The First Trial!

Previously…

On Kero Learns Japanese

Sensei: Goro wanted Kero alive,
Goro roars his order.
Sensei: but his fish left the bullet train by air!
The Fin Brigade and their trolley sail off into the sky.
Sensei: In Tokyo,
The bullet train glides into Tokyo past Tokyo Tower.
Sensei: an octopus sent Kero to my door.
The octopus chef points up the street.
Sensei: My answer?
Kero knocks on Sensei’s door.
Sensei: ...no.
Sensei, behind the chained door.

That night, in Kerotown…

Goro soaks in a wooden tub on a lantern-lit terrace at night.

Scene description: Goro soaks in a wooden tub on a lantern-lit terrace at night.

Goro: Ahhh... peace and quiet.
Goro relaxes in the bubbles, eyes closed, a rubber duck floating by.
Goro: Hm?
Goro opens one eye.
A falling star streaks down over the terrace. It is the Fin Brigade, screaming.

Scene description: A falling star streaks down over the terrace. It is the Fin Brigade, screaming.

Water bursts up around Goro’s tub.

Scene description: Water bursts up around Goro’s tub.

The Fin Brigade land in their own washtub, dripping.

Scene description: The Fin Brigade land in their own washtub, dripping.

Goro: Where... is... the FROG?
Goro glares, teeth bared, the rubber duck now sitting on his head.

When you are mad

Goro glowers in the lesson circle, a rubber duck still on his head.
Sensei: No! In Japan, when we are mad, we say...
ゆるさない Romaji: yurusanai I won’t forgive you!

Said when you’re really mad.

I won’t forgive you!

Goro:
ゆるさない！ Romaji: yurusanai I won’t forgive you!
Goro stamps and roars, the duck still on his head.
Le Chomp: Tokyo, chef! With a... teacher!
Le Chomp pops up from the washtub to report.
Goro: A teacher...?
Goro blinks, puzzled.
Goro: ...The TRIALS!
Goro’s eyes go wide with alarm.
Goro: I was warned about this.
Goro sinks lower in his tub, sweating.

The three trials

Goro: An Echo Frog, trained by a master, would face three trials.
A frog in silhouette stands before a blazing sun, rings of golden light around him.
Three wild places side by side: a roaring waterfall, a winding mountain path and a dark peak under a storm, a small frog silhouette before each.

Scene description: Three wild places side by side: a roaring waterfall, a winding mountain path and a dark peak under a storm, a small frog silhouette before each.

Goro: To reach the first trial, he must take the train north...
A night train crosses a viaduct out of Tokyo.
Goro: ...all the way to the last station before the barrier.
The train waits at a lonely mountain station at night.

No one crosses their bridge

Goro: Beyond it lies the crossing.
A wooden bridge leads into a dark forest under the moon.
Two eyes glint in the dark beside the bridge.

Scene description: Two eyes glint in the dark beside the bridge.

Goro: The oni guard it.
Two red oni with spiked clubs stand on the bridge.
Goro: No one crosses their bridge.
The two oni scowl, their clubs crossed between them.

The Roaring Falls

Goro: Then the Roaring Falls.
A great waterfall thunders into a misty pool. The frog silhouette stands on a rock beside it.
Goro: The first trial.
The frog silhouette stands ready before the falls.
Goro: He must make his voice heard over the roar of the water.
The frog silhouette croaks, sending rings of sound toward the falls.

The Hanzaki

Goro: And the falls have a guardian.
Two golden eyes open under the churning pool below the falls.
Goro: The Hanzaki.
A huge dark head rises out of the water, its golden eyes half shut.
Goro: A giant salamander, as old as the mountain itself.
The giant salamander rises until it almost blots out the falls.
Its jaws gape open on a dark throat.

Scene description: Its jaws gape open on a dark throat.

Le Chomp: A g-g-giant salamander...
Back in Kerotown, the three fish shiver in their washtub.
Le Chomp: Chef, zey EAT fish!
Le Chomp clutches the rim of the washtub in terror.

Scary!

The three fish shiver together in their washtub.
Sensei: No! In Japan, when something is scary, we say...
こわい Romaji: kowai Scary!

Say it when something frightens you.

Stronger than any dragon

Le Chomp:
こ、こわい！ Romaji: ko-kowai S-scary!
The three fish tremble together in their washtub.
Goro: If he passes,
Goro leans forward in his tub.
Goro: it wakes a power in him.
The frog silhouette glows, a golden light awake in his chest.
Goro: Stronger than that Dragon Fist.
A memory: Kero with the dragon of light coiled around him.
Goro: Perhaps stronger than any dragon.
A golden crown-shaped crest blazes in the dark.

The First Dragon

Goro: And if he masters all three...
Blue eyes glow in the dark doorway of an ancient stone gate.
Goro: his croak could seal
A golden ring of sound sweeps across the gate.
Goro: the First Dragon.
The doors close in on the First Dragon’s glowing eyes.
Goro: Forever.
The doors are shut, and a golden seal locks them.

Is it... a pastry?

