Ninomiya Kinjiro (Sontoku)
にのみやきんじろう（そんとく）二宮金次郎（尊徳）
This statue, which is often seen in Japanese schools, is a statue of Ninomiya Kinjiro (Sontoku) 二宮金次郎（尊徳）. Through self-education, strenuous labor and dedication, Kinjiro succeeded in restoring the barren farm land of his family. He taught agricultural techniques, business management, and mutual aid to the people of Japan. Hotoku (honor and reverence for parents) was the basis of the spiritual movement he founded. He was born with the family name Ninomiya, but he was referred to as Sontoku to honor him for the things he accomplished. His statue is often found on the grounds of Japanese schools to depict a figure that was always studying and reading to better himself. The statues often show him reading a book and carrying firewood as a young boy.
Reading and Listening
Read the short story about Ninomiya Kinjiro and listen to the narration of it while you read. See if you can figure out what the story tells about Ninomiya (especially after reading a little about his background in the previous part).
にのみやきんじろうのうちはとてもびんぼうでした。ちいさいときからりょうしんはたすけてけました。あさはやくからよるそくまでしごとをしました。さんにんのおとうとのせやもをしました。でも、すこしじかんがあるときべんきょうしました。たきぎょうせいおいほんをよみました。
二宮金次郎の家はとても貧乏ですひた。小さい時から両親は助けました。朝早くから夜即まで仕事をしました。三人の弟のせやもをしました。でも、少し時間がある時勉強しました。たきぎょうせいおい本を読みました。
Graded Assignments
Please return to the Section 2 Tasks & Assignments folder to complete the graded assignments for Section2, Part C.