The Shigarakicho district of Koka, Shiga Prefecture, is famous for its production of Shigaraki pottery. Snake ornaments are being made there for the Chinese zodiac in 2025, the year of the serpent. A kiln that has been active since the Edo period will produce about 2,000 figurines by mid-December. Workers place clay in molds one by one and paint them white. The ornaments are known for their warm texture and appearance.

Note: The Edo period is from 1603 to 1867.

Japanese original

Easy Japanese news is taken from the Mainichi Shogakusei Shimbun, a newspaper for children. This is perfect material for anyone studying Japanese who has learned hiragana and katakana. We encourage beginners to read the article in English followed by Japanese, or vice versa, to test their comprehension.

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