Top 10 Best Japanese Folk Tales

Once upon a time, a hungry monkey saw a crab with a rice ball and suggested a trade: the monkey would give the crab a persimmon seed in exchange for the rice ball. The crab thought the offer was unfair and refused. However, the clever monkey persuaded the crab, saying, 'When you eat a rice grain, it's gone, but if you plant a tree, it will keep bearing fruit.' The crab, convinced by the reasoning, agreed to the exchange.

The crab planted the persimmon seed in a corner of its garden, diligently watering it every day while talking to the seed, 'If you don't sprout soon, I'll dig you up!' The seed, frightened, quickly began to sprout. The crab then threatened, 'If you don't grow into a big tree, I'll cut you into pieces!' The sprout grew into a tall tree in response to the threat. Finally, the crab said, 'Bear fruit, or I'll chop you down!' The tree then bore heavy, bountiful fruit.

As the persimmons ripened, the monkey climbed the tree and began picking the ripest fruit. Since the crab could not climb the tree, it asked the monkey to pick the fruit for it. 'Sure,' said the monkey, but instead of picking the ripe fruit, it threw hard, unripe persimmons at the crab, knocking it unconscious. The crab was bedridden for days.

The crab's children, worried about their mother, ran around crying and seeking help from the Chestnut, the Bee, the Needle, and the Stone Mortar. Together, they devised a plan to get revenge on the monkey.

When the monkey left the house, the crab's team sneaked in to carry out their plan. The Chestnut hid in the stove, the baby crab hid in the water pot, the bee in the miso soup pot, the needle in the blanket, and the stone mortar on the roof. They all waited for the monkey's return.

In the evening, the monkey came back, feeling cold. It went to the stove, where the Chestnut was waiting to flare up the fire, burning the monkey. The monkey, feeling hot, ran to the water pot, but the baby crab pinched it all over. The monkey then ran to the miso pot to soothe the burn, but the bee stung it from side to side. The monkey jumped into the blanket to hide, but the needle pricked it all over. Finally, the monkey fled the house, but before it could get far, the stone mortar fell from the roof, striking it painfully on the head.

In pain, the monkey groaned and cried, 'I promise I will never do this again!'

Summary:

Long ago, an elderly couple lived in a village blanketed by heavy snowfall. They were very poor, and when the New Year arrived, they couldn’t even afford a single mochi cake. So, the husband and wife worked together to make straw hats (Kasa) for the old man to sell in the market in hopes of buying mochi for the New Year.

Sadly, the old man couldn't sell a single hat. With the snow beginning to fall harder, he packed up his unsold hats and headed home.

On his way back, he passed many statues of the Jizo Bodhisattva lined up along the roadside. 'These statues must be so cold with all this snow on their heads,' he thought. So, he took one of the straw hats and placed it on a statue’s head. But when he reached the last statue, he didn’t have enough hats, so he used his handkerchief to cover it instead.

When he returned home empty-handed, his wife greeted him warmly. She didn’t scold him for not being able to sell the hats for mochi; instead, she praised him for his kind deed, hearing how he had placed the unsold hats on the Jizo statues by the roadside.

That night, as the couple slept, they were suddenly awakened by a loud thud outside. It sounded like something heavy had fallen. When they opened the door, they were amazed to find an abundance of delicious food from the mountains and the sea, as well as a great fortune of gold, silver, and jewels. In the distance, they saw the Jizo statues wearing the straw hats and the handkerchief the old man had given them.

Long ago in Japan, there was an elderly woodcutter who made his living chopping firewood. One day, while in the forest, he came across a glowing bamboo stalk radiating a brilliant golden light. Curious, he approached and discovered a tiny, adorable girl inside the bamboo.

Since the couple had no children, they decided to take the child home and raise her with love. They named her Kaguya Hime. Over time, whenever the old man went into the forest, gold would pour out of the bamboo he cut. Soon, the couple became incredibly wealthy.

Miraculously, within just three months, Kaguya Hime grew into a beautiful young woman, her beauty renowned far and wide. Many suitors traveled from afar to ask for her hand in marriage, but she turned them all away. Only five men remained determined. Kaguya Hime gave them a challenge: she would marry whoever could bring her items that didn’t exist in the world. As a result, all five suitors failed and returned empty-handed.

Meanwhile, the emperor had heard of her beauty and decided he must marry her. However, she rejected him as well. The emperor, frustrated, ordered his soldiers to bring her to the palace, but suddenly, she vanished. The emperor realized that there was something extraordinary about Kaguya Hime, and he understood why he failed.

As the years passed, Kaguya Hime became even more beautiful. One spring, she began to grow melancholic every full moon night. She would gaze at the moon with tears in her eyes. When the old man asked her what was wrong, she confessed, 'I come from the Moon Palace. I was sent here as punishment, but now my time has come to return. I will miss everyone here, and that is why I am so sad.'

The old man, heartbroken, didn’t want to part with his beloved daughter, so he went to the emperor for help. On a full moon night, the emperor sent soldiers to capture Kaguya Hime. Suddenly, the sky lit up with a brilliant glow.

