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Fluent Fiction - JapaneseAre you ready to supercharge your Japanese listening comprehension? Our podcast is the perfect tool for you. Studies show that the key to mastering a second language is through repetition and active processing. That's why each episode of our... Author: FluentFiction.org
Are you ready to supercharge your Japanese listening comprehension? Our podcast is the perfect tool for you.Studies show that the key to mastering a second language is through repetition and active processing. That's why each episode of our podcast features a story in Japanese, followed by a sentence-by-sentence retelling that alternates between Japanese and English.This approach not only allows you to fully understand and absorb the vocabulary and grammar but also provides a bilingual support to aid your listening comprehension.But we don't stop there. Research in sociolinguistics highlights the importance of culture in language learning, which is why we provide a list of vocabulary words and a transcript of the audio to help you understand the cultural context of the story. And for your convenience, we also include a transcript of the audio to help you refer back to any parts you may have struggled with.And our podcast is not just for language learners, it's also for travelers or people who want to connect with their roots. Are you planning a trip to Japan? Maybe you want to speak Japanese with your friends from Tokyo? Our podcast will give you the cultural and linguistic background to fully immerse in Japanese.Our podcast is based on the latest research in linguistics, sociolinguistics, psychology, cognitive science, neuroscience, and education to provide the most effective method for mastering Japanese listening comprehension. Don't miss this opportunity, give our podcast a try and see the results for yourself. Language: en Genres: Education, Language Learning Contact email: Get it Feed URL: Get it iTunes ID: Get it |
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Finding Sanctuary: Harto's Artful Revival Amid Kyoto's Bamboo
Wednesday, 18 February, 2026
Fluent Fiction - Japanese: Finding Sanctuary: Harto's Artful Revival Amid Kyoto's Bamboo Find the full episode transcript, vocabulary words, and more:fluentfiction.com/ja/episode/2026-02-18-23-34-03-ja Story Transcript:Ja: 京都の冬の朝、嵐山の竹林はしんと静まり返っていた。En: On a winter morning in Kyoto, the bamboo grove of Arashiyama was enveloped in silence.Ja: 緑の竹が空に向かって真っ直ぐに伸び、その間を透けるような日の光が優しく地面を照らしていた。En: The green bamboo stretched straight up toward the sky, with gentle sunlight filtering through, softly illuminating the ground.Ja: 遅れて訪れる観光客の足音が時折響く中、一人の青年が歩いていた。En: Amidst the occasional echo of footsteps from late-arriving tourists, a young man walked alone.Ja: 彼の名前はハルトだった。En: His name was Harto.Ja: ハルトは絵を描くことが好きな芸術家だった。En: Harto was an artist who loved to paint.Ja: しかし、最近は描くことに迷いが生じていた。En: However, lately, he had been experiencing doubt in his ability to create.Ja: 友達から「また京都に行ってみたら？」と言われ、En: A friend suggested, "Why don't you visit Kyoto again?"Ja: 彼はインスピレーションを求めてこの地に戻ってきたのだ。En: So, he returned to this place, seeking inspiration.Ja: 竹林の中で進む彼は、過去のことを考えていた。En: As he walked through the bamboo grove, he pondered past events.Ja: 突然、懐かしい声が耳に入った。En: Suddenly, a familiar voice reached his ears.Ja: 「ハルト、久しぶり！」En: "It's been a while, Harto!"Ja: 声の主はサクラだった。En: The voice belonged to Sakura.Ja: サクラはハルトの昔の友達で、今は京都でガイドをしていた。