Blogs edited and submitted by Chiho Kamioka
JOI Support staff and manager.
Red Spider Lily
Japanese anime movies
The genre of Japanese animation or anime has gradually grown into a major artistic and economic force. It has spawned many titles and creative studios, not only in Japan but all over the world and has an army of fans that are dedicated and inspired.
This year one movie has been talked about extensively and this is Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba. It has received critical acclaim and has also achieved box office success.
In this blog, Japanese teacher Maki Igarashi introduces one aspect from the movie that fans will recognize.
Read this blog and listen to the YouTube video to learn new Japanese vocabulary. This blog is short but features a lot of useful vocabulary for the N3 and N2 level JLPT learning.
彼岸花
Red Spider Lily
By IGARASHI Maki
日本では今、鬼滅の刃というアニメ映画が大ヒットしています。このアニメをご覧になった方は、エンディング冒頭に出てくる美しい赤い花が印象的だと思います。
この花は、彼岸花といいます。彼岸とはあの世のことです。名前の由来は諸説ありますが、この花には毒があるので、食べたら死んであの世へ行くから彼岸花と呼ばれるようになったという説があります。そのため、日本では昔から不吉な花と考えられてきました。しかし最近では、美しいこの花を観賞用として栽培する人も増えています。
鬼滅の刃では、この彼岸花が重要な鍵を握っています。漫画は既に完結しているので、気になる方は漫画を読んでくださいね。
To listen to this blog, please watch our Youtube video.
彼岸花(ひがんばな)
日本(にほん)では今(いま)、鬼滅(きめつ)の刃(やいば)というアニメ映画(えいが)が大(だい)ヒットしています。このアニメをご覧(らん)になった方(かた)は、エンディング冒頭(ぼうとう)に出(で)てくる美(うつく)しい赤(あか)い花(はな)が印象的(いんしょうてき)だと思(おも)います。
この花(はな)は、彼岸花(ひがんばな)といいます。彼岸(ひがん)とはあの世(よ)のことです。名前(なまえ)の由来(ゆらい)は諸説(しょせつ)ありますが、この花(はな)には毒(どく)があるので、食(た)べたら死(し)んであの世(よ)へ行(い)くから彼岸花(ひがんばな)と呼(よ)ばれるようになったという説(せつ)があります。そのため、日本(にほん)では昔(むかし)から不吉(ふきつ)な花(はな)と考(かんが)えられてきました。しかし最近(さいきん)では、美(うつく)しいこの花(はな)を観賞用(かんしょうよう)として栽培(さいばい)する人(ひと)も増(ふ)えています。
鬼滅(きめつ)の刃(やいば)では、この彼岸花(ひがんばな)が重要(じゅうよう)な鍵(かぎ)を握(にぎ)っています。漫画(まんが)は既(すで)に完結(かんけつ)しているので、気(き)になる方(かた)は漫画(まんが)を読(よ)んでくださいね。
Red Spider Lily
Currently in Japan right now, the anime movie Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba is a big hit. I think anyone who has watched this anime probably found the red flowers that appeared at the start of the ending sequence quite impressive.
These flowers are called, Red Spider Lilies or Higan Bana in Japanese. The word 'Higan' means the afterlife. There are various theories about the origins of the name, but there is one theory that says, because this flower has some poison in it, if you eat it you die and go over to the other world. And for that reason, in Japan from long ago it has been thought of as an unlucky flower. But recently, there has been an increase in people growing this beautiful flower for ornamental purposes.
In the movie Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba, this flower holds an important key. The manga has already been completed, so if you are curious as to what it is, please go ahead and read the manga.
冒頭(ぼうとう): beginning
印象的(いんしょうてき): impressive
由来(ゆらい): origin
諸説(しょせつ): various theories
説(せつ): view; theory; opinion
不吉(ふきつ): unlucky
観賞用(かんしょうよう): ornamental
栽培(さいばい): culture; cultivation
完結(かんけつ): complete; finish; end; conclude
Hajimemashite, everyone . My name is Maki Igarashi.
Although I'm originally from Hokkaido, I live in Hiroshima because of my husband's work transfer. Hokkaido is the northernmost island of Japan. Winter is very cold and snowy, but Hokkaido's natural scenery is very beautiful, and we have a lot of delicious food. Here in Hiroshima, on Miya-jima Island, you can see Itsukushima Shrine, a world cultural heritage site. If you come to Japan, please visit these great places.
I'd like to see you smile at least once in every class. The lessons will be, well, fun! Prepare well, and review well! :o)
Don't get caught up thinking Japanese is a difficult language, enjoy studying and learning !
Try to use your newly learned vocabulary and phrases all the time in the lessons. Looking forward to meeting you all in class !