NAKAJIMA ShihoNAKAJIMA Shiho
NAKAJIMA ShihoMarch 28, 2015
Viewing Autumn leaves

Japanese Maple trees provide the atypical autumn scenery in Japan. Nakajima sensei introduces a cultural activity called Momiji Gari that many Japanese people do and has deep cultural and historical roots in Japan.What do you do to enjoy the autumn or fall season ? Perhaps you can try the activity introduced in this Japanese blog and Japanese listening video.

Viewing Autumn leaves

This Japanese teacher’s blog by NAKAJIMA Shiho sensei is a great way to study natural Japanese expressions. You can read, listen, and learn useful vocabulary from a short essay written in everyday Japanese.


Read Natural Japanese in Context:Viewing Autumn leaves

紅葉狩り

Autumn leaves

女心と秋の空」と言われるように、秋の空は移り変わりが激しいことで知られています。そんな変わりやすい秋をあなたはどのように過ごしますか?

私は毎年秋になると紅葉狩りに出かけます。紅葉狩りとは、きのこ狩りや梨狩りのように紅葉を取って食べるのではありません。野山へ出かけて赤や黄色に色が変わった葉の様子を見て楽しむことです。春にはお花見がありますが、秋は紅葉を見て季節の移り変わりを実感します。

日本にはいつごろからこの習慣があったのでしょうか?日本最古の歌集「万葉集」の中には、紅葉の美しさを詠んでいる歌がたくさんあります。 つまり、 1200年前には紅葉狩りの習慣があったのかもしれませんね。あなたも、紅葉狩りに出かけて、季節の移り変わりを感じてみませんか?

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Watch NAKAJIMA Shiho sensei read this blog with clear native pronunciation and improve your Japanese listening skills.

Learn Japanese Kanji with Furigana Reading Help

紅葉もみじ

女心おんなごころあきそら」と言われるように、秋の空はうつわりはげしいことでられています。そんな変わりやすい秋をあなたはどのように過ごしますか?

私は毎年、秋になると紅葉狩りに出かけます。紅葉狩りとは、きのこ狩りや梨なし狩りのように紅葉を取って食べるのではありません。 野山のやま出かけて赤あか黄色きいろ色が変わった葉様子ようすを見て楽しむことです。春にはお花見がありますが、秋は紅葉を見て季節きせつ移り変わりを実感じっかんします。

日本にはいつごろからこの習慣しゅうかんがあったのでしょうか?日本最古さいこ歌集かしゅう万葉集まんようしゅう」の中には、紅葉の美うつくしさをんでいるうたがたくさんあります。 つまり、 1200年前には紅葉狩りの習慣があったのかもしれませんね。あなたも、紅葉狩りに出かけて、季節の移り変わりを感じてみませんか?

English Translation for Understanding

Viewing Autumn leaves

They say that,“A woman's mind is like the autumn weather”, which means to say that autumn skies change tempestuously. How do you usually spend these changeable autumn days ?

 Every year, when autumn comes along, I usually go out to 'hunt' for Maple leaves (or 'Momiji gari' in Japanese). 'Momiji gari' is unlike 'Kinoko gari' (gathering mushrooms) or 'Nashi gari' (Japanese pear picking) as in you don't go find 'Momiji' and eat them. It it the act of going out in the hills and dales, finding and enjoy looking at the appearance of leaves that have changed to reds and yellows. In spring we have cherry blossom viewing and in autumn we go out to look at the Maple leaves and feel the changing of the seasons.

I wonder when this custom began in Japan ? In the Manyoushuu, Japan's oldest anthology of poems,there are many poems or songs written about the beauty of Maple leaves. Which means that the custom of 'Momiji gari' could go back as far 1200 years ago.  Why don't you go out and try 'Momiji gari' and feel the change of the seasons.

This Week’s Key Vocabulary

女心おんなごころあきそら   Women's mind is like the weather of autumn

うつわり   change

習慣しゅうかん   custom

最古さいこの   the oldest

万葉集まんようしゅう   Manyoushuu (famous 8thC poetry) Japan's oldest anthology of poems

む   compose; write

つまり   in short; in other words ; that is to say

Meet the Teacher

NAKAJIMA Shiho
NAKAJIMA Shiho
Japanese Language Teacher

NAKAJIMA Shiho wrote this post for the Japonin (JOI) teachers’ blog. It is a short Japanese essay with a vocabulary list, furigana, an English translation, and a video so you can listen as you read.

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