Let's read Japanese folktales! Introducing Urashima Taro!
Hello everyone.
March starts today! !
These days, the temperature is getting warmer, and I feel the arrival of spring.
I wonder if the Japanese school students are already preparing for the graduation ceremony...?
At this time of year, I feel like singing "Sakura" by Naotaro Moriyama.
It's exactly the feeling of "emo".
Do you have a favorite graduation song?
Please let me know!
Well, it's time to read a story in Japanese today!
I prepared a fun Japanese folk tale, so please watch it till the end.
"Urashima Taro"
Once upon a time, there was a young man named Taro Urashima.
Taro was a fisherman who caught fish in the sea.
One day, when Taro was walking along the beach, three children were doing something.
When Taro went nearby and looked, the children were bullying a turtle by poking it with a stick.
Taro: "Hey, you guys shouldn't bully animals like that."
Then all the children ran away.
Taro: "Are you okay?"
Kame: "Yes, thank you. Excuse me, what is your name?"
Taro: "It's Taro Urashima."
Kame: "Taro-san, as a thank you for your help, I will invite you to a beautiful castle by the sea."
Taro: "Yes, is it okay?"
Kame: "Yes, then please ride on my back."
As Taro did, he climbed onto the tortoise's back and grabbed onto its shell.
When the tortoise swims to the bottom of the sea for a while, there stands a splendid castle that Taro has never seen before.
Taro: "Wow, that's amazing."
Kame: "This is a sea castle called Ryugu Castle."
Taro: "It's like a dream."
Turtle: "Let's go inside now."
When Taro and Kame entered the large gate of the castle, a beautiful princess came out of the castle.
Kame: "Mr. Taro, that person is Princess Otohime. She is the princess of this Ryugu castle."
Taro: "How pretty...!"
Otohime: "Taro-san, you helped the turtle. Thank you very much. Please take it easy."
Taro was ushered into a large room and had many delicious feasts.
Beautiful women from Ryugu Castle sang songs, played musical instruments, and danced for Taro.
Taro: "This is the first time I've been so happy."
Otohime: "That's good. Please have some sake."
Taro: "Thank you."
Otohime: "Taro-san, if you don't mind, why don't you live here?"
Taro: "Are you sure! If I could live like this, I would want to be here every day."
And Taro started living in Ryugu Castle.
Every day, we ate delicious food, walked with fish and turtles, and danced.
I had a lot of fun talking with Otohime-sama.
Every day was as happy as a dream.
However, Taro became more and more worried about his house.
Taro: "Otohime-sama, I'm about to go home. I enjoyed my life here, but I haven't been home for several days, so I think my family and friends are worried."
Otohime: "I see. It's a pity. I wanted you to stay here forever, but..."
Princess Otohime sadly put a box in front of Taro.
Otohime: "Then, please take this Tamatebako. It's a present from me. But you must never open this box."
Taro: "Otohime-sama, thank you for everything. I hope to see you again someday."
Taro took the golden treasure box that he had been given, got on the back of the tortoise, and returned to land.
I landed and walked to the village, but somehow the village looked strange.
Taro tried to go back to his own house, but he didn't have one.
Taro: "Hey, mom, dad."
My family and friends are all gone, and there are only people I don't know around me.
Not knowing what to do, Taro opened the Tamatebako that Princess Otohime gave her.
Then, white smoke billows...
In no time, Taro became an old man with a white beard.
How was your talk?
"Urashima Taro" is a famous Japanese folk tale, so I'm sure some of you are familiar with it.
However, many people may not be satisfied with the ending of this story.
Why did Urashima Taro become an old man?
In fact, the time spent at Ryugu Castle was different from the time on land in terms of speed.
Taro thinks he only spent a few days at Ryugu Castle, but it's actually been hundreds of years.
Then, what was the white smoke in the Tamatebako?
Because he didn't keep his promise to Princess Otohime not to open the Tamatebako, he may have become an old man as a punishment. If he hadn't opened the Tamatebako, Taro might have been able to stay young.
Even so, even though Taro did a good deed by helping the tortoise at the beginning, it's a bit disappointing that the ending ended up being sad!
Well then, today's Japanese learning is over!
I want to study reading more! If so, please take a look at my other blogs.
