Japanese Folk Tales

7/22/2019 Japanese Folk Tales

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One Straw Rich Man

Japanese (Folk) Tales

Russian translation and commentary by Yulia Koltysheva

English translation by Oleg Svistunov

Ilya Frank's reading method

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Contents

Momotarou

Issumboshi

The Mouse's Marriage

The Old Man and His Lump

Raccoon Forest near Shojoji Temple

One-Straw-Rich Man

The Nobleman, the Onion, and the Raddish

The Cat and the Twelve Symbols of Horoscope

The Mouse Sutra

Why the Shrimp's Back Is Bent
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The Screen Tiger

The Who Dat Old Man

The Pillow on the Loincloth

Kintarou

The Sweet Sake

Why the Jellyfish Has No Bones

The Wife from the Painting

Echigoya

The Carrot, the Burdock Root and the Raddish

The Rolling Yam

(Momotarou; momo peach, tarou a male name popular in Japan or a male name

suffix)

Mukashi

mukashi (a very long time ago), aru tokoro ni (in some place), jiisama to baasama ga

orimashita (lived an old man and an old woman: were; oru).

()()

Jiisama wa yama e takigi wo tori ni (the old man would go to the

mountains to pick firewood: take; toru), baasama wa kawa e sentaku ni ikimashita
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(the old woman would go to the river to do laundry: go; iku). ()

()()

()Baasama ga kawa de sentaku wo shiteiru to

(when the old woman was doing the laundry on the river; suru do + iru be

/auxiliary verb/ continuous aspect), kawakami kara (from upstream), ookina momo

ga (a big peach)domburako, domburako to (wiggly-waggly: emerging and

submerging)nagarete kimashita (appeared; nagareru float + kuru come

/auxiliary verb denoting approach in space or time/).

Umai momo nara (if [you are] a tasty

peach), kotchi e koi (float over here: come /imperative mood/; kuru). ()

Nigai momo nara, atchi e ike (if you're not a tasty peach:

bitter float over there: go /imperative mood/; iku). (

)()to iu to (she had no sooner

said the words: when said), umasouna (appetizing: delicious-looking; umai

tasty)ookina momo ga (big peach)baasama no hou ni nagarete kimashita (to the old

womans side floated).


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()()()Baasama

wa, momo wo hirotte (the old woman, having picked up the peach; hirou)ie ni

kaerimashita (returned home; kaeru).()(

)Yuugata ni natte ([when]the evening came: when it

became the evening), jiisama ga yama kara modotte kimashita (the old man returned

home from the mountains; modoru).()

()()()()

()()()

Futari de (the two)tabeyou to (were about to eat /subjunctive mood denoting

decision/; taberu), momo wo manaita no ue ni (the peach on [top of] the cutting board)

nosete (put; noseru /participle denoting precedence/), kirou to suru to (when [they]

decided to cut [it]; kiru /subjunctive mood/ + to suru decide to do something), momo

wa patto warete (the peach broke in half; wareru), naka kara kawaii otoko no ko ga (and

from the inside a cute boy), hougyaa, hougyaa toumaremashita (was born [shouting]


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aah aah).()

()()()Jiisama to

baasama wa bikkuri shimashita ga (the old man and the old woman were surprised but),

ooyorokobi de (very happy), Momotarou to iu namae wo tsukete ([after] giving [him] a

name called/known as Momotarou; namae wo tsukeru name somebody, give

somebody a name), sodatemashita ([they] raised [him]: bring up; sodateru).

()()()()

()()()()

Momotarou wa, ippai tabereba (if Momotarou ate one bowl [of rice] /subjunctive mood

form/; taberu)ippaibun dake (by one part only), nihai tabereba (if [he] ate two bowls /of

rice/), nihaibun dake (by two parts only)ookiku narimashita ([he] grew big(ger) = the

more he ate the bigger he became /derivative /medial/ form of the adjectiveookii big

+ naru become/).()()()


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()()Hitotsu oshiereba (if [he was] taught

one thing; oshieru)juu made oboe (he remembered up to ten /link-participle/; oboeru),

juu oshiereba hyaku made oboemashita (if taught ten [things], he would

remember/understand up to a hundred).

()()(

)()()Koushite (in this way)

Momotarou wa, dondonookiku natte (Momotarou has gradually grown up),

chikaramochi de (being vigorous /de derivative /medial/ form of the link-verb desu

be/), tsuyoi, kashikoi ko ni narimashita (strong and clever child [he] became).

()()()()

()()()

()Sonokoro (at that time/in that age),

mura ni warui oni domo ga (in the village evil demons: bad; domo suffix of

plurality)detekite (appeared: came; detekuru), mura no hito ni rambou shitari ([they]

abused/violently mistreated the villagers; rambou suru do violence to/commit an

outrage to/knock smb. around), mono wo tottari (took [their] belongings /repeated

action/; toru take), musume wo sarattari shite (kidnapped girls; sarau), hitobito wa

(people), taihen komatte imashita (suffered very much; komaru experience

difficulties).


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()()()

(

)

(

)

()()

()()

Aru hi (once upon a time: on a certain day)Momotarou wa jiisama to baasama

no mae e kite (Momotarou came to/appeared before the old man and the old woman;

mae in front of, front), kichinto suwatte (sat in a polite position: neatly/properly)

ryoute wo tsuki (folded both hands), Okagesama de (thanks to you), konnani

ookikunarimashita kara (I've grown up so big), oni ga shima e (to the island of the

demons)oni taiji ni ittemairimasu (I am going to get rid of/wipe out/vanquish the

demons; iku + mairu go /humble verb form/). Douka (please)nippon ichi no

kibidango wo (the best: number one in Japan kibidango /millet dumplings/)tsukutte


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kudasai (make; tsukuru cook, do + kudasaru do smb. a favor/do something for

somebody /polite verb form/). to iimashita ([he] said).

()Jiisama to

baasma wa, bikkuri shite (the old man and the old woman were surprised)tomemashita

(would try to stop [him]; tomeru)ga (but), Momotarou wa doushitemo kikimasen

(Momotarou would not listen to them at all: no matter what they said; kiku).

()

()()()

()()(

)()()()Jiisama to

baasama wa shikatanaku (the old man and the old woman against their will/had no

choice but), nippon ichi kibidango wo, takusan koshiraete (lots of the best millet

dumplings in Japan: large quantity made; koshiraeru), koshi ni sagesase (made him

carry /the dumplings/ on his belt; sagesaseru /imperative mood/; sageru), atarashii

hachimaki wo sase (made him tie a new band/towel /around his head/; suru do),

atarashii hakama wo hakase (made him put on new /traditional Japanese skirt-like/

trousers hakama; haku put on [trousers]), katana wo sasase (made him carry a

sword/made him tuck a sword under his belt; katana wo sasu wear [a sword at ones

side]), Nippon ichi no Momotarou ([that had] The Best/Strongest in Japan

Momotarou) to kaita (written [on it]) hata wo motasete (made him take a flag; motsu

have), okuri dashimashita (sent him on his way; okuru + dasu /auxiliary verb

denoting the beginning of an action/).


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()()

Mura hazure made kuru to (just as [he] reached the border of the village), inu ga

wan wan hoenagara (a dog was barking bow-wowparticiple of simultaneity/; hoeru)

yattekimashita (came: showed up; yattekuru).

()

Momotarou san, Momotarou san. Doko e iku no desu ka? (Momotarou-san = Mr.

Momotarou, Momotarou-san, where are you going? /no substantive particle; desu

link-verbbe in present tense; neutrally polite form; ka interrogative particle/)


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()()Oni ga shima e (to the island

of the demons)oni taiji ni iku (to kill/get rid of the demons).

()(

)Watashi wo (me too)kerai ni shite

kudasai (make a vassal). Okoshi ni tsuketa ([the ones that you have] on your belt)

nippon ichi no kibidango wo (best in Japan kibidango /millet dumpling/), hitotsu

kudasai ([give me] one please).

()()

Yoshi yoshi (All right, all right: good), kibidango wo tabereba (if you eat/if one eats

one kibidango)juuninriki ni naru (you [they] will become as strong as ten people).

()()

()to itte (having said so), Momotarou wa inu ni kibidango wo

hitotsu yari (Momotarou, gave the dog one kibidango /link-participle/; yaru), kerai ni

shimashita(made it a vassal).()()

()Dondon susunde ((as they were)

gradually moving forward) yama no hou ni iku to (in the direction of the mountains),

kiji ga kenken to naite yattekimashita (a pheasant, crying ken-ken, appeared).

()

Momotarou san, Momotarou san. Doko e iku no desu ka? (Momotarou-san,

Momotarou-san, where are you going?)


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()()Oni ga shima e oni taiji ni (to the

demons' island to get rid of the demons).

Watashi mo (me too)tsurete itte kudasai

(take with you please). ()

Okoshi ni tsuketa (on your belt)nippon ichi no kibidango wo, hitotsu

kudasai (the best in Japan kibidango, give me one please).

