JIC: Japan Infomation Communication

Hanasaka jiisan

Hanasakajiisan is a tale of kindness overcoming greed and cruelty. It tells the story of a kind old man and old woman who are led to good fortune by their little dog. Their neighbour is a greedy old man who tries to take advantage of their good fortune, but is continually thwarted and eventually caught and jailed for his greedy ways.

story

Once upon a time in a remote mountain village in Japan there lived an honest old man and his wife. The old man was out plowing his field one day when a little white puppy came fleeing toward him, crying. The puppy had been mistreated by the greedy old man who lived in the next field over. "Oh, you poor thing." exclaimed the old man, and taking him in, gave the puppy the name "Shiro." ("Shiro" in Japanese means white)

The old man and his wife loved Shiro very much. Shiro, in turn, became devoted to the old couple, and helped the old man with his work in the field every day. Shiro ate and ate, and quickly grew into a big dog.

One day, Shiro led the old man up a nearby mountain. When they reached the top, Shiro barked, "Arf Arf - Dig here! Arf Arf - Dig here!" As the old man began to dig, to his amazement, sparkling gold coins started pouring up from the ground.

"Let me borrow Shiro!" The greedy old man heard about this and, grabbing Shiro, forced him to take he and his wife to the mountain. "Where's the gold?" the old man demanded. Frightened, Shiro began to whimper. "Ah, so it's here," said the old man, and he began to dig. But instead of gold coins, garbage began pouring up from the ground. "How dare you!" exclaimed the old man. Furious, they killed Shiro.

When the honest old couple found out about this, they were overcome with grief. They decided to dig a grave for Shiro. Upon burying Shiro, a sapling sprouted from the ground above his grave. By the next day, it had grown into a towering tree.

"Shiro liked steamed rice cakes," recalled the old man. "Let's make some to take to his grave." He chopped down the tree that had sprung from Shiro's grave and made a mortar. Then he and his wife began to prepare the rice cakes. As the old man pounded the rice into the mortar, it began to turn into gold coins.

Upon seeing this, the greedy old couple rushed over. "Give us that mortar." Stealing the mortar, they returned to their house and began to make rice cakes. When they pounded rice, however, it turned into black mud right before their eyes. "What on earth?" cried the old man. Furious, he took an axe and chopped the mortar to pieces. Then he tossed the pieces of wood into the stove and burned them. The honest old man was disheartened. He gathered up the ashes from the mortar, put them in a box, and carried the box carefully back to his house.

"Let's sprinkle these ashes over the field and grow the radish that Shiro loved so much." When the old man sprinkled the ashes, a wind swirled up and blew the ashes into a dead tree. Amazingly, the dead tree began to bloom beautiful cherry blossoms. He then went and happily sprinkled ashes onto one dead tree after another, each which thereafter bloomed brilliant cherry flowers. News of the old man's miracle reached the town and before long, even the ears of the king, who promptly sent for the old man.

The old man was brought to the king, carrying his box of ashes. "Now I'll make the flowers bloom." He sprinkled the ashes onto the nearby trees, and immediately, beautiful white cherry flowers appeared.

"Splendid!" exclaimed the king, who was very pleased. "Well done. You are the greatest flower bloomer in all of Japan. You will be rewarded."

At that moment, the greedy old man came running, carrying the leftover ashes which he had gathered from the stove. "Wait! I'm the greatest flower bloomer in Japan." With that, he began to sprinkle his ashes. Instead of landing on the flowers, however, the ash flew into the eyes and nose of the king, choking him. "You impudent!" the king stormed, and promptly threw the greedy old man into prison.

posted by Yusuke Chihara

Momotarou

Momotaou is a popular hero from japanese foklore . His name literally means Peach Tarō; as Taro is a common Japanese boy's name, it is often translated as Peach Boy. Momotarō is also the title of various books, films, and other works that portray the tale of this hero.

STORY

A long time ago somewhere in Japan an old man and an old woman were living in a small village.

The man was going to get firewood to sell. The old woman was washing clothes and cleaning vegetables from the garden while she was waiting for him.

The she looked up and saw a huge peach going down the river. She was surprised. "What a big peach!"

She tried to carry it to their home. She wanted to show her husband. She said, "We will eat this peach when he gets home." While she was waiting for him, she prepared the supper.

The old man was also suprised When he cut the peach there was a little baby boy in the inside of the peach. He was like, "Ogear! Ogear!!"

The old man and old  woman were really surprised but they didn't have a son or daughter so they were glad for the baby. "Maybe God gave him to us."surprised by it and then they said, "Now cut it and we shall eat this peach!"

The old man named him "Momotarou" and he became a powerful boy with the woman's cooking. He had sympathy so he was kind to his parents. The old man lived in comfort, because Momotarou helped with the old man's work.

One day a man came over to Momotarou's house. He was a medicine seller from the capital. He was selling medicine and talking about "Oni", the demons. According to the man, some demons had stolen a treasure and they were playing tricks on the capital.

