Urashima Taro and Other Japanese Children's Favorite Stories. Florence Sakade
Published by Tuttle Publishing, an imprint of Periplus Editions (HK) Ltd., with editorial offices at 364 Innovation Drive, North Clarendon, Vermont 05759 U.S.A.
Copyright © 2008 Periplus Editions (HK) Ltd.
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or utilized in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without prior written permission from the publisher.
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Sakade, Florence.
Urashima Taro and other Japanese children’s favorite stories / compiled by Florence Sakade ;
illustrated by Yoshisuke Kurosaki. — 1st ed.
v. cm.
Contents: Urashima Taro — The fairy crane — The dragon’s tears — The sandal seller — The robe of feathers — The flying farmer — The old man with a wen — The magic mortar — The biggest in the world — Why the red elf cried.
ISBN: 978-1-4629-0845-5 (ebook)
1. Tales—Japan. [1. Folklore—Japan.] I. Kurosaki, Yoshisuke, 1905– ill. II. Title.
PZ8.1.S2155Urc 2008
398.20952—dc22
2008001037
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Contents
Publisher’s Foreword
In today’s ever-shrinking world—where e-mails zoom from one continent to another in the space of a heartbeat, where travelers can easily pass through political boundaries once more solid than stone—understanding and tolerance have never been at a higher premium. Parents and teachers are increasingly aware of the need for children to be citizens of this small world who will grow into thinking adults who, while proud of their own traditions and heritage, respect the varied experiences and viewpoints to be found in other cultures.
This collection of traditional stories can help set children on this enlightened path, introducing them to marvelous characters and places that have been loved by Japanese children for centuries.
Each of these stories—amusing, instructive and wise—is to be found in many forms and versions in Japan, and often in other countries as well. We have tried to select the most interesting version in each case and, in our translations, to remain true to the spirit of the Japanese originals. At the same time we have explained in the stories customs and situations that Western readers might not understand.
These timeless stories have both united and delighted children for hundreds of years, and will continue to do so for countless generations to come.
Urashima Taro
A long, long time ago in Japan there was a young fisherman who lived by the seashore. His name was Urashima Taro. One day while he was walking along the beach, he saw that some boys had caught a big turtle from the sea and were teasing it and hitting it with sticks.
Now, Taro was very kindhearted and hated to see people being cruel to animals. So he said: “Boys, please let the turtle go. It’s a nice animal and you shouldn’t be mean to it. Put it back in the sea.”
Then the boys were ashamed of themselves. They put the turtle back in the water and watched it swim happily away.
Several days later, Taro was again walking along the beach when he heard a voice saying: “Taro! Taro!”
He looked around, but couldn’t see anyone. “Who is calling me?” he called out.
“Here I am,” said a voice from the sea. It was a turtle, who came crawling up on the sand. “I’m the turtle you saved the other day. When I returned to the palace under the sea, I told the Sea Princess what you had done. This made her very happy, and she asked me to bring you to see her.”
Taro