Happy Sunday Japanophiles, Herewith the 42nd issue of the Hai Japan Newsletter — your Weekly Dose of Japan!

Today, we’re simply going through a story based on the Japanese Legend of Momotaro (a boy who came out of a peach):

PS: If you’re interested in learning Japanese F-A-S-T, check out Hikari Sensei’s course here — and Hai Japan followers get an exclusive N5 + N4 Preparation Course!

Anyway, let’s get started!

Story: 桃子 (Momo-ko, Peach Girl)

Japanese:
むかしむかし、あるところにおじいさんとおばあさんが住んでいました。
Romaji:
Mukashi mukashi, aru tokoro ni ojiisan to obaasan ga sunde imashita.
Translation:
A long time ago, an old man and an old woman lived in a certain place.
Grammar Notes:

• むかしむかし (Mukashi mukashi): "Once upon a time," a classic story starter.

• 住んでいました (sunde imashita): Past progressive of 住む (sumu), meaning "were living."

Japanese:
ある日、おじいさんは山へ柴刈りに、おばあさんは川へ洗濯に行きました。
Romaji:
Aru hi, ojiisan wa yama e shibakari ni, obaasan wa kawa e sentaku ni ikimashita.
Translation:
One day, the old man went to the mountain to cut firewood, and the old woman went to the river to wash clothes.
Grammar Notes:

• ～に行きました (~ni ikimashita): "Went to do ~." For example, 柴刈りに行く = "Go cut firewood."

Japanese:
おばあさんが川で洗濯をしていると、大きな桃が流れてきました。
Romaji:
Obaasan ga kawa de sentaku o shiteiru to, ookina momo ga nagarete kimashita.
Translation:
While the old woman was washing clothes in the river, a big peach came floating down.
Grammar Notes:

• ～ている (~teiru): Indicates a continuous action (e.g., 洗濯をしている = "washing clothes").

• 流れてきました (nagarete kimashita): "Came floating." The verb 流れる (nagareru = "to flow") with きました (kimashita = "came").

Japanese:
おばあさんは桃を拾って、家に持ち帰りました。
Romaji:
Obaasan wa momo o hirotte, ie ni motte kaerimashita.
Translation:
The old woman picked up the peach and brought it home.
Grammar Notes:

• 拾って (hirotte): Te-form of 拾う (hirou = "to pick up").

• 持ち帰りました (motte kaerimashita): "Brought home" (持つ = "to carry"; 帰る = "to return").

Japanese:
おじいさんとおばあさんが桃を切ると、中から元気な女の子が出てきました。
Romaji:
Ojiisan to obaasan ga momo o kiru to, naka kara genki na onna no ko ga dete kimashita.
Translation:
When they cut the peach, a healthy girl came out.
Grammar Notes:

• 中から (naka kara): "From inside" (中 = "inside," から = "from").

• 出てきました (dete kimashita): "Came out."

Japanese:
「この子は桃から生まれたから、桃子と名付けよう。」
Romaji:
"Kono ko wa momo kara umareta kara, Momo-ko to nazukeyou."
Translation:
"Since this child was born from a peach, let’s name her Momo-ko (Peach Girl)."
Grammar Notes:

• ～から (~kara): "Because/since."

• 名付けよう (nazukeyou): Volitional form of 名付ける (nazukeru = "to name"), meaning "Let’s name."

Japanese:
桃子はすくすく育ち、とても強い女の子になりました。
Romaji:
Momo-ko wa sukusuku sodachi, totemo tsuyoi onna no ko ni narimashita.
Translation:
Momo-ko grew quickly and became a very strong girl.
Grammar Notes:

• すくすく (sukusuku): "Growing healthily/steadily" (adverb).

• ～になりました (~ni narimashita): "Became" (polite past form of なる).

Japanese:
ある日、桃子は言いました。「鬼ヶ島に行って、悪い鬼を退治します！」
Romaji:
Aru hi, Momo-ko wa iimashita. "Onigashima ni itte, warui oni o taiji shimasu!"
Translation:
One day, Momo-ko said, "I will go to Onigashima to defeat the evil demons!"
Grammar Notes:

• 鬼ヶ島 (Onigashima): "Oni Island" (鬼 = demon, 島 = island).

• 退治します (taiji shimasu): "Defeat/exterminate," polite form of 退治する (taiji suru).

Japanese:
おばあさんは桃子にきびだんごを作ってくれました。
Romaji:
Obaasan wa Momo-ko ni kibidango o tsukutte kuremashita.
Translation:
The old woman made millet dumplings for Momo-ko.
Grammar Notes:

• 作ってくれました (tsukutte kuremashita): "Made (as a favor)." くれる indicates an action done for someone.

Japanese:
桃子は旅の途中で犬、猿、キジに出会いました。
Romaji:
Momo-ko wa tabi no tochuu de inu, saru, kiji ni deaimashita.
Translation:
On her journey, Momo-ko met a dog, a monkey, and a pheasant.
Grammar Notes:

• 旅の途中 (tabi no tochuu): "During the journey."

• 出会いました (deaimashita): "Met," past polite of 出会う (to meet).

Japanese:
桃子はきびだんごをあげて、三匹を仲間にしました。
Romaji:
Momo-ko wa kibidango o agete, sanbiki o nakama ni shimashita.
Translation:
Momo-ko gave them dumplings and made them her companions.
Grammar Notes:

• 仲間にしました (nakama ni shimashita): "Made them companions."

Japanese:
鬼ヶ島に着いた桃子たちは鬼と戦いました。
Romaji:
Onigashima ni tsuita Momo-ko-tachi wa oni to tatakaimashita.
Translation:
When they arrived at Onigashima, Momo-ko and her companions fought the demons.
Grammar Notes:

• ～たち (~tachi): Plural marker (Momo-ko + her companions).

Japanese:
ついに、鬼を倒して、宝物を村に持ち帰りました。
Romaji:
Tsui ni, oni o taoshite, takaramono o mura ni motte kaerimashita.
Translation:
Finally, they defeated the demons and brought the treasure back to the village.
Grammar Notes:

• ついに (tsui ni): "Finally."

• 倒して (taoshite): Te-form of 倒す (taosu = "to defeat").

That’s all folks!

Let me know if you enjoyed this simple story :)

Have a great Sunday!