UrashimatheFisherman1

URASHIMA THE FISHERMAN

ong, long ago in the province of Tango

therelivedontheshoreofJapaninthelittle
fishing village of Mizunoye a young
fishermannamedUrashimaTaro.Hisfatherhad
been a fisherman before him, and his skill had
more than doubly descended to his son, for
Urashima was the most skillful fisher in all that
country side, and could catch more Bonito and
Taiinadaythanhiscomradescouldinaweek.
Butinthelittlefishingvillage,morethanfor
beingacleverfisheroftheseawasheknownfor
hiskindheart.Inhiswholelifehehadneverhurt
anything,eithergreatorsmall,andwhenaboy,
his companions had always laughed at him, for he would never join with them in teasing
animals,butalwaystriedtokeepthemfromthiscruelsport.Onesoftsummertwilighthewas
goinghomeattheendofadaysfishingwhenhecameuponagroupofchildren.Theywereall
screamingandtalkingatthetopsoftheirvoices,andseemedtobeinastateofgreatexcitement
aboutsomething,andonhisgoinguptothemtoseewhatwasthematterhesawthattheywere
tormenting a tortoise. First one boy pulled it this way, then another boy pulled it that way,
whileathirdchildbeatitwithastick,andthefourthhammereditsshellwithastone.

NowUrashimafeltverysorryforthepoortortoiseandmadeuphismindtorescueit.He
spoketotheboys:

Lookhere,boys,youaretreatingthatpoortortoisesobadlythatitwillsoondie!
Theboys,whowereallofanagewhenchildrenseemtodelightinbeingcrueltoanimals,
tooknonoticeofUrashimasgentlereproof,butwentonteasingitasbefore.Oneoftheolder
boysanswered:
Whocareswhetheritlivesordies?Wedonot.Here,boys,goon,goon!
And they began to treat the poor tortoise more cruelly than ever. Urashima waited a
moment,turningoverinhismindwhatwouldbethebestwaytodealwiththeboys.Hewould
trytopersuadethemtogivethetortoiseuptohim,sohesmiledatthemandsaid:
Iamsureyouareallgood,kindboys!Nowwontyougivemethetortoise?Ishouldliketo
haveitsomuch!
No,wewontgiveyouthetortoise,saidoneoftheboys.Whyshouldwe?Wecaughtit
ourselves.
Whatyousayistrue,saidUrashima,butIdonotaskyoutogiveittomefornothing.I
willgiveyousomemoneyforitinotherwords,theOjisan(Uncle)willbuyitofyou.Wont
thatdoforyou,myboys?Heheldupthemoneytothem,strungonapieceofstringthrougha
hole in the center of each coin. Look, boys, you can buy anything you like with this money.
Youcandomuchmorewiththismoneythanyoucanwiththatpoortortoise.Seewhatgood
boysyouaretolistentome

