Easy Japanese news in translation: Yosakoi Soran Festival held in Sapporo
The Yosakoi Soran Festival, held in early summer in the city of Sapporo, Hokkaido, began on June 4. The festival features dances performed with "naruko" clappers used in the Yosakoi Festival in Kochi Prefecture, to music that incorporates part of the melody of "Soran Bushi," a folk song from Hokkaido that was once sung during herring fishing. Student teams and others danced energetically in colorful costumes. The festival was held until June 8.
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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