Yoshi yoshi (all right, all right).

to itte (having said so), kibidango

wo hitotsu yarimashita (gave one kibidango).()Kiji

mo kerai ni narimashita (the pheasant also became a vassal).


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()()()

Momotarou ga inu to kiji

wo tsurete (having taken with him the dog and the pheasant, Momotarou), dondon

susunde iku to (was gradually moving forward when), saru ga kyaa kyaa sakebi nagara

yattekimashita (a monkey, screaming kyaa-kyaa, appeared). ()

()Saru mo (the monkey also)inu ya kiji no youni

(like the dog and the pheasant)kerai ni narimashita (became a vassal). (

)()()()

()Momotarou wa, sannin no taishou ni natte (after

becoming the general of the three), oni ga shima e isande (courageously to the island of

the demons; isamu cheer up, get emboldened)susunde ikimashita (advancing

forward, went).


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()()()()()()

Oni ga shima e tsuku to (when one arrives on the island of the demons),

ookina kuroi mon ga tatteimashita ([there is] a big black gate: standing).

()()()()

Saru ga mon wo dondon tataku to (when the monkey knocked on the gate

knock-knock), naka kara (from inside), Doure. to akaoni ga detekimashita (Who

[is it]? [asking] a red demon/devil appeared).

()()(

)Momotarou wa (Momotarou), Ware koso Nippon ichi no Momotarou da

(it is I /underscoring particle/ the best/strongest in Japan Momotarou /da link-berb,

present tense, neutral/). ()

()()Oni domo wo taiji ni kita (I came to kill

the demons). Kakugoshiro! (Get ready!)to itte katana wo nuite (he said, took his

sword out /of the sheath/)kiri kakemashita (and took a slash; kirikakeru assault with

arme blanche; kiru cut + kakeru begin /auxiliary verb/).


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()()

Sokora ni ita chiisana oni wa (little devils [who were] somewhere near),

oosawagi shite (made a big noise)oku no hou e nigete ikimasu (ran [further] inside

/nigeru run away, escape + iku here: auxiliary verb denoting withdrawal/retreat

in time and space/). ()

Oku de wa (in the inner part), oni domo wa sakamori no saichuu de shita ga (devils

were in the middle of a feast, and),

()()Nani (What?),

Momotarou (Momotarou?), nanda (What's that?), kodomo ka (a child?).

to baka ni shite (with contempt), kakatte

kimashita (came attacking). ()

()()Kochira wa (over

here/in this land: on this side)Nippon ichi no kibidango wo tabeteiru node (because

[people] eat the best kibidango in Japan), senninriki ni mo natteimasu ([they] become as

strong as a thousand men).

(

)

(

)

(

)


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()Momotarou wa

katana wo furui (Momotaro is swinging his sword), inu wa kamitsuki (the dog is biting),

saru wa hikkaki (the monkey is scratching), kiji wa sora kara tsuttsukimasu (the

pheasant is pecking from the sky). ()()Sono (that)

tsuyoi (strong, powerful)koto (business, circumstance)tsuyoi koto (= force).

()Toutou (finally)oni domo wa (the

demons), minna (all)makete shimaimashita (lost: surrendered /complete aspect of the

verb/).

()()()()

()Oni no taishou wa (the general of the


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demons), Momotarou no mae ni (in front of Momotarou)te wo tsuite (folded his hands),

namida wo (tears)poro poro to (drop by drop [making the poro-poro sound])

nagashite (streamed),

()()Inochi bakari wa (only life)

o-tasuke kudasai (spare me please; tasukeru help, save, rescue /polite form/).

()()Kore kara wa (from now on)

kesshite (never: not for anything)warui koto wa itashimasen (will [I] not do bad

things).()()Takara

mono wa (the treasure)minna sashiagemasu (will [I] give away to everyone: present

/polite form/). to wabimashita ([he] apologized). ()

Momotarou wa (Momotarou),

()()()

Kore kara warui koto wo shinakereba (from now on if you don't

do bad things), inochi wa tasukete yaru (I shall spare your life; tasukeru + yaru give,

present /familiarly/ action direction indicator usually from the 1st person to the

2nd or 3d person, here: from the superior to the inferior). to iimashita (said [he]).

()()()()

()

()()Momotarou wa takara mono wo kuruma

ni tsunde (Momotaro, having loaded the treasure on a cart)inu,saru, kiji ni (the dog, the


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monkey, and the pheasant)enyara, enyara to (with a shout enyara enyara

/exclamation one makes when lifting something heavy/)hikase (made pull [the cart]

/link-participle of the imperative mood/), jiisama to baasama no miyage ni shite (made it

a present to the old man and the old woman), mura e kaette kimashita (returned to the

village).()()

()()Jiisama to baasama

mo (the old man and the old woman)murabito mo (as well as the villagers)minna

(everybody)ooyorokobi de (very happily), Momotarou no yuuki to chikara wo

(Momotarou's courage and strength)hometataemashita (praised).


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2.

Issumboushi (teeny tiny boy; issun one sun /ancient Japanese measure of length

3.03 cm/; boushi Buddhist monk)

()

Mukashi (a long time ago/in ancient times), aru tokoro ni (in some place), jii-sama to

baa-sama ga (an old man and an old woman)sundeimashita (were living /continuous

aspect of the verb/; sumu). ()

Kodomo ga inai node (because they had no children; iru be, exist /denotes people

and animals/), sabishikute (sad: wailful /medial form of the adjective/; sabishii)

shikata arimasen (it cant be helped: there is no way; aru be, be located /denotes

inanimate objects/; shikata way/of doing something/).

()()()

()()()

Douka (please), yubisaki hodo no (as little as a fingertip = to that degree of

smallness)chiisai ko demo (a little child)ii kara ([would be] ok: its good because

/reverse word order typical of Japanese sentences/), hitori (one)sazukete kudasare

(grant /imperative mood/; sazukeru bestow + kudasaru give, gift). to ([saying

so]), mainichi (every day)kamisama ni (from gods)onegai wo shiteimashita (were

asking: making a request; suru).


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()()()

()()()Suruto (then: after that), dou deshou

(how, not clear; dou how, in what way; deshou subjunctive mood of the link-verb

desu), hontouni (indeed)yubisaki hodo no (as little as a fingertip)chiisai (small)otoko

no ko ga (boy)umaremashita (was born; umareru).

()()()

()Sorede (that's why), jii-sama to baa-sama wa (the old man

and the old woman), kono ko ni (to this child)Issumboushi to namae wo tsukete

(Issumboushi gave the name: having named /participle denoting precedence/;

tsukeru attach, affix), taisou kawaigatte (loving very much; kawaigaru)

sodatemashita (were raising [him]: bring up; sodateru).

()()

()Sorekara (since then)nannen ka (some/several

years)tachimashita (passed; tatsu)ga (but), Issumboushi wa chittomo (Issumboushi not

at all: not even a little bit)ookiku narimasen ([didn't] become bigger; naru). (

)()Yubisaki hodo no (as little as a fingertip)

ookisa no mama deshita (he was/remained; mama the same as, in the same

way/condition; deshita past tense of the link-verbdesu).


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()()

()Aru hi no koto (one day this thing [happened] = once upon a time),

Issumboushi wa, jii-sama to baa-sama no mae ni (Isshumboushi to the old man and the

old woman; mae before/in front of)kite (came; kuru),

()

Watashi wa (I)miyako e (to the capital)ikitai no desu

(want to go; iku; no substantive particle). Douka (please)o-wan to (a bowl and /

respectful prefix/also used to refer to common domestic objects/; to copulative

conjunction and/), hashi to (a chopstick and), hari wo (a needle)kudasai (give) to,


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iimashita (said [he]). ()

()()()

()Soshite (then: after that, so), hari wo (the

needle)katana no kawari ni (instead of a sword: instead)koshi ni sashi (put on his

belt; sasu), o-wan wo fune ni shite (made the bowl his boat; suru)kawa ni ukabe

(launched it on the river; ukaberu launch [of a boat]), hashi wo kai ni shite (made the

chopstick his paddles), genki yoku (friskily)miyako e mukete (headed for the capital)

dekakete ikimashita (set off; dekakeru depart + iku go /auxiliary verb denoting

withdrawal/retreat in time and space/).

()()(

)()()()Dombura, dombura to

(wiggling and waggling [on the waves] /adverb/), o-wan no fune ni notte (got on the

bowl-boat; noru get on /a means of transportation/), nan nichi mo (many days; nan

what, how (much/many /question-word/)kawa wo kudatte (going down the river;

kudaru), youyaku (finally: at last)miyako e tsukimashita (arrived in the capital;

tsuku).

()()()

()()()()

Issumboushi wa fune wo ori (Issumboushi got off the boat; oru get off /a means of

transportation/), machi no naka wo (the middle of the town)achira kochira (here and

there)minagara (looking at/viewing: examining/surveying /participle denoting

simultaneity/; miru look, see, watch)aruite iku to (walked: go on foot, wander,


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roam when; aruku + iku), rippana (beautiful)ikken no (detached: separate)o-yashiki

(mansion)no mae ni (to the front of)demashita (came out; deru).

