If you want to have fun learning Japanese, let's start with stories! This time I will introduce the fable "Reed and Olive".
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By the way, are you all enjoying your Japanese learning?
I would like to share a story with you this time. I would be happy if I could learn a little bit from everyone. We would like to introduce “Reeds and Olives”.
Think before you read.
Do you know the plants called reeds and olives? Reeds are very thin and soft plants that are related to rice. Olive trees, on the contrary, are large, thick and very hardy plants. The story of "Reeds and Olives" shows the characteristics of these two plants, so please read while imagining the scene.
"Reeds and Olives"
A large olive tree stood by the river.
Reeds grow at the base of the olive tree.
Olive said to Ashi.
``You look really weak and limp. Look at me.
Ash said angrily.
"I'm strong against the wind!"
Then Olive laughed and said,
"If the wind blows even a little, you will immediately apologize and bow."
Just at this time the wind picked up.
“Look, look, the wind is blowing.
But Ashi bowed immediately.
“Hmph, you weakling!”
Olive cried out to the wind.
"Wind, blow more! I won't budge!"
The wind is getting stronger and stronger.
The reed remains attached to the ground.
The olive branch sizzles and the body sways.
"Why, how can you lose like this?"
But the wind is strong enough to blow away even Olive's voice.
How long has it been?
The wind has died down.
The reed, which had been stuck to the ground, finally stood up and said,
"Oh, it was a terrible wind. Are you okay, Olive-kun?"
But I can't hear Olive's voice.
When the reeds took a closer look, the olive had been completely broken off at the base and was lying on the ground.
How was it.
The content could have been simpler. But this story is so meaningful.
Let's think together in Japanese what kind of story it was and what you want to convey .
This story teaches us what true strength is. Reeds look weak because they bow as soon as the wind blows, but on the contrary, they do not break even in strong winds. The olive tree is big and strong and can withstand a little wind, but it broke when it got really strong. In other words, it was Ashi who was really strong.
One of my favorite sayings is, "It is not the strong that survive, but the survivors are the strong." I think this is perfect for the story of "Reeds and Olives" that I introduced today. The weak should devise how they can survive.
The same can be said for us humans. Soseki Natsume, a famous Japanese novelist, also writes in this way at the beginning of the work "Kusamakura".
“If you work with wisdom, you will stand up. If you are overwhelmed by emotion, you will be washed away.
It's a bit difficult to say, but it means, ``If you see too much of your intelligence, others will hate you. If you do that, you will clash with people, so it is difficult to communicate with people.” We also live in such a difficult world, so it is important to sometimes relax and let the wind blow.
It's wonderful to be absorbed in something and to express your opinion clearly, but there's no point in overdoing it and damaging your body.
Next week is the Obon season, so I think many of you will have a day off. If you are usually working too hard in your work, studies, or relationships, let's take a break once in a while and start healthy again!
Today, I introduced the story "Reeds and Olives".
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