1. Kintar
Kintaro known as the Golden Boy, is a popular story among children, although it is well known throughout the country. There are many versions of the story, but the main premise is that Kintaro is a boy with supernatural powers who grew up in the forest and befriended several animals.
Appearing in many anime and manga such as One Piece and Otogi Zoshi. In many ways, Kintaro resembles Japan's Tarzan, having grown up in the wild fighting various kinds of strange creatures. It is said that he was born out of his parents' desire to raise him.
Kintar is a legendary figure in Japanese folklore, often depicted as a young boy with superhuman strength. His story is rich with adventure and themes of bravery, loyalty, and connection with nature.
Kintar , also known as Kintaro , is often described as a feral child living in the mountains. According to legend, he was born to a woman who was blessed by a mountain spirit. From a young age, he displayed incredible strength, able to lift boulders and fight wild animals.
One of Kintar's most famous stories is his encounter with Minamoto no Raiko , a famous warrior and military leader. Impressed by Kintar's strength and courage, Raiko invites him to join his group of warriors. Kintar accepts and becomes a valuable member of the team, helping to fight demons and malevolent creatures that threaten the country.
2. Tanabata
Tanabata may be known as the Tanabata Festival, which takes place around July 7th (or August 7th in some areas), but the story of Tanabata is also a classic tale. As with many folk tales, there are several versions of it, but this one is the most well-known.
Tanabata comes from a Chinese legend called Tanabata and was introduced to Japan in the 8th century. It is the story of two lovers. Orihime, a seamstress, wove a beautiful dress in the Milky Way represented by the Milky Way. Orihime worked so hard to weave beautiful clothes that she became sad and desperately sought love. I introduced her. The two quickly fell in love and got married. Their love and devotion was so deep that Orihime stopped weaving and Hikoboshi allowed cows to roam the sky.
Orihime's father became angry and forbade the lovers to be together, but Orihime asked him to allow them to be together. Upon their return on July 7, the two unhappy lovers decreed that they could meet once a year. Upon their meeting, they found the river (the Milky Way) too difficult to cross. Orihime was so disappointed that a flock of magpies came and built a bridge for her.
3. Kaguyahime
Princess Kaguya, also known as The Tale of the Bamboo Cutter, is another popular story. It has been adapted many times in other formats, but the most recent adaptation was an animated film by Studio Ghibli. It primarily depicts the life of a mysterious girl named Kaguya-hime, who was found as a baby in a burning bamboo trunk. She is said to be from the Lunar Capital (Lunar Capital "moon capital").
Kaguyahime , also known as "Princess Kaguya," is one of the most famous tales in Japanese folklore, often considered a classic of Japanese literature. Her story is told in the "Taketori Monogatari" (竹取物語), which dates back to the 10th century. Here's a look at this beautiful legend:
The story begins with an old woodcutter named Taketori no Okina . One day, while cutting bamboo, he discovers a luminous stalk. When he opens it, he finds a little girl, Kaguyahime , inside. Amazed, he takes the little girl home with his wife, and they decide to raise her as their own daughter.
Kaguyahime grows up quickly and becomes a beauty without equal. Her beauty attracts many suitors, including nobles and princes. However, Kaguyahime refuses all of their advances, setting them impossible tasks to complete in order to prove their worth.
4. Urashima Taro
The story of Taro Urashima, after whom the protagonist is named, is about a fisherman who saves a turtle and as a reward takes a special trip under the sea to visit the realm of the dragon god. The princess gave Taro Urashima a box and told him that he would be happy if he did not open it, but of course, he would open it when he returned to land. The Japanese story Urashima Taro teaches the importance of submission to good fortune. Turtles reward fishermen and fishermen are punished for their disobedience.
The story begins with Urashima Taro , a pure-hearted fisherman, who one day saves a tortoise abused by children. By releasing her, he grants her her freedom. Later, the turtle comes back to see him and invites him to visit the Ryugu Palace , the underwater kingdom of dragons. Urashima Taro enthusiastically accepts and follows the turtle to this magnificent palace.
At the palace, Urashima Taro is greeted by the beautiful Princess Otohime , who offers him hospitality and entertainment. He spends several days in this enchanting kingdom, where he discovers unimaginable wonders and experiences moments of happiness. However, despite these pleasures, he begins to feel a desire to return home.
Eventually, after some time, Urashima Taro decides to return home. Before he leaves, Otohime gives him a box (tamatebako) and tells him not to open it. She assures him that it will bring him protection. Urashima Taro then returns home, only to find that everything has changed.
