Published by Tuttle Publishing, an imprint of Periplus Editions (HK) Ltd., with editorial offices at 364 Innovation Drive, North Clarendon, Vermont 05759 U.S.A.
Copyright © 2008 Periplus Editions (HK) Ltd.
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or utilized in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without prior written permission from the publisher.
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Sakade, Florence.
Little One-Inch and other Japanese children’s favorite stories / compiled by Florence Sakade; illustrated by Yoshisuke Kurosaki. — 1st ed.
p. cm.
Summary: A collection of traditional Japanese folktales, including “Little One-Inch,” “The Spider Weaver,” and “The Crab and the Monkey.”
ISBN: 978-1-4629-0819-6 (ebook)
1. Tales—Japan. [1. Folklore—Japan.] I. Kurosaki, Yoshisuke, 1905– ill. II. Title.
PZ8.1.S2155Li 2008
[398.20952]—dc22
2007052087
Distributed by:
North America, Latin America & Europe
Tuttle Publishing
364 Innovation Drive
North Clarendon, VT 05759-9436 U.S.A.
Tel: 1 (802) 773-8930; Fax: 1 (802) 773-6993
Japan
Tuttle Publishing
Yaekari Building, 3rd Floor
5-4-12 Osaki, Shinagawa-ku, Tokyo 141 0032
Tel: (81) 3 5437-0171; Fax: (81) 3 5437-0755
Asia Pacific
Berkeley Books Pte. Ltd.
61 Tai Seng Avenue #02-12
Singapore 534167
Tel: (65) 6280-1330; Fax: (65) 6280-6290
First edition
12 11 10 09 08 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1
Printed in Malaysia
TUTTLE PUBLISHING® is a registered trademark of Tuttle Publishing, a division of Periplus Editions (HK) Ltd.
Contents
17 The Badger and the Magic Fan
26 Why the Jellyfish Has No Bones
30 The Old Man Who Made Trees Blossom
44 The Rabbit Who Crossed the Sea
Publisher’s Foreword
In today’s ever-shrinking world—where e-mails zoom from one continent to another in the space of a heartbeat, where travelers can easily pass through political boundaries once more solid than stone—understanding and tolerance have never been at a higher premium. Parents and teachers are increasingly aware of the need for children to be citizens of this small world who will grow into thinking adults who, while proud of their own traditions and heritage, respect the varied experiences and viewpoints to be found in other cultures.
This collection of traditional stories can help set children on this enlightened path, introducing them to marvelous characters and places that have been loved by Japanese children for centuries.
Each of these stories—amusing, instructive and wise—is to be found in many forms and versions in Japan, and often in other countries as well. We have tried to select the most interesting version in each case and, in our translations, to remain true to the spirit of the Japanese originals. At the same time we have explained in the stories customs and situations that Western readers might not understand.
These timeless stories have both united and delighted children for hundreds of years, and will continue to do so for countless generations to come.
The Spider Weaver
Long ago there was a young farmer named Yosaku. One day he was working in the fields and saw a snake about to eat a spider. Yosaku felt sorry for the spider, so he ran at the snake with his hoe and drove it away.
The spider disappeared into the grass, but first it seemed to pause a moment and bow in thanks toward Yosaku.
One morning not long after that, Yosaku was in his house when he heard a tiny voice outside calling, “Yosaku, Yosaku!” He opened the door and saw a beautiful girl standing there.
“I heard that you are looking for someone to weave cloth for you,” said the girl. “Won’t you please let me live here and weave for you?”
Yosaku was very pleased because he did need someone to help him. He showed the girl the weaving room and she started to work at the loom with cotton. At the end of the day Yosaku went to see what she had done, and was very surprised to find that she had woven eight long pieces of cloth, enough to make eight kimono. He had never known anyone could weave so much in a single day.
“How ever did you weave so much cloth?” he asked the girl.
But instead of answering him, she said, “You mustn’t ask me that. And you must never come into the weaving room while I am at work.”
But Yosaku was very curious. So one day he slipped quietly to the weaving room and peeped in the window. What he saw really surprised him! It was not the girl who was seated at the loom, but a large spider, weaving very fast with its