3-Minute Ghost Stories: Rokuro-Kubi- Easy News | Easy Japanese

3分で分かる小泉八雲の怪談　第3話『ろくろ首』

3-Minute Ghost Stories: Rokuro-Kubi

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さあ、今回ご紹介するお話はこちら「ろくろ首」。
All right, the story we'll be introducing this time is this: "Rokuro-Kubi"!
いや、ちょっとこの手の話、わし苦手じゃな。
Oh, wait... I dislike stories of this sort.
じゃあ、将棋でもしましょうか？
In that case, shall we play shogi or something?
いや、それはそれで困るけれど。
No, that troubles me as well, though.
今からおよそ五百年前、回竜という僧が旅をしていました。
Around 500 years ago from now, a monk by the name of Kairyou went on a trip.
彼は非常に腕の立つ侍でしたが、
He was an extremely skilled samurai, but
主君を亡くしたことを機に、世を捨てました。
he took the passing away of his lord as a chance to renounce the secular world.
頭を丸めて、侍から僧侶になったのかね。
I guess he shaved his head and turned into a monk from a samurai, huh?
そんな回竜に一人のおじさんが声をかけて来ました。
A man came up to that Kairyou to talk to him.
「旅の方、この辺りは化物が出るんで、危険ですぞ。
"Traveller, a monster appears around this vicinity. It's dangerous here.
家に泊まりなされ。」
Stay overnight at my house."
なんて言っていますが、実はこの人がろくろ首なんですね。
So he says, but this guy is actually a Rokuro-Kubi!
あらっ、あれっ、言っちゃっていいの？
Oh... huh? Is it okay to say that?
あっ... 何か言いました？
Ah... Did you say something?
ごまかしなさんな。
Don't play dumb.
おじさんの家族達は、みんなとても親切。
The man's family were all very kind!
でも、実は恐ろしい秘密を隠していたのです。
But they were actually hiding a terrifying secret...
じゃから、ろくろ首なんじゃろ。
Yeah, they were all Rokuro-Kubi, right?
えっ、何言ってんすか、何言ってんすか、そんな訳ないじゃないですか。
Huh? What are you saying? What are you talking about? There's no way that can be, isn't it?!
いや、さっき言ったじゃないか。
No, you said it just now, didn't you?
夜中になりました。
Midnight came around.
水を飲もうと、居間に入る回竜。
Kairyou enters the living room, intending to drink water.
すると、そこには首のない五つの体が！
Thereupon, (he finds) five bodies with no heads there!
何だ、あいつらろくろ首だったのか！
Oh, I see! Those guys were Rokuro-Kubi!
だから、さっき言ってたじゃない。
So you said that just now, didn't you?!
首は、回竜を見つけると、襲いかかって来ました。
When the heads discovered Kairyou, they came rushing at him!
「おい、なんで先にろくろ首って言っちゃうんだよ！」
"Hey! Why did you say we were Rokuro-Kubi ahead of time?!"
ほら、吉田君、すごい怒ってるよ、やっぱり。
Look, Yoshida, he's really angry after all!
でも大丈夫、あっさり返り討ち。
But that's all right. He easily countered them!
いや、さすが元侍じゃ。
Well, it's to be expected, he was an ex-samurai after all.
こうして、事なきを得ました。
Thus, he came to no harm.
でも、一体の首だけが、ずっと着物の袖に噛み付いたまま、離れません。
But just one head kept on biting onto the sleeve of his kimono and didn't let go.
いや、気持ち悪いの。
Well that's gross.
でも、何だか気に入ってしまう回竜、そのまま旅を続けたのです。
But Kairyou somehow took a fancy to that and continued on his trip without doing anything.
えー、変だよ、回竜。
What? Kairyou's weird!
至る所で気味悪がられる回竜。
Any place he arrived at, Kairyo creeped people out.
いや、そりゃ、そうじゃよ。
Well, that's would be right.
人殺しと勘違いされ、役人に捕えられたり、
He was mistaken as a killer, was caught by government officials...
さらに山道を歩いていたら、悪い奴らに絡まれてしまいました。
Even worse - when he was walking along a mountain path, he was picked on by bad people!
おい、おめえ、なんで生首なんてぶら下げてんだよ。
Hey! Why are you dangling a decapitated head on you?
とんだファッションモンスターだな。
You're an unbelievable fashion monster, eh?
うん、いいじゃろう。
Yes, it's good, isn't it?
気に入った。
I like that.
それ五両で譲ってくれ。
Give that to me for five ryou.
えー、なんで欲しがんの？
Huh? Why does he want that?
悪い奴らだから、箔が付くと思ったんでしょうね。
Because they were bad guys, they probably thought it could add some prestige to them, you know?
いや、趣味悪いな。
Well, that's tasteless...
こうして首は、回竜から追いはぎ達の手に渡りました。
And thus, the head was passed on to the highwaymen from Kairyou.
でも、色々考えると、やっぱり怖くなってきて...
But after considering a lot of things, they eventually became afraid after all...
今頃気付いたの。
You only realized that now?
元の家に帰って墓を掘り、生首を埋めて、ごめんなさいしましたと、さおしまい。
He went back to the original house, dug a grave, buried the head, and said sorry. Okay, the end.
いや、恐ろしい話じゃが、よくよく考えてみると、
Well, it was a terrifying story, but if you try to think about it,
ろくろ首の首を袖にぶら下げたり、それを欲しがったりする人間の方が、恐ろしいな。
the human who dangled a Rokuro-Kubi head on his sleeve, and the human who wanted that head was more terrifying...
そうですね。
You're right...
後意外だったのは、ろくろ首って首が伸びるだけじゃないんですね。
And what was surprising is that Rokuro-Kubi don't just have necks that stretch, huh?
ああ、飛ぶんじゃね。
Yeah, it flew, didn't it?
そう考えると、総統とろくろ首はそっくりですね。
Thinking about it like that, the general and Rokuro-Kubi are exactly alike, huh?
え？なんでじゃね。
Huh? Why's that?
総統もよくバイト先で、首が飛んでるじゃないですか。
General, your head often rolls at your part-time job place too, doesn't it?

