MOMOTARO

New Zealand Listener, Volume 2, Issue 47, 17 May 1940, Page 34

MOMOTARO

The Peach Boy

(Boys and girls, this is the kind of story they tell over the air in Japan. It is one of a series of " Fireside Tales for Youngsters," which we found in the Journal of the Nippon Hoso Kyokai, or Broadcasting Corporation of Japan. We thought ' You would be interested in it).

NCE upon a time, a long ago, there lived an old man and his wife. He went every day to the mountains to cut firewood, and she worked at home. One day she was washing by the river, scrubbing and rubbing, when she saw an extraordinary large peach floating down stream. "Well! well! That is a fine peach," she said. "I am sixty years old, but in all my life I have never seen such a large peach." Strange to say, it came nearer, and stopped just in front of the Old Woman. She stooped and picked it up, and hastening back to her cottage, waited for the return of the Old Man. When he saw the peach, the Old Man was greatly astonished. "Oh! This is a wonderful peach. Where did you buy it?" "It is not the kind that any one could buy," she answered. "For I saw. it first when it came tumbling down the river." As they both wished to eat the peach right away, the Old Woman brought a knife, and was about to cut it so that they both could eat half, when a_ strange thing happened. From inside of the peach came the voice of a little child. "Wait a moment." And with this, the peach burst open, and out jumped a beautiful baby. The Old Man and his wife were so astonished that they lost their senses and fell down. But the baby told them not to be frightened.

"I have been sent to this world by the good of Heaven to comfort you, since you are old and have no children." So they brought up the child, and as he had been born from a peach, the name of Momotaro, or Peach Boy, was given him. When Momotaro was 15 years of age, he asked his father if he could go travelling. The Old Man was surprised, and asked where he intended to go. Then Momotaro answered: "From ancient times there has been an island inhabited by devils. They do harm to Japanese people, and steal valuable things. I want to fight them and bring back the treasures they have robbed from other people." Although Momotaro was very young, yet he was brave, and the Old Man consented. The Old ‘Woman began at once to make preparation. She made some delicious millet dumplings for him to eat on the way, and he started forth on his journey, after parting from his foster parents. At noon when he sat down in the shade of a tree to eat a dumpling, a savage dog appeared, growling angrily, ready to spring upon him.

But the Peach Boy was not | afraid, and told the dog he was Momotaro on his way to conquer the devil’s island. At this, the dog became very polite, rubbing his head on the ground, saying: "If you will let me accompany you, I shall be grateful. But as I am very hungry, would you mind giving me a little of what you are eating?" "These," said Momotaro, "are the best millet dumplings in Japan. I cannot give you a whole one, but I will give you half!" Then they hurried on their way. Suddenly, swinging from the limb of a tree they saw a monkey. Down he came, bowing low: "So you are Lord Momotaro. Let me be your humble servant and accompany you to battle." Momotaro gave the monkey half of a dumpling and commanded him to follow. In this way he made it his retainer. Then giving his banner to the dog and sending him on in front, and making the monkey his sword-bearer follow on behind, he marched in between carrying an iron fan which was the sign of official rank. They had not gone far when they saw 2 pheasant, and the bird also asked if it could join the expedition and was given a _ half dumpling to eat. After hurrying on they at last reached the ocean. Momotaro fashioned. a boat and he and his three retainers got into it. They put up a sail and soon they were scudding along over the waves. Then the devil’s island came into view, and on it was a strong fortress which looked as though it could never be conquered. Momotaro at the bow of the boat called the pheasant: "As you have wings, fly at once to the island and find out exactly how things are there!" So it flew as quickly as it could and dropped down on the roof of the devil’s castle, calling out’ loudly to surrender. The devils laughed with scorn at a mere bird telling them what to do. But the dog and the monkey sprang to land and broke down the iron gate and fence. The evil: creatures were killed right and left, and finally the last one was taken captive. Then they placed the treasures in the boat-a -coat which made the wearer invisible, a mallet every blow of which produced pieces of gold, and three great heaps of pearls, gold and silver, coral and tortoiseshell. Momotaro returned home and the Old Man and his wife wept with joy to see him again, and all lived happily ever after. So that’s the story of Momotafo, the Peach Boy of Japan.