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Japanese Family Stories for Learners

25 free Japanese family stories for learners, graded from beginner to advanced. Each one pairs real Japanese with furigana, instant lookups, and AI study tools on Yomimaru.

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飴だま cover Read 飴だま The Candy Drop 新美 南吉 2 min read · Short Story しゃしんやさん cover Read しゃしんやさん The Photographer 小川 未明 2 min read · Short Story 世帯休業 cover Read 世帯休業 Household Holiday 岸田 国士 28 min read · Short Story ひよりげた cover Read ひよりげた The Straw Sandals 新美 南吉 5 min read · Short Story ウミベノマヒゴ cover Read ウミベノマヒゴ The Lost Child at the Beach 村山 籌子 2 min read · Short Story 長い名 cover Read 長い名 The Long Name 楠山 正雄 4 min read · Short Story 政ちゃんと赤いりんご cover Read 政ちゃんと赤いりんご Masa-chan and the Red Apple 小川 未明 8 min read · Short Story 虎の話 cover Read 虎の話 The Tiger Story 芥川 竜之介 3 min read · Short Story 政治家と家庭 cover Read 政治家と家庭 Politician and Family 太宰 治 1 min read · Article 二つの手紙 cover Read 二つの手紙 Two Letters 芥川 竜之介 24 min read · Short Story つめたい　メロン cover Read つめたい　メロン Cold Melon 小川 未明 1 min read · Short Story 母親に憑る霊 cover Read 母親に憑る霊 The Spirit Possessing the Mother 田中 貢太郎 2 min read · Short Story ドン cover Read ドン Don 夢野 久作 2 min read · Short Story 忘れもの cover Read 忘れもの The Forgotten Thing 原 民喜 1 min read · Short Story 三味線の胴 cover Read 三味線の胴 The Shamisen Body 上村 松園 2 min read · Article ねことおしるこ cover Read ねことおしるこ The Cat and the Sweet Red Bean Soup 小川 未明 3 min read · Short Story おもしろい話 cover Read おもしろい話 A Funny Story 畔柳 二美 6 min read · Article こがらしの　ふく　ばん cover Read こがらしの　ふく　ばん The Night the Cold Wind Blows 小川 未明 2 min read · Short Story 片目のごあいさつ cover Read 片目のごあいさつ The One-Eyed Greeting 小川 未明 3 min read · Short Story 手紙　四 cover Read 手紙　四 The Fourth Letter 宮沢 賢治 3 min read · Short Story 山の神殺人 cover Read 山の神殺人 The Mountain God Murder 坂口 安吾 20 min read · Short Story 親孝行 cover Read 親孝行 Filial Piety 牧野 信一 6 min read · Short Story つづれさせ cover Read つづれさせ The Cricket's Advice 小川 未明 1 min read · Short Story お父さんのお寝坊 cover Read お父さんのお寝坊 Father's Oversleeping 牧野 信一 5 min read · Short Story 五本の指 cover Read 五本の指 Five Fingers ベルトラン ルイ 1 min read · Short Story

解説かいせつBackground

About Japanese family stories

This shelf collects 25 free Japanese family stories for learners, graded from beginner to advanced. Each text keeps real Japanese on the page with furigana above every kanji, so you can read family stories at your level instead of waiting until you "know enough" kanji.

Every read on Yomimaru pairs the Japanese with an English study layer — key vocabulary, the grammar it uses, and a short comprehension check — plus tap-to-look-up on any word. Reading family stories you actually enjoy is one of the fastest ways to turn studied vocabulary into vocabulary you recognise on sight.

質問しつもんQuestions

Japanese family stories: questions & answers

Are these Japanese family stories free to read?

Yes. All 25 family stories on this shelf are free to read in full, with furigana and an English breakdown — no subscription required. A free Yomimaru account adds saved progress, the built-in dictionary, and AI study tools.

What level are these family stories?

They span the JLPT range, from beginner (kana and simple sentences) to N1 (literary, native-level prose). Each text shows its JLPT level so you can pick family stories that match what you're studying.

How should I use family stories to study Japanese?

Read a little every day, slightly above your comfort level. Use the furigana and instant lookups to stay in the flow of the story, then review the vocabulary and grammar notes afterwards so the words stick in context.