さあ、今回ご紹介するお話はこちら「ろくろ首」。

紹介

Introduction, presentation, referral, listing

今回

Now, this time, lately

お話

Story, tale

ろくろ首

rokurokubi, long-neck woman, monstrous person (often a woman) with a neck that can expand and contract (in Japanese folklore)
いや、ちょっとこの手の話、わし苦手じゃな。

苦手

Poor (at), weak (in), not very good (at); dislike (of), difficult to deal with

手

Hand, arm; forepaw, foreleg; handle; hand, worker, help; trouble, care, effort; means, way, trick, move, technique, workmanship; hand, handwriting; kind, type, sort; one''s hands, one''s possession; ability to cope; hand (of cards); direction; move (in go, shogi, etc.)

話

Counter for stories, episodes of tv series, etc
じゃあ、将棋でもしましょうか？

じゃあ

Then, well, so, well then; combination of ''de'' and ''wa'' particles; plain copula

将棋

Shogi, japanese chess, xianqi
いや、それはそれで困るけれど。

困る

To be troubled, to be worried, to be bothered, to be embarrassed, to be stumped
今からおよそ五百年前、回竜という僧が旅をしていました。

回

Counter for occurrences; counter for games, rounds, etc., counter for innings (baseball); islam; hui (people)

旅

Travel, trip, journey

僧

Monk, priest

前

Ago, before (some event), previously, (minutes) to (the hour); in front (of), before (e.g. the house); head (of a line), front (e.g. of a bus), fore part; in the presence of; helping, portion; privates, private parts

今

The current ..., this; today''s ..

五

Five

年

Year; many years; age; past one''s prime, old age

百

100, hundred

竜

Dragon (esp. a chinese dragon); naga, semi-divine human-cobra chimera in hindu and buddhist mythology; promoted rook
彼は非常に腕の立つ侍でしたが、

腕

Arm (esp. upper arm); counter used to measure the thickness of round objects

彼

He, him; his; boyfriend

非常

Emergency; extraordinary, unusual

立つ

To stand, to rise, to stand up; to find oneself (e.g. in a difficult position); to depart (on a plane, train, etc.)

