Folktales from the Japanese Countryside

Table of contents :
CONTENTS……Page 8
Acknowledgments……Page 12
A Brief History of Japan……Page 14
Historical Highlights……Page 16
Modern Period: 1868 to the Present……Page 18
Oral Tradition in Japanese Literature……Page 22
Japanese Folktales in Modern Times……Page 23
Storytelling in Japan Today……Page 24
About These Stories……Page 26
Map of Japan……Page 28
Part 1: Stories of Animals……Page 30
Owl??s Paint Shop……Page 32
Sparrow and Swallow……Page 34
The Tale of the Lizards?? Tails……Page 35
The Fourth Leg……Page 36
Mouse Teeth……Page 38
Earthworm and Snake……Page 41
Sky Watcher……Page 42
Bracken and Snake……Page 45
Melting Grass……Page 47
The Mice Make a Pilgrimage……Page 49
Part 2: Stories of Village People……Page 52
Table Manners……Page 54
Plant of Forgetfulness……Page 58
Peach Peddler……Page 61
Mask of Oni……Page 64
Doctor Who Dropped His Eye……Page 67
Boy with a Runny Nose……Page 69
The God of Poverty……Page 72
Two Strong Men……Page 76
Baka Musuko……Page 78
Foolish Greetings……Page 79
Tea-chestnut-persimmon-vinegar……Page 81
Pickle Bath……Page 83
Scary Snack……Page 85
Part 3: Stories of Priests and Apprentices……Page 88
Sutra of the Mouse……Page 90
The Floating Coffin……Page 93
A Debate in Sign Language……Page 95
Fu Fu Pata Pata……Page 98
New House Mochi……Page 100
How Much Rice?……Page 101
Part 4: Stories of Strange Happenings……Page 102
A Poet??s Ghost……Page 104
Spirits of Old Things……Page 106
You Are Watched……Page 108
The Home of the Bush Warbler……Page 110
Snow Woman……Page 117
Part 5: Stories of Yamanbas……Page 120
Mr. Sun??s Chain……Page 122
A Wife Who Doesn??t Eat……Page 126
Clothes Bleached in the Moonlight……Page 130
Picking Mountain Pears……Page 133
Old Woman??s Skin……Page 137
Part 6: Stories of Supernatural Creatures……Page 142
The Moon Sticks Out Its Tongue……Page 144
Spooky Tanuki Music……Page 145
Tanuki Who Turned into a Die……Page 148
The Fox Barber……Page 150
Fox Teakettle……Page 154
A Hoin Monk and a Fox……Page 158
Kappas……Page 162
Kappa??s Paper……Page 163
A Kappa and a Fish Peddler……Page 165
Part 7: Food, Games, and Crafts……Page 168
Mochi……Page 170
Coconut Mochi……Page 171
Botamochi……Page 172
Kappa Sushi Rolls……Page 174
Home Style Miso Soup……Page 176
Green Tea Ice Cream……Page 177
Shopping List……Page 178
Games……Page 179
Crafts……Page 182
Appendix A: Comments and Notes……Page 188
Stories of Animals……Page 189
Stories of Village People……Page 192
Stories of Priests and Apprentices……Page 198
Stories of Strange Happenings……Page 200
Stories of Yamanbas……Page 202
Stories of Supernatural Creatures……Page 206
Glossary……Page 210
Bibliography……Page 216
Index……Page 220
About the Editor and Contributors……Page 224