Talking About Hatsuyume | Learn Japanese Through Stories #0002

📖 Study Guide

Learn Japanese through stories.

These stories include Japanese culture,
daily life, travel experiences,
and conversations between people.

1. Read the story.
2. Follow the Japanese text.
3. Use Romaji if needed.
4. Review the vocabulary.

🌸 Story

🌸 さくら｜Sakura

You know, people often say that a good first dream is a good omen.

ねえ、初夢ってさ。良い夢だと縁起がいいって、よく言うよね。

Nē, hatsuyume tte sa. Yoi yume da to engi ga ii tte, yoku iu yo ne.

🌷すみれ｜Sumire

They do.
But I think the important part isn’t the dream itself.
It’s the idea of giving it a good meaning.

うん。
でもね、夢の内容そのものより、「いい意味にしよう」ってするところが、初夢の文化なんだと思う。

Un.
Demo ne, yume no naiyō sono mono yori, “ii imi ni shiyō” tte suru tokoro ga, hatsuyume no bunka nan da to omou.

🌸 さくら｜Sakura

So it’s not about predicting the future?

当たるとか、未来が見えるとかじゃなくて？

Ataru toka, mirai ga mieru toka ja nakute?

🌷すみれ｜Sumire

Right.
It’s more about how you want to begin the new year.

そう。
新しい一年を、どんな気持ちで始めたいか、かな。

Sō.
Atarashii ichinen o, donna kimochi de hajimetai ka, kana.

🌸 さくら｜Sakura

That makes sense.
Even “Mt. Fuji, a hawk, and an eggplant” are just symbols of wishes.

一富士二鷹三茄子も、そう考えるとわかりやすいね。

Ichi Fuji, ni taka, san nasubi mo, sō kangaeru to wakariyasui ne.

🌷すみれ｜Sumire

Exactly.
Success, growth, good outcomes—hopes gently placed into a dream.

うん。
成功とか、成長とか、「こうなったらいいな」っていう願いを、夢に重ねてるだけ。

Un.
Seikō toka, seichō toka, “kō nattara ii na” tte iu negai o, yume ni kasaneteru dake.

🌸 さくら｜Sakura

What if the dream isn’t a good one?

じゃあ、もし悪い夢を見たら？

Jā, moshi warui yume o mitara?

🌷すみれ｜Sumire

Then you simply think,
“I’ll be a little more careful this year.”
That’s already enough.

そのときは、「気をつけよう」って思えばいい。
それだけで、役目は果たしてると思う。

Sono toki wa, “ki o tsukeyō” tte omoeba ii.
Sore dake de, yakume wa hatashiteru to omou.

🌸 さくら｜Sakura

So the first dream isn’t fortune-telling.

初夢って、占いじゃないんだね。

Hatsuyume tte, uranai ja nai n da ne.

🌷すみれ｜Sumire

No.
It’s a quiet, kind Japanese tradition—a way to set your heart at the start of the year.

うん。
気持ちの向きを整えるための、日本らしいやさしい文化。

Un.
Kimochi no muki o totonoeru tame no, Nihon rashii yasashii bunka.

💭 Story Note

What is Hatsuyume?

Hatsuyume is the first dream of the New Year in Japan.
Traditionally, it is the first dream people have after the New Year begins.

Many people believe it is a special dream that can bring good luck for the year ahead.

There is also a famous saying:

“一富士二鷹三茄子”
(Ichi Fuji, ni taka, san nasubi)

People say that seeing Mt. Fuji, a hawk, or an eggplant in your first dream is especially lucky.

The meanings are often explained as:

• Mt. Fuji → success and high goals
• Hawk → growth and achievement
• Eggplant → making wishes come true

Today, many Japanese people enjoy Hatsuyume as a gentle and positive New Year tradition rather than a fortune-telling belief.

In other words, Hatsuyume is less about predicting the future and more about starting the year with hope and a positive mindset.

📚 Vocabulary

Here are some words and expressions from this story.
Many of them are commonly used when talking about dreams, good luck, and Japanese traditions.