Japanese Fairy Tales | Page 4

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JAPANESE FAIRY TALES
COMPILED BY
YEI THEODORA OZAKI

Profusely Illustrated by Japanese Artists

TO
ELEANOR MARION-CRAWFORD.
I DEDICATE THIS BOOK TO YOU AND TO THE SWEET CHILD-FRIENDSHIP
THAT YOU GAVE ME IN THE DAYS SPENT WITH YOU BY THE SOUTHERN
SEA, WHEN YOU USED TO LISTEN WITH UNFEIGNED PLEASURE TO THESE
FAIRY STORIES FROM FAR JAPAN. MAY THEY NOW REMIND YOU OF MY
CHANGELESS LOVE AND REMEMBRANCE.
Y. T. O.
Tokio, 1908.

PREFACE.
This collection of Japanese fairy tales is the outcome of a suggestion made to me
indirectly through a friend by Mr. Andrew Lang. They have been translated from the
modern version written by Sadanami Sanjin. These stories are not literal translations, and
though the Japanese story and all quaint Japanese expressions have been faithfully
preserved, they have been told more with the view to interest young readers of the West
than the technical student of folk-lore.
Grateful acknowledgment is due to Mr. Y. Yasuoka, Miss Fusa Okamoto, my brother
Nobumori Ozaki, Dr. Yoshihiro Takaki, and Miss Kameko Yamao, who have helped me

with translations.
The story which I have named "The Story of the Man who did not Wish to Die" is taken
from a little book written a hundred years ago by one Shinsui Tamenaga. It is named
Chosei Furo, or "Longevity." "The Bamboo-cutter and the Moon-child" is taken from the
classic "Taketari Monogatari," and is NOT classed by the Japanese among their fairy
tales, though it really belongs to this class of literature.
The pictures were drawn by Mr. Kakuzo Fujiyama, a Tokio artist.
In telling these stories in English I have followed my fancy in adding such touches of
local color or description as they seemed to need or as pleased me, and in one or two
instances I have gathered in an incident from another version. At all times, among my
friends, both young and old, English or American, I have always found eager listeners to
the beautiful legends and fairy tales of Japan, and in telling them I have also found that
they were still unknown to the vast majority, and this has encouraged me to write them
for the children of the West.
Y. T. O.
Tokio, 1908.

CONTENTS.
MY LORD BAG OF RICE
THE TONGUE-CUT SPARROW
THE STORY OF URASHIMA TARO, THE FISHER LAD
THE FARMER AND THE BADGER
THE "shinansha," OR THE SOUTH POINTING CARRIAGE
THE ADVENTURES OF KINTARO, THE GOLDEN BOY
THE STORY OF PRINCESS HASE
THE STORY OF THE MAN WHO DID NOT WISH TO DIE
THE BAMBOO-CUTTER AND THE MOON-CHILD
THE MIRROR OF MATSUYAMA
THE GOBLIN OF ADACHIGAHARA
THE SAGACIOUS MONKEY AND THE BOAR

THE HAPPY HUNTER AND THE SKILLFUL FISHER
THE STORY OF THE OLD MAN WHO MADE WITHERED TREES TO FLOWER
THE JELLY FISH AND THE MONKEY
THE QUARREL OF THE MONKEY AND THE CRAB
THE WHITE HARE AND THE CROCODILES
THE STORY OF PRINCE YAMATO TAKE
MOMOTARO, OR THE STORY OF THE SON OF A PEACH
THE OGRE OF RASHOMON
HOW AN OLD MAN LOST HIS WEN
THE STONES OF FIVE COLORS AND THE EMPRESS JOKWA

JAPANESE FAIRY TALES.

MY LORD BAG OF RICE.
Long, long ago there lived, in Japan a brave warrior known to all as Tawara Toda, or
"My Lord Bag of Rice." His true name was Fujiwara Hidesato, and there is a very
interesting story of how he came to change his name.
One day he sallied forth in search of adventures, for he had the nature of a warrior and
could not bear to be idle. So he buckled on his two swords, took his huge bow, much
taller than himself, in his hand, and slinging his quiver on his back started out. He had not
gone far when he came to the bridge of Seta-no-Karashi spanning one end of the
beautiful Lake Biwa. No sooner had he set foot on the bridge than he saw lying right
across his path a huge serpent- dragon. Its body was so big that it looked like the trunk of
a large pine tree and it took up the whole width of the bridge. One of its huge claws
rested on the parapet of one side of the bridge, while its tail lay right against the other.
The monster seemed to be asleep, and as it breathed, fire and smoke came out of its
nostrils.
At first Hidesato could not help feeling alarmed at the sight of this horrible reptile lying
in his path, for he must either turn back or walk right over its body. He was a brave