Introduction

R7 is a sample of a modern Japanese essay written by Tetsuroo Morimoto, a scholar and essayist. He has written extensively on the philosophy of traveling. The piece we read as R7 was published in his book titled Subarashiki Tabi – Ningen, Saigetsu, Deal “The Wonderment of Travel – Human Beings, Passing Time and Chance Encounter” in 1976 (Tokyo: Daiamondosha). Although students of Japanese will find many new vocabulary items, this essay, in its entirety, can be read with a basic gram – matical background combined with the discourse knowledge gained by studying this book.

Since the essay is divided into five sections as shown in the original text in Appendix 1 – (1) danraku A, (2) danraku B to F, (3) danraku G to L, (4) danraku M to U, and finally (5) danraku V to Z – the reader may read each section separately. This strategy may help the reader not to be overwhelmed by the number of new vocabulary items.

Pre-reading tasks

1. Do you like to travel? Why do you travel? Why don't you travel? How do you decide where to go? List Japanese words you need in order to answer these questions.

2. What images and impressions do you have about the desert? The Mohave? The Sahara? Describe your images in Japanese in a memo format.