Happy Sunday Japanophiles, Herewith the 17th issue of the Hai Japan Newsletter — your Weekly Dose of Japan!

Today, we’re going to go through a short story!

Below the story are some notes on grammar and vocabulary. I recommend you go through the story once then look at the notes and then read the story again to see how much you’ve understood.

We’re working on being able to provide audio to these stories as well as improve the overall structure of this series 🙂 

Anyway, enjoy!

The Depressed Samurai

むかしむかし、あるところに、うつの侍がいました。彼の名前はたけしでした。たけしは強くて勇敢な侍でしたが、心の中に大きな悲しみを抱えていました。

Mukashi mukashi, aru tokoro ni, utsu no samurai ga imashita. Kare no namae wa Takeshi deshita. Takeshi wa tsuyokute yūkan na samurai deshita ga, kokoro no naka ni ōkina kanashimi wo kakaete imashita.

Once upon a time, in a certain place, there was a depressed samurai. His name was Takeshi. Takeshi was a strong and brave samurai, but he carried great sadness in his heart.

毎日、彼は城の周りを見回り、仕事をこなしましたが、笑顔を見せることはありませんでした。友達や家族も心配しましたが、たけしは誰にもその理由を話しませんでした。

Mainichi, kare wa shiro no mawari wo mimawari, shigoto wo konashimashita ga, egao wo miseru koto wa arimasen deshita. Tomodachi ya kazoku mo shinpai shimashita ga, Takeshi wa dare ni mo sono riyū wo hanashimasen deshita.

Every day, he patrolled around the castle and completed his duties, but he never showed a smile. His friends and family were worried, but Takeshi never told anyone the reason.

ある日、たけしは山の中で一人の老人に会いました。老人はたけしに言いました。「たけし、あなたの心の悲しみは何ですか？」

Aru hi, Takeshi wa yama no naka de hitori no rōjin ni aimashita. Rōjin wa Takeshi ni iimashita. "Takeshi, anata no kokoro no kanashimi wa nan desu ka?"

One day, Takeshi met an old man in the mountains. The old man said to Takeshi, "Takeshi, what is the sadness in your heart?"

たけしは答えました。「私は戦で多くの友を失いました。それが私をうつにしました。」

Takeshi wa kotaemashita. "Watashi wa ikusa de ōku no tomo wo ushinai mashita. Sore ga watashi wo utsu ni shimashita."

Takeshi replied, "I lost many friends in the war. That made me depressed."

老人は微笑んで言いました。「それは悲しいことです。しかし、友達の思い出を大切にし、彼らのために生きることが、あなたの心を癒す助けになるでしょう。」

Rōjin wa hohoende iimashita. "Sore wa kanashī koto desu. Shikashi, tomodachi no omoide wo taisetsu ni shi, karera no tame ni ikiru koto ga, anata no kokoro wo iyasu tasuke ni naru deshō."

The old man smiled and said, "That is sad. But cherishing the memories of your friends and living for them will help heal your heart."

たけしは考えました。そして、少しずつ彼の心は軽くなり、再び笑顔を見せるようになりました。彼は友達のために強く生きることを決心しました。

Takeshi wa kangaemashita. Soshite, sukoshi zutsu kare no kokoro wa karuku nari, futatabi egao wo miseru yō ni narimashita. Kare wa tomodachi no tame ni tsuyoku ikiru koto wo kesshin shimashita.

Takeshi thought about it. Gradually, his heart became lighter, and he began to smile again. He decided to live strongly for his friends.

そして、たけしは再び勇敢な侍として、多くの人々を助けることができました。

おしまい。

Soshite, Takeshi wa futatabi yūkan na samurai to shite, ōku no hitobito wo tasukeru koto ga dekimashita.

Oshimai.

And so, Takeshi once again became a brave samurai and was able to help many people.

The end.

Grammar & Notes

むかしむかし、あるところに、うつの侍がいました。

1. むかしむかし (Mukashi mukashi) - "Once upon a time"; an introductory phrase often used in fairy tales.

2. あるところに (Aru tokoro ni) - "in a certain place"; ある indicates existence, ところ means "place," and に is a particle indicating location.

