"Many of the stories in this book seem at the same time both familiar and strange.
Their authors valued family, duty, patience and heroism. They longed for children in their old age, and rejoiced when they saw cruelty and envy punished, wrongs righted, and kindness and bravery rewarded.
These ideas are recognized the world over.
What makes the stories different is partly the characters: the brave samurai, the evil wizards; the fantastical creatures – goblins, dragons, demons, fairies; the cunning talking animals – not only sparrows, badgers and rabbits, but crocodiles and jellyfish too.
You may feel you know what is coming when the hero is told not, under any circumstance, to open the box – or when the doting father takes a second wife, a wicked stepmother. There is even one tale where the new wife sends a servant to take the daughter into the woods and dispose of her (sound familiar?).
Though the ideas are tried and trusted, the journey is fresh and new.
Not only because the heroes ride on paper cranes or tortoises that swim under the sea – but because the destination may not be what you expect.
There is even more than one story where the wicked woman repents her evil ways and goes on to live a good and kind life."
"One of the first recorded alien visitor stories, from Japan in around 900 AD. Taken from the translation by Yei Theodora Ozaki. Includes a very early version of an interplanetary society.
The Tale of the Bamboo Cutter (Japanese: 竹取物語, Hepburn: Taketori Monogatari) is a monogatari (fictional prose narrative) containing elements of Japanese folklore. Written by an unknown author in the late 9th or early 10th century during the Heian period, it is considered the oldest surviving work in the monogatari form.
The story details the life of Kaguya-hime, a princess from the Moon who is discovered as a baby inside the stalk of a glowing bamboo plant. After she grows, her beauty attracts five suitors seeking her hand in marriage, whom she turns away by challenging them each with an impossible task; she later attracts the affection of the Emperor of Japan. At the tale's end, Kaguya-hime reveals her celestial origins and returns to the Moon. The story is also known as The Tale of Princess Kaguya (かぐや姫の物語, Kaguya-hime no Monogatari), after its protagonist.
- From the wiki:"
"This audiobook is narrated by a digital voice.
Immerse yourself in a world of enchantment with 'Japanese Fairy Tales,' brought to life by Yei Theodora Ozaki's captivating translations. Journey alongside brave heroes, cunning animals, and magical creatures. Explore tales of kindness rewarded, wishes granted, and lessons learned. Unravel the mysteries of the bamboo cutter and the moon child, or weep with the lovelorn sparrow. 'Japanese Fairy Tales' offers timeless stories that transport you to a land of wonder, perfect for listeners of all ages. Prepare to be whisked away on a fantastical adventure!"
"These charming Japanese Fairy Tales were translated by Yei Theodora Ozaki in 1908. Although taken from actual Japanese folk stories, these Westernized versions are not literal translations. These stories combine fictitious creatures and magical animals with the lives of normal humans and provide an insight into a piece of ancient Japan.
The stories in this volume include: My Lord Bag of Rice, The Tongue-Cut Sparrow, The Story of Urashima Taro, the Fisher Lad"
"These three charming Japanese Fairy Tales were translated by Yei Theodora Ozaki in 1908. Although taken from actual Japanese folk stories, these were not literal translations, but somewhat Westernized for American readers. These stories combine fictitious creatures and magical animals with the lives of normal humans and provide an insight into a piece of ancient Japan.
The stories in this volume include:
- My Lord Bag of Rice
- The Tongue-Cut Sparrow
- The Story of Urashima Taro, the Fisher Lad"
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