While being definitely not the most difficult language in the world, the Japanese language has one thing that is the top obstacle for non-Asian speakers: Kanji. Next to the approximately 2000 Joyo Kanji and their 10000 combinations, one is still confronted with readings of Kanji compounds never seen before. A very frustrating but also very interesting part are local names as often seen when taking the train through Japan. The general rule is: the more rural a place, the more uncommon its Kanji-reading. Some of the place names are even too difficult to read for native speakers. Thats why, in most cases, train station names are often written in either Kanji and Kana, or Kana alone.
JR, Japan Railways, publishes a tri-monthly pamphlet introducing its major stations and maps of their surroundings. The most interesting part, however, is on page 8, the so called "station name quiz". Apperently, they are highly aware of Japanese's problem to read certain station names and challenge them with a 2-sided quiz about uncommon Kanji readings in station names.
Except for the first question, I couldn't read any of the station names. Taking some educated guesses, I would probably still fail about 70% of all questions. Not sure whether a native speaker would do any better here.
I compiled a list of all the fairly uncommon station name readings from that issue above. How many of them could you read?
JR, Japan Railways, publishes a tri-monthly pamphlet introducing its major stations and maps of their surroundings. The most interesting part, however, is on page 8, the so called "station name quiz". Apperently, they are highly aware of Japanese's problem to read certain station names and challenge them with a 2-sided quiz about uncommon Kanji readings in station names.
I compiled a list of all the fairly uncommon station name readings from that issue above. How many of them could you read?
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| 漢字 | かな | 都道府県 |
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| 国立駅 | くにたち | 東京都 |
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| 小作駅 | おざく | 東京都 |
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| 軍畑駅 | いくさばた | 東京都 |
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| 大嵐駅 | おおぞれ | 静岡県 |
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| 新治駅 | にいはり | 茨城県 |
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| 大甕駅 | おおみか | 茨城県 |
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| 為栗駅 | してぐり | 長野県 |
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| 祝園駅 | ほうその | 京都府 |
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| 布施屋駅 | ほしや | 和歌山県 |
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| 寒河駅 | そうご | 岡山県 |
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| 厚保駅 | あつ | 山口県 |
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| 浅海駅 | あさなみ | 愛媛県 |
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| 膳所駅 | ぜぜ | 滋賀県 |
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| 砥堀駅 | とほり | 兵庫県 |
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| 帯解駅 | おびとけ | 奈良県 |
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| 北一己駅 | きたいちゃん | 北海道 |
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| 古井駅 | こび | 岐阜県 |
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| 勝原駅 | かどはら | 福井県 |
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| 掖上駅 | わきがみ | 奈良県 |
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| 英賀保駅 | あがほ | 兵庫県 |
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| 日生駅 | ひなせ | 岡山県 |
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| 直方駅 | のおがた | 福岡県 |
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| 木次駅 | きすき | 島根県 |
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| 半家駅 | はげ | 高知県 |
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| 芳養駅 | はや | 和歌山県 |
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