3. うつの侍がいました (Utsu no samurai ga imashita) - "there was a depressed samurai"; うつの (utsu no) means "depressed," 侍 (samurai) is the subject, が is the subject marker, and いました (imashita) is the past tense of いる (iru), indicating existence for living things.

彼の名前はたけしでした。

1. 彼の名前は (Kare no namae wa) - "His name"; 彼 (kare) means "he," の is the possessive particle, 名前 (namae) means "name," and は is the topic marker.

2. たけしでした (Takeshi deshita) - "was Takeshi"; でした (deshita) is the past tense of です (desu), used for stating facts politely.

たけしは強くて勇敢な侍でしたが、心の中に大きな悲しみを抱えていました。

1. たけしは (Takeshi wa) - "Takeshi"; は is the topic marker.

2. 強くて勇敢な侍でしたが (Tsuyokute yūkan na samurai deshita ga) - "was a strong and brave samurai, but"; 強くて (tsuyokute) is the te-form of 強い (tsuyoi) meaning "strong," used to connect adjectives, 勇敢な (yūkan na) means "brave," 侍 (samurai) is the noun, でした is the past tense of です, and が is a conjunction meaning "but."

3. 心の中に (Kokoro no naka ni) - "in his heart"; 心 (kokoro) means "heart," の indicates possession, 中 (naka) means "inside," and に is the particle indicating location.

4. 大きな悲しみを抱えていました (Ōkina kanashimi wo kakaete imashita) - "carried a great sadness"; 大きな (ōkina) means "great," 悲しみ (kanashimi) means "sadness," を is the object marker, 抱えていました (kakaete imashita) is the past progressive form of 抱える (kakaeru), meaning "was holding/carrying."

毎日、彼は城の周りを見回り、仕事をこなしましたが、笑顔を見せることはありませんでした。

1. 毎日 (Mainichi) - "Every day"; an adverb indicating the frequency of the actions.

2. 彼は (Kare wa) - "He"; 彼 (kare) means "he," and は is the topic marker.

3. 城の周りを (Shiro no mawari wo) - "around the castle"; 城 (shiro) means "castle," の indicates possession, 周り (mawari) means "around," and を is the object marker.

4. 見回り (Mimawari) - "patrolling"; 見回る (mimawaru) is the verb meaning "to patrol," and the 連用形 (ren'yōkei or "masu stem") form is used here to connect actions.

5. 仕事をこなしましたが (Shigoto wo konashimashita ga) - "did his work, but"; 仕事 (shigoto) means "work," を is the object marker, こなしました (konashimashita) is the past tense of こなす (konasu), meaning "to complete," and が is a conjunction meaning "but."

6. 笑顔を見せることはありませんでした (Egao wo miseru koto wa arimasen deshita) - "never showed a smile"; 笑顔 (egao) means "smile," を is the object marker, 見せる (miseru) means "to show," こと is a nominalizer (turns the verb into a noun phrase), は is the topic marker, ありませんでした (arimasen deshita) is the past tense of ありません (arimasen), meaning "there was not."

友達や家族も心配しましたが、たけしは誰にもその理由を話しませんでした。

1. 友達や家族も (Tomodachi ya kazoku mo) - "Friends and family also"; 友達 (tomodachi) means "friends," や (ya) is used to list multiple items (similar to "and"), 家族 (kazoku) means "family," and も (mo) means "also."

2. 心配しましたが (Shinpai shimashita ga) - "were worried, but"; 心配する (shinpai suru) means "to worry," and 心配しました (shinpai shimashita) is the past tense, with が as a conjunction meaning "but."

3. たけしは (Takeshi wa) - "Takeshi"; は is the topic marker.

4. 誰にも (Dare ni mo) - "to anyone"; 誰 (dare) means "anyone," に is the particle indicating the indirect object, and も adds emphasis (meaning "to no one").

5. その理由を (Sono riyū wo) - "the reason"; その (sono) means "that," 理由 (riyū) means "reason," and を is the object marker.

6. 話しませんでした (Hanashimasen deshita) - "did not tell"; 話す (hanasu) means "to tell," 話しません (hanashimasen) is the negative present tense, and 話しませんでした (hanashimasen deshita) is the negative past tense.

