短文チャレンジ – Nijo Castle
Japanese Reading Practice Made Easy
Read the news, cultural articles, and history notes in levels
How to improve your Japanese reading and vocabulary skills with 100 Word Challenge. While you can approach these lessons in any order, here are a few tips:
- Review the Key Vocabulary below
- Read the story in either the EASY version or the native-level NORMAL version or both (Click or tap the tabs to view the essay)
- Read again while listening to the audio
- Listen to the audio alone
- Lastly, leave a comment about the article ! Let us know what you think!
Read about one of Japan’s most famous castles in two versions: easier short sentences or in natural Japanese.
Nijo Castle, located in the heart of Kyoto, Japan, is a historic site that offers a glimpse into the grandeur of Japan's feudal era. Constructed in 1603 by Tokugawa Ieyasu, the founder of the Tokugawa shogunate, the castle served as the Kyoto residence of the shoguns.
Renowned for its stunning architecture, Nijo Castle is especially famous for its intricate nightingale floors, which were designed to chirp when walked upon, acting as a security measure against intruders. Surrounded by beautiful gardens and boasting ornate interiors, Nijo Castle is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and a must-visit for anyone interested in Japanese history and culture.
KEY VOCABULARY
Mouse over or tap to see the furigana
Easy Version Vocabulary
名詞 Nouns
- 二条城 Nijo Castle
- 徳川家康 Tokugawa Ieyasu
- 城 castle
- 京都 Kyoto
- 将軍 shogun
- 場所 place
- ふすま絵 fusuma painting
- 天井画 ceiling painting
- 狩野探幽 Kanō Tan'yū
- 画家 painter
- 最後 last
- 徳川慶喜 Tokugawa Yoshinobu
- 大政奉還 Taisei Hōkan (Restoration of Imperial Rule)
- 日本 Japan
- 政治 politics
- ユネスコ UNESCO
- 世界遺産 World Heritage Site
- 観光客 tourists
動詞 Verbs
- 建てる to build
- ある to be; to exist
- 泊まる to stay
- 描く to paint; to draw
- 行う to carry out
- 変わる to change
- 登録する to register
その他 Other
- たくさん many; a lot
- 美しい beautiful
- 有名 famous
- 今でも even now
- 大きく greatly
- 多く many; numerous
- 人気がある popular
Normal Version Vocabulary
名詞 Nouns
- 二条城 Nijo Castle
- 徳川家康 Tokugawa Ieyasu
- 京都 Kyoto
- 宿泊所 accommodation
- 城 castle
- 将軍 shogun
- 拠点 base
- 3代将軍家光 Third Shogun Tokugawa Iemitsu
- 後水尾天皇 Emperor Go-Mizunoo
- 改修 renovation
- 狩野派 Kanō school
- 障壁画 wall paintings
- 15代将軍徳川慶喜 Fifteenth Shogun Tokugawa Yoshinobu
- 二の丸御殿 Ninomaru Palace
- 大政奉還 Taisei Hōkan (Restoration of Imperial Rule)
- 場所 place
- 歴史 history
- ユネスコ UNESCO
- 世界遺産 World Heritage Site
- 観光客 tourists
- 京都の象徴 symbolic (place) of Kyoto
動詞 Verbs
- 築く to build
- 使用する to use
- 迎える to receive; to welcome
- 行う to carry out
- 表明する to declare
- 登録する to register
- 訪れる to visit
その他 Other
- 際 when; on the occasion
- 大規模 large-scale
- 美しい beautiful
- 歴史的 historically
- 重要 important
- 現在 also
- 多く many; numerous
- 象徴的 symbolic
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