Le Chomp: Chef...
Le Chomp raises a fin from the washtub.
Le Chomp: what is a ‘trial’? Is it...
Le Chomp puzzles it out, question marks all around him.
Le Chomp: a pastry?
Le Chomp imagines himself in a chef’s hat beside a golden pie.
Fin Brigade: Ooh! With cream?
The other two fish float in, dreamy, as cream appears on the pie.
Goro: It is NOT a pastry!
Goro stamps, steam blasting from his nose.
Goro: It’s where that frog gets STRONG!
Goro glowers from his tub.

Stop him!

Goro: He’ll take that train north. Get to the station...
Goro stands up in his tub to give his orders. The fish listen from their washtub.
Goro: and STOP him before he reaches the barrier!
Goro bellows, fists raised.
Fin Brigade: Oui, chef!
The Fin Brigade salute from their washtub.
Goro: No! Get going!
Goro roars at them.
Goro breathes fire at the Fin Brigade’s washtub.

Scene description: Goro breathes fire at the Fin Brigade’s washtub.

The washtub rockets into the night sky with the fish inside, screaming.

Scene description: The washtub rockets into the night sky with the fish inside, screaming.

They vanish into a twinkling star.

Scene description: They vanish into a twinkling star.

Go!

Goro stands ready to give his order.
Sensei: No! In Japan, we say...
いけ Romaji: ike Go!

A strong command. It is not a polite way to ask.

Sensei! It’s me again!

Goro:
いけ！ Romaji: ike Go!
Goro stamps and shouts his order.
Narrator: Next morning, in Tokyo…
Next morning in Tokyo, Kero knocks on Sensei’s green door.
Kero: Sensei! It’s me again!
Kero beams outside the door.
Sensei: ...no.
Sensei peers through the gap of his chained door.
Kero: Breakfast?
A rice ball is pushed up to the bottom of the door.
Sensei: ...no.
Kero holds the rice ball. It comes back with a bite out of it.

Biggest fan

Kero: I’m your BIGGEST fan! Sign this?
Kero holds up an autograph card with Sensei’s face on it.
Kero slides the autograph card through Sensei’s mail slot.

Scene description: Kero slides the autograph card through Sensei’s mail slot.

Sensei: No.
The card comes back out of the door with NO. scrawled across it.
Kero: Sensei!
Kero sings into a microphone, eyes shut.
An alley cat on the wall joins in, mouth wide open.

Scene description: An alley cat on the wall joins in, mouth wide open.

Kero: Sensei! SENSEI!
Kero and four alley cats sing at the top of their voices.
Sensei: Will you shut up!
Sensei bursts out, furious.

Be quiet!

Kero listens in the lesson circle, eyes wide.
Kero: In Japan, when someone is too noisy, we say...
しずかに Romaji: shizuka ni Be quiet.

Say it when someone is too noisy.

Now get lost!

Kero:
しずかに。 Romaji: shizuka ni Be quiet.
Kero, very quietly.
Sensei: Here.
Sensei opens the door and holds out a folded map.
Sensei: Take the train north.
The map: YOUR ROUTE, from TOKYO STATION north by train to the ROARING FALLS.
Sensei: Defeat the salamander.
The route is drawn in red, and the salamander on the map is crossed out.
Sensei: Now get lost!
Sensei shouts from the doorway. Kero holds the map.
The door is shut. Kero is left holding the map.

Scene description: The door is shut. Kero is left holding the map.

The train north…

Kero holds up a NORTHBOUND postcard of a train in a moonlit valley.

Scene description: Kero holds up a NORTHBOUND postcard of a train in a moonlit valley.

The train runs north through a moonlit mountain valley.

Scene description: The train runs north through a moonlit mountain valley.

At night, Kero stands at the foot of a wooden bridge in the forest, map in hand.

Scene description: At night, Kero stands at the foot of a wooden bridge in the forest, map in hand.

Not you again!

A washtub full of screaming fish streaks down out of the night sky.

Scene description: A washtub full of screaming fish streaks down out of the night sky.

The washtub crashes down on the bridge beside Kero.

Scene description: The washtub crashes down on the bridge beside Kero.

Kero: Not you again!
Kero narrows his eyes.
Le Chomp: Gentlefish! Formation!
Le Chomp leaps up against a burst of blue light.
Le Chomp strikes a pose: “Le Chomp!”

Scene description: Le Chomp strikes a pose: “Le Chomp!”

Le Crunch: Le Cru...
Le Crunch starts his pose under the title LE CRUNCH!, but he is cut off.

The oni

A huge spiked club thuds down beside the washtub.

Scene description: A huge spiked club thuds down beside the washtub.

A red oni roars at the fish.

Scene description: A red oni roars at the fish.

The three fish shrink back in their washtub.

Scene description: The three fish shrink back in their washtub.

The oni swings its club into the washtub.

Scene description: The oni swings its club into the washtub.

The washtub spins off into the night sky with the fish inside.

Scene description: The washtub spins off into the night sky with the fish inside.

The oni turns to Kero.

Scene description: The oni turns to Kero.

Next time…

Sensei: Will Kero survive?
Kero stares straight ahead.
The oni glares back at him.

Scene description: The oni glares back at him.

Sensei: Find out next time on Kero Learns Japanese!
Kero and the oni, side by side. To be continued.

Episode 5 · 4 questions

Japanese Word Quiz

Pick the right spelling for the English and the romaji, then hear it in Japanese. Earn a star for each correct answer.

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