ある日、たけしは山の中で一人の老人に会いました。

1. ある日 (Aru hi) - "One day"; ある (aru) is an indefinite article meaning "one" or "a certain," and 日 (hi) means "day."

2. たけしは (Takeshi wa) - "Takeshi"; は is the topic marker.

3. 山の中で (Yama no naka de) - "in the mountains"; 山 (yama) means "mountain," の indicates possession, 中 (naka) means "inside," and で is the particle indicating the place where an action occurs.

4. 一人の老人に (Hitori no rōjin ni) - "an old man"; 一人 (hitori) means "one person," の indicates possession or association, 老人 (rōjin) means "old man," and に is the particle indicating the indirect object.

5. 会いました (Aimashita) - "met"; this is the past tense of 会う (au), meaning "to meet."

老人はたけしに言いました。

1. 老人は (Rōjin wa) - "The old man"; は is the topic marker.

2. たけしに (Takeshi ni) - "to Takeshi"; に is the particle indicating the indirect object.

3. 言いました (Iimashita) - "said"; this is the past tense of 言う (iu), meaning "to say."

「たけし、あなたの心の悲しみは何ですか？」

1. たけし (Takeshi) - "Takeshi"; a direct address to Takeshi.

2. あなたの心の悲しみは (Anata no kokoro no kanashimi wa) - "your heart's sadness"; あなた (anata) means "you," の is the possessive particle, 心 (kokoro) means "heart," の is another possessive particle linking 心 and 悲しみ (kanashimi), which means "sadness," and は is the topic marker.

3. 何ですか (Nan desu ka) - "What is it?"; 何 (nan) means "what," です is the copula "is," and か is the question particle.

たけしは答えました。

1. たけしは (Takeshi wa) - "Takeshi"; は is the topic marker.

2. 答えました (Kotaemashita) - "answered"; this is the past tense of 答える (kotaeru), meaning "to answer."

「私は戦で多くの友を失いました。それが私をうつにしました。」

1. 私は (Watashi wa) - "I"; 私 (watashi) means "I," and は is the topic marker.

2. 戦で (Ikusa de) - "in the war"; 戦 (ikusa) means "war," and で is the particle indicating the location or context of an action.

3. 多くの友を (Ōku no tomo wo) - "many friends"; 多くの (ōku no) means "many," 友 (tomo) means "friends," and を is the object marker.

4. 失いました (Ushinai mashita) - "lost"; this is the past tense of 失う (ushinau), meaning "to lose."

それが私をうつにしました。

1. それが (Sore ga) - "That"; それ (sore) means "that," and が is the subject marker.

2. 私を (Watashi wo) - "me"; 私 (watashi) means "I/me," and を is the object marker.

3. うつにしました (Utsu ni shimashita) - "made (me) depressed"; うつ (utsu) means "depression," に is a particle indicating result or change, and しました (shimashita) is the past tense of する (suru), meaning "to do" or "to make."

老人は微笑んで言いました。

1. 老人は (Rōjin wa) - "The old man"; は is the topic marker.

2. 微笑んで (Hohoende) - "smiled and"; 微笑む (hohoemu) means "to smile," and the て-form (hohoende) is used to connect actions.

3. 言いました (Iimashita) - "said"; this is the past tense of 言う (iu), meaning "to say."

「それは悲しいことです。しかし、友達の思い出を大切にし、彼らのために生きることが、あなたの心を癒す助けになるでしょう。」

1. それは悲しいことです。 (Sore wa kanashii koto desu.) - "That is a sad thing."

   • それ (sore) - "That"

   • は (wa) - Topic marker

   • 悲しい (kanashii) - "Sad"

   • こと (koto) - "Thing" (nominalizer)

   • です (desu) - Polite copula ("is")

2. しかし、 (Shikashi,) - "However,"

   • しかし (shikashi) - "However"

   • 、 (,) - Comma, indicating a pause

3. 友達の思い出を大切にし、 (Tomodachi no omoide wo taisetsu ni shi,) - "Cherish the memories of your friends, and"

   • 友達 (tomodachi) - "Friends"

   • の (no) - Possessive particle

   • 思い出 (omoide) - "Memories"

   • を (wo) - Object marker

   • 大切にし (taisetsu ni shi) - "Cherish"; 大切にする (taisetsu ni suru) means "to cherish," and the し (shi) is the て-form to connect actions

4. 彼らのために生きることが、 (Karera no tame ni ikiru koto ga,) - "living for them"

   • 彼ら (karera) - "Them"

   • のために (no tame ni) - "For the sake of"

   • 生きること (ikiru koto) - "Living"; 生きる (ikiru) means "to live," and こと (koto) nominalizes the verb

   • が (ga) - Subject marker

5. あなたの心を癒す助けになるでしょう。 (Anata no kokoro wo iyasu tasuke ni naru deshō.) - "will help heal your heart."

