📖 Study Guide
Learn Japanese through stories.
These stories include Japanese culture,
daily life, travel experiences,
and conversations between people.
1. Read the English text.
2. Read the Japanese text.
3. Use Romaji if needed.
4. Review the vocabulary.
🌸 Story
swaying in the wind by the roadside.
風に揺れているすすきを見つけた、さくらとすみれ。
kaze ni yurete iru susuki o mitsuketa, Sakura to Sumire.
It’s swaying in the wind. 😊
風に揺れてるね😊
Kaze ni yureteru ne. 😊
don’t you think,
“Ah, it feels like autumn”?
「あー、秋だなぁ」って思わない？
“Ā, aki da nā” tte omowanai?
the susuki isn’t actually saying,
“It’s autumn,” right?
すすきが「秋です」って
言ってるわけじゃないでしょ。
susuki ga “aki desu” tte
itteru wake janai desho.
grows its seed heads in autumn, nya.
For a long time in Japan,
it has been loved
as one of the plants seen in autumn fields, nya.
秋になると穂をつけるにゃ。
昔から日本では、
秋の野に咲く草花のひとつとして
親しまれてきたにゃ。
aki ni naru to ho o tsukeru nya.
Mukashi kara Nihon de wa,
aki no no ni saku kusabana no hitotsu to shite
shitashimarete kita nya.
susuki used as a decoration
for moon viewing is well known, nya.
お月見で飾るすすきも
よく知られているにゃ。
otsukimi de kazaru susuki mo
yoku shirarete iru nya.
The moon and susuki. 🌕
お月さまとすすき🌕
Otsukisama to susuki. 🌕
so autumn-like.
すごく秋っぽい。
sugoku aki ppoi.
Maybe we remember it
together with all kinds of autumn scenery.
いろんな秋の風景と
一緒に覚えてるのかもね。
ironna aki no fūkei to
issho ni oboeteru no kamo ne.
Maybe that’s why
just seeing it makes us think of autumn.
だから見るだけで、
秋を思い出すのかな。
Dakara miru dake de,
aki o omoidasu no kana.
the susuki seed heads sway gently.
すすきの穂がゆっくり揺れている。
susuki no ho ga yukkuri yurete iru.
there’s one more important thing, right?
もう一つ大事なものがあるよね。
mō hitotsu daiji na mono ga aru yo ne.
is one of the pleasures of autumn, nya.
秋の楽しみのひとつにゃ。
aki no tanoshimi no hitotsu nya.
A scene people have seen for generations
was still telling us,
“Autumn is here.”
昔から見てきた風景が、
今も「秋」を知らせてくれていた。
Mukashi kara mite kita fūkei ga,
ima mo “aki” o shirasete kurete ita.
💭 Story Note
In Japan,
すすき（susuki） is strongly connected
with the scenery of autumn.
Susuki grows its soft, feathery seed heads in autumn,
so it has long been a familiar sight
in fields and open spaces during the season.
It is also closely connected
with お月見（otsukimi）, or moon viewing.
During moon-viewing celebrations,
susuki is often displayed together with offerings
such as dango.
Because of this,
the image of the moon, susuki,
and an autumn night
has become a familiar seasonal scene in Japan.
For many people,
seeing susuki does not simply mean
seeing a plant.
It can bring to mind
the moon,
cool autumn evenings,
and landscapes that people in Japan
have enjoyed for generations.
That may be why
just seeing susuki swaying in the wind
can make autumn feel a little closer.
📚 Vocabulary
Here are five words and expressions from today’s story.
They are useful for talking about autumn scenery and seasonal traditions in Japan.
| English | Japanese | Romaji |
|---|---|---|
| Japanese silver grass | すすき | susuki |
| seed head / flower head | 穂 | ho |
| moon viewing | お月見 | otsukimi |
| dango / Japanese dumpling | お団子 | odango |
| autumn scenery | 秋の風景 | aki no fūkei |
**すすき（susuki）** is called
**Japanese silver grass** in English.
In Japanese,
the word すすき often carries
a strong feeling of autumn.
Susuki grows soft, feathery seed heads
that become especially noticeable in autumn.
People may see it
in fields,
along roads,
or as a decoration for お月見（otsukimi）.
Because of these familiar seasonal scenes,
すすき can bring to mind
cool autumn air,
the moon,
and the feeling that autumn has arrived.
In Japanese, you might say:
すすきが風に揺れている。
Susuki ga kaze ni yurete iru.
The Japanese silver grass is swaying in the wind.
すすきを見ると、秋を感じる。
Susuki o miru to, aki o kanjiru.
Seeing susuki makes me feel that autumn is here.
So すすき is not only the name of a plant.
For many people in Japan,
it is also a word closely connected
with the scenery and feeling of autumn.
🔰 Mix Words and Feel Their Meaning｜ことばを混ぜて、感覚をつかもう
Today’s expression is **お月見（otsukimi）**.
Try mixing it into an English sentence
while keeping its Japanese seasonal feeling.
Japanese silver grass is often displayed for お月見.
My family enjoys お月見 in autumn.
We ate dango while enjoying お月見.
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