En: Sakura was an old friend of Harto, and she was now working as a guide in Kyoto.Ja: いつもと変わらず優しさが溢れる笑顔を見せてくれた。En: She greeted him with the same kind smile as always.Ja: しかし、ハルトには彼女の笑顔の裏に何かが隠されているように見えた。En: However, to Harto, it seemed as though something was hidden behind her smile.Ja: 「本当に久しぶりだね。」ハルトは少し照れながら返事をした。En: "It really has been a long time," Harto replied, a bit shyly.Ja: その後、彼らは一緒に竹林を歩きながら話した。En: After that, they talked while walking through the bamboo grove together.Ja: 途中、写真に熱心なダイキが合流した。En: On the way, they were joined by Daiki, who was keen on taking photographs.Ja: ダイキはカメラを持ち、竹の間からこぼれる光を撮影していた。En: Daiki held a camera, capturing the light spilling through the bamboo.Ja: 彼は初対面のハルトにも挨拶し、写真の魅力を熱く語り始めた。En: He greeted Harto, whom he was meeting for the first time, and enthusiastically began discussing the allure of photography.Ja: 「今日は節分だね」とサクラが話題を変えた。En: "It's Setsubun today," Sakura changed the topic.Ja: 「みんなで豆まきに行こうよ。」En: "Let's go bean-throwing together."Ja: その提案に、ハルトもダイキも賛成した。En: Harto and Daiki both agreed to her suggestion.Ja: 節分の行事が始まり、賑やかな祭りの中で三人は笑顔で豆をまいた。En: The Setsubun event began, and amidst the lively festival, the three of them cheerfully threw beans.Ja: 悪いものを追い払うため「鬼は外！福は内！」と声を掛け合った。その時、ハルトはふと心が軽くなるのを感じた。En: Chanting "Oni wa soto! Fuku wa uchi!" to ward off evil spirits, Harto suddenly felt a weight lift off his heart.Ja: そして、勇気を出して自分の悩みを打ち明けた。En: With newfound courage, he confessed his struggle.Ja: 「最近、絵を描くのが怖いんだ」と、ハルトは声を震わせて言った。En: "Recently, I've been afraid of painting," Harto said, his voice trembling.Ja: 「期待に応えるのも難しい。どうしていいかわからないんだ。」En: "It's hard to live up to expectations. I don't know what to do."Ja: 予想に反して、サクラとダイキは優しく彼を励ました。En: Contrary to his expectations, Sakura and Daiki kindly encouraged him.Ja: サクラは自分もガイドとしての日々が時に重くなることを告白し、En: Sakura admitted that her days as a guide could sometimes be overwhelming,Ja: ダイキは写真だけでなく人との交流が自分の喜びだと語った。En: and Daiki spoke about how interactions with people, not just photography, brought him joy.Ja: 「そのままのハルトでいいんだよ。」サクラの言葉は暖かかった。En: "Harto, it's okay to be yourself," Sakura's words were warm.Ja: 豆まきが終わり、三人はゆっくりと竹林を後にした。En: After the bean-throwing, the three of them slowly left the bamboo grove.Ja: ハルトは新しい気持ちに満たされていた。En: Harto felt filled with a renewed sense of purpose.Ja: 伏し目がちだった彼の心の中に、希望の光が差し始めたのだ。En: Inside his previously downcast heart, a light of hope had begun to shine.Ja: 彼は今、竹林の静けさと、人々の温もりという新しいテーマにインスピレーションを見出していた。En: He now found inspiration in the new theme of the bamboo grove's tranquility and the warmth of people.Ja: 「本当にありがとう。」ハルトは二人に感謝の言葉を伝えた。En: "Thank you so much." Harto expressed his gratitude to the two of them.Ja: そして、彼らとの交流が、彼の中で新しい絵の形になっていくことを感じていた。En: He sensed that his interactions with them were beginning to take shape as a new painting within him.Ja: 京都の冷たい冬の日、ハルトは友人たちとの再会を通じて心の迷いと向き合い、次の一歩を踏み出したのだった。En: On a cold winter day in Kyoto, Harto faced his inner confusion through the reunion with his friends and took the next step forward.Ja: 竹の高くそびえる姿が、彼にとって新しい希望を象徴しているようだった。En: The towering bamboo seemed to symbolize a new hope for him. Vocabulary Words:enveloped: 包まれていたsilence: 静まり返っていたilluminating: 照らしていたecho: 響くpondered: 考えていたfamiliar: 懐かしいguide: ガイドhidden: 隠されているshyly: 照れながらkeen: 熱心なcapturing: 撮影allure: 魅力Setsubun: 節分bean-throwing: 豆まきcheerfully: 笑顔chanting: 声を掛け合うward off: 追い払うweight: 重くなるtrembling: 震わせてexpectations: 期待confess: 打ち明けたoverwhelming: 重くなるinteractions: 交流embrace: 受け入れるrenewed: 新しいdowncast: 伏し目がちgratitude: 感謝reunion: 再会confusion: 迷いsymbolize: 象徴している
