{"product_id":"japanese-reader-collection-volume-2-momotaro-the-peach-boy-paperback","title":"Japanese Reader Collection Volume 2: Momotaro, the Peach Boy - Paperback","description":"\u003cdiv\u003e\u003cp style=\"text-align: right;\"\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/reportcopyrightinfringement.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eReport copyright infringement\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\u003cp\u003eby \u003cb\u003eYumi Boutwell\u003c\/b\u003e (Author), \u003cb\u003eClay Boutwell\u003c\/b\u003e (Author)\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eRead the most beloved folktale in Japan, broken down sentence by sentence for upper-beginner learners.\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eAlmost every Japanese child can sing the Momotaro song before they can read it. The peach-born hero, his three animal companions, the journey to Oni Island - Momotaro is the story that lives in Japan's cultural water supply, referenced for the rest of a learner's life in conversations, manga, anime, and idiom. This volume gives you the language to read it in Japanese, with line-by-line vocabulary, grammar notes, native-speaker audio, and a simple English translation for self-checking.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eNew in the 2026 edition: \u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cb\u003eBonus unlock code inside the book\u003c\/b\u003e - redeem at MakotoPlus.com to study every sentence from this book interactively, on the web or in the mobile app\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eNew watercolor illustration and audio QR codes on every story's opening page\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eHook teaser and Before-You-Read intro for each section, pointing you toward the grammar and vocabulary patterns to watch for\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eResized furigana - ruby now sits closer to the base text, the way good Japanese typography should\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eRunning headers, page numbers, and sumi-e section ornaments throughout\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eUpdated front matter and refreshed layout series-wide\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eWhat's inside: \u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eFive sections, each presented three ways: with line-by-line vocabulary, in plain Japanese for unscaffolded reading practice, and in English summary\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eWord-by-word breakdowns with furigana over every kanji\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eGrammar spotlights, cultural notes, and reading tips throughout\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eFull Exercises sections (Comprehension Questions, Particle Fill-in, Grammar Pattern Hunt, Translation Comparison + Answer Key) for Momotaro and the Tortoise\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eFree MP3 audio downloads - natural speed and slowed down - recorded by a native speaker\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eFree Anki decks for pre-study\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eBonus unlock code for Makoto+ Sentence Explorer\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eNo sign-up required for the audio\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eThe five sections: \u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e1. Momotaro, the Peach Boy\u003c\/b\u003e - the full folktale, from the floating peach to the showdown on Oni Island.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e2. The Momotaro Song\u003c\/b\u003e - the children's song every Japanese person grows up with, lyrics and translation, plus a short essay on its 1911 origins.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e3. Kibidango and Okayama\u003c\/b\u003e - an essay on the millet dumpling that fuels Momotaro's journey, and the prefecture that claims him as a son.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e4. What is an Oni?\u003c\/b\u003e - an essay on the oni's evolution from mountain monster to Setsubun mascot.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e5. The Tortoise and the Hare\u003c\/b\u003e - Aesop's classic race, translated into Japanese during the Meiji era and beloved in schoolrooms ever since.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eWho this is for: \u003c\/b\u003e Upper-beginner to lower-intermediate learners. You'll need solid kana and a working sense of basic grammar. (New to hiragana? Take our free two-week crash course at TheJapanesePage.com\/hiragana.)\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eQuestions or requests for future readers? The authors' personal email addresses are inside the book.\u003c\/p\u003e\n            \u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eNumber of Pages:\u003c\/strong\u003e 168\u003c\/div\u003e\n            \u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eDimensions:\u003c\/strong\u003e 0.36 x 8.5 x 5.5 IN\u003c\/div\u003e\n            \u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003ePublication Date:\u003c\/strong\u003e April 23, 2013\u003c\/div\u003e\n            ","brand":"Books by splitShops","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":53109012201696,"sku":"9781484191132","price":22.66,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0811\/5909\/4496\/files\/djYddqwFha9781484191132.webp?v=1781813821","url":"https:\/\/improvedinc.myshopify.com\/products\/japanese-reader-collection-volume-2-momotaro-the-peach-boy-paperback","provider":"Improved Improper Input Inc.","version":"1.0","type":"link"}