灯台鬼The Lighthouse Ghost

What you'll learn

The narrator describes the Shiohiki Lighthouse and the strange rumors surrounding it. One foggy night, the lighthouse light goes out unexpectedly, prompting the narrator and the director to rush to the lighthouse.

The group enters the lighthouse and finds Tomida's dead body in the lamp room, with a large rock on his stomach. Kazama claims to have seen a ghostly creature escape. The room is damaged.

Higashiya reconstructs the events: the rock was not thrown from outside but was dropped using the counterweight system. The hatchet was used to cut the rope. The narrator finds a long rope and a thin string at the base of the lighthouse.

Key vocabulary

Grammar points you'll meet

• ～かと思うと N3No sooner than; indicates that one action immediately follows another.
  正確に放たれていた十五秒ごとの閃光が、不意に不気味な不動光に変ったかと思うと、灰色のガスの中へなにか神秘的な光の尾を、そのままわずかに二秒ほども遠火のように漂わせて、それから急に、しかもハッキリと不吉な暗に溶けこんでしまった。
• ～がち N3Tends to; prone to. Used to describe a tendency.
  このごろ昼間無電のほうをチョイチョイ手伝いますので、つい疲れてときどき居眠りをするようですし

Cultural notes

• Lighthouse Keepers in JapanLighthouses in Japan were historically staffed by keepers living on-site with their families. The Shiohiki Lighthouse is a third-class lighthouse under direct control of the Ministry of Communications, highlighting the importance of maritime safety.

Try a comprehension question

Read a sample in Japanese

Topics

Short Storymysteryghost storysuspensesuspensefuleerieaozora bunko