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)
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 | 6451 | |
| Voice Only | Unread | 1001 |
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 | 1968 | |
| Voice Only | Unread | 281 |
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 | 1074 | |
| Voice Only | Unread | 152 |
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 | 793 | |
| Voice Only | Unread | 105 |
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 | 711 | |
| Voice Only | Unread | 91 |
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 | 617 | |
| Voice Only | Unread | 96 |
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 | 564 | |
| Voice Only | Unread | 78 |
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 | 515 | |
| Voice Only | Unread | 73 |
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 | 483 | |
| Voice Only | Unread | 66 |
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 | 455 | |
| Voice Only | Unread | 62 |
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 | 422 | |
| Voice Only | Unread | 56 |
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 | 416 | |
| Voice Only | Unread | 55 |
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 | 409 | |
| Voice Only | Unread | 46 |
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 | 370 | |
| Voice Only | Unread | 45 |