Learn about popular Japanese writers
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| INTRODUCTION |
| Yura: Hi everyone, I'm Yura. |
| Natsuko: And I’m Natsuko! |
| Yura: In this lesson you'll learn 5 essential words related to Fine arts. These are five well-known Japanese writers. Hand picked. |
| FIVE KEY VOCABULARY ITEMS |
| Yura: Natsuko, what’s our first word? |
| Natsuko: 紫式部 |
| Yura: Lady Murasaki, a Japanese novelist and poet of the Heian period |
| Natsuko: (slow) 紫式部 (regular) 紫式部 |
| Yura: Listeners, please repeat: |
| Natsuko: 紫式部 |
| [pause - 5 sec.] |
| Yura: Murasakishikibu was a Japanese novelist and poet in the Heian period. Her talent, which was evident from her childhood, continually surprised the people around her. - |
| Yura: Now, let's hear a sample sentence using this word. |
| Natsuko: (normal) 紫式部は、「源氏物語」でよく知られています。 |
| Yura: Lady Murasaki is best known for her long story ""The Tale of Genji"". |
| Natsuko: (slow) 紫式部は、「源氏物語」でよく知られています。 |
| Yura: Okay, what’s the next word? |
| Natsuko: 川端康成 |
| Yura: Yasunari Kawabata, a short story writer and novelist |
| Natsuko: (slow) 川端康成 (regular) 川端康成 |
| Yura: Listeners, please repeat: |
| Natsuko: 川端康成 |
| [pause - 5 sec.] |
| Yura: Yasunari Kawabata was a Japanese short story writer and novelist who was the first Japanese writer to receive the Nobel Prize for Literature. Extracts from his work are often used in Japanese high school and junior high school textbooks and exams. - |
| Yura: Now, let's hear a sample sentence using this word. |
| Natsuko: (normal) 日本人のほとんどの人は川端康成の「雪国」や「伊豆の踊り子」を読んだ事があります。 |
| Yura: Almost all Japanese people have read Yasunari Kawabata's novels ""Snow Country"" and ""the Dancing Girl of Izu"". |
| Natsuko: (slow) 日本人のほとんどの人は川端康成の「雪国」や「伊豆の踊り子」を読んだ事があります。 |
| Yura: Okay, what’s the next word? |
| Natsuko: 大江健三郎 |
| Yura: Kenzaburo Oe, an author of contemporary literature |
| Natsuko: (slow) 大江健三郎 (regular) 大江健三郎 |
| Yura: Listeners, please repeat: |
| Natsuko: 大江健三郎 |
| [pause - 5 sec.] |
| Yura: Kenzaburo Oe is a Japanese author of contemporary literature. His works deal with political and social issues, including nuclear weapons and nuclear power. - |
| Yura: Now, let's hear a sample sentence using this word. |
| Natsuko: (normal) 「万延元年のフットボール」は、大江健三郎の代表作です。 |
| Yura: ""The Silent Cry"" is one of Kenzaburo Oe's best known works. |
| Natsuko: (slow) 「万延元年のフットボール」は、大江健三郎の代表作です。 |
| Yura: Okay, what’s the next word? |
| Natsuko: 村上春樹 |
| Yura: Haruki Murakami, a Japanese writer and translator |
| Natsuko: (slow) 村上春樹 (regular) 村上春樹 |
| Yura: Listeners, please repeat: |
| Natsuko: 村上春樹 |
| [pause - 5 sec.] |
| Yura: Haruki Murakami is a Japanese writer and translator. His works are surreal and unique, and are highly appreciated worldwide. - |
| Yura: Now, let's hear a sample sentence using this word. |
| Natsuko: (normal) 村上春樹の「ノルウェイの森」は430万部を売り上げ、「村上ブーム」のきっかけとなった。 |
| Yura: Haruki Murakami’s novel Norwegian Wood triggered the ""Murakami boom"", with total sales of 4.3 million copies. |
| Natsuko: (slow) 村上春樹の「ノルウェイの森」は430万部を売り上げ、「村上ブーム」のきっかけとなった。 |
| Yura: Okay, what’s the last word? |
| Natsuko: 樋口一葉 |
| Yura: Ichiyo Higuchi, a female Japanese writer of the 19th century |
| Natsuko: (slow) 樋口一葉 (regular) 樋口一葉 |
| Yura: Listeners, please repeat: |
| Natsuko: 樋口一葉 |
| [pause - 5 sec.] |
| Yura: Ichiyo Higuchi (a pen name) is a female Japanese writer of the late 19th century. One of her best known works is ""Takekurabe"" (meaning ""comparing heights"", and translated as ""Child's Play""). - |
| Yura: Now, let's hear a sample sentence using this word. |
| Natsuko: (normal) 樋口一葉は、女性として初めてお札の肖像になりました。 |
| Yura: Ichiyo Higuchi is the first woman whose likeness was printed on banknotes. |
| Natsuko: (slow) 樋口一葉は、女性として初めてお札の肖像になりました。 |
| QUIZ |
| Yura: Okay listeners, are you ready to be quizzed on the words you just learned? Natsuko will give you the Japanese – please repeat it out loud! Are you ready? |
| Natsuko: 紫式部 |
| [pause]Yura: Lady Murasaki, a Japanese novelist and poet of the Heian period |
| Natsuko: 川端康成 |
| [pause]Yura: Yasunari Kawabata, a short story writer and novelist |
| Natsuko: 大江健三郎 |
| [pause]Yura: Kenzaburo Oe, an author of contemporary literature |
| Natsuko: 村上春樹 |
| [pause]Yura: Haruki Murakami, a Japanese writer and translator |
| Natsuko: 樋口一葉 |
| [pause]Yura: Ichiyo Higuchi, a female Japanese writer of the 19th century |
Outro |
|---|
| Yura: There you have it – five writers in Japan! Thanks everyone, see you next time! |
| Natsuko: またね！ |
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