02-06-2025
Easy Japanese news in translation: Fireflies light up along river in Kumamoto Prefecture
Along the Nikaki River in the city of Kikuchi, Kumamoto Prefecture, known as the "home of fireflies," Genji fireflies can now be seen. When the sun sets and it gets dark, many fireflies emit a yellow-green light, floating gently and creating a dreamy scene. It is said that you can enjoy the best view on cloudy, hot, humid and windless days. The photo was taken using a special technique.
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.