Japanese Reader Collection Volume 1: Hikoichi

Discover the clever and mischievous young man, Hikoichi, through these four traditional Japanese stories, all presented in Japanese with furigana and full explanation of the vocabulary and grammar. Designed for upper beginner students of Japanese, this reader is a fantastic resource for those who want to practice their Japanese reading skills.

• Furigana over the kanji in the line-by-line breakdown section
• No furigana for the "Japanese Only" section to practice reading the story in "real" Japanese once you've gone through the story in the line-by-line section
• Four full traditional Japanese stories about Hikoichi.
• Every sentence is broken down word-for-word and with explanation of the grammar.
• Finally, we have included a simple and mostly literal English translation for you to check your understanding (Don't cheat! Work through the Japanese first!).
• Download the FREE sound files to listen while you study. Each story
• Download the FREE Anki decks to master the vocabulary before even reading the stories

1. The first story has the lord of the castle testing Hikoichi in a Solomon-esque question-which young lord is the true young lord?
2. The second story shows choosing the first and most favorable isn't always best. In the end, only Hikoichi can enjoy the cherry blossoms.
3. The third story is about a mysterious, but living umbrella. Some things are just too good to be true.
4. We wrap things up with Hikoichi's encounter with a Tengu-a mythical creature whose straw raincoat renders its wearer invisible.

Each story is broken down word-for-word, with a clear explanation of the grammar to aid comprehension. A full Japanese-only version is also included for uninterrupted reading practice. Plus, a simple and mostly literal English translation is provided for self-checking, although it's recommended to work through the Japanese first to maximize learning.

To enhance your reading experience, you'll also receive free MP3s of the stories read by a native Japanese speaker, so you can listen while you study. Use the free Anki decks to practice the vocabulary before reading.

If you have any questions or requests for future Japanese readers, the authors have provided their personal email addresses in the book for you to contact them. Please note that hiragana knowledge is required to fully benefit from this reader. Start your Japanese reading journey today with Hikoichi's adventures!

Finally, we invite the reader to contact us with questions or requests for future Japanese readers. You will find our personal email addresses in the book. To your Japanese!