赤あか本ほん

noun

pulp fiction; dime novel

Refers to cheap, popular entertainment books, often with red covers, from the early 20th century. Now a historical term.

• 大たい正しょう時じ代だいには、赤あか本ほんと呼よばれる大たい衆しゅう小しょう説せつが人にん気きを博はくした。

  In the Taisho era, popular novels called akahon gained popularity.

noun

akahon; university entrance exam workbook (Kyōgakusha)

Colloquial term for the red-covered exam preparation books published by Kyōgakusha, widely used by Japanese high school students.

• 受じゅ験けん生せいは赤あか本ほんで過か去こ問もんを解とく。

  Exam candidates solve past papers using the akahon.

• 赤あか本ほんを買かって、志し望ぼう校こうの傾けい向こうを調しらべた。

  I bought the akahon and checked the trends of my target school.

noun

Edo-period storybook with red cover

Historical term for illustrated storybooks (草双紙) with red covers, popular in the Edo period.

See also: 草双紙

• 江え戸ど時じ代だいの赤あか本ほんは、子こども向むけの絵え入いり読よみ物ものだった。

  Edo-period akahon were illustrated reading materials for children.

noun

Michelin Red Guide

Refers specifically to the Michelin Red Guide, a famous restaurant and hotel guidebook with a red cover.

• フランス旅りょ行こうのために、赤あか本ほん（ミシュランガイド）を買かった。

  I bought the Red Guide (Michelin Guide) for my trip to France.