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    Legendary Nagano: Folk Tales and Legends from the Roof of Japan
    Legendary Nagano: Folk Tales and Legends from the Roof of Japan
    Legendary Nagano: Folk Tales and Legends from the Roof of Japan
    Ebook125 pages1 hour

    Legendary Nagano: Folk Tales and Legends from the Roof of Japan

    By Peter Ninnes and Sachiko Miyairi

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    About this ebook

    Nagano Prefecture with its towering, forest-covered mountains is rightly known as the Roof of Japan. It is a place with a rarefied atmosphere, steeped in ancient history and mysterious arts. It is not surprising, then, that Nagano Prefecture is also rich in legends and folk tales. In this land, super dogs fight demons, badgers become men, water sprites and monsters try to drag unwitting victims to watery graves, the gods demonstrate both their divinity and humanity, goblins build mountains in a single night, and lovers toil for years to make their dreams come true.
    The 23 stories in this collection bring together a diverse set of legends and folktales for an international audience. The antics of the eccentric Dr Motosada, the unique powers of the good woman from Takai district, and the shrewd antics of Red Ant Matabei will amuse and entertain. The stories also provide insights into the development and transmission of various Japanese values, social norms, and cultural practices. At the same time, the collection has been compiled in such as way as to provide tales of people who successfully transgressed or transcended traditional roles and requirements.

    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherPeter Ninnes
    Release dateAug 27, 2014
    ISBN9781310000003
    Legendary Nagano: Folk Tales and Legends from the Roof of Japan
    Author

    Peter Ninnes

    Peter Ninnes has lived and travelled extensively in Japan since 2005, initially as a tourist and then as a resident from 2007-2015. Apart from Japan, he has lived in East Timor, Solomon Islands, Vanuatu and the US. He currently calls Sydney, Australia home.

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      Book preview

      Legendary Nagano - Peter Ninnes

      Legendary Nagano

      Folk Tales and Legends from the Roof of Japan

      Translated and Edited by

      Peter Ninnes and Sachiko Miyairi

      Translation and Collection Copyright © Peter Ninnes and Sachiko Miyairi 2014

      Smashwords Edition, License Notes

      This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This ebook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient. If you are reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then please return to your favorite ebook retailer and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of these authors.

      Although the authors have tried to make the information in this book as accurate as possible, the authors accept no responsibility for any loss, injury or inconvenience sustained by anyone using this book.

      Published by Ninesuya (似根州屋), Chikuma City, Japan

      All photographs © Peter Ninnes 2014

      Cover: The Monk and the Badger near Zenkoji Temple (see Chapter 3)

      Title page: A picture of Momiji from Togakushi in the Daisho Temple in Togakushi Tokiwara, Nagano City (see Chapter 5)

      Facebook: facebook.com/PeterNinnesAuthor

      Also by Peter Ninnes

      Hiking, Walking and Biking Nagano: 16 Tours in Nagano City

      Hiking, Walking and Biking Nagano: 20 Nature, History and Culture Tours in Chikuma City