   • あなたの (anata no) - "Your"

   • 心 (kokoro) - "Heart"

   • を (wo) - Object marker

   • 癒す (iyasu) - "Heal"

   • 助け (tasuke) - "Help"

   • に (ni) - Particle indicating result

   • なる (naru) - "Become" or "be"

   • でしょう (deshō) - "Will" or "probably will," indicates a future prediction or likelihood

たけしは考えました。

1. たけしは (Takeshi wa) - "Takeshi"; は is the topic marker.

2. 考えました (Kangaemashita) - "thought"; this is the past tense of 考える (kangaeru), meaning "to think."

そして、少しずつ彼の心は軽くなり、再び笑顔を見せるようになりました。

1. そして (Soshite) - "And then"; a conjunction indicating sequence.

2. 少しずつ (Sukoshi zutsu) - "little by little"; an adverb indicating gradual change.

3. 彼の心は (Kare no kokoro wa) - "his heart"; 彼 (kare) means "he," の is the possessive particle, 心 (kokoro) means "heart," and は is the topic marker.

4. 軽くなり (Karuku nari) - "became lighter"; 軽い (karui) means "light," and なる (naru) means "to become." The 連用形 (ren'yōkei or "masu stem") form 軽くなり (karuku nari) is used to connect to the next clause.

5. 再び (Futatabi) - "again"; an adverb indicating repetition.

6. 笑顔を見せるようになりました (Egao wo miseru yō ni narimashita) - "started to show a smile"; 笑顔 (egao) means "smile," を is the object marker, 見せる (miseru) means "to show," ようになる (yō ni naru) means "to come to do" or "to start to," and なりました (narimashita) is the past tense of なる (naru), meaning "to become."

彼は友達のために強く生きることを決心しました。

1. 彼は (Kare wa) - "He"; は is the topic marker.

2. 友達のために (Tomodachi no tame ni) - "for his friends"; 友達 (tomodachi) means "friends," の is the possessive particle, and ために (tame ni) means "for the sake of."

3. 強く生きることを (Tsuyoku ikiru koto wo) - "to live strongly"; 強く (tsuyoku) is the adverbial form of 強い (tsuyoi), meaning "strong," 生きる (ikiru) means "to live," こと (koto) nominalizes the verb, and を is the object marker.

4. 決心しました (Kesshin shimashita) - "decided"; 決心する (kesshin suru) means "to decide," and 決心しました (kesshin shimashita) is the past tense.

そして、たけしは再び勇敢な侍として、多くの人々を助けることができました。

1. そして (Soshite) - "And then"; a conjunction indicating sequence.

2. たけしは (Takeshi wa) - "Takeshi"; は is the topic marker.

3. 再び (Futatabi) - "again"; an adverb indicating repetition.

4. 勇敢な侍として (Yūkan na samurai toshite) - "as a brave samurai"; 勇敢な (yūkan na) means "brave," 侍 (samurai) means "samurai," and として (toshite) means "as" or "in the capacity of."

5. 多くの人々を (Ōku no hitobito wo) - "many people"; 多くの (ōku no) means "many," 人々 (hitobito) means "people," and を is the object marker.

6. 助けることができました (Tasukeru koto ga dekimashita) - "was able to help"; 助ける (tasukeru) means "to help," こと (koto) nominalizes the verb, が is the subject marker, and できました (dekimashita) is the past tense of できる (dekiru), meaning "to be able to."

おしまい。

1. おしまい (Oshimai) - "The end"; a phrase commonly used to indicate the conclusion of a story.

That’s all folks!

Let me know if you enjoyed this simple story 🙂 

Have a great Sunday!