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日本語 · English · A1–A2

Easy Japanese short stories with English translation (A1–A2)

Short stories written in simple Japanese for learners, with the English beside every paragraph. Short enough to finish in one sitting, simple enough for your first months of Japanese.

21 free easy stories in Japanese

Each one opens in your browser with no account, the Japanese and the English side by side, paragraph by paragraph, shortest first. Every story is also a free Japanese–English ebook for Kindle, Kobo or any e-reader: downloading needs a free account, no payment (which file to pick).

The stories at this level come from 日々の物語, original Japanese stories written for the library.

The stories at this level come from はじめてのおはなし, original Japanese stories written for the library.

What easy Japanese stories are like

These stories are written for the level, not translated down to it: everyday settings, short sentences, the words a beginner meets first, and a plot worth finishing.

The classics start at B1. Even a short fable becomes full, old-fashioned prose once translated, so the fables and fairy tales sit one level up, as the first step after these.

How to read Japanese at A1–A2

Read the English first if you need to

At A1 there is no shame in reading a paragraph in English, then the Japanese. You are matching words to meaning, and the paragraph beside it makes that quick.

Finish, then reread

Read the whole story once, glancing across whenever you are lost. The second time, cover the English and look only when you are stuck. Most readers are surprised how much stayed.

Collect a few words, not every word

Pick three or four words per story that keep coming back and learn those. The rest will return in the next story.

More on the method in how to read a parallel text.