      Hiking, Walking and Biking Nagano: 16 Tours in Ueda City and Environs

      Hiking, Walking and Biking Nagano: 16 Tours in Karuizawa and Environs

      Table of Contents

      1. The Story of Kurohime

      2 The Woman Who Blew Pears out of a Tree

      3. The Badger’s Lantern

      4. The Cat that Ate Huge Amounts of Rice

      5. The Story of Momiji of Togakushi

      6. One Night Mountain

      7. The Legend of the 100 Red Stones

      8. The Legend of Mt Obasute

      9. The Hairpin Crossing

      10. The Power of Raiden

      11. Red Ant Matabei

      12. Kappabuchi

      13. Lazy Taro

      14. The Jizo Who Took a Bath

      15. The Millet Porridge Bridge

      16. The God Who Crossed the Lake

      17. The Goddess and the Wad of Hot Water

      18. The Big Monster of Nezame no Toko

      19. Oroku’s Combs

      20. Hayataro the Dog

      21. Mother Monkey and Her Children

      22. The Kappa’s Wonderful Medicine

      23. A Famous and Extraordinary Doctor

      24. Note from the Editors/Translators

      25. Acknowledgements

      26.About the Editors/Translators

      27. Other Books by Peter Ninnes

      1. The Story of Princess Kurohime

      Back to Contents

      A long time ago, in a village in Nakano, there was a small castle called Odate Castle. The lord of the castle was called Masamori. His daughter, a pretty young lady named Kurohime, also lived there.

      One spring day, Masamori took Princess Kurohime to Mt Higashi at the bottom of Hakoyama pass, to view the cherry blossoms. There was still snow visible through the haze on parts of the five famous mountains – Mt Madarao, Mt Myoko, Mt Kurohime, Mt Togakushi and Mt Iizuna.

      While admiring the view, Masamori said, It’s so peaceful, and he sipped happily on his drink.

      Just then, they saw a small snake lying near Kurohime.

      Masamori said, Princess, it wants to drink your saké!

      So Kurohime offered the cup of saké to the snake. The snake drank it all up very quickly. The servants were very surprised, and the snake slithered away and disappeared among the cherry trees.

      A few days later, a young soldier visited the castle. He was very handsome, well dressed and extremely polite.

      After a few minutes of private conversation with Masamori, the soldier said, The reason I am here today is that I have a favor to ask. Please give me your princess as my bride.

      Masamori was surprised at this sudden request. Who are you and what is your position? he asked.

      The soldier replied, If I don’t tell the truth, you will surely find out. I am a black dragon that lives in Onuma Pond in Mt Shiga. Ever since I saw your princess among the cherry blossoms at Mt Higashi, I have not been able to stop thinking about her! So I am here to ask for her hand in marriage. And he bowed very deeply to Masamori.

      Masamori asked him, Was that when we visited the cherry blossoms at Mt Higashi?

      The soldier answer, Yes. At that time I was a snake.

      When Masamori first saw the young soldier, he thought he might make a suitable husband for the princess. But after he heard that he was a black dragon that had taken the form of both a snake and a man, he changed his mind. So Masamori bluntly refused the young soldier’s request.

      However, the young soldier refused to give up. He visited the castle almost every day. Soon he was visiting Kurohime’s room. After 100 days, Kurohime fell in love with the elegant young soldier. Masamori became more and more scared of him. He thought to himself, If things go on like this, my adorable princess will be taken by a snake! He ordered the servants to close the gate tightly and reinforce the guards to keep the young soldier out. Despite this, the young soldier still managed to sneak into the castle, like a shadow.

      Masamori therefore had a really serious problem. However, he was still the lord of his own castle. So he said to the young soldier, Naturally, I understand what you want. But I need to know how much strength and courage you have.

      The young soldier replied, Of course.

      Well tomorrow, I will ride a horse around the castle twenty-one times. You can follow me on foot. If you can go the whole distance, you can marry the princess.

      The soldier said, Are you sure?

      Masamori replied, Samurai always keep their promises! Hearing this, the young soldier went off in high spirits.

      The next day, Masamori mounted one of his horses, which was one of the best in the area. Encouraged by Masamori’s whip, the horse began to fly along. The young soldier, sweating heavily, followed behind. But it was impossible for him to keep up. Before anyone realized it, the sun was setting, turning the top of Mt Takayashiro red. The young soldier’s clothes were in tatters, and he was bleeding from numerous cuts on his feet and legs. Masamori heard that snakes hate iron, so he had put many swords around the castle, with their sharp ends sticking up out of the ground. Nevertheless, the young soldier finished twenty-one laps, covered in mud and blood.

      Finally, I have finished! he gasped. Please keep your promise!

      But Masamori refused. "I cannot give my

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