山形県で「上杉雪灯籠まつり」が始まる

山形県やまがたけん米沢市よねざわしで2月がつ14日にち、「上杉うえすぎ雪ゆき灯籠とうろうまつり」が始はじまりました。

Vました= Polite past tense of a verb.

このまつりは、毎年まいとし冬ふゆに行おこなわれるとても有名ゆうめいなイベントです。会場かいじょうの上杉うえすぎ神社じんじゃには、雪ゆきで作つくったたくさんの灯籠とうろうが並ならんでいます。

Vられる= Passive form; used here to indicate the festival is 'held' by people.Vている= Indicates a state or an ongoing action. Here it shows the state of lanterns being lined up.

夜よるになると、灯籠とうろうの中なかのろうそくに火ひがともります。温あたたかいオレンジ色いろの光ひかりが雪ゆきを照てらして、とてもきれいで静しずかな景色けしきになります。

Vると= Conditional 'when' or 'if'; used for natural consequences or habitual actions.Nになる= To become; used to indicate a change in state or situation.

見みに来きた人ひとたちは、写真しゃしんを撮とったり、ゆっくり歩あるいたりして楽たのしんでいました。

VたりVたりする= Used to list multiple actions among others without specifying an order.Vにくる= To come in order to do something.

Learning Notes

Grammar Patterns

Pattern	Meaning
Vました	Polite past tense of a verb.
Vられる	Passive form; used here to indicate the festival is 'held' by people.
Vている	Indicates a state or an ongoing action. Here it shows the state of lanterns being lined up.
Vると	Conditional 'when' or 'if'; used for natural consequences or habitual actions.
Nになる	To become; used to indicate a change in state or situation.
VたりVたりする	Used to list multiple actions among others without specifying an order.
Vにくる	To come in order to do something.

Vocabulary

Word	Reading	Level	Meaning
並ぶ	ならぶ	N4	to line up; to be in a row
景色	けしき	N4	scenery; landscape
撮る	とる	N4	to take (a photo)
ゆっくり	ゆっくり	N4	slowly; leisurely
楽しむ	たのしむ	N4	to enjoy
行う	おこなう	N3	to hold; to carry out
会場	かいじょう	N3	venue; meeting place
ろうそく	ろうそく	N3	candle
照らす	てらす	N3	to illuminate; to shine on
灯籠	とうろう	N2	lantern
ともる	ともる	N1	to be lit; to burn

Language Insights

•Yonezawa City in Yamagata Prefecture is famous for its association with the Uesugi clan, a powerful samurai family. The Uesugi Shrine, where the festival is held, is dedicated to Uesugi Kenshin.
•The 'Snow Lantern Festival' (Yuki-doro Matsuri) is a representative winter event in the region, featuring hundreds of lanterns carved out of snow.
•The word 'Touro' (灯籠) refers to traditional Japanese lanterns, often made of stone, wood, or in this case, snow.