Japanese Through Stories

Autumn clouds can look very different from the towering clouds of summer. Sakura and Sumire notice thin, spreading clouds and learn how shapes such as “urokogumo” and “iwashigumo” can make the changing season visible in the sky.

Are all red dragonflies really the same shade of red? Sakura and Sumire learn how their colors can differ, and how dragonflies begin life underwater as nymphs before taking to the sky.

As autumn arrives, the days grow shorter and the nights begin to feel longer. Sakura and Sumire learn about the Japanese expression “秋の夜長” and talk about how to enjoy a long autumn evening.

EN:Why is 鈴虫（すずむし / suzumushi） called a “bell cricket”?Through Sakura and Sumire’s conversation, discover how its name is connected to its gentle, bell-like sound.JP:なぜ「鈴虫」は、鈴の字が使われているのでしょうか。さくらとすみれの会話から、その名前と鈴のような鳴き声のつながりに触れるお話です。

EN:Why does Japanese say “the voice of insects” instead of simply “insect sounds”?Through Sakura and Sumire’s conversation, discover how 虫 (mushi) can evoke autumn and how seasonal words carry more than just their dictionary meaning.JP:なぜ日本語では、虫の鳴く音を「虫の声」と表すのでしょうか。さくらとすみれの会話から、「虫」ということばに込められた秋の季節感や、季語のおもしろさに触れるお話です。

EN:Why are there tiny drops of water on the leaves when it did not rain?Through Sakura’s simple question, discover what “露 (tsuyu),” or dew, is and how it differs from rain.JP:雨が降っていないのに、葉っぱについている小さな水滴。さくらの素朴な疑問から、「露」と雨の違いをやさしく知っていくお話です。

EN:Can you feel autumn in the morning air? Through a simple conversation between Sakura and Sumire, discover how a cooler breeze can become a small sign of the changing season in Japan.JP:朝の空気から、秋を感じることはあるのでしょうか。さくらとすみれの何気ない会話から、涼しい風や空気の変化に見つける、小さな季節の移り変わりを感じるお話です。

EN:Where does autumn come from?Through Sakura’s simple question, discover how cooler winds, changing skies, insect sounds, and earlier sunsets quietly signal the arrival of autumn in Japan.JP:秋って、どこからくるんだろう？さくらの素朴な疑問から、涼しい風や空の変化、虫の声、早くなる日暮れなど、日本の秋の訪れをやさしく感じるお話です。

EN:Who ate one extra moon-viewing dango? A playful Cat Punch leads Sakura and Sumire to a sweet way of making things equal.JP:お月見のお団子を一つ多く食べたのは誰？ 小さな猫パンチから、ふたりらしい「半分こ」が始まります。

EN:Are autumn colors only red and yellow? Sakura discovers another delicious-looking color in grapes, eggplants, and purple sweet potatoes.JP:秋の色は赤や黄色だけ？ さくらが見つけたのは、ぶどうや茄子、紫芋のおいしそうな紫でした。