FOLK STORY
FOLK STORY
This is a collection of Japanese folk story. I believe children will like this Japanese folk tale collection.
JAPANESE FOLK STORY
CRANE WIFE
It was a very long time ago. One day Yasiko was working in the farm. All of a sudden, a beautiful white crane flew down to the farm. It looked at Yasiko with eyes full of sadness. Yasiko realized the bird was in a painful state.
CRANE WIFE AND OTHER JAPANESE FOLK STORY
Quickly Yasiko ran towards the bird and saw a sharp arrow had pierced its wing. The poor bird was bleeding. Yasiko very cautiously pulled out the arrow. He washed the blood with water. And then applied juice of some leaves on the wound and caressed the bird lightly with his hand. Yasiko nursed the bird and said, “From now onwards be aware of hunters.”
CRANE THANKED
After a couple of days the bird flew thrice around his head and flew away. Yasiko understood the crane thanked him. He worked very hard in the farm and returned home in the evening. Yasiko was speechless when he stood in front of his house. A very beautiful woman was standing at his cottage door.
A COLLECTION OF FOLK STORY
Yasiko was really surprised. He asked her, “Who are you? Why have you come to my house?” The beautiful woman said, “I’m your wife.” Yasiko was amazed. He said, “I’m a single man. I work the whole day and scarcely have anything to eat. What shall I do with a wife? I don’t need any. You may please go away from here.”
WHO IS YASIKO IN THE FOLK STORY
The pretty woman smiled and said, “I’ve come to stay with you. You need not worry about food. You please go and freshen up yourself. I’m preparing dinner. Yasiko laughed silently. He knew there was not a morsel of grain in the house. But when he returned he was surprised to find the woman waiting for him with delicious food.
YASIKO’S WIFE
That night Yasiko went to bed with a tummy full of delicious food. Hence, he had a very sound sleep. Next morning he married the pretty woman and made her his wife. Yasiko now had a very happy time. He need not buy any vegetable but always had delicious food to eat. Yasiko wondered how his wife made it possible.
FOLK STORY OF JAPAN
One day his wife asked him to buy her a loom and build for her a room. There she would weave cloth and Yasiko would go and sell in the market. In this way they could earn more money. Since for so many days Yasiko need not spend any money, he very easily fulfilled her wish.
TELL ME A FOLK STORY
His wife said, “I’ll weave clothes and you’ll sell them in the market. You’ll make good profit. You need not work so hard in the farm any more. But you have to promise me one thing. As long as I remain inside the weaving room you’ll not try to peep in. As soon as I finish my weaving I’ll come out. Will you follow what I say?”
WEAVING ROOM
Yasiko agreed and his wife entered into the weaving room. Days passed by. Yasiko only heard the sound of loom. He wondered how his wife weaved cloth without any thread. After seven days she came out of the room. She looked very pale. It’s quite obvious since she had no food for seven days. Now Yasiko’s eyes fell on the piece of cloth in her hands. He was amazed what a beautiful piece of soft silk cloth. It was soft and light like the feather of a bird. Who has ever seen such cloth?
A WONDERFUL FOLK STORY
Yasiko’s wife told him to sell the cloth in the city market. He would make good profit. The merchant’s eyes dazzled seeing such soft and lovely cloth with beautiful embroidery on it. They gave him good money and asked him to bring more such lengths of cloth. Yasiko returned home and gave all the money to his wife. She said, “This time I’ll do a wonderful embroidery work on the cloth.”
CHILDREN’S FOLK STORY
Next day Yasiko’s wife again entered into the weaving room. Again she started the loom. From outside Yasiko could hear only the sound of the loom. He again wondered how his wife worked without any thread. Yasiko peered into the room. He couldn’t find his wife anywhere. Instead he saw a crane was weaving on the loom tearing its feathers. Yasiko stood spellbound. The crane saw Yasiko.
CRANE LEFT
After finishing the cloth, the crane again turned into Yasiko’s wife and came out of the room. She handed him the cloth and said, “I’m the very crane whom you nursed back to life. I came to thank you. But you couldn’t keep your words. Hence, I have to go back.” She wiped her tears and turned into a white crane and flew away.
Yasiko sat quietly with the piece of cloth in his hands.
MOUSE’S GROOM
Many, many years ago there lived a mouse with his wife and daughter. They were very rich and influential in the mouse society. Hence, he was very proud.
ANOTHER FOLK STORY
Their daughter Suki has grown up into a lovely looking mouse. Mouse and his wife have to search for a perfect match for their daughter. But not just any one can become Suki’s husband. Mouse wanted the most powerful one to be Suki’s husband. Accordingly he started his search for his daughter’s groom.
FOLK STORY OF A MOUSE
Both mother mouse and father mouse thought, thought, and thought the whole night. At last they remembered the Sun is the most powerful in this world. Sun lights up and gives warmth to the whole world. Hence, Sun is only the fittest to be their son-in-law. So mouse and his wife went to Sun and told him their wish. Sun heard everything and said, “I understand what you say. But you have to admit that Cloud is more powerful than me. Whenever he wishes, he covers me. So you go and tell him your wish.”
MOUSE’S PROPOSAL
Father mouse and mother mouse now went to Cloud. They proposed Cloud to marry their daughter, Suki. Cloud became happy hearing this. He said, “You’re right. But there is a problem. The wind blows me away. Hence, he is mightier than me.” Cloud is absolutely right.
WIND WAS HAPPY IN THE FOLK STORY
Hence, father mouse and mother mouse now went to Wind. Wind was very happy to hear his own praise. But then he paused for a while and said, “I know I can blow away clouds, leaves and many more things. But I can never blow away a wall. Hence, Wall is mightier than me.” Father mouse and mother mouse wondered how they could be so foolish. Wall was so near them and they could not recognize him.
MOUSE REQUESTED WALL IN FOLK STORY
Now both father mouse and mother mouse went to Wall and requested him to marry their daughter. Wall heard everything and laughed aloud. He said, “Did you forget the strength of your teeth and nails? You dig holes all around me. Then who actually is mightier?”
MICE FEEL PROUD
Father mouse and mother mouse puffed up hearing their praise. What a wonder! It’s true they are only the mightiest. O, how fool they were to search everywhere for their daughter’s groom. They remembered a handsome mouse, Chuski, lived in their neighbourhood. Yes, they have decided now. They will get Suki married to Chuski.
HAPPY ENDING
One fine night, Suki and Chuski were married and they lived happily ever after.