A messenger from the Moon Palace arrived, descending on a cloud, wearing colorful, radiant garments. The emperor’s soldiers stood frozen, losing their courage. The messenger gently helped Kaguya Hime into a palanquin and draped a feathered cloak over her. And so, she ascended back to the Moon, leaving behind only sadness and longing.

Once upon a time, there was a strong and kind-hearted boy named Kintaro, who lived on Mount Ashigara. From a young age, Kintaro was known for his strength and often played with the animals of the mountain.

One day, Kintaro decided to challenge a bear, the strongest animal on the mountain, to a sumo wrestling match. "Hakkoyoi! Nokotta!" (a sumo phrase used to boost fighting spirit) – "Un – sore!" (Right! – Go!) – Thud! And with that, Kintaro threw the bear to the ground. No matter how hard the other animals tried, none could match Kintaro's strength.

One day, Kintaro’s mother gave him a large axe. With it, he helped her chop firewood. As Kintaro worked, the animals came by and invited him to pick some fruit. "Let's go!" Kintaro said. The group set off enthusiastically. After a while, they found that the bridge was broken. At the cliff, Kintaro and the animals faced a challenge. "Watch this!" Kintaro said, and with his strength, he felled a tree to build a bridge.

The samurai in Kyoto had heard rumors about Kintaro's great strength. They traveled to Mount Ashigara to meet him. "I'm amazed by your strength. I believe you could be a fine samurai. Come with me to the capital," they said.

Kintaro decided to leave for the capital to become a samurai. He bid farewell to his mother and the animals on the mountain. And so, Kintaro became a kind and respected samurai. The story ends here! – Oshimai!

The Tanabata Festival is a blend of Japanese beliefs and the Chinese legend of two stars, Altair – the Cowherd and Vega – the Weaver, who are separated by the Milky Way and can only meet once a year on the 7th of July. People traditionally write their wishes on five-colored strips of paper and hang them on bamboo branches. These branches are placed in visible areas, hoping to make the wishes come true.

The Tanabata legend has several versions, each varying by region in Japan. Here's one version of the tale.

Long ago, a young farmer lived alone in a small village. One day, on his way back from the fields, he came across a beautiful robe hanging on a tree branch. Looking at the tattered clothes he wore, he decided to take the robe home with him.

Just then, a voice called out, "Excuse me..." The young man turned around and asked, "Who called me?" A beautiful woman answered, "It was I. Please return my feather robe. I am a celestial maiden who came to bathe. Without it, I cannot return to the heavens."

The woman began to cry, but the young man pretended to know nothing. "Feather robe? I don’t know what you're talking about." Unable to return to the heavens, the celestial maiden reluctantly stayed on Earth and began a new life with the young man. Her name was Tanabata. Tanabata married the young man, and they lived happily together. A year later, while the man was away, Tanabata found her feather robe hidden in the rafters. "I knew you had hidden it from me," she whispered, putting the robe back on and becoming the beautiful celestial maiden she once was.

That evening, when the man returned from the fields, he was shocked to see his wife wearing the feather robe waiting for him at the door. Tanabata suddenly flew up into the sky, calling down to him, "If you still love me, please make 1,000 straw sandals and bury them around the base of the bamboo tree. If you do, I will be able to see you. I will wait for you." And with that, Tanabata flew higher and farther into the sky.

The young man, though heartbroken, knew what he had to do. Every day, he made straw sandals from dawn until dusk without rest. Finally, after completing the 1,000 sandals, he buried them around the bamboo tree, just as his wife had asked.

As soon as the sandals were buried, the bamboo tree began to grow taller and taller, reaching up to the sky. Seeing this, the man immediately began climbing the tree, determined to reach the heavens. However, due to his impatience, he had made only 999 sandals, and so the tree could not reach the sky. "Tanabata! Tanabata!" he cried out as loud as he could. "Is that you?" Tanabata’s voice echoed in response. Then she descended on a cloud and stretched out her arms to pull him towards her. "Oh, Tanabata, my dear, I’ve missed you so much!" the young man said, choking with emotion. The couple was overjoyed to reunite after a long separation. For a moment, they paid no attention to anything else, their hearts only for each other. Tanabata's father, furious that his daughter had married a mortal, and that she had shown him how to reach the heavens, punished the young man. "You must guard the melon fields for three days and nights," he declared. Though guarding the fields wasn’t difficult, it was extremely hot, and if the young man ate any melons, terrible things would happen. Tanabata warned her husband, "You must not eat any of the melons."

Three days passed, and the young man could no longer withstand the thirst. He reached for a melon, but as soon as his hand touched it, the melon exploded, and water poured out in all directions, creating a river that flowed between them. "My love!" Tanabata cried. "Tanabata!" the young man shouted. The river stretched out, separating the couple forever.

