Reading by lesson

Short texts using only the kanji of the chosen lesson — rendered vertically, like a real Japanese book.

Lesson 1

山と川とハナThe Mountain, the River, and HanaHana lives by a river. Every morning she climbs the mountain to call out encouragement to her dad, who works at the factory below.

Lesson 2

白い犬と月The White Dog and the MoonA boy and his puppy Hachi take a walk. A game with a white pebble, a quiet wish at a mountain shrine, and a big white moon answering it back.

Lesson 3

冬の友A Friend in WinterA family travels north to visit the mother's old friend. An old bull in the yard, the kanji for “life” on paper, and a warm evening full of family history.

Lesson 4

竹の村の男の子The Boy from the Bamboo VillageTakeshi lives in a small village by a bamboo grove. One early morning he walks to the nearby town, sees red flowers and meets an old acquaintance.

Lesson 5

雨の日の子豚The Piglet on a Rainy DayOn a rainy afternoon, two brothers walk into the grove near their house and find an unexpected little visitor — a piglet.

Lesson 6

海のそばのお茶の店The Tea Shop by the SeaOn Saturday, a boy walks east with his elder and younger sisters to the sea. In a tiny tea shop, an old woman tells them about her childhood home across the sea and her father's fifty sheep.

Lesson 7

夏の海の旅Summer Voyage to the SeaA school trip in summer: the boat heads south, black birds fly above, yellow flowers bloom by the sea and a strong wind blows. A boy writes down memories — he doesn't want to forget.

Lesson 8

京都の馬The Horse in KyotoThe narrator's older brother lives in Kyoto. On vacation, the boy travels there alone and they visit a stable in a nearby forest — where the boy rides a 20-year-old black horse for the first time.