Easy Japanese news in translation: Wild tradition kicks off Kiriko festivals in Ishikawa Pref.
Easy Japanese news is taken from the Mainichi Shogakusei Shimbun, a newspaper for children. This is perfect material for anyone studying Japanese who has learned hiragana and katakana. We encourage beginners to read the article in English followed by Japanese, or vice versa, to test their comprehension.
A fresh set will be published every Monday, Wednesday and Friday at 4 p.m., Japan time. Click/tap here for past installments.
Intermediate learners who do not need English assistance can directly access the Mainichi Shogakusei Shimbun site here. Furigana (hiragana) is added to all kanji in the text.
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OSAKA -- The Japan Air Self-Defense Force (ASDF)'s Blue Impulse aerobatics team showcased its aerial performances above areas around the Expo 2025 Osaka, Kansai, venue July 12 and 13 after the original flight schedule in April on the Expo's opening day was canceled due to bad weather. One pilot in particular had special feelings about flying the jet as a Blue Impulse member. ASDF pilot Shoya Matsuura, 30, is from Suita, Osaka Prefecture, home to the iconic "Tower of the Sun," the symbol of the 1970 Osaka Expo. He saw the Blue Impulse team's performance about 15 years ago and decided to become a pilot. Making his childhood dream come true, Matsuura commented, "I've achieved a lifetime goal." The team took the same flight route on both days, taking off from Kansai International Airport around 2:40 p.m., passing landmarks such as Tsutenkaku Tower in Osaka's Naniwa Ward and Osaka Castle in Chuo Ward, before flying over the Tower of the Sun. From around 3 p.m., a 15-minute aerial display took place over the artificial island of Yumeshima, the Expo site. The aircraft emitted white smoke, creating heart shapes and the number "8," and performed aerobatic flights, including ascending in a widening spiral. "It was amazing," Matsuura said after the flight on July 12. Reflecting on flying over Suita, he commented, "I was happy to have the rare opportunity to see my hometown from the sky. I wondered if my friends were watching." Before boarding the aircraft on the second day, the team held a briefing where pilots reviewed weather conditions, the runway at Kansai International Airport, flight altitude, scheduled performances at the Expo site and the flight route. Matsuura smiled while confirming the timing for the smoke release. After successfully completing the momentous two-day stunt, Matsuura stated, "I hope there was a moment that moved the hearts of those who watched the flights. Flying over the area near the Tower of the Sun where I grew up was an unforgettable sight." (Japanese original by Tadakazu Nakamura, Izumisano Resident Bureau)
The Mainichi
15 hours ago
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Easy Japanese news in translation: Wild tradition kicks off Kiriko festivals in Ishikawa Pref.
Every summer on the Noto Peninsula in Ishikawa Prefecture, festivals are held in various places, where large lanterns called "kiriko" are paraded through the streets. The largest lanterns weigh about 4 metric tons and are over 15 meters tall. The "Abare Festival," which marks the beginning of Kiriko festivals, reached its peak on July 5 in the town of Noto. The festival's wild actions are believed to please the gods, so participants broke "mikoshi" portable shrines and threw them into the river. Easy Japanese news is taken from the Mainichi Shogakusei Shimbun, a newspaper for children. This is perfect material for anyone studying Japanese who has learned hiragana and katakana. We encourage beginners to read the article in English followed by Japanese, or vice versa, to test their comprehension. A fresh set will be published every Monday, Wednesday and Friday at 4 p.m., Japan time. Click/tap here for past installments. Intermediate learners who do not need English assistance can directly access the Mainichi Shogakusei Shimbun site here. Furigana (hiragana) is added to all kanji in the text.
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