5. Momotaro
Momotaro is one of Japan's most popular folktales and one of its most famous folktales. The name "Momotaro" literally means "Momotaro" and is a common suffix in Japan. You may have heard the story translated as "fishing boy." In the current form of the story (from the Edo period), Momotaro came to earth with a giant peach that a childless old woman found floating in a river. The woman and her husband found the child trying to open the peach and eat it. The child explained that he had been sent from heaven to be her son. The couple named him Momotarou after Momo (peach) and Taro (eldest son of the family).
Years later, Momotaro left his parents to fight a group of marauding demons (devils or demons) on a remote island. Along the way, Momotaro met a talking dog, a monkey, and a pheasant, who became friends and agreed to help him on his quest. Momotaro and his new friends returned home with plundered ogre treasures and a captured ogre leader. Since then, Momotaro and his family have lived comfortably.
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6. Hanasaka Jiisan
The literal translation of the title is "Blossoming Old Man". As the title suggests, it is the story of an old man who can keep a tree blooming even after he dies. An old couple without children loved dogs. One day, while digging in the garden, they found a box containing gold coins. The neighbors thought the dog would find treasure and managed to borrow it. While digging in his garden, he killed it because there were only bones there. He told the couple that the dog had just fallen and died. They cried and buried it under the fig tree where they found the treasure. One night, Handler had a dream in which a dog told him to cut down a tree and make mortar. He told his wife that he had to do what the dog told him. As he did so, the rice in the mortar turned golden. A neighbor borrowed it, but the rice stinks, and he and his wife break the mortar and burn it.
That night, in a dream, the dog asked his master to pick up the ashes and scatter them on the cherry tree. As he did so, the cherry blossoms bloomed and a passing daimyo surprised him and gave him many gifts. A neighbor tried to do the same, but the ashes flew into the daimyo's eyes, so he put him in prison. When he was released, his village would not allow him to live there.
7. Issun-boshi
"Issunboshi" is a boy who is about two centimeters tall. As such, the story is often called "Little One Inch" or "One Inch Boy." Like any folktale, the story has its twists and turns, but the heart is the same. The story begins with an elderly couple living alone. The old woman wished to have a child even when she was old and said, "No matter how small the child is, please let me have a baby." Eventually, a boy was born to them. However, the child was very small, no longer than the tip of an adult's finger. They named the miniature child Issun-boshi (Issun-boshi is a measurement of about three centimeters. Bozu means son). One day, the boy realizes that he will never grow up, so he sets out on a journey to find his place in the world. Issun Bōshi imagines himself as a miniature samurai and is given sewing needles for swords, soup bowls for boats, and chopsticks for oars.
8. Shita-kiri suzume
9. Kachi-kachi yama
"Kachi-kachi" means the crackling of fire and "yama" means mountain. This story is known for being brutal, especially when it comes to what tanuki do to women. According to the story, a man caught a pesky raccoon dog in a field, tied it to a tree, then killed and cooked it. The woman only released the animal, which lit up and killed her. Tanuki then planned a dirty trick.
The story begins with a man named Tanuki , a mischievous animal who likes to play tricks. One day, he picks on an old man, making him unhappy. The latter, in search of comfort, goes to Kachi-kachi Mountain , where he meets a rabbit , who becomes his ally. The old man, tired of the Tanuki's tricks, decides to get revenge. With the help of the rabbit, he concocts a plan to trap the Tanuki. They set up a ruse by making the animal believe that he has been invited to a feast. The Tanuki, curious about this feast, goes to the place indicated by the old man. However, he falls into a trap cleverly designed by the rabbit and the old man. They capture him and put an end to his misdeeds. The Tanuki, now a prisoner, learns a valuable lesson about cruelty and arrogance.
10. Bunbuku Chagama
"Bunbuku Chagama" means "happiness that foams like a teapot" (something like "my cup overflows"). A raccoon dog was helped by a poor man, so he decided to reward him. Tanuki is said to have the shape-shifting powers used in this story. The story is about a poor man who finds a raccoon dog caught in a trap. Feeling sorry for the animal, he frees it. That night, a tanuki comes to the poor man's house to thank him for his kindness. The tanuki turns into a tea kettle and tricks the man into selling it for money. The man sells the raccoon dog's teapot to a priest, who takes it home, scrubs it vigorously, and then sets it on fire to boil water. Unable to bear the heat, the teapot tanuki stretches its legs and escapes in a semi-deformed state.