侍

Warrior (esp. of military retainers of daimyos in the edo period), samurai; man in attendance (on a person of high standing), retainer
主君を亡くしたことを機に、世を捨てました。

世

Counter for generations; epoch

機

Loom

主君

lord, master
頭を丸めて、侍から僧侶になったのかね。

頭

Counter for large animals (e.g. head of cattle)

丸め

Rounding

僧侶

Priest, monk

侍

Warrior (esp. of military retainers of daimyos in the edo period), samurai; man in attendance (on a person of high standing), retainer
そんな回竜に一人のおじさんが声をかけて来ました。

そんな

Such (about the actions of the listener, or about ideas expressed or understood by the listener), like that, that sort of

来

Next (year, etc.); since (last month, etc.)

回

Counter for occurrences; counter for games, rounds, etc., counter for innings (baseball); islam; hui (people)

人

Person

一

One; best; first, foremost; beginning, start; bottom string (on a shamisen, etc.)

声

Voice

竜

Dragon (esp. a chinese dragon); naga, semi-divine human-cobra chimera in hindu and buddhist mythology; promoted rook
「旅の方、この辺りは化物が出るんで、危険ですぞ。

危険

Danger, peril, hazard; risk

方

Direction, way, side, area (in a particular direction); side (of an argument, etc.), one''s part; type, category; field (of study, etc.); indicates one side of a comparison; way, method, manner, means; length (of each side of a square)

辺り

On the bank of, by the side of (e.g. a river, pond); (in the) neighbourhood, neighborhood, vicinity, nearby; around (sunday, last year, etc...); for instance

旅

Travel, trip, journey

出る

To leave, to exit, to go out, to come out, to get out; to leave (on a journey), to depart, to start out, to set out; to move forward; to come to, to get to, to lead to, to reach; to appear, to come out, to emerge, to surface, to come forth, to turn up, to be found, to be detected, to be discovered, to be exposed, to show, to be exhibited, to be on display; to appear (in print), to be published, to be announced, to be issued, to be listed, to come out; to attend, to participate, to take part, to enter (an event), to play in, to perform; to be stated, to be expressed, to come up, to be brought up, to be raised; to sell; to exceed, to go over; to stick out, to protrude; to break out, to occur, to start, to originate; to be produced; to come from, to be derived from; to be given, to get, to receive, to be offered, to be provided, to be presented, to be submitted, to be handed in, to be turned in, to be paid; to answer (phone, door, etc.), to get; to assume (an attitude), to act, to behave; to pick up (speed, etc.), to gain; to flow (e.g. tears), to run, to bleed; to graduate
家に泊まりなされ。」

家

House (e.g. of tokugawa), family

泊まり

stay, stopover, anchorage, night duty
なんて言っていますが、実はこの人がろくろ首なんですね。

実は

As a matter of fact, by the way, to tell you the truth, to be honest, frankly

人

Person

なんて

Such as, (things) like; exclamation

ろくろ首

rokurokubi, long-neck woman, monstrous person (often a woman) with a neck that can expand and contract (in Japanese folklore)
あらっ、あれっ、言っちゃっていいの？
あっ... 何か言いました？

何

What; how many; you-know-what, that; whatsit, what''s the expression, what do you call them; what?; hey!
ごまかしなさんな。
おじさんの家族達は、みんなとても親切。

親切

Kindness, gentleness

家族

Family, members of a family

達

Pluralizing suffix (esp. for people & animals; formerly honorific)
でも、実は恐ろしい秘密を隠していたのです。

秘密

Secret, secrecy, confidentiality, privacy; secret, mystery; esoteric teachings

恐ろしい

Terrible, dreadful, terrifying, frightening, frightened; surprising, startling, tremendous, amazing

実は

As a matter of fact, by the way, to tell you the truth, to be honest, frankly

隠し

Hiding, concealing, being hidden, being concealed; pocket
じゃから、ろくろ首なんじゃろ。

ろくろ首

rokurokubi, long-neck woman, monstrous person (often a woman) with a neck that can expand and contract (in Japanese folklore)
えっ、何言ってんすか、何言ってんすか、そんな訳ないじゃないですか。