And so, the lovers became the stars Altair and Vega (the Cowherd and the Weaver). Tanabata’s father allowed them to meet only once a year, on the 7th of July. On this day, the two stars shine brightly at opposite ends of the Milky Way.

Jinbei was a man who specialized in buying and selling second-hand goods. One day, after a successful trip to town where he had purchased several items, he encountered a group of boys bullying a young girl.

"Hey, stop bothering the girl!" Jinbei shouted.

The boys scattered in fear. Jinbei turned to speak to the girl but found that she had vanished. He shrugged and continued on his way home. As he passed a temple on a nearby hill, a monk called out to him.

"Jinbei, I need a teapot. If you have a nice one, bring it to me, and I'll pay you well."

The monk then disappeared back into the temple.

At home, Jinbei began sorting through his new acquisitions. He typically didn’t sell things immediately, and his house gradually became cluttered, making his financial situation worse.

Then, he noticed a beautiful teapot in the corner of the room. Remembering the monk's request, he decided to bring the teapot to him.

"Wow, this teapot is heavier than I thought..." Jinbei muttered as he struggled to lift it.

"Almost there, just a little more," a voice from inside the teapot spoke.

Surprised, Jinbei opened the teapot and saw a creature that was part tanuki and part teapot.

"I’m the girl you saved earlier today," the tanuki said. "Let me repay you."

Jinbei brought the teapot—tanuki to the monk. Upon seeing it, the monk exclaimed,

"This is a truly beautiful teapot! I’ll buy it from you."

The monk bought the teapot from Jinbei, unaware of its unusual contents.

Back home, Jinbei began to worry. Had he made the right choice in selling the teapot, and was the tanuki okay?

At the temple, the monk excitedly brewed tea in his new teapot. He placed it over a blazing fire, but the tanuki inside could not endure the heat and revealed its true form. The monk was terrified, and while panicking, he became furious.

As Jinbei sat at home, lost in thoughts about the tanuki’s safety, there was a loud crash. The tanuki rushed in, crying out in pain.

"Ouch! It’s awful! It’s terrible!" The tanuki collapsed in Jinbei’s arms, its back badly burned.

"Poor thing, this is all my fault," Jinbei said with regret.

As Jinbei tended to the tanuki’s wounds, the monk arrived, his face red with anger. He demanded,

"Why did you deceive me? Give me my money back! You’ll pay for the fright that creature caused me!"

Jinbei paid the monk even more than the teapot had cost, and the tanuki, lying in bed, repeatedly apologized.

"I’m so sorry, Jinbei. I thought I was repaying you, but I only caused you more trouble..."

"Don’t worry about it. Rest and heal, don’t worry about the money. I’ve come up with a great idea," Jinbei said, his eyes sparkling with confidence.

Under Jinbei’s care, the tanuki’s wounds soon healed. Eager to repay him, the tanuki asked,

"You said you had a great idea—what is it?"

"Oh, that?" Jinbei said. "How about we perform on the streets? I’ll play drums and blow a horn, and you can dance on a tightrope, turning into various things. We’ll definitely attract a crowd."

Without hesitation, the tanuki agreed. "I’ll practice transforming!" it said.

Over the next few days, they practiced diligently. Not long after, they became famous. Everywhere they went, crowds gathered to watch them. Not only did the tanuki repay its savior, but it also found a life full of happiness alongside the kind-hearted Jinbei.

Summary:

Once upon a time, in a distant place, there lived a poor young man who was kind-hearted but had no luck. No matter what he did, it always went wrong. So, he went to the temple to pray to the statue of Guanyin for help.

The Buddha instructed him: 'Leave the temple and take the first thing you touch, heading west.'

As he stepped out of the temple, he tripped and accidentally grabbed a single straw from the ground. He decided to follow the Buddha's advice and began his journey westward, holding the straw.

Suddenly, a fly landed on his face, refusing to leave despite his attempts to swat it away. In the end, he tied the fly to the end of the straw.

As he continued his journey, a mother and her crying child appeared before him. Upon seeing the fly on the straw, the child stopped crying. The mother asked him for the straw, offering a few tangerines in exchange. At first, the young man hesitated, but then he agreed and exchanged the straw for the fruit.

As he continued, about to eat the tangerines, he encountered a thirsty merchant. The merchant begged him for some tangerines, offering a roll of cloth in return. The young man agreed and took the cloth.

Instead of selling the cloth, he continued on his westward journey. He soon met a samurai who was distressed because his horse had fallen ill. The samurai was considering putting the horse down, but the young man felt sorry for the animal and traded the cloth for the horse.

The young man nursed the horse back to health, and once it was strong again, he continued his journey on horseback. He soon arrived at a grand mansion.

The owner of the mansion, who was preparing to embark on a journey but hadn't yet arranged for a horse, saw the young man with his healthy horse and made an offer: 'Let me borrow your horse and take care of my mansion for me. If I haven't returned in three years, it will be yours.'

The young man agreed. Three years passed, then five, and the mansion still had no owner. Eventually, it became his. From a single piece of straw, the poor young man had built a grand life for himself.