UrashimatheFisherman2

Theboyswerenotbadboysatall,theywereonlymischievous,andasUrashimaspokethey
were won by his kind smile and gentle words and began to be of his spirit, as they say in
Japan. Gradually they all came up to him, the ringleader of the little band holding out the
tortoisetohim.
Very well, Ojisan, we will give you the tortoise if you will give us the money! And
Urashima took the tortoise and gave the money to the boys, who, calling to each other,
scamperedawayandweresoonoutofsight.
ThenUrashimastrokedthetortoisesback,sayingashedidso:
Oh,youpoorthing!Poorthing!there,there!youaresafenow!Theysaythatastorklives
forathousandyears,butthetortoisefortenthousandyears.Youhavethelongestlifeofany
creature in this world, and you were in great danger of having that precious life cut short by
thosecruelboys.LuckilyIwaspassingbyandsavedyou,andsolifeisstillyours.NowIam
goingtotakeyoubacktoyourhome,thesea,atonce.Donotletyourselfbecaughtagain,for
theremightbenoonetosaveyounexttime!
Allthetimethatthekindfishermanwasspeakinghewaswalkingquicklytotheshoreand
outupontherocks;thenputtingthetortoiseintothewaterhewatchedtheanimaldisappear,
andturnedhomewardshimself,forhewastiredandthesunhadset.
ThenextmorningUrashimawentoutasusualinhisboat.Theweatherwasfineandthesea
andskywerebothblueandsoftinthetenderhazeofthesummermorning.Urashimagotinto
his boat and dreamily pushed out to sea, throwing his line as he did so. He soon passed the
otherfishingboatsandleftthembehindhimtilltheywerelosttosightinthedistance,andhis
boatdriftedfurtherandfurtheroutuponthebluewaters.Somehow,heknewnotwhy,hefelt
unusuallyhappythatmorning;andhecouldnothelpwishingthat,likethetortoisehesetfree
thedaybefore,hehadthousandsofyearstoliveinsteadofhisownshortspanofhumanlife.
Hewassuddenlystartledfromhisreveriebyhearinghisownnamecalled:
Urashima,Urashima!
Clearasabellandsoftasthesummerwindthenamefloatedoverthesea.
He stood up and looked in every direction, thinking that one of the other boats had
overtakenhim,butgazeashemightoverthewideexpanseofwater,nearorfartherewasno
signofaboat,sothevoicecouldnothavecomefromanyhumanbeing.
Startled,andwonderingwhoorwhatitwasthathadcalledhimsoclearly,helookedinall
directionsroundabouthimandsawthatwithouthisknowingitatortoisehadcometotheside
of the boat. Urashima saw with surprise that it was the very tortoise he had rescued the day
before.
Well,Mr.Tortoise,saidUrashima,wasityouwhocalledmynamejustnow?
Thetortoisenoddeditsheadseveraltimesandsaid:
Yes,itwasI.Yesterdayinyourhonorableshadow(okagesamade)mylifewassaved,and
IhavecometoofferyoumythanksandtotellyouhowgratefulIamforyourkindnesstome.
Indeed,saidUrashima,thatisverypoliteofyou.Comeupintotheboat.Iwouldoffer
youasmoke,butasyouareatortoisedoubtlessyoudonotsmoke,andthefishermanlaughed
atthejoke.
Hehehehe!laughedthetortoise;sake(ricewine)ismyfavoriterefreshment,butIdo
notcarefortobacco.

