Easy Japanese news in translation: Rain prayer ceremony held at shrine in Yamagata Prefecture
Japanese original
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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The Mainichi
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Easy Japanese news in translation: Rain prayer ceremony held at shrine in Yamagata Prefecture
A ceremony praying for rain was held on August 2 at Tamanoike Shrine in the city of Sakata, Yamagata Prefecture, where rice production is thriving. It was the first such ceremony in 82 years. People reportedly requested the ceremony because "it's a problem if there's no water in the rice fields during the important time when rice ears emerge." In July, Sakata received only 3 millimeters of rain, the second-lowest since records began being kept in 1937. Japanese original 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.
The Mainichi
4 days ago
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6 fall into swollen river at Kyoto restaurant after dining terrace collapses
KYOTO -- A dining terrace over a river at a restaurant here collapsed Aug. 12, causing six people to fall into the stream. According to the Kyoto City Fire Department, the terrace at a restaurant near Kifune Shrine in Kyoto's Sakyo Ward collapsed shortly after 11 a.m. Five individuals managed to climb back to shore on their own, but a customer in her 70s and an employee in his 40s who was involved in rescue efforts were transported to a hospital by emergency services. Both were reportedly conscious at the time of transportation. The river was apparently swollen due to rain at the time. Authorities, including the fire department, are investigating the situation. (Japanese original by Reona Mizutani, Kyoto Bureau)
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Japan's Highest Temperatures: New Record of 41.8°C Set in August 2025
Japan Data The mercury soared to 41.8° Celsius in Isesaki, Gunma, on August 5, 2025, setting a new record for Japan's highest ever temperature. Japan recorded a new highest ever temperature of 41.8° Celsius in Isesaki, Gunma, on August 5, 2025. Before summer 2025, the country's joint high was 41.1° in Kumagaya, Saitama, in July 2018 and Hamamatsu, Shizuoka, in August 2020. The first record of the temperature rising above 40° came in July 1927 when the mercury rose to 40.2° in Uwajima, Ehime. In July 1933, it reached 40.8° in Yamagata, Yamagata, which is thought to have been caused by warm, dry foehn winds descending from the mountains. Japan's top temperature remained unchanged for more than 70 years until August 16, 2007, when it hit a new high of 40.9° in both Tajimi, Gifu, and Kumagaya. Summer 2025 has been unusually hot in northern Japan, with the temperature regularly rising above 35°; on July 24, it reached 39.0° even on Japan's northernmost main island, in Kitami, Hokkaidō. Japan's Highest Recorded Temperatures 41.8° Isesaki, Gunma (August 5, 2025) 41.4° Shizuoka, Shizuoka (August 6, 2025) Hatoyama, Saitama (August 5, 2025) 41.2° Kiryū, Gunma (August 5, 2025) Tanba, Hyōgo (July 30, 2025) 41.1° Hamamatsu, Shizuoka (August 17, 2020) Kumagaya, Saitama (July 23, 2018) 41.0° Maebashi, Gunma (August 5, 2025) Sano, Tochigi (July 29, 2024) Mino, Gifu (August 8, 2018) Gero, Gifu (August 6, 2018) Shimanto, Kōchi (August 12, 2013) 40.9° Hamamatsu, Shizuoka (August 16, 2020) Tajimi, Gifu (August 16, 2007) Kumagaya, Saitama (August 16, 2007) 40.8° Tainai, Niigata (August 23, 2018) Ōme, Tokyo (July 23, 2018) Tajimi, Gifu (August 17, 2007) Yamagata, Yamagata (July 25, 1933) 40.7° Kumagaya, Saitama (August 5, 2025) Tajimi, Gifu (July 23, 2018) Tajimi, Gifu (July 18, 2018) Kōfu, Yamanashi (August 10, 2013) Shimanto, Kōchi (August 10, 2013) 40.6° Koga, Ibaraki (August 5, 2025) Fukuchiyama, Kyoto (July 30, 2025) Nagaoka, Niigata (August 15, 2019) Mino, Gifu (July 18, 2018) Kōfu, Yamanashi (August 11, 2013) Katsuragi, Wakayama (August 8, 1994) Tenryū, Shizuoka (August 4, 1994) 40.5° Kiryū, Gunma (August 11, 2020) Isesaki, Gunma (August 11, 2020) Gero, Gifu (August 8, 2018) Kōshū, Yamanashi (August 10, 2013) Created by based on data from the Japan Meteorological Agency. Data Sources Data on record high temperatures (Japanese) from the Japan Meteorological Agency. (Translated from Japanese. Banner photo: Getting hydrated outside Kaibara Station in Tanba, Hyōgo Prefecture, where a record high temperature in Japan of 41.2° Celsius was recorded on July 30, 2025. © Jiji.)
