Eleven approximately 8-meter-long kagotaimatsu torches made an appearance in the omizutori ceremony to herald the arrival of spring at Todaiji temple's Nigatsu-do hall in the city of Nara on the night of March 12. These are the largest of the torches that are lit on consecutive days during the ceremony. Due to the saying that people are able to live healthily for a year when they are exposed to the sparks, when the torches were swung around, people who came to visit the temple cheered.

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.

A fresh set will be published every Monday, Wednesday and Friday at 4 p.m., Japan time. Click/tap here for past installments.

Intermediate learners who do not need English assistance can directly access the Mainichi Shogakusei Shimbun site here. Furigana (hiragana) is added to all kanji in the text.