UrashimatheFisherman3

Indeed,saidUrashima,IregretverymuchthatIhavenosakeinmyboattoofferyou,
butcomeupanddryyourbackinthesuntortoisesalwayslovetodothat.
Sothetortoiseclimbedintotheboat,thefishermanhelpinghim,andafteranexchangeof
complimentaryspeechesthetortoisesaid:
HaveyoueverseenRinGin,thePalaceoftheDragonKingoftheSea,Urashima?
Thefishermanshookhisheadandreplied;No;yearafteryeartheseahasbeenmyhome,
but though I have often heard of the Dragon Kings realm under the sea I have never yet set
eyesonthatwonderfulplace.Itmustbeveryfaraway,ifitexistsatall!
Isthatreallyso?YouhaveneverseentheSeaKingsPalace?Thenyouhavemissedseeing
oneofthemostwonderfulsightsinthewholeuniverse.Itisfarawayatthebottomofthesea,
butifItakeyouthereweshallsoonreachtheplace.IfyouwouldliketoseetheSeaKingsland
Iwillbeyourguide.
Ishouldliketogothere,certainly,andyouareverykindtothinkoftakingme,butyou
mustrememberthatIamonlyapoormortalandhavenotthepowerofswimminglikeasea
creaturesuchasyouare
Beforethefishermancouldsaymorethetortoisestoppedhim,saying:
What?Youneednotswimyourself.IfyouwillrideonmybackIwilltakeyouwithoutany
troubleonyourpart.
But,saidUrashima,howisitpossibleformetorideonyoursmallback?
Itmayseemabsurdtoyou,butIassureyouthatyoucandoso.Tryatonce!Justcomeand
getonmyback,andseeifitisasimpossibleasyouthink!
As the tortoise finished speaking, Urashima looked at its shell, and strange to say he saw
thatthecreaturehadsuddenlygrownsobigthatamancouldeasilysitonitsback.
Thisisstrangeindeed!saidUrashima;Mr.Tortoise,withyourkindpermissionIwillget
onyourback.Dokoisho!heexclaimedashejumpedon.
The tortoise, with an unmoved face, as if this strange proceeding were quite an ordinary
event,said:
Now we will set out at our leisure, and with these words he leapt into the sea with
Urashima on his back. Down through the water the tortoise dived. For a long time these two
strange companions rode through the sea. Urashima never grew tired, nor his clothes moist
with the water. At last, far away in the distance a magnificent gate appeared, andbehind the
gate,thelong,slopingroofsofapalaceonthehorizon.
Ya.exclaimedUrashima.thatlookslikethegateofsomelargepalacejustappearing!Mr.
Tortoise,canyoutellwhatthatplaceiswecannowsee?
ThatisthegreatgateoftheRinGinPalace,thelargeroofthatyouseebehindthegateis
theSeaKingsPalaceitself.
ThenwehaveatlastcometotherealmoftheSeaKingandtohisPalace,saidUrashima.
Yes, indeed, answered the tortoise, and dont you think we have come very quickly?
Andwhilehewasspeakingthetortoisereachedthesideofthegate.Andhereweare,andyou
mustpleasewalkfromhere.
Thetortoisenowwentinfront,andspeakingtothegatekeeper,said:
ThisisUrashimaTaro,fromthecountryofJapan.Ihavehadthehonorofbringinghimas
avisitortothiskingdom.Pleaseshowhimtheway.

UrashimatheFisherman4

Thenthegatekeeper,whowasafish,atonceledthewaythroughthegatebeforethem.
Theredbream,theflounder,thesole,thecuttlefish,andallthechiefvassalsoftheDragon
KingoftheSeanowcameoutwithcourtlybowstowelcomethestranger.
UrashimaSama,UrashimaSama!welcometotheSeaPalace,thehomeoftheDragonKing
of the Sea. Thrice welcome are you, having come from such a distant country. And you, Mr.
Tortoise,wearegreatlyindebtedtoyouforallyourtroubleinbringingUrashimahere.Then,
turning again to Urashima, they said, Please follow us this way, and from here the whole
bandoffishesbecamehisguides.
Urashima, being only a poor fisher lad, did not know how to behave in a palace; but,
strangethoughitwasalltohim,hedidnotfeelashamedorembarrassed,butfollowedhiskind
guidesquitecalmlywheretheyledtotheinnerpalace.Whenhereachedtheportalsabeautiful
Princess with her attendant maidens came out to welcome him. She was more beautiful than
anyhumanbeing,andwasrobedinflowinggarmentsofredandsoftgreenliketheunderside
ofawave,andgoldenthreadsglimmeredthroughthefoldsofhergown.Herlovelyblackhair
streamedoverhershouldersinthefashionofakingsdaughtermanyhundredsofyearsago,
andwhenshespokehervoicesoundedlikemusicoverthewater.Urashimawaslostinwonder
whilehelookeduponher,andhecouldnotspeak.Thenherememberedthatheoughttobow,
butbeforehecouldmakealowobeisancethePrincesstookhimbythehandandledhimtoa
beautifulhall,andtotheseatofhonorattheupperend,andbadehimbeseated.
UrashimaTaro,itgivesmethehighestpleasuretowelcomeyoutomyfatherskingdom,
said the Princess. Yesterday you set free a tortoise, and I have sent for you to thank you for
savingmylife,forIwasthattortoise.Nowifyoulikeyoushalllivehereforeverinthelandof
eternal youth, where summer never dies and where sorrow never comes, and I will be your
brideifyouwill,andwewilllivetogetherhappilyforeverafterwards!
AndasUrashimalistenedtohersweetwordsandgazeduponherlovelyfacehisheartwas
filledwithagreatwonderandjoy,andheansweredher,wonderingifitwasnotalladream:
Thankyouathousandtimesforyourkindspeech.ThereisnothingIcouldwishformore
thantobepermittedtostayherewithyouinthisbeautifulland,ofwhichIhaveoftenheard,
buthaveneverseentothisday.Beyondallwords,thisisthemostwonderfulplaceIhaveever
seen.
While he was speaking a train of fishes appeared, all dressed in ceremonial, trailing
garments. One by one, silently and with stately steps, they entered the hall, bearing on coral
traysdelicaciesoffishandseaweed,suchasnoonecandreamof,andthiswondrousfeastwas
setbeforethebrideandbridegroom.Thebridalwascelebratedwithdazzlingsplendor,andin
the Sea Kings realm there was great rejoicing. As soon as the young pair had pledged
themselvesintheweddingcupofwine,threetimesthree,musicwasplayed,andsongswere
sung, and fishes with silver scales and golden tails stepped in from the waves and danced.
Urashimaenjoyedhimselfwithallhisheart.Neverinhiswholelifehadhesatdowntosucha
marvelousfeast.
WhenthefeastwasoverthePrincesaskedthebridegroomifhewouldliketowalkthrough
thepalaceandseealltherewastobeseen.Thenthehappyfisherman,followinghisbride,the
SeaKingsdaughter,wasshownallthewondersofthatenchantedlandwhereyouthandjoygo
hand in hand and neither time nor age can touch them. The palace was built of coral and

