🍜 Japanese Title:
紙灯籠の夜
Kami Tōrō no Yoru
Night of Paper Lanterns
🎯 Theme:
In a lakeside town during its yearly lantern festival, Hana and Yuki take part by writing a message to Aika on a paper lantern and floating it across the water. Hundreds of lanterns drift in the dark, carrying hopes, memories, and goodbyes.
As their lantern sails away, a young girl asks what they wished for. Hana replies, “To remember, and to move forward.”
📍 Setting:
- Lantern-lit lakeside
- Bridge with floating lanterns
- Town square with festival booths
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📚 Vocabulary:
| Japanese | Reading | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 灯籠 | とうろう | lantern |
| 湖 | みずうみ | lake |
| 願い事 | ねがいごと | wish |
| 流す | ながす | to float (on water) |
🔊 Useful Phrases:
- 静かに流れていくね。
(They’re drifting so quietly.) - この光、彼女に届くかな？
(Do you think this light will reach her?) - 願いごとを書いたんだ。
(I wrote a wish.)
📉 Grammar Focus:
| Grammar | Example | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 〜たまま | 灯籠を手に持ったまま、歩いた。 | while holding |
| 〜かもしれない | 届いたかもしれない。 | might have |
| 〜ながら | 願いを書きながら思い出した。 | while doing |
🎥 Dialogue:
Yuki: 「灯籠が…手紙みたいだね。」
(The lanterns… they’re like letters.)
Hana: 「届いた先に、彼女がいたらいいな。」
(I hope she’s at the other end.)
🛏️ Final Note:
On the lantern’s base:
「忘れないでくれて、ありがとう。」
(Thank you for not forgetting me.)