Old Tale of Japan "Momotarou"(The Peach Boy)

Do you like a picture book and old story ??

When I was child, my mother would often read fairy tales to me .

I loved it.

It was talked about the Japanese old tale with an English teacher recently.

But..Difficulty to introduce a Japanese old tale into in English.

Just I said

" Long long time ago, there was grand father and grand mother.

And then...They got a big peach boy..He has fu**king storong enemy.

but Finally win !! that's it..

It was terrible explanation. Σ(ﾟдﾟlll)

So I would like to introduce one Japanese old tale today.

Long long ago, in some place there was an old man and old woman.

When old man went to the mountain to cut trees. the old woman went out to the river to wash clothes.

" Old man, come back quickly."

" Old woman you also be careful please."

Each day they gently say to each other and go out.

It happened one day, while the old woman was washing clothes at the river, tsunburako tsunburako a peach floated up. She picked it up and ate it and, it was so delicious as if to make her cheeks fall. She though she also wanted to make her husband eat one, and

" Sweet Peach come here!! " "Bitter Peach go away."

she said, and donburako～donburako a huge peach floated up. The old woman was happy, and took the peach home.

In the evening the old man returned from the mountain. " Husband,husband,please eat the sweet peach I picked up." When the old women tried to cut, the peach split jyaku, hogyaa hogyaa a baby boy jumped out.

"This is startling."

"What a lively baby!!"

Together they hurriedly boiled water and looked for a kimono and so on.

Together they gave the name Momotaro to this child, and brought him up with so much care.

If Momotarou ate one cup of rice he grew one cup, if he ate two cups he grew two cups and quickly became large, and came to be very powerful.Whatever they teach him he learns quickly, and from house work to mountain work he helped them.

"It's rare that there is a child like this." The old man and the old woman loved Momotarou more and more.

But, at that time, devils often approached the village and were doing bad things.

"Ok, I will get rid of the devils."

That day, Momotaro sat with both hands on the floor in front of the old man and old woman and said,

"I am going to Devil's Island to get rid of the devil, so please make Japan's best millet dumplings form me."

" What did you say??"

However strong your power, you can not defeat the enemy." They were surprised and stopped him, but Momotarou did not accept.

"If so, it is no use stopping you."

The old woman made Japan's best millet dumplings for him,which if he eats, will give him the power of 100 persons. The old man go out a new kimono, and also made a flag for him. Like a strong man he tied his headband, when he put the sword at his waist, he became like a strong young man.

"If you are defeated, we will not forgive you."

" Try hard and come back."

The old man and old woman held back tears and said

"Then, I will go."

Momotarou stretched his breast with confidence, and bit his lip(with a jerk).

When he came to the outskirts of town a dog came.

" Mr. Momotarou, Mr. Momotarou, where are you going ??"

" To devil's island to get rid of the devil."

"What is that thing at your waist??."

"Japan's best millet dumplings."

"So please give me one, and I will be your attendant."

"Ok, I will give you. Come along with me."

They went to the mountain and a monkey came.

"Mr. Momotarou, Mr. Momotarou, where are you going??."

"To devil's island to get rid of the devil."

"What is that thing you have at your waist??."

"Japan's best millet dumplings."

"So please give me one, and I will be your attendant."

"Ok, I will give you. Come along with me."

They went deep inside the mountain and a pheasant came flying.

"Mr. Momotarou, Mr. Momotarou,where are you going ??."

"To devil's island to get rid of the devil."

"What is that thing you have at your waist??."

"Japan's best millet dumplings."

"So please give me one, and I will be your attendant."

"Ok, I will give you. Come along with me."

Momotarou took the dog and monkey and pheasant along with him,finally they departed for Devil's island. They went over the mountains, and over the valleys, and came out to the sea, and there was a devil's boat. They boarded the boat. The boat went ahead strongly kicking up waves.

" I see Devil's Island."

The pheasant cried out.!!

On Devil's island there was a big gate standing.

" Please!!!! "

Momotarou knocked at the gate. But, there was no reply. Then the monkey climbed up the gate, and from within he unlocked the key.

"I am Japan's number one Momotarou. Devils make yourselves ready."

Momotarou pulled out his sword and jumped in.

"What a shameless boy.!!!!"

The devils raised their iron rods,and attacked Momotarou. The pheasant pecked with his beak, The monkey scratched with his nails, The dog bit. Momotarou continued cutting. Because he ate millet dumplings he had the power hundred people.

Finally not one devil remained unbeaten.

" I am beaten. Please spare only my life."

The boss devil put both hands on the ground and apologized.

" I will not do bad thing again.I will hand over all the treasure so please pardon us."

" Ok, if so I will spare you."

Momotarou loaded the treasure on the cart and with difficulty went back to the village.

"As expected our Momotarou is Japan's best.!!!!!"

When the old man and old woman said that the people of the village clapped hands, and also said " Japan's number one Momotarou." Momotarou also divide the treasure among the people of the village, and with the old man and old woman,as three,

they lived happily for ever after!!!!

Momotarou is Okayama Prefecture birthplace. There is a bronze statue of Momotarou.

(。◕‿◕。) The more I learn the more I realize don't know. The more I realize I don't know the more I want to learn.

By Albert Einstein