作品Free Graded Reading
東京湾怪物譚Tokyo Bay Monster Tales
Tokyo Wan Kaibutsu Tan
by 佐藤 垢石 · Sato Kouseki
Real monster tales from Tokyo Bay: sharks, sea serpents, and giant turtles.
What you'll learn
What you'll learnThe author introduces the mouth of Tokyo Bay as a paradise full of fish, explains how black sea bream spend winter in Shimo-Ura, and hints that huge fish sometimes appear there.
A brave fisherman, Marumoto Eitaro, harpoons a giant shark that attacks his boat, brings it back to port, and the villagers finish it off; the shark weighs 280 kan.
The author describes the even more fearsome Ebisu shark, whose rough skin can tear through a boat, and notes that fishermen flee in terror; giant ones are said to live between Izu Oshima and Miura Misaki.
Key vocabulary
Key vocabulary| 鱶 (ふか) | shark (especially a large shark) |
|---|---|
| 黒鯛 (くろだい) | black sea bream (a coastal fish) |
| 鱸 (すずき) | Japanese sea bass |
| エビス鮫 (エビスざめ) | a fearsome shark species (often identified as a cow shark or sixgill shark) |
| 大亀 (おおがめ) | giant turtle / large sea turtle |
| 赤鱏 (あかえい) | red stingray / giant ray |
| アシカ | sea lion |
| モリ | harpoon |
Grammar points you'll meet
Grammar points you'll meet- ～らしい N3Used to express a conjecture based on available information or evidence; 'it seems that...'東京湾口は、魚の楽園らしい。
- ～てしまう N4Expresses completion of an action, often with a nuance of regret, finality, or 'ending up' doing something.アシカは驚いて次第に湾外へ逃げ出してしまった。
- ～そうだ（伝聞） N4Hearsay marker: 'I hear that...', 'it is said that...'アシカの群もいまでは、大砲の弾丸に驚いて遠く湾口を去り、大島の海の方へ行ってしまったそうである。
- ～という N4Used to name or define something: 'called...', 'that is called...'それはエビス鮫というのである。
- ～たり～たりする N5Lists representative actions or states: 'do things like... and...'大物も遊びに来たり居付いたりするのである。
- ～ため（に） N3Noun/expression indicating a reason or cause: 'because of...', 'the reason is...'それは餌が豊富であるのと、潮の流れが生きているためであると思う。
Cultural notes
Cultural notes- 桑原桑原 (Kuwabara Kuwabara)A traditional Japanese protective phrase originally used to ward off lightning and disaster. In this essay, fishermen mutter it in extreme fear when they see a terrifying shark.
- The Great Turtle as a Sea DeityIn coastal communities like Kamoi, giant sea turtles were treated as living gods. Fishermen would salute them and avoid harming even small turtles, reflecting a deep respect for nature and folklore.
- Turtle Oil and Traditional MedicineThe essay mentions a Nojima fisherman who grew rich by selling turtle fat as a powerful tonic for vitality. This reflects old folk medicinal beliefs that were once common in Japan.
- Tokyo Bay's Marine Life Before IndustrializationThe essay describes Tokyo Bay as a rich fishing ground, full of sea lions, giant rays, and sharks. Events like military exercises and coastal development soon drove many of these creatures away.
Try a comprehension question
Try a comprehension questionWhy does the author call Tokyo Bay a 'fish paradise'?
- Because it is very deep
- Because food is abundant and the currents are alive
- Because fishermen throw feed there
- Because there are no sharks
Sensei's reading tip
Sensei's reading tipDon't get stuck on rare fish names and place names. Use furigana and context clues to understand that the text is mainly describing large marine creatures and their behavior.
Read a sample in Japanese
Topics & grammar
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