()Issumboushi wa, o-yashiki no genkan ni tatte

(Issumboushi at the entrance to the mansion: porch stood; tatsu),

()Tanomou,

tanomou (invite me in, invite me in; tanomu ask, request) to, oogoe de (in a loud

voice)yobawarimashita (called; yobawaru = yobu).


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Sono (that)o-yashiki

wa (mansion), erai (prominent: great)tono-sama no (master: feudal lord)o-yashiki

deshita (belonged to: mansion was of). ()()

()()Kerai ga (the vassal[s])genkan ni (to the

entrance)dete miru to (when came to see /attemptive aspect of the verb denotes an

attempt to perform an action/; deru + miru), koe ga shita ([the one who] spoke: made

voice)noni (although)hito ga imasen (that person wasn't there; iru be).

()()

()()()()()

Hen da na (strange) to, fushigi ni omotte (thought [the vassals] in amazement;

omou think)yoku yoku miru to (when [they] looked more closely: looked very very

well), hakimono no tonari ni (next to [their] footgear), chiisana chiisana otoko no ko ga

(a teeny tiny boy)tatte imasu (was/is standing /continuous aspect/; tatsu + iru).

Soshite (then)

()

Watashi wa, Issumboushi to iu mono desu (I am

a person called Issumboushi). Tono-sama ni o-me ni kakaritai (I want to see the master:

meet; o-me ni kakaru meet /polite speech/). to, iimashita (said [he]; iu).

()

Kerai wa (the vassals)bikkuri shite (were surprised), tono-sama no (the master's)tokoro


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e (place to)tsurete ikimashita (took/accompanied him: having taken with them, went;

tsureru + iku). ()

Issumboushi wa (Issumboushi)tono-sama no (the master's)te no

hira ni notte (palm climbed on: got on; noru), kichinto suwatte (sat properly; suwaru)

aisatsu wo shimashita (greeted: introduced himself).

Tono-sama wa yorokonde (the master became happy; yorokobu),

()Kore wa

(this)omoshiroi (is interesting). to ([saying so]), kerai ni shite kudasaimashita (made

[him] a vassal; kudasaru give /indicates that the action is performed by the 1st

person toward the 2nd or 3d person, by the superior toward the inferior/).


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()()

()(

)()O-yashiki ni (to the mansion)o-kyaku-sama ga

(visitors/guests)kuru to (when came: if), Issumboushi wa (Issumboushi)tono-sama

no (the master's)te no hira no ue de (palm on top of), odottari utattari (would dance and

sing, /repeated action/; odoru; utau), hari wo nuite (took out the needle: made bare;

nuku), tsurugi no mai wo (the dance of the sword)shitari shimashita (would perform:

did). ()(

)()()Issumboushi no

uwasa wa (rumors about Issumboushi), o-yashiki no naka (inside the mansion)bakari

denaku (not only [but]), tachimachi (at once: immediately)machi juu ni (in town

[too])hirogatte (spread; hirogaru), ninkimono ni ([and he] a popular personality)

narimashita (became).

Tono-sama wa (the master),

hitori no (one: an only)musume ga imashita (daughter had: was; iru).

()()()

O-hime-sama wa (the princess), Issumboushi ga ki ni itte (came to like Issumboushi; ki

ni iru), kata toki mo (not for a minute)soba kara (from herself: from her side)

hanashimasen (wouldn't/didn't let [him] go = didn't release; hanasu).


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()()()()

O-hime-sama ga hon wo yomu toki wa (when the princess was reading a book:

at the time of reading), Issumboushi wa tsukue no ue ni ite (Issumboushi was on the

table: being)peeji wo mekurimasu (turned the pages; mekuru). ()

()Asobi ni iku toki mo (when /she/ went out as

well: to play, for entertainment), itsumo (always)o-tomo wo shimashita

(accompanied [her]; tomo wo suru).

()()()()


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Sono koro (at that time)miyako de wa (in the capital), warui oni ga

(bad demons)dete kite wa (appeared), hitobito ni ranbou wo shitari (mistreated/abused

people), wakai musume wo (young girls)sarattari shite iku (kidnapped)no de (because

[they did so]), minna (everybody)komari hatete imashita (suffered very much: were in

an extremely difficult situation).

()()

Aru hi no koto (this thing /happened/ one day = once upon a time),

o-hime-sama wa (the princess)kannon-sama ni (to Kannon goddess)o-mairi ni iku koto

ni narimashita (went to bow/visit: it so happened that /she/ went).

()()()Tono-sama wa

(the master), tsuyoi kerai wo (strong vassals)oozei (many)o-tomo ni tsukete

yarimashita (appointed to accompany her: attached to her).

()()Issumboushi mo

(Issumboushi also), o-hime-sama no kimono no (the princess's kimono)tamoto ni haitte

(having gotten into: entered), tsuite ikimashita (joined; tsuku join + iku go).

()()(

)Kannon-sama e no (to the Kannon goddess)o-mairi mo (even the visit)

buji ni sunde (went well = with no accidents), sono (that)kaeri michi no (way back

home of)koto desu (the thing is = what happened, happened on the way home).

()()


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Totsuzen (all of a sudden: unexpectedly)osoroshii (scary)ookina (big)oni ga

(demons)nihiki (two; hiki counter for small animals)arawarete (appeared;

arawareru), osoi kakatte kimashita (assaulted: attacked; osou attack + kakaru

assail + kuru come). ()()

O-tomo no (the accompanying)kerai tachi wa

(vassals; tachi suffix of plurality)katana wo nuite (having unsheathed the swords)

tatakaimashita (fought; tatakau)ga (but: however), totemo kanaimasen (very unequal;

kanau be equal). Chirijiri ni (all over the place:

helter-scelter)nigete shimaimashita (ran away = scattered; nigeru + shimau /complete

aspect/). Oni wa

(the demons), o-hime-sama wo (the princess)tsukamaete (grabbed; tsukamaeru), saratte

ikou to shimashita ([and] decided to kidnap; sarau kidnap + iku to suru decide to

do something).


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()()()

Issumboushi wa, oni no mae ni tachi hadakatte (Issumboushi stood in front of the

demons; tachihadakaru = tachifusagaru get in the way, be an obstacle),

()

Ware koso wa

Issumboushi da (I am Issumboushi; koso namely, exactly). Kono katana de (with this

sword)hitotsuki ni shite kureru ([I will] strike once: this sword will strike once for

me; kureru indicates that the performed action usually benefits the speaker). to,

koshi ni sashite ita (hanging on his waist/belt)katana wo nuite (the sword [he]

unsheathed), oni ni mukatte ikimashita (faced the demons and went [toward them] =

started approaching the demons).

()Oni tachi wa (the demons),

aite ga (the enemy)amari chiisai node (pretty small was because = because the

adversary was rather small),


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()

Wahhahha (ha-ha-ha), namaikina chibime ([what a]

self-confident/arrogant little boy: runt). to, oowarai shite (laughed outloud: made a

big laugh)Issumboushi wo tsumamu to (took Issumboushi with a finger; tsumamu),

()()()

()Omae (you)nan ka (actually /often not translated/),

hito nomi da (are [just] one swallow/sip/mouthful). to, kuchi wo akete (opened the

mouth; akeru)pakutto (at once), nomikonde shimaimashita (swallowed; nomu + komu).

()Tokoro ga

(however)Issumboushi wa (Issumboushi)oni no o-naka no (in the demon's stomach)

naka de (inside), ooabare (made a big mess; abareru rough-house, whoop it up).

()()Hari no katana

wo (his needle sword)furi mawashite (swinging; mawasu), onaka juu (all over the

stomach)tsuttsuki (poking; tsuttsuku)mawarimasu (is rolling/twirling; mawaru).

Itetetete (it huuuurts; itai painful).

()Oni wa

kurushigatte (the demon, writhing; kurushigaru), Issumboushi wo haki dashite

shimaimashita (spat Issumboushi out; haku + dasu + shimau).


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()()

()()()()

Mou ippiki no oni ga (one more demon), Issumboushi wo

tsukamae you to shita node (because [he] decided to catch Issumboushi), sono oni no

(that demon's)me no (eyes)naka e (inside)tobikonde ([Issumboushi] jumped in: flew

in; tobikomu), me wo (the eye)hari no katana de (with the needle sword)tsuki

sashimashita (poked; tsukisasu). Oni wa (the demon),


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Kou san, kou san (I surrender, I surrender). Issumboushi ni wa

kanawanai (Issumboushi has no match). to itte (said so; iu), awatete (in a hurry)nigete

ikimashita (ran away; nigeru + iku). ()

Issumboushi wa o-hime-sama wo tasuke okosu to (when Issumboshi helped the princess

to her feet),

O-hime-sama,

mou daijoubu desu yo (princess, it's all right now). to, iimashita (said).

()()

Omae no okagede (thanks to you)tasukarimashita (I am saved; tasukaru). Hontou

ni (indeed)arigatou (thank you).

