Kayaributa

I was reading an article that the production of "kayaributa" is now at its peak before summer starts. When I saw a picture of it, it made me nostalgic. "Kayaributa" is a pig shaped pottery that you put a mosquito coil (katori-senkou) in. It is one of the things that give a poetic charm to the Japanese summer. Why a pig? Unfortunately I don't have the answer, but it has a humorous look, doesn't it?


Since there are many mosquitos in Japan, katori-senkou is an essential item for summer. It has been used for more than 100 years and is still popular. I wonder if other hot and humid countries have something similar.

Japanese Translation

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Romaji Translation

Kayaributa no seisan ga natsu o mae ni shite, piiku o mukaeteiru to iu kiji o yomimashita. Sono shashin on mita toki, totemo natsukashiku omoimashita. Kayaributa towa, buta no katachi o shita yakimono de, naka ni katori-senkou o ireru mono desu. Sore wa nihon no natsu no fuubutsushi no hitotsu demo arimasu. Doushite, buta ka tte? Zannen nagara riyuu wa wakaranai no desu ga, nakanaka aikyou ga aru to omoimasen ka. Nihon niwa ka ga takusan hassei suru node, natsu niwa katori-senkou wa kakasemasen.

Hyaku-nen ijou mo mae kara tsukawarete iamsu ga, ima demo hiroku fukyuu shite imasu. Mushiatsuku naru hoka no kuni demo, onaji youna mono ga tsukawareteiru no kana to omoimasu.

Note: The translation is not always literal.

Beginner's Phrases

When I saw a picture of it, it made me nostalgic.

• Sono shashin o mita toki, totemo natsukashiku omoimashita.
• ??????? ???????? ????? ???????
• ???????????????????????

Why a pig?

• Doushite, buta ka tte?
• ?????????？

Learn More

"Naze （??）" can be used instead of "doushite". "Doushite" sounds a little more formal.

Click here to learn vocabulary for animals.