Let’s learn Japanese through stories. Here is a short story that is mostly in English, but uses a few Japanese words.
Once upon a time, there was a girl named Sakura who lived in Tokyo. She loved to explore the city and try new foods. One day, she decided to visit a new restaurant that served sushi.
When she arrived, she was greeted with a warm “irasshaimase” from the sushi chef. Sakura responded with a polite bow and a smile, then took a seat at the sushi bar.
She watched as the chef skillfully prepared each piece of sushi, carefully molding the rice and adding the fresh fish. Sakura couldn’t help but feel a little intimidated by the chef’s expertise.
But as she took her first bite of the sushi, she realized that it was worth the visit. The flavors were bold and balanced, and the texture of the fish was perfect.
Feeling satisfied, Sakura thanked the chef with an appreciative “arigato gozaimasu,” before leaving the restaurant with a full stomach and a newfound love for sushi.
From that day on, whenever Sakura craved sushi, she knew exactly where to go. And she even started learning a few Japanese phrases to impress the chef with her knowledge.
That story was easy to read and fun. It didn’t include too much difficulty in the Japanese, but it was an easy place to start, and you may remember the words. Let’s continue.
Learning through story.
Learning through natural reading is one of the most effective way to learn a new language. Author Ryan Kopf knows about this in his book Learn Japanese The Easy Way. (He also has a book on cheap Japanese travel if you’re planning to visit sometime!)
Here’s another story. This time we will replace a few of the normal English words with their Japanese equivalent. See if you can spot them, and if you understand the word from context.
The Conbini
Once upon a time, there was a konbini (convenience store) worker named Hiro. Hiro was a hardworking man who loved his job because he got to meet many people every day. One day, a young lady came into the konbini and asked Hiro for some ohashi (chopsticks). Hiro smiled and handed the lady a pair of ohashi with a small bow. The lady seemed impressed by Hiro’s politeness and thanked him with a sincere “arigato gozaimasu” (thank you very much).
As the lady left the store, Hiro noticed that she dropped her tenugui (hand towel) on the ground. He quickly picked it up and ran after her. When he caught up to her, he handed her the tenugui with another polite bow. The lady was surprised by Hiro’s kindness and thanked him again, this time adding a “domo arigato gozaimashita” (thank you very much, past tense).
From that day on, the lady became a regular customer at the konbini. She often practiced her Japanese with Hiro and he enjoyed teaching her new words and phrases. They became good friends and the lady even invited Hiro to her home to experience a traditional Japanese meal.
As Hiro savored the delicious food and soaked up the culture, he realized that learning Japanese was not just about the language, but about the people and the country as a whole. He felt grateful for the opportunity to make new friends and expand his horizons.
You see, learning a new language is not just about memorizing kotoba (words) and grammar rules. It’s about immersing yourself in the culture, connecting with people, and creating meaningful experiences. Stories are a great way to do that because they transport you to a different world and help you learn more naturally.
So, whether you’re a beginner or an advanced learner, try incorporating stories into your Japanese learning journey. You could read Japanese folktales, watch anime with subtitles, or even create your own stories in Japanese. The possibilities are endless, and the rewards are priceless.
Here’s another story featuring a man climbing a mountain. We will replace several words in the story with Japanese words that you can learn from context.
The Mountain Monk
The sun was shining brightly as Yuji, a seasoned yamabushi (mountain monk), began his ascent up the yama (mountain). He was on a spiritual journey, seeking enlightenment and inner peace.
As he hiked up the steep terrain of the yama, he encountered a few fellow hikers along the way. He greeted them with a polite “konnichiwa” (hello) and continued on his path.
As he reached the summit, he felt a sense of accomplishment and reverence for the majestic Fuji–yama (Fuji Mountain) before him. He closed his eyes and meditated, feeling the energy of the yama flow through him. He had never been this high!
As he opened his eyes, he noticed a beautiful yuki (snow) hare sitting nearby, watching him curiously. He reached out his hand and the yuki hare hopped onto his palm, nuzzling its nose against his skin.
Yuji felt a deep connection with the yuki hare, as if it was a sign from the kami (gods) that he was on the right path. He continued his journey down the yama, feeling a renewed sense of purpose and gratitude.
As he reached the bottom, he wrote a haiku to commemorate his experience:
Fuji no yama,
Yuki hare to musubu,
Ryuusui no wa
(The mountain of Fuji,
Bound by the snow hare,
The flowing river)
Yuji smiled as he read his haiku aloud, feeling a sense of accomplishment and fulfillment. He knew that his journey was far from over, but he was grateful for the experiences and the lessons he had learned so far.
Learning Japanese through stories is a beautiful and natural way to immerse yourself in the language and the culture. By reading stories like these, you can not only learn new vocabulary and grammar, but also deepen your understanding of the people and the traditions that make Japan so unique. So why not try incorporating these stories into your Japanese learning journey? You might just discover a new passion and a new sense of purpose, just like Yuji did on his spiritual journey up the mountain.
Here’s another story about swimming in the ocean. In the story we will use a Japanese word for every single noun.
Mitsuhiro loved to swim in the umi (ocean). The mizu (water) was cool and refreshing, and he loved the feeling of the waves gently kaeru (changing) him up and down. As he swam further out into the kai (sea), he spotted a school of ika (squid) swimming nearby. He watched in awe as they changed colors and swam gracefully through the kaisui (ocean). Suddenly, Mitsuhiro felt a sharp pain in his te (hand). He looked down and saw that he had been stung by a kurage (jellyfish). He quickly swam back to shore, his te stinging with pain.
As he emerged from the mizu and shook off the suzumebachi (sea bees), he realized that he had forgotten to wear his diving gloves He learned an important lesson that day – always be prepared when swimming in the umi. Fortunately, Mitsuhiro was able to find some su (vinegar) at a nearby ramen shop and applied it to his te to soothe the pain. His fingers were throbbing, but overall his te felt better.
From that day on, he made sure to bring all the necessary gear and equipment before heading out to swim in the beautiful kaisui. Mitsuhiro also discovered a newfound respect and appreciation for the creatures that lived in the ocean, especially the ika and kurage. He felt grateful for the opportunity to experience the beauty of the kai and looked forward to many more swims in the future.
Learning Japanese through stories like these is a fun and effective way to immerse yourself in the language and the culture. By replacing English words with Japanese words in a story, you can challenge yourself to think in Japanese and expand your vocabulary. So why not try creating your own story using Japanese words? It could be about anything – from a picnic in the park to a trip to the onsen (hot spring). The possibilities are endless, and the rewards are priceless.