()()()

Oni ga ooawatede (the demons in a big hurry)nigete itta (ran away)ato

ni (after), chiisana mono (a small thing)ga ochite imashita (remained lying = was left

behind /resultative aspect/; ochiru drop, fall).


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Ittai, nan darou (what is that?).

O-hime-sama wa (the princess), sore wo toru to

(when [she] took it),

()()

()()()

Kore wa (this), oni ga otoshite itta ([the one that] the

demons dropped; otosu + iku)mono (thing is)ni chigainai (without a doubt: for

certain). Uchide n kozuchi (the magic hammer)to iite (called), nandemo negai ga (any

wish)kanau (making come true)takaramono (treasure is)kamoshirenai (probably). to,

osshaimashita (said; ossharu say /polite verb/).

()

()Soredewa (then: so), watakushi

no se ga takaku naru you ni (my height to be taller = in order for me to become taller)

futte mite kudasaimasen ka (would you wave/shake [it]?; furu + miru /attemptive

aspect/ + kudasaru). to, Issumboushi wa o-negai shimashita (Issumboushi made a

request). O-hime-sama ga (the princess),


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()()

()()

Issumboushi no, se ga takaku naare (Issumboushi, become taller). to, kozuchi wo furu

to (when waved the hammer), miru miru uchi ni (very quickly), Issumboushi wa ookiku

natte (Issumboushi grew bigger [and]), rippana (a wonderful)wakamono (young man:

youth)ni narimashita (became).

Yagate (soon

[after that])Issumboushi wa (Issumboushi), o-hime-sama no o-muko-san ni nari

(became the princess's bridegroom), rippana tono-sama ni natte (became a great master),

jii-sama to baa-sama wo yonde (called the old man and the old woman; yobu), shiawase

ni kurashita (and lived happily ever after; kurasu)to sa (they say).


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3.

Nezumi no yomeiri (A Mouse's Marriage)

Mukashi (a long time time ago/in ancient times), aru tokoro ni (in some place), taihen

kireina (a very beautiful)nezumi no musume ga (girl-mouse)imashita (lived: was;

iru). Nezumi

no (the mouse's)o-tou-san to o-kaa-san wa (father and mother), musume no jiman

bakari shimasu (were so proud of their daughter = the only thing they did was be proud

of her; jiman suru be proud).

()()()

Kono ko wa (this child), sekai de ichiban erai hito no (the

greatest man in the world)tokoro denakereba (if not the place), yome ni yarenai ([we

won't] offer her as a bride = we won't marry her off to anybody but the greatest man in

the world; yome ni yaru)ne (right?/isnt it so? /often not translated/).


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()()

Sou desu (that's right)tomo (certainly). Demo (but), sekai de ichiban

erai hito (the greatest man in the world)tte ([the one who is] called that), dare deshou ne

(who /might that be/ /deshou suppositional mood of the link-verb desu be).

Sorya (that)yappari (after

all), o-tentou-sama jarou (is Mr. Sun, [probably]).

Nezumi no o-tou-san to o-kaa-san wa (the mouse's father and

mother), musume wo tsurete (having taken the daughter with them; tsureru),

o-tentou-sama no (to Mr. Suns)tokoro e ikimashita (place went; iku).


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()()

Anata wa (you are), sekai de ichiban erai (the greatest in

the world)o-kata ja (man/person /polite speech/). Musume wo ([our] daughter)yome ni

moratte kudasai (take as your wife please = marry our daughter; morau take,

receive).

()

Washi ga (I am)sekai de ichiban erai (the greatest in

the world)tte (you're saying)? Iya iya (no-no), washi mo kanawanai (an incomparable

to me; kanau)mono ga sekai ni wa oru zo (man in the world exists).

Ee (eh?)? Sore wa

ittai, donata degozaimasu ka (who is that /polite speech/)?

Nezumi no o-tou-san ga (the mouse's

father)tazunemashita (asked; tazuneru).

()()

Kumo-dono ja (Mr. Cloud). Kumo-dono ni wa (by Mr. Cloud), washi

no hikari mo (even my light)saegirarete shimau (is blocked; saegiru /passive voice/)

kara nou (because /nou emphasizing particle/).

()

()Sore wo kite (having heard that; kiku), nezumi

no o-tou-san to o-kaasan wa (the mouse's father and mother), musume wo tsurete (took


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their daughter with them), kumo-dono no ([and] to Mr. Clouds)tokoro e ikimashita

(place went).

()()

Sekai de ichiban erai (the greatest in the world)kumo-dono (Mr.

Cloud), douka (please)musume wo yome ni moratte kudasai (marry our daughter).

()

Iya iya (no-no), washi mo (even I)kaze-san ni wa

kanawanai (can't compare to Mr. Wind). Kaze ga fukeba (if the wind blows; fuku


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/subjunctive mood/), washi wa tobasarete shimau (I fly away, I get blown away; tobu

/passive voice/)kara ne (because/since/as).

()

Soko de (then: afterwards,

therefore)nezumi no o-tou-san to o-kaa-san wa (the mouse's father and mother), kaze

no (the wind's)tokoro e itte (place went to), musume wo yome ni moratte kureru you ni

(and so that /he would/ marry their daughter; morau + kureru indicates that the

performed action benefits the speaker), tanomimashita (asked; tanomu). (

)Suru to kaze wa (then the wind),

()

Sekkaku da ga (I am very grateful but), washi yori (compared to me)erai mono ni

(a great man)kabe-san ga oru (Mr. Wall is). Kabe ga aru to (when there is a wall: if),

washi wa soko kara (I from here)saki e wa (over there)ikarenai (cannot go; iku /passive

voice/). Kabe-san ga ichiban erai n da yo (Mr. Wall is the greatest).


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Soko de (then)nezumi tachi wa (the mice), kabe no (the

wall's)tokoro e itte (place went to; iku), musume wo yome ni moratte kudasai (please

marry our daughter), to tanomimashita (asked). Suru to (then), kabe

wa (the wall),

()Nan da tte (what are you

saying)? Washi yori (compared to me)erai no wa (great)nezumi-san (Mr. Mouse)janai

ka (is, isn't he). Washi mo (even in me)nezumi-san ni wa (by Mr. Mouse)ana wo

(holes)akerarete shimau (are opened; akeru open + shimau /passive voice, complete

aspect/)mono (/substantive particle/).

()Sore wo kiite (having heard that;

kiku), nezumi no o-tou-san wa (the mouse's father),


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()

Nan da (what's that), sekai de ichiban erai no wa (the greatest in the

world), nezumi janai ka (arent the mice?). to, iimashita (said; iu).

()

Soko de nezumi no musume wa (then the daughter-mouse), nezumi

no wakamono to (a youth-mouse)kekkon suru koto ni natta (married: it so happened

that she married him)sou desu (they say).

Medetashi. Medetashi. (merry, merry: happily

/traditional ending in Japanese fairy tales/)


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4.

Kobutori jiisan (the old man who was getting rid of the lump; toru take,

remove)

Mukashi (a long time ago/in ancient times), aru tokoro ni (in some place), hoppeta ni

(on a cheek)kobu no aru (having a lump; aru be, exist /denoted inanimate objects/)

ojiisan ga imashita (an old man lived: was; iru). ()

Sono kobu no ookii koto to ittara (if [you]

call that lump a big [one]; iu), nigiri kobushi hodo mo aru (it's as big as a clenched fist =

to describe how big it was, its size could be compared to a clenched fist; hodo

degree)no desu (the thing is; no substantive particle/may remain untranslated/).

Ojiisan wa (the old man),

(()) (

)()Nantoka shite (somehow), kobu wo toru (to

remove the lump)houhou wa nai darou ka (isn't there a way; houhou way, method,

solution; ka question-particle). to, mainichi (every day)omotte (thinking


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/participle/; omou)kurashite imashita (kept on living /continuous aspect/; kurasu + iru

be /here: auxiliary verb/).

()()Aru hi

(one day = once upon a time), ojiisan wa yama e (the old man to the mountains)takigi

wo tori ni ikimashita (went to pick firewood; toru take, gather; iku go). (

)()Yuugata ni natta

node (as it was evening time: became), kaerou to suru to (when /he was/ about to

return home), goro goro (rumble), pikari (flash)! Kaminari desu (it's

thunder). ()Ame mo (the rain also)zan zan

(hard)futte kimashita (came down/started falling; furu + kuru /auxiliary verb denoting

the beginning of an action/).


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()

()()Dokoka ni (somewhere)ame yadori

suru (to hide from the rain)tokoro wa nai kana (a place, isn't there). to, sagashite iru to

(when /he/ looked for [it]; sagasu + iru), chikaku ni (close: nearby)horaana ga (a

cave)mitsukarimashita ([he] found). ()()

()()Ojiisan wa (the old man)sono naka ni

haitte (having entered inside; hairu /participle denoting precedence/), ame no yamu no

wo matsu koto ni shimashita (decided to wait for the rain to end; ame rain; no of;

yamu stop). Sono uchi

ni (in the meantime), tsui utouto (unwittingly dozing off), nemutte shimaimashita ([he]

fell asleep /complete aspect/ nemuru + shimau).

