MOMOTARO
Once upon a time, there lived in Japan a peasant and his wife. They
were sad couple because they had no children. They kept praying to their god
pleading to give them a child.
While cutting wood by a stream one day, the man saw a large peach
floating on the water. He ran to pick it up. His wife was excited because she
had never seen such a large peach before. They were about to cut the peach when
they heard a voice from inside.
The couples were surprised to do anything. The peach then cracked
open, and there was a beautiful baby inside . The couples were very happy, of
course. They named the baby Momotaro, which meant ‘peach boy’.
Momotaro grew up to be clever, courage young man. His parents loved
him very much.
One day, Momotaro told his parents that he was going to fight the
pirates who always attacked their village. These pirates lived on an island a
few kilometers away. Momotaro’s mother packed his food, and his father gave him
a sword. Having blessed Momotaro, they sent him off on his journey.
Sailing on his boat, Momotaro met an eagle going in the same
direction. They became good friends; soon, both of them arrived on the island
of the pirates.
Momotaro drew out the sacred sword his father had given him and
began to fight the pirates. The eagle flew over the thieves’ heads, pecking at
their eyes. Finally, the pirates were defeated.
Momotaro brought home all the goods that pirates had stolen. His
parents were proud of him, and they were overjoyed at his victory and save
return.
