What JLPT level is 他人の夏?

他人の夏 is suitable for JLPT N2 level readers (estimated JLPT N2).

How long does 他人の夏 take to read?

他人の夏 takes about 23 minutes (around 1602 words) to read at a learner's pace.

作品さくひんFree Graded Reading

他人の夏The Summer of Others

Tanin no Natsu

by 山川方夫 · Yamakawa Masao

JLPT N2Short StoryQuiz ready

A local boy feels like a stranger in his own hometown during tourist season - then meets someone mysterious.

About this story

A local boy feels alienated as his coastal town is overrun by summer tourists.

Read a sample in Japanese

海岸かいがんのその町まちは、夏なつになると、急きゅうに他人たにんの町まちになってしまう。――都会とかいから、らくに日帰ひがえりができるという距離きょりのせいか、避暑ひしょ客きゃくたちが山やまのように押おし寄よせてくるのだ。夏なつのあいだじゅう、町まちは人口じんこうも倍ばい近ちかくにふくれあがり、海水浴かいすいよくの客きゃくたちがすっかり町まちを占領せんりょうして、夜よるも昼ひるも、うきうきとそうぞうしい。その年としも、いつのまにか夏なつがきてしまっていた。ぞくぞくと都会とかいからの海水浴かいすいよくの客きゃくたちがつめかけ、例年れいねんどおり町まちをわがもの顔かおに歩あるきまわる。大おおきく背中せなかをあけた水着みずぎにサンダルの女おんな。ウクレレを持もったサン・グラスの男おとこたち。写真しゃしん機きをぶらさげ子こどもをかかえた家族かぞく連づれ。真赤まっかなショート・パンツに太ふとし腿ももをむきだしにした麦藁むぎわら帽ぼうの若わかい女おんなたち。そんな人ひとびとの高たかい笑わらい声ごえに、自動車じどうしゃの警笛けいてきが不断ふだんの伴奏ばんそうのように鳴なりつづける。

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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): 「短篇礼讃　忘れかけた名品」ちくま文庫、筑摩書房
2006（平成18）年7月10日第1刷発行

Typed in by toko. Proofread by 川山隆.

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

In a coastal town overwhelmed by summer tourists, high school student Shinichi works at a gas station. One night after work, he goes swimming and encounters a young woman who seems intent on drowning herself. He shares his father's philosophy about respecting others' choices, revealing that his father committed suicide. The next day, the woman visits his gas station, thanks him, and drives away.

Language difficultyAdvanced · 72/100

Key vocabulary

避暑客ひしょきゃく	summer visitor; vacationer
夜光虫やこうちゅう	Noctiluca; phosphorescent plankton
銛もり	harpoon
自殺じさつ	suicide
底引そこびき網あみ	bottom trawl net

Grammar points you'll meet

～てしまう N4Indicates completion or regrettable action.
夏なつのあいだじゅう、町まちは人口じんこうも倍ばい近ちかくにふくれあがり、海水浴かいすいよくの客きゃくたちがすっかり町まちを占領せんりょうして、夜よるも昼ひるも、うきうきとそうぞうしい。
～かもしれない N4Expresses possibility: 'might' or 'maybe'.
ただ、なんとなく女おんなを自分じぶんとつなぎとめておきたかったのかもしれない。
～のだ N4Provides explanation or emphasis.
都会とかいから、らくに日帰ひがえりができるという距離きょりのせいか、避暑ひしょ客きゃくたちが山やまのように押おし寄よせてくるのだ。

Cultural notes

Summer Resort Towns in JapanCoastal towns like the one in the story experience a seasonal influx of tourists from large cities. This phenomenon is common in Japan, where many people escape the heat of urban areas to enjoy beaches and resort activities during summer holidays.
Noctiluca (夜光虫)Noctiluca are bioluminescent marine plankton that emit a blue-green light when disturbed. They are often seen in Japanese coastal waters during summer, creating a magical effect. The phenomenon is called 'night light' and is a popular natural spectacle.