In this episode of our Japanese Book Club Series for Intermediate Learners of Japanese, we delve into "夜行観覧車" (Yakō Kanransha, Ferris Wheel at Night) by Kanae Minato. In this video, we break down an intriguing passage to highlight unique aspects of Japanese expression and enhance your reading comprehension. The passage introduced focus on the "なければならない", used to indicate obligation and necessity, coupled with ほど, which indicates the level of something. Discover how this passage reflects Japan's rich literary style and improve your understanding of Japanese nuances. Whether you're a student of Japanese or a literature enthusiast, you'll find valuable insights and practical tips. Don't forget to subscribe for more Japanese book recommendations and language learning insights!
夜光観覧車 is suitable for intermediate Japanese learners, and below is the passage introduced in the video (including the analyzed part) with readings in Japanese (hiragana and katakana), romaji and the translation by myself:
「背中を思い切り蹴られ、ベッドから降りると後頭部に枕が飛んできた。良幸の枕を投げつけた明里はベッドの真ん中に陣取り、布団をからだに巻き付けている。ふて寝のアピールか。枕だからよかったものの......後頭部に触れてみる。あの人は何で殴ったのだろう。殴らなければならないほどの何が起こったのだろう。」
「せなか を おもいきり けられ、ベッド から おりる と こうとうぶ に まくら が とんできた。よしゆき の まくら を なげつけた あかり は ベッド の まんなか に じんどり、ふとん を からだ に まきつけている。ふてね の アピール か。まくら だから よかった ものの......こうとうぶ に ふれてみる。あの ひと は なんで なぐった のだろう。なぐらなければならない ほど の なにが おこった のだろう。」
“senaka o omoikiri kerare, beddo kara oriru to koutoubu ni makura ga tondekita. Yoshiyuki no makura o nagetsuketa Akari wa beddo no mannaka ni jindori, futon o karada ni makitsuketeiru. futene no apiiru ka. makura dakara yokatta monono……koutoubu ni furetemiru. ano hito wa nande nagutta no darou. naguranakerebanaranai hodo no naniga okotta no darou.”
湊かなえ「夜行観覧車」双葉社, 2010年 より引用
Quoted from Kanae Minato, “Ferris wheel at night”, Futabasha, 2010
Translation (not literal):
“Kicked hard in the back, a pillow hits the back of my head as I get out of bed. After throwing Yoshiyuki’s pillow, Akari took over the center of the bed, wrapping herself up in the bed sheets. I guess she wants to pull the “I’m upset in bed” card. It’s a pillow so it’s fine, however……I feel the back of my head. Why would that person hit him? What on earth could have happened that she had no choice but to hit him?”
If you’re interested in buying this novel, you can try the link below. It will direct you to the appropriate online store in your country if the book is available there. This is not an affiliate link, and I do not receive any commission if you purchase the book through it.
https://mybook.to/yakokanransha
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Chapters:
00:00 What Will Be Covered In This Video
00:19 A Passage of 夜行観覧車
00:54 General Book Information
01:38 夜行観覧車 Book Plot
04:39 Context for the Passage
05:59 Dissecting the Passage - Part 1
07:28 Dissecting the Passage - Part 2
12:10 The Japanese Level of The Book