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Japanese · Real Japanese · C1 to C2

Literature: reading Japan’s writers in Japanese

古池や蛙飛び込む水の音芭蕉 1686古池や　蛙飛び込む　水の音furuike ya / kawazu tobikomu / mizu no otoAn old pond / a frog jumps in / the sound of water5 + 7 + 5 morae: fu-ru-i-ke-ya, ka-wa-zu-to-bi-ko-mu, mi-zu-no-o-toや is a cutting word (切れ字): a pause, like a dash.Written vertically, read top to bottom, right column first.
Matsuo Bashō’s most famous haiku. Its meaning lies in the silence before and after the splash.

Short answer: Japanese literature spans a thousand years, from 源氏物語 (The Tale of Genji, early 11th century), often called the world’s first novel, to the poems of Bashō and the modern fiction of Natsume Sōseki and Akutagawa Ryūnosuke. Modern novels can be read at C1 with a dictionary; classical texts use older grammar and are usually read in annotated editions, even by Japanese readers.

A thousand years in five works

The works every Japanese reader knows.

WorkMeaningAuthor, date
Genji monogatariThe Tale of GenjiMurasaki Shikibu, c. 1008
Makura no sōshiThe Pillow BookSei Shōnagon, c. 1002
Oku no hosomichiThe Narrow Road to the Deep NorthMatsuo Bashō, 1702
Wagahai wa neko de aruI Am a CatNatsume Sōseki, 1905
RashōmonRashōmon (short story)Akutagawa Ryūnosuke, 1915
Ame ni mo makezuNot Losing to the Rain (poem)Miyazawa Kenji, 1931

Famous first lines

Two openings that every Japanese student learns, from writers whose works are now public domain.

吾輩わがはいwagahaiI (pompous)はwa(topic)猫ねこnekocatでde(is)あるaruam名前なまえnamaenameはwa(topic)まだmadayet無いないnaithere is none
Wagahai wa neko de aru. Namae wa mada nai.“I am a cat. As yet I have no name.”Why: Sōseki, 1905. The comedy is in 吾輩, a grand, old-fashioned “I”, used by a nameless cat.
あるarua certain日ひhidayのno’s暮方くれがたkuregataduskのno’s事ことkotomatterでde(is)あるaruis
Aru hi no kuregata no koto de aru.“It was one evening at dusk.”Why: Akutagawa, 1915: the opening of 羅生門. である sets a formal, story-telling tone.

Classical forms you will meet

Older texts and even some modern ones use classical grammar. A few forms come up again and again.

Literary forms

Japanese has distinctive literary forms.

FormMeaningShape
haikuhaiku5-7-5 morae, with a season word
tankatanka5-7-5-7-7 morae
senryūsenryū5-7-5, humorous, no season word
monogataritaleclassical narrative
zuihitsuessayfree-form musings
shishōsetsuI-novelautobiographical fiction

Season words in haiku

Every traditional haiku contains a 季語 (kigo), a word that sets the season.

Check yourself

Try each one, then open the answer to check and hear it.

  1. Read Bashō’s haiku.
    Show answer
    furuike ya kawazu tobikomu mizu no oto5-7-5 morae.
  2. Read Sōseki’s opening.
    Show answer
    Wagahai wa neko de aru.
  3. The Tale of Genji
    Show answer
    Genji monogatari
  4. haiku season word
    Show answer
    kigo
  5. a 5-7-5-7-7 poem
    Show answer
    tanka

What to read at each level

A path from graded readers to novels.

B1
B2
C1
C2

Related guides

Next guideGraded readingTexts that build to literature.Next guideFormal written styleである in narrative.Next guidePronunciationCounting morae for haiku.Next guideHolidays and festivalsSeasons in poetry and life.