UrashimatheFisherman5

adornedwithpearls,andthebeautiesandwondersoftheplaceweresogreatthatthetongue
failstodescribethem.
But,toUrashima,morewonderfulthanthepalacewasthegardenthatsurroundedit.Here
wastobeseenatonetimethesceneryofthefourdifferentseasons;thebeautiesofsummerand
winter,springandautumn,weredisplayedtothewonderingvisitoratonce.
First, when he looked to the east, the plum and cherry trees were seen in full bloom, the
nightingalessanginthepinkavenues,andbutterfliesflittedfromflowertoflower.
Lookingtothesouthallthetreesweregreeninthefullnessofsummer,andthedaycicala
andthenightcricketchirrupedloudly.
Looking to the west the autumn maples were ablaze like a sunset sky, and the
chrysanthemumswereinperfection.
LookingtothenorththechangemadeUrashimastart,forthegroundwassilverwhitewith
snow,andtreesandbambooswerealsocoveredwithsnowandthepondwasthickwithice.
And each day there were new joys and new wonders for Urashima, and so great was his
happinessthatheforgoteverything,eventhehomehehadleftbehindandhisparentsandhis
owncountry,andthreedayspassedwithouthiseventhinkingofallhehadleftbehind.Then
hismindcamebacktohimandherememberedwhohewas,andthathedidnotbelongtothis
wonderfullandortheSeaKingspalace,andhesaidtohimself:
O dear! I must not stay on here, for I have an old father and mother at home. What can
havehappenedtothemallthistime?HowanxioustheymusthavebeenthesedayswhenIdid
notreturnasusual.Imustgobackatoncewithoutlettingonemoredaypass.Andhebeganto
prepareforthejourneyingreathaste.
Thenhewenttohisbeautifulwife,thePrincess,andbowinglowbeforeherhesaid:
Indeed,Ihavebeenveryhappywithyouforalongtime,OtohimeSama(forthatwasher
name),andyouhavebeenkindertomethananywordscantell.ButnowImustsaygoodby.I
mustgobacktomyoldparents.
ThenOtohimeSamabegantoweep,andsaidsoftlyandsadly:
Is it not well with you here, Urashima, that you wish to leave me so soon? Where is the
haste?Staywithmeyetanotherdayonly!
ButUrashimahadrememberedhisoldparents,andinJapanthedutytoparentsisstronger
thaneverythingelse,strongereventhanpleasureorlove,andhewouldnotbepersuaded,but
answered:
Indeed,Imustgo.DonotthinkthatIwishtoleaveyou.Itisnotthat.Imustgoandseemy
oldparents.LetmegoforonedayandIwillcomebacktoyou.
Then,saidthePrincesssorrowfully,thereisnothingtobedone.Iwillsendyoubackto
daytoyourfatherandmother,andinsteadoftryingtokeepyouwithmeonemoreday,Ishall
give you this as a token of our loveplease take it back with you; and she brought him a
beautifullacquerboxtiedaboutwithasilkencordandtasselsofredsilk.
UrashimahadreceivedsomuchfromthePrincessalreadythathefeltsomecompunctionin
takingthegift,andsaid:
ItdoesnotseemrightformetotakeyetanothergiftfromyouafterallthemanyfavorsI
havereceivedatyourhands,butbecauseitisyourwishIwilldoso,andthenheadded:
Tellmewhatisthisbox?