()()

()Nandaka (out of the blue), fue ya taiko

no (the flutes' and drums')oto ga shita youna (sounds could be heard as if)ki ga shite

([he] felt), ojiisan ga me wo samasu to (when the old man woke up; me eye /fixed

expression/), bikkuri gyouten (got astonished). ()(

)()()()

()()()()()

Mou yonaka no you ni (it already seemed like late at night)makkura


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de (in complete darkness), horaana no (the cave)naka de (in the middle of: inside),

takibi ga (a bonfire)aka aka to (bright red)moe (burning), sono mawari de (around it),

akai kao ya aoi kao no (red-faced and blue-faced)osoroshii oni tachi ga (scary devils')

sakamori no (feast/junket/drinking party)saichuu desu (in full swing was/is; saichuu

in the middle of [an event, process, action]).

()Fue wo fuitari (playing the flutes:

blowing /repeated action/; fuku), taiko wo tataitari (beating the drums; tataku), uta wo

utattari shite iru (singing songs; utau + suru)oni mo imasu (devils also were/are [there];

iru).


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()

()()()

()Ojiisan wa (the old man), osoroshikute

(frightened), kakureru you ni shite (decided to hide), mite imashita ga (was looking but;

miru + iru), fue ya taiko no oto wo kiitari (listening to the sound of the flutes and

drums), oni tachi no odori wo mite iru uchi ni (while watching the devils dance),

nandaka (out of the blue/for no reason)tanoshiku natte kimashita (gleesome: merry

became = cheered up; tanoshii + naru + kuru).

Sokode ojiisan wa (then the old man), tsuini (finally), utai dashimashita

(started singing; utau + dasu /auxiliary verb denoting the beginning of an action/).

suttokoton no suttenten

kekkerokee no paakapaka

peppekepee no hyaarahyara (composition

of sounds imitating a melody of a song)

()Anna tokoro ni

(in that place = over there)ningen no jiisan ga iru (there is a human old man)zo

(/emphasizing particle/).

()

()Oni tachi wa osoroshii kao de (the

devils, with scary faces,)ojiisan wo niramimashita ga (looked at the old man with


47/219


hostility/leered, but; niramu), ojiisan no uta ga (the old man's song)totemo

omoshirokatta node (because [it] was very interesting: funny; omoshiroi /past tense

form of the adjective/),

Omoshiroi jiisan jawai (funny old man).

()()

Kotchi de (here /colloquial form of the pronounkochira this side,

here), isshoni sakamori wo shinai ka (won't you feast together /with us/; suru do; ka

question-particle). to, kuchi guchi ni ii dashimashita (all together = in unison said;

iu + dasu).

Ojiisan wa (the old man), onaka ga

suite ita node (as he was hungry: stomach was empty; suku be empty + iru),

()()

Hei hei (yeah, yeah), konnichiwa (hello). to, dete itte (came out; deru +

iku), sakamori ni kuwawarimashita (joined the feast; kuwawaru).


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()()Jiisan mo (old man

also), nanika (something)odotte kure (dance /familiar form of the imperative mood/

odoru + kureru give, gift /indicates that the action is performed for the benefit of the

speaker/). to, oni ga iu no de (as the devils said), ojiisan wa (the old man)miburi teburi

mo omoshiroku (with funny gestures and moves), odori dashimashita (began dancing;

odoru + dasu).

tottokoton no tetteketen

puppukupaa no puukapuka


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reroreroree no keerakera

()Oni tachi wa

omoshirogatte (the devils [are] rejoicing,: deriving pleasure; omoshirogaru), te wo

tataite (clapping their hands; tataku)waraimasu (laughing; warau).

()()Ojiisan mo tanoshikute (the old

man, also having fun), toki ga tatsu no wo ([the fact that] the time is passing)

wasuremashita (forgot; wasureru).

()Sono uchi ni (in the

meantime)dokoka de (somewhere)niwatori ga nakimashita (a rooster crowed; naku

cry /refers to birds/).


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()()Soro

soro (soon: little by little), yo ga akeru (it dawns). Kyou wa mou (today already),

oshimai ni shiyou (finish [let's]; suru /imperative mood form implying invitation or call

to action/).

Oni no hitori ga (one devil)kou

iu to (when said so), hoka no oni ga (another devil),

()

Jiisan (old man), uta mo odori mo (both the song and the dance),

jouzu de omoshirokatta yo (were skillful: proficient and interesting). Mata ashita

(tomorrow as well), kite okure (come; kuru + okuru gift).

Hai hai (yes, yes), mairimasu ([I'll] come; mairu).

Ojiisan wa, sou iimashita ga (the

old man said so but; iu), oni wa (the devil),

Shikashi (however), moshimo konai to (if you don't

come; kuru)ikenai kara (since it's bad: won't do), nanika azukatte oku bee (something

[from you] we'll take [and keep] /objective aspect/ azukaru + oku put, leave/here:

auxiliary verb/). Sou da (it is so), sono hoppeta no (of that cheek)kobu wo azukarou

(the lump, lets take; azukaru). to itte (said), sutto (quickly: easily), ojiisan no kobu


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wo (the old man's lump)totte shimaimashita (took away /complete aspect/; toru take

+ shimau).

()()()

()()Ojiisan wa (the

old man), karuku natta (became lighter; karui + naru)hoppeta wo (cheek)nade nade

(stroking)ie ni kaeri (returned home; kaeru), yuube no koto wo (the last evenings

event: business), tonari no ojiisan ni (to an old man in the neighborhood)

hanashimashita (told; hanasu).


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Tonari no ojiisan wa

(the old man from the neighborhood), urayamashikute narimasen (can't help but envy;

naru here: bear, tolerate).

()To iu no wa (that is), tonari no ojiisan ni mo (the old

man from the neighborhood also), hoppeta ni (on the cheek)ookina kobu ga atta (had a

big lump; aru)no desu (the thing is).

()Ii koto

wo kiita ([I] heard good news /thing/; kiku). Washi mo (me too), oni ni kobu wo totte

moraou (let the devils take the lump from /suppositional mood indicating decision/ toru

+ morau receive /indicates that the action is performed for the benefit of the subject

of the sentence/).

()Sou itte

(having said so), tonari no ojiisan wa (the old man from the neighborhood), dekakete

ikimashita (set off: departed; dekakeru + iku go /here: auxiliary verb denoting

withdrawal/retreat in space and time/). ()()

()()Ojiisan wa (the old man), hanashi

ni kiita toori ni (according to [what he] heard in the story), yama no hora ana de matte

imashita (was waiting in the mountain cave; matsu + iru /continuous aspect/).

()()Soshite yoru (then at night), oni ga

kite (the devils came; kuru)sakamori wo hajimeru to (when started the feast),

doddekedendara doddekeden


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buubukugaagaa buudarabii

deroderodeedo geedageda

()to, utaimashita (sang;

utau). Ga (but), sono uta no hetana koto (that song [was] strange [badly performed];

koto business/work/affair/deed /act/deal/exclamation often not translated).


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()Mazui uta da nou (bad song; da link-verbbe;

nou = naa /exclamatory particle/).

()Oni tachi wa (the devils)shibui kao wo

shite (made gloomy faces = sulked),

Jaa (well), odotte miro (let's

watch you dance). to, iimashita (said).

Ojiisan wa (the old man), odori dashimashita ga (started

dancing, but; odoru + dasu /auxiliary verb indicating the beginning of an action/), sono

odori no, hetana koto (the dance was strange/unskillful).

()

(

)

(

)

Nanda, chittomo omoshirokunee (not

interesting at all /nee familiar form of the particlenai denoting negation). Mou

(already), kore wo (this)kaesu kara ([we are] returning because), sassato (quickly:

pronto)ie e kaere (go home: return [to where you belong]; /imperative mood/

kaeru). Hora (look: here).

()()

Sou itte (having said so), oni wa (the devils), yuube azukatta (the yesterday taken)kobu

wo nagetsukemashita (lump threw [at him]; nagetsukeru).

Suru to kobu

wa (then the lump), ojiisan no mou katahou no (from one more side)hoppeta ni (on the

cheek), petari to (firmly), kuttsuite shimaimashita (stuck; kuttsuku + shimau).


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Kobu ga (the lumps), futatsu ni

natchimatta you (became two/familar form ofnatte shimatta/; naru + shimau).

()()

Tonari no ojiisan wa (the old man from the neighborhood), naki

nagara (in tears/crying /participle of simultaneity/; naku)yama wo orite (went down the

mountain; oriru), kaette itta (returned [home]; kaeru + iku)to iu koto desu (they say;

koto substantive particle /not translated/).


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5.

shojoji no tanuki bayasi

(raccoon forest near Shojoji temple; tanuki raccoon-like dog, Japanese raccoon)

()()()

Mukashi (a long time ago/in ancient times), aru yama no oku ni (in the depth of

some mountains = somewhere in the mountains), shojoji to iu (Shojoji called)o-tera ga

arimashita (there was a /Buddhist/ temple: was located; aru be, exist /refers to

inanimate objects/).

