土曜どようの朝市あさいち

土曜どようの朝あさ、直人なおとは大おおきな布ぬのの袋ふくろを持もって家いえを出でた。On Saturday morning Naoto left the house with a big cloth bag.駅えきの南口みなみぐちの広場ひろばで、朝市あさいちが開ひらかれる日ひだ。It was the day the morning market was held in the square by the station's south exit.この町まちに来きてから半年はんとし、駅前えきまえのスーパーしか使つかっていなかった。In the six months since he came to the town, he had used only the supermarket by the station.近所きんじょの人ひとに教おしえてもらって、先月せんげつ初はじめて行いってみたのだ。A neighbour had told him about the market, and last month he had gone for the first time.

朝市あさいちの野菜やさいは、スーパーに比べて形かたちがそろっていない。Compared with the supermarket, the vegetables at the market are not uniform in shape.大おおきさの違ちがうきゅうりが、かごに山やまのように入はいっている。Cucumbers of all different sizes are piled up in the baskets.それでも、値段ねだんはスーパーに比べてずっと安やすい。Even so, the prices are far lower than at the supermarket.安さに加えて、味あじも濃こい気きがする。On top of being cheap, the taste seems stronger too.

広場ひろばの入口いりぐちに、小ちいさな看板かんばんが立たっていた。A small board stood at the entrance to the square.「朝市あさいちは毎月まいつき第二だいに土曜日どようび、南口広場において行おこなわれます。」"The morning market is held in the south exit square on the second Saturday of each month."直人なおとは忘わすれないように、次つぎの日付ひづけを手帳てちょうに書かいた。Naoto wrote the next date in his diary so that he would not forget.

奥おくの店みせに、見みたことのない緑みどりの葉野菜はやさいが並ならんでいた。At a stall at the back there were green leafy vegetables he had never seen before.「これは何なにですか。」"What is this?"「からし菜な。おひたしにすると、少すこし辛つらいよ。」"Mustard greens. Boil them and dress them and they're a bit hot."店みせのおばさんは、袋ふくろにたくさん入いれてくれた。The woman at the stall filled the bag generously.「初はじめてなら、少すこしおまけしておくよ。」"If it's your first time, I'll put in a bit extra."

家いえに帰かえって、直人なおとは教おしえてもらったとおりに作つくった。Back home, Naoto cooked them exactly as he had been told.ゆでて、しぼって、しょうゆを少すこしかけるだけだ。All you do is boil them, squeeze out the water and add a little soy sauce.口くちに入いれると、思おもっていたより辛つらかった。When he put some in his mouth, it was hotter than he had expected.辛さに加えて、青あおい香かおりが強つよく残のこった。As well as the heat, a strong green smell stayed in his mouth.去年きょねんまでの自分じぶんなら、きっと皿さらに残のこしていただろう。The Naoto of a year ago would certainly have left it on the plate.でも、作つくり方かたを聞きいた野菜やさいは、味あじが違ちがって感かんじられる。But a vegetable whose cooking you have asked about somehow tastes different.

今いまでは、朝市あさいちの日ひに早はやく起おきるのが苦くではない。These days getting up early on market day is no hardship.休やすみの日ひの朝あさは、平日に比べてずっと静しずかだ。Mornings on a day off are far quieter than on weekdays.来月らいげつの第二だいに土曜日どようびも、直人なおとはあの袋ふくろを持もって出でかけるつもりだ。On the second Saturday of next month, too, Naoto means to set off with that bag.