作品Free Graded Reading
総理大臣が貰つた手紙の話The Story of the Letter Received by the Prime Minister
Souri Daijin ga Moratta Tegami no Hanashi
by 坂口 安吾 · Sakaguchi Ango
A satirical tale of a letter that reaches the Prime Minister.
About this story
About this storyA thief writes a letter to the Prime Minister, critiquing his policies and offering unsolicited advice on debt.
Read a sample in Japanese
Read a sample in JapaneseSource
SourceThis text comes from Aozora Bunko (青空文庫), the volunteer-run library of Japanese writing that is out of copyright. See this work on Aozora Bunko
Base edition (底本): 「坂口安吾全集 03」筑摩書房
1999（平成11）年3月20日初版第1刷発行
Typed in by tatsuki. Proofread by 砂場清隆.
Yomimaru changed the spelling to modern kana and modern kanji, and replaced classical grammar and some archaic words with modern ones.
The furigana are Yomimaru's.
What you'll learn
What you'll learnA thick registered letter arrives at the Prime Minister's office, marked confidential, but it is read by a bored official who finds it useless.
The thief's letter argues that borrowing money leads to misery, while theft is a healthy, honest profession that improves society by fostering vigilance and discipline.
The official finishes reading the letter, yawns, and tosses it into the wastebasket, rendering the thief's effort useless.
Key vocabulary
Key vocabulary| 書留 (かきとめ) | registered mail |
|---|---|
| 親展 (しんてん) | confidential (on envelope) |
| 泥棒 (どろぼう) | thief; theft |
Grammar points you'll meet
Grammar points you'll meet- ～てある (resultative) N4Indicates that something has been done and remains in that state.親展と朱肉で捺してあるのである。
- ～なければならない (obligation) N4Must do; have to do.借金は堅く慎まれる方が宜しい。なぜと言って、第一、借金をして、返せなかったらどうしますか。
Cultural notes
Cultural notes- 総理大臣官邸The official residence of the Prime Minister of Japan, symbolizing the highest political authority. Receiving a letter there is a sign of importance.
- 泥棒の倫理観The thief's argument paradoxically praises theft as a means to improve social discipline and mental alertness, reflecting a satirical take on conventional morality.
Try a comprehension question
Try a comprehension questionWhat is the first thing described in the text?
- A thief writing a letter
- A letter arriving at the Prime Minister's office
- The Prime Minister reading a letter
- An official throwing a letter away
Sensei's reading tip
Sensei's reading tipPay attention to the formal and archaic language used in the letter, especially honorifics like 貴殿.
Topics & grammar
Topics & grammar
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