そんな

Such (about the actions of the listener, or about ideas expressed or understood by the listener), like that, that sort of

訳

Conclusion from reasoning, judgement or calculation based on something read or heard, reason, cause, meaning, circumstances, situation

何

What; how many; you-know-what, that; whatsit, what''s the expression, what do you call them; what?; hey!
いや、さっき言ったじゃないか。

さっき

Some time ago, just now
夜中になりました。

夜中

Midnight, dead of night
水を飲もうと、居間に入る回竜。

居間

Living room (western style)

回

Counter for occurrences; counter for games, rounds, etc., counter for innings (baseball); islam; hui (people)

入る

To enter, to go into; to break into; to join, to enroll; to contain, to hold, to accommodate; to have (an income of); to get, to receive, to score

水

Water (esp. cool, fresh water, e.g. drinking water); fluid (esp. in an animal tissue), liquid; flood, floodwaters; water offered to wrestlers just prior to a bout; break granted to wrestlers engaged in a prolonged bout

竜

Dragon (esp. a chinese dragon); naga, semi-divine human-cobra chimera in hindu and buddhist mythology; promoted rook
すると、そこには首のない五つの体が！

首

Counter for songs and poems

すると

Thereupon, hereupon

体

Appearance, air, condition, state, form

五つ

Five
何だ、あいつらろくろ首だったのか！

何だ

What!

ろくろ首

rokurokubi, long-neck woman, monstrous person (often a woman) with a neck that can expand and contract (in Japanese folklore)
だから、さっき言ってたじゃない。

さっき

Some time ago, just now

だから

So, therefore
首は、回竜を見つけると、襲いかかって来ました。

首

Counter for songs and poems

見つける

To discover, to find (e.g. an error in a book), to come across, to detect, to spot; to locate, to find (e.g. something missing), to find fault; to be used to seeing, to be familiar with

来

Next (year, etc.); since (last month, etc.)

回

Counter for occurrences; counter for games, rounds, etc., counter for innings (baseball); islam; hui (people)

竜

Dragon (esp. a chinese dragon); naga, semi-divine human-cobra chimera in hindu and buddhist mythology; promoted rook
「おい、なんで先にろくろ首って言っちゃうんだよ！」

先

Former, previous, old; first move (in go, shogi, etc.), opening move

ちゃう

No!; isn''t it?, wasn''t it?

ろくろ首

rokurokubi, long-neck woman, monstrous person (often a woman) with a neck that can expand and contract (in Japanese folklore)
ほら、吉田君、すごい怒ってるよ、やっぱり。

君

Mr (junior), master, boy
でも大丈夫、あっさり返り討ち。

あっさり

Easily, readily, quickly; lightly (flavored food, applied makeup)

大丈夫

Safe, all right, alright, ok, okay, sure; certainly, surely, undoubtedly; great man, fine figure of a man

返り討ち

Killing a would-be avenger; having the tables turned on someone (e.g. by a challenger), being beaten at one''s own game
いや、さすが元侍じゃ。

元

Unknown (e.g. in an equation); element (of a set); yuan (monetary unit of china); yuan dynasty (china)

侍

Warrior (esp. of military retainers of daimyos in the edo period), samurai; man in attendance (on a person of high standing), retainer
こうして、事なきを得ました。

得

Profit, advantage, benefit, gain; rebirth in paradise, entering nirvana
でも、一体の首だけが、ずっと着物の袖に噛み付いたまま、離れません。

着物

Clothing, clothes; kimono (or other trad. japanese clothing)

首

Counter for songs and poems

一体

...the heck (e.g. "what the heck?"), ...in the world (e.g. "why in the world?"), ...on earth (e.g. "who on earth?"); one object, one body, unity; one form, one style; one buddhist image (or carving, etc.); generally, in general

ずっと

Continuously in some state (for a long time, distance), throughout, all along, the whole time, all the way; much (better, etc.), by far, far and away; far away, long ago; direct, straight

袖

Sleeve; wing (of a stage, desk, gate, etc.)

