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August 11, 2026

How to use

Designed to help you progress once you’re comfortable with the basics. Use it as supplementary material alongside your studies.

Pick a school grade or JLPT level and do this each day:

  1. Handwrite the passage in a notebook.
  2. Read the passage out loud.
  3. Understand the meaning of the passage (if you need help, check the English translation).
  4. Take note of the grammar points (try understanding them in Japanese first; if you need help, refer to the English translation).
N3高1 · High School 1August 11, 2026

ふろしきのさいはっけん

ふろしきは、いちまいのぬので々さまざまなかたちのにもつをつつめる、にほんのでんとうてきなどうぐだ。プラスチックぶくろがふきゅうするいっぽうで、ふろしきをつかうひとはしだいにすくなくなっていった。ところが、かんきょうへのかんしんがたかまったことをきっかけに、さいきんまたちゅうもくされている。ただ、じっさいにつかいこなせるひとはまだしょうすうにすぎない。むすびかたさえおぼえれば、かいものぶくろとしてもじゅうぶんやくだつすぐれたどうぐなのである。

文法

  • 「〜一方いっぽうで」は、一ひとつの事柄ことがらが進すすむ中なかで、それと対照たいしょう的てきな、または並行へいこうする別べつの事柄ことがらが起おこることを表あらわす表現ひょうげん。
  • 「〜をきっかけに」は、あることが原因げんいんや機会きかいとなって、新あたらしい変化へんかや行動こうどうが始はじまることを表あらわす表現ひょうげん。
  • 「〜にすぎない」は、程度ていどや範囲はんいが小ちいさく、それ以上いじょうのものではないという気持きもちを表あらわす表現ひょうげんで、「ただ〜だけだ」という意味いみを持もつ。
English

The Rediscovery of Furoshiki

Furoshiki is a traditional Japanese tool made from a single piece of cloth that can wrap items of various shapes. While plastic bags became widespread, the number of people using furoshiki gradually decreased. However, triggered by growing interest in environmental issues, it has recently been attracting attention again. That said, the number of people who can actually use it skillfully is still merely a minority. If you simply learn how to tie it, it becomes an excellent tool that also works well as a shopping bag.

  • "~一方で" expresses that while one thing is happening, another contrasting or parallel thing is also occurring, meaning 'while ~' or 'on the other hand, ~'.
  • "~をきっかけに" means 'triggered by ~' or 'taking ~ as an opportunity', expressing that something serves as the starting point for a new change or action.
  • "~にすぎない" means 'is nothing more than ~' or 'merely ~', expressing that the degree or scope of something is limited and nothing beyond that.
All JLPT N3 paragraphs