In trying to understand Kenji Miyazawa's "風の又三郎" I have come across a
discrepancy in one line where the number of students per class is counted.

On [Aozora Bunko](http://www.aozora.gr.jp/cards/000081/files/462_15405.html):
I see this:

```

    すっかりやすみの前のとおりだとみんなが思いながら六年生は一人、五年生は七人、四年生は六人、一二年生は十二人、組ごとに一列に縦にならびました。
    二年は八人、一年生は四人前へならえをしてならんだのです。
    
```

At first I thought this was a bit odd because of the part "一二年生は", but when I
interpreted this to mean "1st or 2nd graders", the total 12 matches up with
the numbers in the second line above (8+4).

However, in [this](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fj3f9cBxFqo&t=625s)
relatively recent analysis of the work (starting around 13:20 in the video),
the line is actually read as "三年生は", and this is specifically pointed out as a
(possibly purposeful) mistake because it conflicts with the early part of the
story that says there are no third graders.

I assume one of them is a typo or someone mis-reading a hand-written
manuscript, but I don't know what the "real" original text was. Supposedly the
author did many revisions so it isn't likely there would be accidental errors
in his work.

Can someone please tell me if they know what the correct line is here? If you
don't know anything about the story, if you can tell me if the line I quoted
above looks correct, or if it is strange to write "一二年生は". I have seen that
usage commonly (ex: ”彼は１１,１２歳" and I am not sure if that is the intention
here).
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2016-10-31T21:08:51.473
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2016-11-01T04:02:55.267
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question
usage literature
Confusion when counting students per grade in 風の又三郎
It seems to be 三年生 in the original text. Someone may edit it as 一二年生 because
三年生 is probably the author"s error as Mr. Takeda said. And 一、二年生 would be more
natural if it is edited.

This link may help you. <http://www5a.biglobe.ne.jp/accent/kazeno/origin.htm>
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2016-11-01T04:02:55.267
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2016-11-01T04:02:55.267
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answer