A long long time ago there lived an old man and an old woman. One day
the old man went to the mountains to cut grass; and the old woman went
to the river to wash clothes. While she was washing a great thing came
tumbling and splashing down the stream. When the old woman saw it she
was very glad, and pulled it to her with a piece of bamboo that lay
near by. When she took it up and looked at it she saw that it was a
very large peach. She then quickly finished her washing and returned
home intending to give the peach to her old man to eat.
When she cut the peach in two, out came a child from the large kernel.
Seeing this the old couple rejoiced, and named the child Momotaro,
or Little Peachling, because he came out of a peach. As both the
old people took good care of him, he grew and became strong and
enterprising. So the old couple had their expectations raised, and
bestowed still more care on his education.
Momotaro finding that he excelled everybody in strength, determined
to cross over to the island of the devils, take their riches, and come
back. He at once consulted with the old man and the old woman about
the matter, and got them to make him some dumplings. These he put
in his pouch. Besides this he made every kind of preparation for his
journey to the island of the devils and set out.
Then first a dog came to the side of the way and said, "Momotaro! What
have you there hanging at your belt?" He replied, "I have some of the
very best Japanese millet dumplings." "Give me one and I will go with
you," said the dog. So Momotaro took a dumpling out of his pouch and
gave it to the dog. Then a monkey came and got one the same way. A
pheasant also came flying and said, "Give me a dumpling too, and I
will go along with you." So all three went along with him. In no time
they arrived at the island of the devils, and at once broke through
the front gate; Momotaro first; then his three followers. Here they
met a great multitude of the devils' retainers who showed fight, but
they pressed still inwards, and at last encountered the chief of the
devils, called Akandoji. Then came the tug of war. Akandoji hit at
Momotaro with an iron club, but Momotaro was ready for him, and dodged
him adroitly. At last they grappled each other, and without difficulty
Momotaro just crushed down Akandoji and tied him with a rope so
tightly that he could not even move. All this was done in a fair
fight.
After this Akandoji the chief of the devils said he would surrender
all his riches. "Out with your riches then," said Momotaro laughing.
Having collected and ranged in order a great pile of precious things,
Momotaro took them, and set out for his home, rejoicing, as he marched
bravely back, that, with the help of his three companions, to whom he
attributed all his success, he had been able so easily to accomplish
his end.
Great was the joy of the old man and the old woman when Momotaro
came back. He feasted everybody bountifully, told many stories of his
adventure, displayed his riches, and at last became a leading man,
a man of influence, very rich and honorable; a man to be very much
congratulated indeed!!
* * * * *