水鬼
by Kidō Okamoto
A hearty gentleman tells an eerie tale of a water demon.
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Sample: three-line reading
Each word has its meaning in this sentence underneath, and each sentence has a full translation. Read the original and glance down only when you need to.
About the book
This text opens with Mr. A, a robust, student-like gentleman in his forties, who begins narrating a strange tale about a water ghost in a brisk, lively manner. The story starts with his return to his hometown in Kyushu and an encounter with a brother-and-sister pair on a shared carriage, and it reads like an oral ghost story told in casual conversation, unhurried yet quietly suspenseful.
Cultural notes (selection)
Background a translation can’t carry: social roles, history and allusions. While reading, tap “Note” at the end of a sentence to see them all.
A woman who pours drinks and keeps customers company at restaurants or machiai teahouses. Her status was lower than that of a geisha, and she generally did not perform songs, dances, or the shamisen.
A woman trained in singing, dancing, the shamisen, and similar arts, who entertains guests at banquets. She ranked above the pouring women who merely accompanied drinkers, which is why the text says the sister was far above a shakufu and was probably a geisha from somewhere.
A coarsely woven straw mat. Here a damp mat is spread over the horse's back to shield it from the sun and keep it cool, which is why the text says the driver is mitete iru—that he is experienced and knows the tricks of his trade.
About the author
Kidō Okamoto (October 15, 1872 – March 1, 1939) was a Japanese author and playwright whose real name was Keiji Okamoto; he was born in the Shiba Takanawa district of Minato Ward, Tokyo. His best known work is the shin kabuki play Bancho Sarayashiki.
How the glosses are made
Word glosses and sentence translations are generated in context by AI models (DeepSeek and Zhipu GLM), and every word is checked to have a gloss. AI can make mistakes; you can report problems from the book page.
FAQ
Is this the original text?
Yes. The library holds the opening section of the public-domain original, taken from 青空文库.
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What level is it?
This one is marked “Intermediate”. Every word is glossed, so you can keep reading even with a small vocabulary.
Can I use another gloss language?
English and Chinese glosses are prepared in advance; signed-in readers can generate other languages.