Let's read Andersen fairy tales in Japanese! Introducing Thumbelina!
Hello everyone.
Cherry blossom season is coming!
In the past few years, due to the influence of the corona, drinking alcohol and cherry blossom viewing with a large number of people were prohibited, but it seems that there will be no restrictions this year.
Since I came to Japan, I haven't had a proper cherry blossom viewing yet! If so, please make your cherry blossom viewing debut this year!
Well, spring is the season when flowers are beautiful, so today we have prepared a story about a little girl born from flowers.
Please watch until the end!
"Thumbelina"
Once upon a time there was a girl who liked flowers.
The girl took great care of the flowers her mother gave her.
One day, when the girl was about to water the flowers, she looked at them and saw a very, very small girl sitting in the flowers.
A little girl born from a flower was named Thumbelina because it was about the size of a human thumb.
Girls love Thumbelina and raised her with great care.
But one day, a mother toad came outside the window and said,
Toad: "What a lovely child... I was just looking for a wife for my son. Let's take him home and marry him."
The toad picked up the sleeping Thumbelina and kidnapped her.
Thumbelina wakes up in Toad's house by the river.
Thumbelina: "Where am I? Let me go home!"
Toad: "No, you are going to be my son's wife."
Thumbelina cried because she missed her home.
Then, the river fish who felt sorry for Thumbelina helped her escape from the frog.
Thumbelina sailed down the river in a small leaf boat.
Many days later, one cold day, Thumbelina finally became so hungry that she could not walk.
When Thumbelina was lying down in the middle of the road, an old mouse called out to her.
Mouse: "Oh, what's wrong? Are you okay?"
Thumbelina: "I haven't eaten in days. I'm so hungry I can't walk..."
Mouse : "That's a pity... Then come home. I'll treat you to a delicious meal."
Thumbelina: "Thank you."
The kind mouse lady took Thumbelina home and gave her warm clothes and good food.
The mouse's house in a hole in the ground was so warm that Thumbelina fell in love with it.
Mouse : "If you don't mind, you can live here with me."
Thumbelina: "Thank you. Actually, I was having trouble finding my home."
Mouse : "Yes. It must have been difficult."
Thus, Aunt Mouse and Thumbelina began to live happily together.
However, a rich mole who lived next door fell in love with Thumbelina and asked her to marry him.
Thumbelina was troubled.
Mouse: "Don't you think? We always have little food at home, but Mr. Mole is rich, so I think he can live a better life."
Thumbelina: "Yes..."
Aunt Mouse's family was not wealthy, and Thumbelina felt sorry for staying there forever.
And I decided to marry a mole.
One day, Thumbelina found an injured swallow lying down.
Thumbelina: "Well! Are you okay? I'll take care of you now!"
The swallow was in pain and could not say anything.
Thumbelina saved the swallow and took care of him every day until his injuries healed.
Eventually, the swallow recovered and was able to fly.
Swallow: "Thank you for your help! I plan to go to a southern country. If you don't mind, why don't you come with me?"
Thumbelina: "Yeah! Is that okay? I want to go!"
Thumbelina had never been able to go where she wanted to go, so she was very happy that the Swallow invited her.
And the swallow put Thumbelina on his back and flew off to the southern country.
When she arrived in the warm southern country, there stood a prince as big as Thumbelina.
Thumbelina: "This is the first time I've seen someone as big as me!"
Prince: "Hey, princess. This is my country. Thank you for fixing my swallow. I'll show you around this country as a thank you."
In this way, the prince and Thumbelina soon became friends and got married.
Thumbelina lived happily ever after with the prince and the swallow.
How was it.
Thumbelina is a Hans Christian Andersen fairy tale.
Thumbelina must have been very beautiful when various animals proposed to her!
Marriage proposals, running away, meeting wonderful people... It can be said that life is full of ups and downs.
In the end, I decided to go where I wanted to go and left for a southern country. As a result, I was glad that I was able to meet the prince.
Well, that's all for today.
See you next time!