UrashimatheFisherman6

That,answeredthePrincessisthetamatebako(BoxoftheJewelHand),anditcontains
something very precious. You must not open this box, whatever happens! If you open it
somethingdreadfulwillhappentoyou!Nowpromisemethatyouwillneveropenthisbox!
AndUrashimapromisedthathewouldnever,neveropentheboxwhateverhappened.
ThenbiddinggoodbytoOtohimeSamahewentdowntotheseashore,thePrincessandher
attendantsfollowinghim,andtherehefoundalargetortoisewaitingforhim.
Hequicklymountedthecreaturesbackandwascarriedawayovertheshiningseaintothe
East.HelookedbacktowavehishandtoOtohimeSamatillatlasthecouldseehernomore,
and the land of the Sea King and the roofs of the wonderful palace were lost in the far, far
distance.Then,withhisfaceturnedeagerlytowardshisownland,helookedfortherisingof
thebluehillsonthehorizonbeforehim.
Atlastthetortoisecarriedhimintothebayheknewsowell,andtotheshorefromwhence
hehadsetout.Hesteppedontotheshoreandlookedabouthimwhilethetortoiserodeaway
backtotheSeaKingsrealm.
ButwhatisthestrangefearthatseizesUrashimaashestandsandlooksabouthim?Why
doeshegazesofixedlyatthepeoplethatpasshimby,andwhydotheyinturnstandandlook
at him? The shore isthe same andthe hills are thesame, but the people that he sees walking
pasthimhaveverydifferentfacestothosehehadknownsowellbefore.
Wondering what it can mean he walks quickly towards his old home. Even that looks
different,butahousestandsonthespot,andhecallsout:
Father, I have just returned! and he was about to enter, when he saw a strange man
comingout.
PerhapsmyparentshavemovedwhileIhavebeenaway,andhavegonesomewhereelse,
was the fishermans thought. Somehow he began to feel strangely anxious, he could not tell
why.
Excuseme,saidhetothemanwhowasstaringathim,buttillwithinthelastfewdaysI
havelivedinthishouse.MynameisUrashimaTaro.WherehavemyparentsgonewhomIleft
here?
A very bewildered expression came over the face of the man, and, still gazing intently on
Urashimasface,hesaid:
What?AreyouUrashimaTaro?
Yes,saidthefisherman,IamUrashimaTaro!
Ha,ha!laughedtheman,youmustnotmakesuchjokes.Itistruethatonceuponatime
amancalledUrashimaTarodidliveinthisvillage,butthatisastorythreehundredyearsold.
Hecouldnotpossiblybealivenow!
WhenUrashimaheardthesestrangewordshewasfrightened,andsaid:
Please, please, you must not joke with me, I am greatly perplexed. I am really Urashima
Taro,andIcertainlyhavenotlivedthreehundredyears.TillfourorfivedaysagoIlivedonthis
spot.TellmewhatIwanttoknowwithoutmorejoking,please.
Butthemansfacegrewmoreandmoregrave,andheanswered:
YoumayormaynotbeUrashimaTaro,Idontknow.ButtheUrashimaTaroofwhomI
have heard is a man who lived three hundred years ago. Perhaps you are his spirit come to
revisityouroldhome?