()()()

()()()

Yama ni wa (in the mountains)tanuki ga takusan

sunde imashita (many raccoons were living; takusan many)ga (and), yoru ni naru to

(when the night came; naru become), bakete (turning into: taking another form

/participle of precedence/; bakeru take another shape, turn into)detari (would come

out /repeated action/; deru), haratsuzumi wo uttari (beating their bellies like the drums;

hara belly; tsuzumi drum; utsu beat), abaretari shite (making a fuss; abareru;


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suru do), itazura no shihoudai wo shite imashita (were working mischief any way

they wanted = were capering however they liked /continuous aspect, past tense/; suru +

iru). ()O-tera no o-shou-san wa (the bonze of the

temple: monk; o respectful prefix),

()()

Mou, konna tera ni wa irarenai ([I] can't stay in this temple

anymore /potential mood/; iru be /refers to animated beings/). to itte (said; iu),

toutou (in the end /adverb/)dete itte shimaimashita (left /complete aspect/; deru + iku

go /auxiliary verb denoting withdrawal/retreat in time and space/ + shimau finish

/auxiliary verb/).

()Sate (at last),

atarashii o-shou-san ga (a new bonze)yatte kimashita (arrived: appeared; yaru + kuru

come /approching in time and space/). ()

Yoru ni naru to (when the night came; naru become), sassoku

(immediately)tanuki-tachi no o-demukae desu (the meeting of the raccoons /there

was/is/; desu link-verb desu /neutral polite style/; tachi suffix of plurality).

()()Mazu wa (at first: first thing), o-bake taikai

desu ((it is/was)a meeting of ghosts).


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Hyuudorodoro (hyu-doro-doro). ()

()to oto to tomo ni (together with /such/ sound), dete kita no wa (/what/

came out /was/ this; no substantive particle),

()Gyaa, hitotsu me kozou da (Gya,

one-eyed novice!; da link-verb be /neutral style/)!

O-shou-san wa (the bonze)

koshi wo nukashite shimaimashita (could barely stand on his feet /so frightened he was/

/complete aspect/; koshi wo nukasu + shimau; koshi back; hip; nukasu skip, go

without; koshi wo nukashite = paralyzed with shock).

Dorodoropyu (doro-doro-pyu). ()

()()to, tsugi ni arawareta no wa (what appeared next


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was this; arawareru), onna no rokuro kubi (a long-necked woman; rokuro potter's

wheel; kubi neck; rokuro kubi long-necked fright/gorgon/monster).

()()()

Tasukete kuree (help

/imperative mood/; tasukeru + kureru give /familiar/ verb indicating an action

performed by the 2nd or 3d person for the benefit of the 1st person). to, o-shou-san wa

(the bonze)o-tera no ishidan wo (the temple's stone stairs)korogari oriru to (when

rolled down: went down), nigedashite shimaimashita (ran away; nigeru + dasu

/auxiliary verb denoting the beginning of an action/ + shimau).

()Mata (again), oidashite yatta zo (drove

[him] away; oidasu + yaru do, accomplish).

(

)

Umaku itta (well done; iku).

Daiseikou (big success).


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()Tanuki-tachi wa (the raccoons), tokui kao

desu ([have] conceited faces). ()()()

()Sono yoru wa (that night)o-tera no niwa de (in the temple's

garden), haratsuzumi (the belly-drums)taikai deshita (has a meeting /past tense form of

the link-verb desu/).

()()

Konnawake de (that is why), atarashii o-shou-san ga (new

bonzes)nannin kite mo (no matter how many came /participle +moparticle denotes

concession/; kuru), minna (everyone)o-tera ni itsukimasen (doesnt move in the temple

= nobody ends up living there; itsuku).

()()

()()Tokoro ga (however),

aru hi (once upon a time: on a certain day), usu yogoreta minari no (in slightly dirty

clothes; usui thin, weak, rare; yogoreru get dirty)o-shou-san ga (a bonze), tok

toko to (his footsteps audible toko-toko)yama dera no (up the mountain temple)

ishidan wo nobotte kimashita (stone stairs went; noboru + kuru /approach in time and

space/).


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()Koko wa ([is]

here), shojoji ka (Shojoji?). Naka naka (fairly: rather)ii tokoro da wai (good place;

wai exclamatory particle).

()Mata (again), atarashii

o-shou-san ga kita (a new bonze came; kuru)no desu (the thing is /often not translated/;

no substantive particle).

Tanuki-tachi wa (the raccoons), niya niya

shimashita (grinned: smirked; suru do).

()Sugu ni (immediately)oidashite yaru yo

([we'll] chase him away; ou chase + dasu = oidasu).

()Tanoshimi ni shite

ina (looking forward to it). to, jishin tappuri desu (full of self-confidence; jishin

self-confidence).


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Sate, sono ban (finally, that evening).

Nammaida, nammaidaa (nammaida,

nammaida)

()

()O-shou-san ga (the bonze)o-kyou wo agete iru to (when he

was reading a sutra /continuous aspect/; kyou wo ageru + iru), patto (suddenly)

arawareta no ga (what appeared was this; arawareru), hitotsu me kozou desu (the

one-eyed novice). ()

Tokoro ga kono o-shou-san (but this bonze), sukoshi mo odorokimasen (didn't get

scared at all; odoroku).

()

Oo, naka naka kawaii hitotsu me kozou ja (oh, pretty

handsome one-eyed novice). Dore (come on), manjuu wo yarou (manjyu /pie with

filling/ I'll give you; yaru). to, iimashita (said; iu).


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()Hitotsu me kozou wa (the one-eyed novice),

manjuu wo moratte (having received the pie; morau), kaette ikimashita (went back;

kaeru return + iku /withrawal/retreat in time and space/).

Nammaida, nammaidaa (nammaida,

nammaida).

()

()Mata o-kyou wo agete iru to (again when [he was] reading sutra), nyuutto

(suddenly: all at once)arawareta no ga (what appeared was this)rokuro kubi (the

long-necked monster). O-shou-san

wa odoroku dokoro ka (the bonze, far from getting frightened), yorokonde (rejoiced

/participle of precedence/; yorokobu),


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()()

()Oya, kireina hito da na (oh, what a beautiful person;

hito person). O-nee-san (young lady sister), ippai dou ka ne (how about a drink?).

to, o-sake wo susumemasu (offered sake; susumeru).

()Rokuro kubi wa (the long-necked monster), sukkari

yopparatte (having got completely drunk; yopparau)kaette ikimashita (went away).

()Komatta

tanuki-tachi wa (the puzzled raccoons; komaru experience difficulties), hiso hiso (in

whisper)soudan shimashita (consulted [each other]; soudan suru).

()Shou ga nai (there's

nothing we can do/it can't be helped; nai negative form of the link-verbda be).

Kou nattara (if it becomes this way = if so /conditional form/; naru), ano te da (that

method [will help]; te hand, method)!


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()

()()Sono ban (that evening),

futon ni haitte (having got under the blanket; hairu enter)gussuri nete ita (sound

asleep; neru + iru)o-shou-san wa (bonze), nani yara souzoushii mono oto de (because

of some intrusive noise; yara particle indicating uncertainty; oto sound)me ga

samemashita (woke up; me ga samesu). ()()()

()()

()To wo akete miru to (when [he] tried to open the door /attemptive

aspect/; akeru + miru open and see [what happens]), o-tera no niwa ni (in the

temple's garden)tanuki-tachi ga seizoroi shite (the raccoons all gathered together),

maruku wa ni natte (stood in a circle; naru), haratsuzumi wo utte imasu (were/are

beating on their belly-drums; utsu hit + iru).

Pon-poko-pon-poko pon-poko-rin

Pon-poko-pon-pon pon-pon-pon

()()

Iyaa (wow), kore wa (this), tanoshisou da nou (seems like a joyous /occasion/;

tanoshii). Washi mo nakama ni irete kure (let me join: insert me; ireru + kureru).


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()

()O-shou-san wa iyagaru dokoro ka (the

bonze, instead of feeling disgusted), niwa ni orite kite (came down to the garden; oriru +

kuru), isshoni natte (joined [them]; issho together, ni connecting particle; naru

become)haratsuzumi wo uchi hajimemashita (started beating on his belly drum; utsu +

hajimeru begin /auxiliary verb/). ()()

Demo (however)doumo sukoshi (really a little bit), oto ga hen desu (the sound is/was

strange).

Nanda (what's that), hen da naa,

wahhahhah (strange, ha-ha-ha).


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()Tanuki-tachi wa oowarai desu (the

raccoons laughed a lot; oowarai big laugh).

()()

Mokugyo wo tataku no wa umai n da ga (I can beat on the wooden

gong well but; umai skillful, efficient), haratsuzumi wa utta koto ga nai n de ne (I

have never beat on the belly-drum; koto substantive particle).

