.
Language difficultyAdvanced · 72/100
Key vocabulary
Key vocabulary| サシエ (さしえ) | illustration |
|---|---|
| 見合い (みあい) | arranged marriage meeting |
| ニセモノ (にせもの) | fake, counterfeit |
| 脳味噌が定量とかけはなれている (のうみそがていりょうとかけはなれている) | brains are far from normal (idiom) |
Grammar points you'll meet
Grammar points you'll meet- ～にすぎない N3It means 'merely' or 'nothing but'.ニセモノ同志がハチ合せをしているにすぎないのである。
- ～ばかり N3Indicates that something is the only thing happening (just, only).要するに見合いに立ち騒いでいる大部分はニセモノばかりで、二千余人のホンモノはボンヤリ立ってニセモノの大活躍を見ているばかり
Cultural notes
Cultural notes- 集団見合 (Group Blind Date)After WWII, group blind dates became a popular way to find marriage partners in Japan. This event at Tama River is a satirical portrayal, highlighting the media circus and the genuine participants' awkwardness.
- サロン (Literary Salon)The narrator refers to a 'salon'—a gathering of artists, writers, and intellectuals. In post-war Japan, these salons were hubs of creativity and gossip, often involving magazine editors and reporters.
Try a comprehension question
Try a comprehension questionWhat is the main reason the narrator attends the group blind date?
- He wanted to participate as a groom.
- He was curious as a spectator and it was near his home.
- He was assigned by the magazine to cover the event.
- He wanted to help Takagi find a bride.
Sensei's reading tip
Sensei's reading tipPay attention to the narrator's ironic tone—much of the humor comes from his dry observations.
Read a sample in Japanese
Read a sample in Japaneseあの日は何月何日だったか、その前夜、雑誌の用で、たしか岩田専太郎先生の小説を持ってきて、私にサシエをかけ、という難題をフッかけにきたサロンのチンピラ記者、高木青年が、ちょッと顔をあからめなどして、ボク、アスは社用によって見合いでして、朝十時、早いです、これからウチへかえってズボンをネドコの下へしいてネオシをして、エヘエヘとロレツのまわらないようなことを言いだした。ちょうどその時、私のウチへ遊びにきて一しょに晩メシを食っていたのが、これは去年の暮まではさる料理屋の亭主の奥さんで、今年の春はこれもどこかのチンピラ記者の奥さんに早変りをとげているという脳味噌が定量とかけはなれている女性が居合わして、「アラ、高木さん、いゝわねえ、女を口説くのゥ。なんと云って口説くのゥ。モシモシッと云うのゥ。それから何て云うのゥ。遊びましょうよッて云うのゥ。アラ、はずかしい。キャーッ。私も行ってみたいわア。
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