UrashimatheFisherman7

Whydoyoumockme?saidUrashima.Iamnospirit!Iamalivingmandoyounotsee
myfeet;anddondon,hestampedontheground,firstwithonefootandthenwiththeother
toshowtheman.(Japaneseghostshavenofeet.)
But Urashima Taro lived three hundred years ago, that is all I know; it is written in the
villagechronicles,persistedtheman,whocouldnotbelievewhatthefishermansaid.
Urashimawaslostinbewildermentandtrouble.Hestoodlookingallaroundhim,terribly
puzzled, and, indeed, something in the appearance of everything was different to what he
rememberedbeforehewentaway,andtheawfulfeelingcameoverhimthatwhatthemansaid
wasperhapstrue.Heseemedtobeinastrangedream.ThefewdayshehadspentintheSea
Kingspalacebeyondtheseahadnotbeendaysatall:theyhadbeenhundredsofyears,andin
that time his parents had died and all the people he had ever known, and the village had
writtendownhisstory.Therewasnouseinstayinghereanylonger.Hemustgetbacktohis
beautifulwifebeyondthesea.
He made his way back to the beach, carrying in his hand the box which the Princess had
givenhim. Butwhich wastheway?Hecouldnotfindit alone!Suddenlyherememberedthe
box,thetamatebako.
ThePrincesstoldmewhenshegavemetheboxnevertoopenitthatitcontainedavery
preciousthing.ButnowthatIhavenohome,nowthatIhavelosteverythingthatwasdearto
mehere,andmyheartgrowsthinwithsadness,atsuchatime,ifIopenthebox,surelyIshall
findsomethingthatwillhelpme,somethingthatwillshowmethewaybacktomybeautiful
Princessoverthesea.Thereisnothingelseformetodonow.Yes,yes,Iwillopentheboxand
lookin!
Andsohisheartconsentedtothisactofdisobedience,andhetriedtopersuadehimselfthat
hewasdoingtherightthinginbreakinghispromise.
Slowly,veryslowly,heuntiedtheredsilkcord,slowlyandwonderinglyheliftedthelidof
thepreciousbox.Andwhatdidhefind?Strangetosayonlyabeautifullittlepurplecloudrose
outoftheboxinthreesoftwisps.Foraninstantitcoveredhisfaceandwaveredoverhimasif
loathtogo,andthenitfloatedawaylikevaporoverthesea.
Urashima,whohadbeentillthatmomentlikeastrongandhandsomeyouthoftwentyfour,
suddenlybecamevery,veryold.Hisbackdoubledupwithage,hishairturnedsnowywhite,
hisfacewrinkledandhefelldowndeadonthebeach.
PoorUrashima!becauseofhisdisobediencehecouldneverreturntotheSeaKingsrealmor
thelovelyPrincessbeyondthesea.
Littlechildren,neverbedisobedienttothosewhoarewiserthanyoufordisobediencewas
thebeginningofallthemiseriesandsorrowsoflife.

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

WhatmistakesdoesUrashimamakeinthisstory?Explain.
IfUrashimasstoryhasalessontolearn,whatisit?Explain.
DoyoufeelsorryforUrashima?Explain.
Whatotherstorieshaveyouheardaboutsomeonetravelinglongdistancesintime?Whydo
youthinkthesetypesofstoriesarepopular?