()Oshiete ageru yo (we'll

teach you; oshieru + ageru give /the doer of the action performs the action for the

sake of another person/). Kou yaru n da (this is the [right] way [to do it]; yaru do),

hora (here: look).

Pon-poko-pon-pon pon-pon-pon!

Naruhodo (I see: really /so/), sou yaru

no ka (is that the way?). Dore (let's see).

Pon-poko-pon-pon pon-pon-pon!

()

()()()

()

O-shou-san wa (the bonze), tanuki to onaji kurai (in about the same way with the

raccoons; kurai degree; approximately; onaji same)haratsuzumi ga umaku natte

(became skillfull at beating on his belly-drum; umai + naru), sore irai (since then),


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mangetsu ni naru to (at: when it becomes full moon), shojoji no niwa dewa (in the

garden of Shojoji temple), o-shou-san to tanuki-tachi ga isshoni (the bonze and the

raccoons together), haratsuzumi taikai wo yatta (arranged belly drumming meetings;

yaru do)to iu koto desu (they say; koto business/affair, act, deed, circumstance

/substantive particle/).

Pon-poko-pon-pon no, pon!


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Warashibe chouja (one straw rich man; warashibe a straw)

()()Mukashi

(a long time ago/in ancient times), aru tokoro ni (in a certain place), shinjin bukai (a

pious; deep faith)otoko ga imashita (man lived: was /past tense form of the

neutrally polite style/; iru be, exist /refers to animated beings/).

(

)

(

)

Taihen

(very)bimbou de (poor being; de medial form of the link-verbda be), ikura

hataraite mo (no matter how much he worked; ikura how much/many; form of

hataraku (work) + particle mo make a pattern of speech with the meaning of no

matter how much [he] worked), kurashi wa (life)sukoshi mo (not at all; sukoshi a

little)raku ni (easy: simple)narimasen ([wouldn't] become /negative form/; naru).

()()Souda (once),

kannon-sama ni (to Kannon goddess)o-negai shite miyou (let's try making a request

/attemptive aspect; suppositional mood/; suru + miru do /and see what happens/

/auxiliary verb/).


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()()()

Otoko wa (the man)nan nichi mo nan nichi mo

(many, many days; nan what, how /many/much /question-word/)o-tera ni komotte

(lived in the temple without quitting the place: locked up; komoru), asa kara ban

made (from dawn till dusk)kannon-sama ni inori tsuzukemashita (kept praying to

Kannon goddess; inoru + tsuzukeru).

()Douka (please), watashi

ni (on me)un wo (happiness; luck)o-sazuke kudasai (bestow please /polite request/

sazukeru; o suffux indicating politeness).

()()()()

()Suru to (then), nan nichi me ka

no (in some [counted]; nichi day, me suffix of ordinal numbers)yoru (night),

kannon-sama ga (Kannon goddess)yume no naka ni (in /his/ dream)araware (appeared;

arawareru), kou iu dewa arimasen ka (and said so/the following, didn't she; dewa

arimasen negative form of the link-berb desu be in the neutrally polite style; ka

question particle).


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()Kore kore (listen up: well), otoko ya (man; ya =

ja /interjection/). ()O-mae ni (upon you)un wo

sazukete yarou (I bestow happiness/luck; sazukeru + yaru give /auxiliary verb

indicating the direction of an action/). ()()

()()

O-tera wo detara (if/when you exit the temple /conditional form/;

deru), mazu (to begin with)saisho ni (first)o-mae no te ni (your hand)fureta (touched;

fureru touch)mono (thing), sore wo (that)watashi kara no sazukari mono (is a gift

from me)to omotte (think /participle/; omou think)daiji ni suru you ni (value: take

care; you ni in order to = when you exit the temple, the first thing that touches your

hand will be a gift from me; thinking so I want you to take good care of it).

()()()

Otoko wa asa (in the morning the man), me ga sameru to (when

/he/ woke up), ureshiku natte (became happy; naru)o-tera no (the temple)soto e

(outside)tobidashite ikimashita (jumped out: dashed; tobidasu: tobu fly + dasu


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/auxiliary verb denoting the beginning of an action/ + iku go /verb denoting

withdrawal/retreat in time and space/).

()()()

Tokoro ga (but), o-tera no mon wo

(the temple's gate)deta tokoro de (left as soon as; deru), ishi koro ni tsumazuite

(stumbled against a stone; tsumazuku), sutten kororin to koronde shimaimashita

(flopped: squashed /complete aspect/; korobu fall + shimau finish /auxiliary

verb/; sutten onomatopoeic word imitating the sound of slipping and falling; kororin

onomatopoeic word imitating the sound of rolling).

Itatatata (it huuuurt; itai /adjective/)!

()()()

()Sou ii nagara (talking in this way

/participle of simultaneity/; iu)oki agatte miru to (when he tried to get up; okiru get

up + agaru rise + miru), shiranai uchi ni (when /he was/ unaware /of it/; shiru

know /negative form/), te ni (in the hand)ippon no (one; hon root /counter for

cylindrical objects/)warashibe wo (straw)tsukande imashita (was holding: was

grasping /continuous aspect/; tsukamu + iru).


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()

()()()Kore

ga (this)kannon-sama kara no (from Kannon goddess)sazukari mono ka (the gift?;

mono thing). to, tsubuyaki nagara (when mumbling /participle of simultaneity/;

tsubuyaku)otoko wa warashibe wo daiji ni motte (the man, having carefully taken the

straw; motsu hold, have), aruite ikimashita (walked; aruku go on foot+ iku).

(

)Suru to (then), doko kara ka (from somewhere)abu ga (a godfly)

tonde kite (arrived; tobu fly + kuru), otoko no mawari wo (around the man)bun bun

tobi mawari hajimemashita (started flying about while buzzing; tobu + mawaru fly

around + hajimeru begin).


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()()()

()()Otoko wa te de (the

man with his hand)oi haraou to shimashita ga (wanted to drive it away, but; ou

chase + harau fight off, drive away), abu wa (the godfly)otoko no kao yara mune

yara (sometimes near the man's face, sometimes near his chest), karada no mawari wo

(around his body)bun bun tobi mawarimasu (while buzzing, circles).

()(

)Soko de (then)otoko wa yatto abu wo tsukamae (having

finally caught the godfly /connecting participle/; tsukamaeru), te ni motte ita (in the

hand holding; motsu)warashibe no (straw)saki ni (to the tip), shibari tsukemashita

(tied; shibaru + tsuku attach = having finally caught the godfly, the man tied it to the

end of the straw he was holding in his hand).

()()

()Abu wa shibarareta mama (the godfly in this tied

condition /passive voice/), warashibe no (on the straws)sakippo de (very tip)bun bun

tobi mawatte imasu (is circling and buzzing).


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()()()()

Suru to (after that), chiisana otoko no ko to o-kaa-san ga (a little boy with his

mom)toori kakarimashita (were passing by; tooru + kakaru = toorikakaru).

()()Otoko no ko wa

(the boy), warashibe de shibatta (the tied to the straw)abu ga tobi mawatte iru no wo

(godfly's circling = the fact that the godfly is circling /continuous aspect/; no

substantive particle)mite (saw; miru),

Are ga hoshii you (I

want that), hoshii you (I do; you = yo /emotionally emphasizing particle/). to, iimasu

(says; iu).


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Sonna ni hoshii nara (if you want it that

much), ageyou (I'll give it to you /suppositional mood/; ageru). to, otoko wa (the man),

abu wo musubi tsuketa warashibe wo (the godfly attached to the straw; musubu + tsuku),

chiisana otoko no ko ni yarimashita (gave to the little boy; yaru).

Otoko no ko no o-kaa-san wa (the boy's mother), yorokonde (having

rejoiced; yorokobu),

()()

O-rei ni (as a token of gratitude), kore wo (this)douzo (here you are).

to, migotona (wonderful)mikan wo (tangerines)mittsu (three), otoko ni kuremashita (to

the man gave; kureru).

()

Warashibe ga mikan mittsu ni natta (the straw turned

into/became three tangerines; naru). Kannon-sama no o-kage da (thanks to Kannon

goddess). Arigatai, arigatai (thank you, thank you: /I/ want to thank).


77/219


()()

Otoko wa (the man), mikan wo daiji ni (the tangerines carefully)futokoro ni irete (put

in his bosom; ireru)aruite ikimashita (and walked away; aruku + iku).

()Shibaraku iku to

(when he travelled for some time), michi ni (on the road), o-tomo wo tsureta

(accompanied by an escort; tsureru accompany)o-hime-sama ga taorete imashita

(there was a fallen princess /continuous aspect indicating the result of an action or a

continuing state/; taoreru + iru).

()()()

()Nodo ga kawaite (I'm

thirsty: throat got dry; kawaku), mou ippo mo arukemasen (I can't make another

step/potential aspect/; aruku). Mizu wo, mizu wo okure (water, give me water


78/219


/imperative mood/; kureru). to kabosoi koe de (in a weak voice)uttaete imasu ([she

was] complaining; uttaeru + iru).

