Japanese Reader Collection Volume 2: Momotaro, the Peach Boy - Couverture souple

Boutwell, Clay; Boutwell, Yumi

Couverture souple

ISBN 10 : 1484191137 ISBN 13 : 9781484191132

Editeur : CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform, 2013

Synopsis

Read the most beloved folktale in Japan, broken down sentence by sentence for upper-beginner learners.

Almost every Japanese child can sing the Momotaro song before they can read it. The peach-born hero, his three animal companions, the journey to Oni Island — Momotaro is the story that lives in Japan's cultural water supply, referenced for the rest of a learner's life in conversations, manga, anime, and idiom. This volume gives you the language to read it in Japanese, with line-by-line vocabulary, grammar notes, native-speaker audio, and a simple English translation for self-checking.

New in the 2026 edition:

• Bonus unlock code inside the book — redeem at MakotoPlus.com to study every sentence from this book interactively, on the web or in the mobile app
• New watercolor illustration and audio QR codes on every story's opening page
• Hook teaser and Before-You-Read intro for each section, pointing you toward the grammar and vocabulary patterns to watch for
• Resized furigana — ruby now sits closer to the base text, the way good Japanese typography should
• Running headers, page numbers, and sumi-e section ornaments throughout
• Updated front matter and refreshed layout series-wide

What's inside:

• Five sections, each presented three ways: with line-by-line vocabulary, in plain Japanese for unscaffolded reading practice, and in English summary
• Word-by-word breakdowns with furigana over every kanji
• Grammar spotlights, cultural notes, and reading tips throughout
• Full Exercises sections (Comprehension Questions, Particle Fill-in, Grammar Pattern Hunt, Translation Comparison + Answer Key) for Momotaro and the Tortoise
• Free MP3 audio downloads — natural speed and slowed down — recorded by a native speaker
• Free Anki decks for pre-study
• Bonus unlock code for Makoto+ Sentence Explorer
• No sign-up required for the audio

The five sections:

1. Momotaro, the Peach Boy — the full folktale, from the floating peach to the showdown on Oni Island.

2. The Momotaro Song — the children's song every Japanese person grows up with, lyrics and translation, plus a short essay on its 1911 origins.

3. Kibidango and Okayama — an essay on the millet dumpling that fuels Momotaro's journey, and the prefecture that claims him as a son.

4. What is an Oni? — an essay on the oni's evolution from mountain monster to Setsubun mascot.

5. The Tortoise and the Hare — Aesop's classic race, translated into Japanese during the Meiji era and beloved in schoolrooms ever since.

Who this is for: Upper-beginner to lower-intermediate learners. You'll need solid kana and a working sense of basic grammar. (New to hiragana? Take our free two-week crash course at TheJapanesePage.com/hiragana.)

Questions or requests for future readers? The authors' personal email addresses are inside the book.

A propos du livre

Présentation de l'éditeur

Read Real Japanese with Free MP3s

** Recommended for Beginners of Japanese who have mastered hiragana **Read the most famous Japanese fairy tale in real Japanese! Every line and every word is explained and defined. BONUS! We are also including the entire Usagi to Kame story (The Tortoise and the Hare) also with every word explained and defined.MP3sIncluded at no extra charge are two MP3s of both stories. One is read at the normal speed and the other at a slow, easy to follow speed. You will find the link to download the MP3s on the last page.THE STORYMomotaro is a boy born from a peach (momo) who grows up to be a strong, brave man. Oni (ogres) are attacking the village. The villagers beg their hero, Momotaro, to purge their lands of the evil Oni. He sets off with aid from three unusual allies.Usagi to Kame (The Tortoise and the Hare) is about... well, you know.ABOUT THIS BOOKThis book contains several versions of both stories. First, we have the story broken down line by line with every vocabulary word defined and explained. Next, we go through major grammatical patterns found in the story. After that, read the story with no English and in natural Japanese (kanji with furigana included). Lastly, we are including a simple English translation, which should be avoided until you are sure you understand the story or find it too difficult to figure out on your own.You may want to try to read the story either in natural Japanese first. Or if you are a beginner, it may be better to go through the vocabulary first. Any way you do it, this ebook offers several ways to read, listen, and learn.FOR BEGINNERSMomotaro is designed for those new to Japanese. We recommend learning hiragana first, but we are also including romaji so you can be sure you are reading with the correct pronunciation.

Présentation de l'éditeur

Read Real Japanese with Free MP3s ** Recommended for Beginners of Japanese ** Read the most famous Japanese fairy tale in real Japanese! Every line and every word is explained and defined. BONUS! We are also including the entire Usagi to Kame story (The Tortoise and the Hare) also with every word explained and defined. MP3s Included at no extra charge are two MP3s of both stories. One is read at the normal speed and the other at a slow, easy to follow speed. You will find the link to download the MP3s on the last page. THE STORY Momotaro is a boy born from a peach (momo) who grows up to be a strong, brave man. Oni (ogres) are attacking the village. The villagers beg their hero, Momotaro, to purge their lands of the evil Oni. He sets off with aid from three unusual allies. Usagi to Kame (The Tortoise and the Hare) is about... well, you know. ABOUT THIS BOOK This book contains several versions of both stories. First, we have the story broken down line by line with every vocabulary word defined and explained. Next, we go through major grammatical patterns found in the story. After that, read the story with no English and in natural Japanese (kanji with furigana included). Lastly, we are including a simple English translation, which should be avoided until you are sure you understand the story or find it too difficult to figure out on your own. You may want to try to read the story either in natural Japanese first. Or if you are a beginner, it may be better to go through the vocabulary first. Any way you do it, this ebook offers several ways to read, listen, and learn. FOR BEGINNERS Momotaro is designed for those new to Japanese. We recommend learning hiragana first, but we are also including romaji so you can be sure you are reading with the correct pronunciation.

Détails de l'édition

• Éditeur: CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform
• Date d'édition: 2013
• Langue: anglais
• ISBN 10: 1484191137
• ISBN 13: 9781484191132
• Reliure: Broché
• Nombre de pages: 167
• Coordonnées du fabricant: Manufactured by Amazon on behalf of the author; https://www.amazon.fr/hz/contact-us; ; c/o Amazon Media EU S.à.r.l., 38 Avenue John F. Kennedy; Luxembourg; L-1855; Luxembourg