Four Seasons: Autumn

The cooler weather brings natural beauty but also portends a time of scarcity for the animals on one mountainside. But a unique hot spring where the usual rules of eat-or-be-eaten are paused becomes a place to hash out survival strategies. Follow a bear preparing for hibernation and a deer with whom she shares a special bond in this short, heartwarming story.

While we consider this slightly more challenging than the previous two seasonal installments in this series, it should feel like a very gentle increase in difficulty. (14 episodes)

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Episode 1
As a fruitful autumn begins to wane, the narrator prepares for hibernation.
Notes: This episode contains a note on the verb 湧く (わく), one on the ~てくる pattern, and more.
Editions Status Total Readers
With Sound Effects Unread 6741
Voice Only Unread 1044
Episode 2
The narrator describes a special kind of hot spring with a special rule.
Notes: This episode contains a note on the expression 気に入る, one that breaks down a longer sentence, and more.
Editions Status Total Readers
With Sound Effects Unread 2103
Voice Only Unread 300
Pro
Episode 3
The bear and deer recognize each other.
Notes: This episode contains a note on the word 立派 (りっぱ), one on a feminine speech trait, and more.
Editions Status Total Readers
With Sound Effects Unread 1167
Voice Only Unread 162
Pro
Episode 4
The narrator shares a concern, and Fox and Monkey weigh in.
Notes: This episode contains a note on a pattern for making a verb more humble and polite, one on a use of the ~てくれる pattern, and more.
Editions Status Total Readers
With Sound Effects Unread 867
Voice Only Unread 119
Pro
Episode 5
The deer has an idea that he thinks might help.
Notes: This episode contains notes on the (person) のこと pattern, a word that means "a presence," and more.
Editions Status Total Readers
With Sound Effects Unread 782
Voice Only Unread 104
Pro
Episode 6
Deer explains himself as Fox chides Bear.
Notes: This episode contains a note on a word that means "a full-fledged adult," one on a word that means "idealistic notions; platitudes," and more.
Editions Status Total Readers
With Sound Effects Unread 687
Voice Only Unread 109
Pro
Episode 7
Deer remembers a time when he faced a challenging fork in the road.
Notes: This episode contains a note on the word さすが, one on the ~ず negative, and more.
Editions Status Total Readers
With Sound Effects Unread 631
Voice Only Unread 92
Pro
Episode 8
Deer explains what he did in that moment.
Notes: This episode contains a note that explains a "special effects" use of は, one on the word はず, and more.
Editions Status Total Readers
With Sound Effects Unread 582
Voice Only Unread 87
Pro
Episode 9
Bear has an idea. Fox and Monkey offer their thoughts.
Notes: This episode contains a note on a word that means "in the end," one on a pattern that means "no matter how much (phrase)," and more.
Editions Status Total Readers
With Sound Effects Unread 555
Voice Only Unread 82
Pro
Episode 10
Monkey explains how his family survives the snowy months.
Notes: This episode contains a note on a word that means "to work hard to come up with clever solutions," one on a word that most basically means "scratch" but has several other senses, and more.
Editions Status Total Readers
With Sound Effects Unread 525
Voice Only Unread 76
Pro
Episode 11
The group takes the next step with regard to Bear's proposal.
Notes: This episode contains a note on a use of もの to name a reason or excuse, a discussion of two ways of saying you won't do something, and more.
Editions Status Total Readers
With Sound Effects Unread 491
Voice Only Unread 70
Pro
Episode 12
Deer and Monkey check out Bear's winter accommodations.
Notes: This episode contains a note on a word that means "roger / 10-4," one that considers the origins of the topic marker は, and more.
Editions Status Total Readers
With Sound Effects Unread 481
Voice Only Unread 68
Pro
Episode 13
A plan comes together.
Notes: This episode contains a note that looks at the 助ける・助かる verb pair, one that looks the ~合う suffix, and more.
Editions Status Total Readers
With Sound Effects Unread 479
Voice Only Unread 57
Pro
Episode 14
Deer, Monkey, and Bear find their places as Winter approaches.
Notes: This episode contains a note on the relationship between two forms of the word ありがとう, one on an expression that means "there is no doubt that...," and more.
Editions Status Total Readers
With Sound Effects Unread 442
Voice Only Unread 55