()Sono atari no wa (in that area),

mizu nado (water and things like that)miatarimasen (were not to be seen; miru see +

ataru hit /the target, etc./). ()O-tomo

no hito-tachi mo (the accompanying persons also; tachi suffix of plurality)komatte

imashita (were in a fix; komaru + iru).

()()()()

()Kore wo mite (having seen that; miru), ki-no doku ni omotta

otoko wa (the sympathizing: feeling empathy man; omou think), motte ita mikan

wo mittsu (with three tangerines)sashidashite (held [them] out; sasu reach out +

dasu put out = sashidasu),

()

Mizu no kawari ni (instead of water), kore wo meshi agare (eat this /imperative

mood/; meshi food; meshiagaru eat, drink /polite verb, used in conversations

referring to the 2nd and 3d persons/). to itte (said), watashite yarimashita (handed [the

tangerines] over; watasu + yaru give, present /indicates direction of an action/).


79/219


()()(

)O-hime-sama wa (the princess), mikan wo taberu to (when ate the

tangerines)sukkari genki ni nari (became completely healthy /connecting participle/;

naru), oo yorokobi de (with great joy),

()()

()Arigatou (thank you). O-kage de tasukarimashita

(thanks to you I'm saved; tasukaru; o-kage de = with your support: respectful suffix

o + kage shadow). to, o-rei ni (as a token of gratitude), nuno wo (fabrics)san tan

(three tans /a measure of length for fabrics = 11 m/)kuremashita (gave as a present;

kureru).


80/219


()

Ippon no warashibe ga (one straw), san tan no nuno ni natta zo (turned

into/became three tans of fabric). Arigata ya (thank you).

()()()

()Otoko ga, mata don don aruite iku to (when the man

was again gradually walking), mukou kara (towards him from over there)uma ni

notta (on a horse; noru get on, ride /a means of transportation, a horse/)hito ga yatte

kimashita (a man came; yattekuru).

Rippana uma da naa (wonderful horse).

()()()

(

)

(

)

(

)

()Sou omotte ([he] thought so; omou), tachi

tomatte (stopped; tatsu stand + tomaru stop)nagamete iru to (when looking /at it/;

nagameru + iru), doushita koto ka (for some reason), otoko no mae de (in front of the

man), uma ga kyuu ni (the horse suddenly)battari to taorete (fell down; taoreru), shinda

you ni (as if dead; shinu die)ugokanaku natte shimaimashita (and immobile became

/complete aspect/). ()()Uma no mochinushi wa (the master of

the horse),

()()()


81/219


Komatta, komatta (what to do, what to do; komaru

experience difficulties). Isogi no you na no ni (it's an urgent business). Hoka no uma wo

(another horse)sagasu yori shikata aru mai ([I need to] look for: there is no other way

out). Da ga (but), kono uma no shimatsu wo dou shitara ii mono darou (what would be

the best thing to do about this horse; suru do; darou suppositional mood form of

the link-verbda be). to, mayotte imashita ([he was] hesitating: undetermined;

mayou + iru).


82/219


()()Otoko wa

chikazuku to (when the man came closer), nuno wo ittan sashidashite (extended one tan

of the fabric),

()

Kono nuno to sono uma wo (this fabric and that horse), tori

kaemasen ka (shall we trade; toru take + kaeru exchange). Uma wa watashi ga

katazukete agemashou (I will put away the horse; katazukeru + ageru give, gift

/indicates the direction of an action; suppositional mood/).

()()()

Uma no mochinushi wa yorokonde (the master of the

horse rejoiced), nuno wo uke toru to (when he got the fabric; ukeru receive + toru

take), hoka no uma wo sagashi ni itte shimaimashita (and went to look for another

horse; iku + shimau).

()()()

Kono uma ga iki kaeru to ii n da ga naa (it

would be good if this horse resuscitated)to, otoko ga sou omotte iru to (when the man


83/219


was thinking that), doushita koto deshou (what happened?). ()()

Uma ga me wo hiraita dewa arimasen ka (didn't the horse open

its eyes?; hiraku; dewa arimasen negative form of the link-verbdesu in the neutral

polite style; ka question particle).

()()()()

()Uma wa kubi wo agete (the horse raised

its neck = raised its head; ageru)otoko wo mi (looked at the man [and] /connecting

participle/; miru), sore kara tachi agatte (then it got up; tatsu + agaru rise), hihiin! to

genki yoku, inanakimashita (hee-haw!, cheerfully neighed; inanaku).

()()

()Ippon no warashibe ga (one straw), ichi

nichi de (within one day), konna rippana uma to (such as a wonderful horse and), nokori

ni tan no nuno ni natta no desu (the two remaining tans of fabric became).


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()Otoko wa uma ni notte (the man got

on the horse; noru)kakete ikimashita (and rode away; kakeru + iku /withdrawal/retreat

in time and space/).

()()()()

()Suru to (then), ikken no

rippana ie de (near one beautiful house), nimotsu wo hakobi dashitari (taking out the

baggage /repeated action/; hakobu carry + dasu take out), katazuketari (putting

away; katazukeru), oo sawagi wo shite imasu ([people were/are] making a lot of noise;

suru + iru). ()()()

Kiite miru

to (when asked [to see what was happening] /attempted aspect/; kiku + miru), tooi

tokoro e ([if] to a far-away place)hikkoshi wo suru koto ni nari (a move was scheduled),


85/219


sono shitaku wo shite iru saichuu da (in the middle/heat of the preparations: packing)

to iu koto deshita (it was said; koto substantive particle).

()()

()Tooi tabi nara (if it's a journey /to a

place/ far-away), uma ga benri desu (a horse would be convenient). Kono uma wa

irimasen ka (don't you need this horse?; iru be necessary, be required). to otoko wa,

ie no shujin ni iimashita (the man said to the head of the house/household; iu).

Ie no shujin wa (the head of the house),

()()

()Yaa, sore

wa arigatai (ah, thank you for that). Choudo (just)uma wo sagashite ita tokoro desu (I


86/219


was [just] looking for a horse; sagasu + iru; tokoro /after a verb/ just be about to do

something). Kawari ni (in exchange), kono ie to tambo wo (this house and field)anata

ni agemashou (shall I give you as a gift /suppositional mood/; ageru). Watashi wa mou

kaette kimasen kara (because I am not coming back home again; kaeru + kuru), douka

koko ni sunde kudasai (please, live here; sumu). to, iimashita (said [he]).

()

Sou iu wake de (in this/such a way), otoko wa sono ie ni sumi

tsuite (the man moved in that house; sumu + tsuku), sesse to hataraki (worked

diligently/hard; hataraku), tambo wo tagayashimashita (cultivated the field; tagayasu).

()()O-yome-san wo morai

(having got married: having taken a wife; morau), kodomo mo umaremashita

(children, too, were born; umareru).

()()Imaya otoko wa oo kanemochi (now:

at present he is a very rich man). ()()

()Itsu no ma ni ka (it's not

known when = insensibly; itsu when; no of; ma while/during; ni connecting

particle; ka question particle), atari no hito bito ni (by people in the area)warashibe

chouja to yobareru you ni narimashita (one straw rich man [he] began to be called =

it so happened that he was called /passive voice/; yobu call, name).


87/219


Tono-sama to negi to daikon

(nobleman, onion and /Japanese/ raddish; to and /connecting participle/)

()()()()

()Mukashi (a long time ago/in ancient times), tono-sama ga

kerai-tachi to (a nobleman with [his] vassals; sama Mr. /suffix of politeness/), yama

no chiisana mura ni (to a small village in the mountains)tachi yorareta (came /passive

voice used in polite speech/; tachi yoru).

()

()()Tono-sama no youna (just as


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/the nobleman/)erai kata ga ([as] prominent a man /as he/: person)kuru no wa

(coming; kuru come; no substantive particle)hajimete no koto datta node

(because it was the first time; koto thing/business; datta past tense form of the

link-verbda be in the neutral style), murabito-tachi wa (village dwellers = villagers;

tachi suffix of plurality), sore wa (because of that = for that reason; sore that),

mou oosawagi (are already very excited).

Machigai no nai you

ni (in order to avoid a mistake: trouble), o-mukae shinakereba na (need to meet

him/welcome him/pick him up; o prefix of politeness; /negative conditional form/;

suru do; na emotionally emphasizing particle).

()

Murabito-tachi ga (the villagers), kochi kochi ni

kinchou shite (very nervous: being highly tense; kinchou suru)matte iru tokoro e (to

the place where [they were] waiting /continuous aspect/; matsu wait + iru be,

exist), tono-sama to kerai-tachi ga touchaku shita (the nobleman and the vassals arrived;

touchaku suru).

()Choudo o-hirudoki datta node (as it

was precisely lunch time),

()

()()Mura no meibutsu

no soba wo (the village's famous soba; soba buckwheat noodles)sashi ageyou (let's

serve /suppositional mood/; sashi ageru). to ([saying that]), murabito-tachi ga (the
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Japanese Folk Tales

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Transcript of Japanese Folk Tales