Languages / Japanese / Level 1 · Unit 3

買い物をする — The Full Market Shop

Lesson 15 of 170 · Level 1 of 6All lessons
In this lesson

You are learning the full market shop: you will read the scene it happens in, learn 10 words and phrases, take apart the pattern behind them (shopping sequence phrases + going to places), hear them in a conversation, rehearse them, and finish by saying one thing out loud to be graded.

The scene

Ameyoko market, Ueno — the open-air market under the Yamanote Line tracks. 400+ stalls, fish, dried goods, spices, and the best takoyaki in Tokyo. Saturday morning with a basket and all your Japanese.

アメ横の土曜日 · Ameyoko Saturday ~170 words · Unit 3 finale

Ameyoko market runs under the Yamanote Line tracks between Ueno and Okachimachi stations. It was founded after World War II as a black market, became a candy market (ame = candy, or America — the origin is disputed), and is now 400+ stalls selling dried seafood, spices, cosmetics, clothing, and the freshest fish in Tokyo's most democratic market.

The stranger arrives at 9am with a list: dashi stock, sesame oil, dried mushrooms, fresh ginger, and whatever looks interesting. The market is already loud. Vendors call prices. A man with a megaphone announces a special on dried squid.

The stranger moves stall by stall: 「まずだしを買います。次に野菜。」 First the dashi. Then vegetables. An hour later, the basket is full and heavy. 「全部揃いました!」

On the way out, says 「ありがとうございました!またね。」 to the mushroom vendor who helped most. 「また来てね!」 — please come back. This Saturday, like every other, was exactly right.