離れ

Separation from, loss of interest in, independence of, distancing (of oneself) from, disillusionment with, alienation from (something); detached (dwelling, room)
いや、気持ち悪いの。

気持ち

Feeling, sensation, mood; preparedness, readiness, attitude; thanks, solicitude, sympathy; just a little, somewhat, slightly

悪い

Bad, poor, inferior; evil, sinful; unprofitable, unbeneficial; at fault, to blame, in the wrong; sorry
でも、何だか気に入ってしまう回竜、そのまま旅を続けたのです。

回

Counter for occurrences; counter for games, rounds, etc., counter for innings (baseball); islam; hui (people)

旅

Travel, trip, journey

何だか

(a) little, somewhat, somehow

竜

Dragon (esp. a chinese dragon); naga, semi-divine human-cobra chimera in hindu and buddhist mythology; promoted rook
えー、変だよ、回竜。

変

Strange, odd, peculiar, weird, curious, queer, eccentric, funny, suspicious, fishy; unexpected; change; incident, disturbance, disaster, accident; flat

回

Counter for occurrences; counter for games, rounds, etc., counter for innings (baseball); islam; hui (people)

竜

Dragon (esp. a chinese dragon); naga, semi-divine human-cobra chimera in hindu and buddhist mythology; promoted rook
至る所で気味悪がられる回竜。

至る

To arrive at (e.g. a decision), to reach (a stage), to attain; to lead to (a place), to get to; to come, to arrive, to result in

回

Counter for occurrences; counter for games, rounds, etc., counter for innings (baseball); islam; hui (people)

所

Place, spot, scene, site; address; district, area, locality; one''s house; point; part; space, room; whereupon, as a result; about to, on the verge of; was just doing, was in the process of doing, have just done, just finished doing

竜

Dragon (esp. a chinese dragon); naga, semi-divine human-cobra chimera in hindu and buddhist mythology; promoted rook
いや、そりゃ、そうじゃよ。
人殺しと勘違いされ、役人に捕えられたり、

勘違い

Misunderstanding, wrong guess

役人

Government official

人殺し

Murder, murderer
さらに山道を歩いていたら、悪い奴らに絡まれてしまいました。

悪い

Bad, poor, inferior; evil, sinful; unprofitable, unbeneficial; at fault, to blame, in the wrong; sorry

山道

Mountain road, mountain trail
おい、おめえ、なんで生首なんてぶら下げてんだよ。

なんて

Such as, (things) like; exclamation

生首

freshly severed head
とんだファッションモンスターだな。

とんだ

Unthinkable, unimaginable, inconceivable, unexpected; terrible, awful, serious; very

ファッション

Fashion

モンスター

Monster
うん、いいじゃろう。
気に入った。
それ五両で譲ってくれ。

五

Five

両

Both (e.g. both shoulders, etc.); ryo (obsolete unit of currency); 41-42 g (one sixteenth of a kin); 2 tan (measure of fabric size); counter for carriages (e.g. in a train), counter for vehicles
えー、なんで欲しがんの？
悪い奴らだから、箔が付くと思ったんでしょうね。

付く

To be attached, to be connected with, to adhere, to stick, to cling; to remain imprinted, to scar, to stain, to dye; to bear (fruit, interest, etc.); to be acquired (of a habit, ability, etc.), to increase (of strength, etc.); to take root; to accompany, to attend, to follow, to study with; to side with, to belong to; to possess, to haunt; to be lit, to be lighted; to be settled, to be resolved, to be decided; to be given (of a name, price, etc.); to be sensed, to be perceived; to be lucky; to become (a state, condition, etc.)

悪い

Bad, poor, inferior; evil, sinful; unprofitable, unbeneficial; at fault, to blame, in the wrong; sorry

箔

foil, (gold, etc.) leaf; prestige
いや、趣味悪いな。

趣味

Hobby, pastime; tastes, preference, liking

悪い

Bad, poor, inferior; evil, sinful; unprofitable, unbeneficial; at fault, to blame, in the wrong; sorry
こうして首は、回竜から追いはぎ達の手に渡りました。

首

Counter for songs and poems

回

Counter for occurrences; counter for games, rounds, etc., counter for innings (baseball); islam; hui (people)

手

Hand, arm; forepaw, foreleg; handle; hand, worker, help; trouble, care, effort; means, way, trick, move, technique, workmanship; hand, handwriting; kind, type, sort; one''s hands, one''s possession; ability to cope; hand (of cards); direction; move (in go, shogi, etc.)

