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Japanese Fairy Tales
Japanese Fairy Tales
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.
Book Excerpt
r 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
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Readers reviews
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Its a good collection of the old tales of Japan, and no they are not all the same like the one person said. However I have a problem with the story of Issun-Boshi being left out. Its another major classic and played a huge role in the game Okami.
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You maybe did it first, Japan, but Aesop, Beatrix Potter, and X-Men did it better.
09/16/2010
Very good stories!
09/05/2010
These folk tales are not very engaging and their endings have little relation to the rest of the story making them interchangeable.
A rich/brave/poor man meets a badger/fox/fish and does something nice for them and in return gets a trinket of some kind, the end.
A bit of a let down, maybe one of the other collections of Japanese folk-lore is better.
A rich/brave/poor man meets a badger/fox/fish and does something nice for them and in return gets a trinket of some kind, the end.
A bit of a let down, maybe one of the other collections of Japanese folk-lore is better.
02/10/2009