Let's improve your Japanese language skills by reading Japanese. This time, we will introduce some scary Japanese folk tales.
Hello everyone.
It's time for Japanese reading.
Today, I'd like to introduce you to a slightly scary Japanese folk tale called "The Three Bills."
This story is a little more advanced than the ones I usually introduce, and it's a bit longer.
I think this is perfect for those who feel like they're missing something in our other story blogs, and want to read something a little more challenging.
Please try reading it out loud and doing voice acting.
"Three Bills"
Once upon a time, there was a young monk at a temple in the mountains.
This little monk was always playing pranks and causing trouble for the priest.
It was one autumn day.
Outside, the autumn colors were in full bloom, and the chestnut trees in the mountains were full of chestnuts.
The little monk said to the monk that he wanted to eat some chestnuts quickly.
Monk: "Monk, I want to go and gather chestnuts."
Priest: "It's already evening. At night, terrifying mountain monsters appear on that mountain. They'll eat you up in an instant."
Kid: "Yamanba? There's no such thing! You're such a scaredy monk. I really want to go. Is that okay?"
Priest: "Hmm. Okay. In return, take this."
The priest gave the boy three talismans.
Kid: "What is this?"
Priest: "This is a talisman. If you ever meet a Yamamba, use this. I'm sure it will protect you."
Kid: "Thank you! I'm off now!"
The boy received the talisman and went to a mountain where chestnuts were abundant.
When we arrived at the bottom of the chestnut tree, there were many large chestnuts lying on the ground.
Kid: "Wow! Looks delicious! Let's pick up lots and take them home!"
The boy completely forgot about the three talismans and the terrifying mountain lion, and continued to pick up chestnuts in his enthusiastically.
When I woke up, it was already dark.
Boy: "Oh, it's already night... I wonder if I can get back to the temple."
The little monk was becoming more and more scared.
Then, an old woman approached.
Granny: "Oh my, what are you doing here? Are you picking chestnuts?"
Kid: "Wow! That was a surprise! I thought it was a Yamamba!"
Granny: "Hahaha. You're the little boy from the temple, aren't you? It's getting late today, so come to my house. I'll boil some chestnuts for you."
Kid: "Is that okay? Thank you, grandma!"
The little boy accompanied the kind old woman to her house.
The old woman boiled a lot of chestnuts in a big pot and gave them to the little boy to eat.
After eating many chestnuts, the boy began to feel sleepy.
Then, I fell asleep soundly in the futon that the old lady had laid out for me.
Late at night, the little monk woke up hearing a strange noise.
Swish, swish, swish...
Kid: "Hmm? What's that sound?"
The boy went to the room where the sound was coming from and looked inside.
And then…
What a thing to say!!!
The old woman, with a scary look on her face, was sharpening a large knife.
Granny: "Hehe. Let's eat that kid quickly."
Kid: "Yay! It's Yamamba!"
The little monk was so surprised that he cried out.
And then he was found by Yamamba.
Yamamba: "Hey, what are you doing?"
Kid: "Um... I just need to go to the bathroom."
Yamamba: "No. Stay in your room and sleep."
Kid: "I really want to go!"
Yamamba: "Oh, you're so noisy. Okay, I'll take you to the outside toilet."
Yamanba tied the boy with a rope to prevent him from escaping and took him to the toilet.
As soon as the boy entered the toilet, he took out the talisman that the priest had given him.
Kid: "Please, use my voice and take my place!"
The boy left the bill in the toilet and ran out the window.
Yamamba: "Hey. Are you there yet?"
Then, the bill in the toilet...
Ofuda: "Not yet. Please wait a bit longer!"
Yamanba: "Is it there yet?"
Ofuda: "Not yet."
Yamamba: "Ahh! It's too late! I can't wait any longer!"
When the angry Yamanba opens the bathroom door, he finds the boy not there.
Yamamba: "He got away!!!"
The Yamanba hurried after the little monk.
Yamamba: "Wait!"
Kid: "Oh no! I'm going to get caught!"
The boy took out the second bill.
Kid: "Make a big river!"
Then a big river appeared and Yamamba was swept away by the river.
Kid: "I did it! Now they won't chase me anymore."
However, when he looked back, he saw a wild boar swimming up the river chasing him.
Kid: "Whoa!"
The boy took out the third bill,
Kid: "Bring out a sea of fire!"
Suddenly, a sea of fire appeared around Yamamba.
The Yamanba is surrounded by fire and unable to move, but he quickly blows out the fire and chases after the boy.
Meanwhile, the little monk arrived at his temple.
At the temple, the monk was roasting rice cakes.
Boy: "Priest! Help me! A Yamamba is coming."
Priest: "Okay then, hide behind me."
After a little while, Yamanba came up to the priest.
Yamamba: "Hey, where's the boy? If you hide him, I'll eat you first."
Priest: "Then let's have a contest. If you win, I'll do whatever you say."
Yamamba: "That's interesting."
Priest: "Well then, let's have a transformation contest. If you can transform just as I say, you win."
Yamamba: "Hahaha. Easy."
Priest: "So, can you grow big enough to touch the ceiling of this room?"
The mountain wolf immediately grew big.
It looks like the monk is about to be eaten.
Priest: "Now, can you become smaller?"
The Yamanba had now become as small as a child.
Priest: "Much, much smaller."
Yamanba: "Hahaha. I can do it. I'll win this game."
The mountain lily grew smaller and smaller until it was about the size of the tip of a little finger.
Priest: "Oh no! This is terrible. I've lost."
As he said this, the priest picked up the tiny yamamba with his chopsticks, placed it between some roasted rice cakes, and ate it.
And so, the mountain reptiles disappeared, and everyone was able to live in peace.
What did you think of the story?
It's a long story, and you might be a little tired.
"The Three Bills" is famous as a scary folk tale, but I think what's good about it is that it's not too scary.
It's shocking that the monk ends up eating the mountain squirrel at the end, but it's an interesting ending.
That's all for today!
See you in the next blog post.