竜

Dragon (esp. a chinese dragon); naga, semi-divine human-cobra chimera in hindu and buddhist mythology; promoted rook

達

Pluralizing suffix (esp. for people & animals; formerly honorific)

渡り

Ferry
でも、色々考えると、やっぱり怖くなってきて...

考える

To think about, to take into consideration; to ponder, to reflect, to try to come at a conclusion, to think over (something); to intend, to decide (to do), to plan; to come up with, to devise, to scheme; to predict, to anticipate, to expect; to suspect, to doubt; to consider (somebody to be something), to look on

色々

Various; various colors (colours)
今頃気付いたの。

今頃

About this time
元の家に帰って墓を掘り、生首を埋めて、ごめんなさいしましたと、さおしまい。

墓

Gravesite, tomb

元

Unknown (e.g. in an equation); element (of a set); yuan (monetary unit of china); yuan dynasty (china)

家

House (e.g. of tokugawa), family

生首

freshly severed head
いや、恐ろしい話じゃが、よくよく考えてみると、

恐ろしい

Terrible, dreadful, terrifying, frightening, frightened; surprising, startling, tremendous, amazing

考え

Thinking, thought, view, opinion, concept; idea, notion, imagination; intention, plan, design; consideration, judgement, deliberation, reflection; wish, hope, expectation

話

Counter for stories, episodes of tv series, etc
ろくろ首の首を袖にぶら下げたり、それを欲しがったりする人間の方が、恐ろしいな。

首

Counter for songs and poems

人間

Human being, person, man, mankind, humankind; character (of a person)

方

Direction, way, side, area (in a particular direction); side (of an argument, etc.), one''s part; type, category; field (of study, etc.); indicates one side of a comparison; way, method, manner, means; length (of each side of a square)

恐ろしい

Terrible, dreadful, terrifying, frightening, frightened; surprising, startling, tremendous, amazing

袖

Sleeve; wing (of a stage, desk, gate, etc.)

ろくろ首

rokurokubi, long-neck woman, monstrous person (often a woman) with a neck that can expand and contract (in Japanese folklore)
そうですね。

そうですね

That''s so, isn''t it
後意外だったのは、ろくろ首って首が伸びるだけじゃないんですね。

首

Counter for songs and poems

後

After

伸びる

To stretch, to extend, to lengthen, to spread; to make progress, to grow (beard, body height); to grow stale (soba); to be straightened, to be flattened, to be smoothed; to be exhausted; to be postponed, to be prolonged

意外

Unexpected, surprising

ろくろ首

rokurokubi, long-neck woman, monstrous person (often a woman) with a neck that can expand and contract (in Japanese folklore)
ああ、飛ぶんじゃね。

飛ぶ

To fly, to soar; to jump, to leap, to spring, to bound, to hop
そう考えると、総統とろくろ首はそっくりですね。

考える

To think about, to take into consideration; to ponder, to reflect, to try to come at a conclusion, to think over (something); to intend, to decide (to do), to plan; to come up with, to devise, to scheme; to predict, to anticipate, to expect; to suspect, to doubt; to consider (somebody to be something), to look on

そっくり

All, altogether, entirely, completely; exactly like, just like

総統

supreme ruler, generalissimo; president (of Taiwan); fuhrer, fuehrer

ろくろ首

rokurokubi, long-neck woman, monstrous person (often a woman) with a neck that can expand and contract (in Japanese folklore)
え？なんでじゃね。
総統もよくバイト先で、首が飛んでるじゃないですか。

首

Counter for songs and poems

先

Former, previous, old; first move (in go, shogi, etc.), opening move

バイト

Work (esp. part time or casual); byte, octet; bite; cutting tool, bit

総統

supreme ruler, generalissimo; president (of Taiwan); fuhrer, fuehrer