Momotarou decided to go to Onigashima, the demons' island, to fight with them. Immediately Momotarou started to prepare to fight with them. Also, the old woman started to make "Kibidango", which were powerful foods, for Momotarou. One Kibidango made him 100 times more powerful! Two Kibidango made him 1000 times more powerful! Three Kibidango made him 10000 times more powerful! Those were miracle foods. The old man and old woman said, "Be careful!" At last, Momotarou started to go to Onigashima. On his way, a dog asked him,  "Wan wan! Please, can I go with  you?" Oomotarou said OK and then Momotarou gave the dog a Kibidango. "Then a monkey asked him "Kya Kya! Please, can I go with you? I also want to fight with the demons." Momotarou said OK and then Momotarou gave the monkey a Kibidango. Then a pheasant also asked him, "Kein Kein! Please, can I go with  you?" Momotarou said OK, and then he gave the pheasant a Kibidango. They would fight the demons as a group. A fisherman lent thema boat, and then they crossed the lake. . . They arrived at the demon island. Momotarou gave them instructions. First the monkey and the pheasant climbed the gate and opened the gate. Momotarou and the dog stepped through the gate. The demons were surprised by Momotarou's group, but the demons attacked Momotarou, the dog, the monkey, and the pheasant. But Momotarou, the dog, the monkey, and the pheasant had eaten many Kibidango on the boat. They were getting stronger, so they attacked the demons. The dog bit the demons, the monkey scratched the demons, and the pheasant pecked the face of the demons. The demons gave up and then they ran away crying. One demon was left. He was the leader of the demons but Momotarou threw the big demon on the ground because he had eaten many Kibidango. The demons never came back to attack the capital. Momotarou, the dog, the monkey, and the pheasant came back to the village with a lot of treasure. And they lived happily ever after.

posted by Yusuke Chihara

The Seven Deities of Good Luck

Japan's Shichifukujin are Ebisu, Daikokuten, Bishamonten, Benzaiten, Fukurokuju, Jurojin, and Hotei. They are traditionally believed to bring good fortune and happiness to people. The seven have long been depicted in painting, sculpture, song, and dance and began to be worshiped as a group several hundred years ago. The practice of making a pilgrimage, to shrines and temples of all the Shichifukujin during the New Year season became popular during the Edo period (1603-1868). Shichifukujin Meguri are still popular everywhere in Japan. For example,there are the Fukagawa and Kameido districts of Tokyo's Koto-ku.

 Ebisu is the deity of prosperity in one's occupation. In agricultural villages he is considered a deity of the rice paddies, and in fishing villages he is believed to ensure a good catch. He is also venerated as a deity of the kitchen. Ebisu is usually depicted carrying a sea bream (a symbol of good luck) under his left arm and a fishing rod in his right hand. In Fukagawa Ebisu is enshrined at Tomioka Hachimangu; in Kameido he is enshrined at Katori Jinja.    picture

Originally worshiped in India as a deity who fought the forces of evil, Daikokuten was introduced into Japan via China around the ninth century. Here he eventually merged with Okuninushi no Mikoto (a Shinto deity of bountiful harvests and good fortune), becoming a deity of prosperity. He is also venerated as a deity of the kitchen. Daikokuten is usually depicted standing or seated on bales of rice, with a wish-granting mallet in his right hand and a bag of riches slung over his left shoulder. In Fukagawa Daikokuten is enshrined at Enju-in; in Kameido he is enshrined at Katori Jinja. picture

Bishamonten is a deity of prosperity. He is identified with a Buddhist deity who is a protector of the righteous and is usually depicted wearing a full suit of armor and carrying a miniature spear and pagoda (a symbol of Buddhism). In Fukagawa Bishamonten is enshrined at Ryuko-in; in Kameido he is enshrined at Fumon in. picture

The only female deity among the Shichifukujin, Benzaiten (or Benten) is the deity of literature, the arts and sciences, happiness, prosperity, virtue, and longevity. She is usually depicted playing a biwa, the ancient Japanese lute. In Fukagawa Benzaiten is enshrined at Fuyuki Bentendo; in Kameido she is enshrined at Tokaku-ji. picture

Fukurokuju is a deity of happiness, prosperity, longevity, and wisdom. He is usually depicted with an extremely high-domed bald head and a long white beard (symbolizing great wisdom and age) and sometimes, as in the figure here, carrying a staff and a scroll containing the world's wisdom. In Fukagawa Fukurokuju is enshrined at Shingyo-ji; in Kameido he is enshrined at Tenso Jinja. picture

Jurojin is a deity of happiness, prosperity, and longevity. He is usually depicted with a long white beard and wearing a scholar's cap and is often accompanied by a stag, which is his messenger. Sometimes he also carries a staff and a scroll containing the secret of longevity. In Fukagawa Jurojin is enshrined at Juro Jinja; in Kameido he is enshrined at Joko-ji. picture

Hotei is a deity of prosperity and happiness. Tradition identifies him with the eccentric Chinese Zen priest Pu-tai. Hotei is usually depicted laughing and with a huge belly (symbolizing his benevolent nature) and carrying--or, as in the figure here, sitting beside--a huge bag filled with riches. In Fukagawa Hotei is enshrined at Fukagawa Inari Jinja; in Kameido he is enshrined at Ryugan-ji. picture

posted by Hiromi Tomikuda

Fūjin

Fūjin（風神）

Fūjin is the japanese god of mythology. He is god of wind. People call him "Fūjin（風神）" or "Fūhaku（風伯）".

His figure is look like Raijin. Then, they are appeared side by side in picture or visual. That picture is "Wind god and thunder god ". Artis is Tawaraya Sousetu. Reference is Raijin page.

His hairstyle is curly hair. His finger is four. He has a big bag. He created a wind by use this bag. Sometimes people  percesive a ghost. Why people called him ghost? Accoding a myth, he created not only wind. He created a big disaster. This power is very strong. Crops in the field withered in this power. People say that Fūjin is created germ of cold. "Kaze" is cold in japanese mean. Therefore "Kaze" is origin to Fūjin. At the present day, Fūjin is appears in caracter of a cold remedy.

People enshrine for Fūjin. Alot of prefezture has festival of Fūjin. This festival name is Kazenokami mature（風神祭）. This festival is held in shrine. The most of shrine is Tatuta shrine（竜田神社）.

Sometimes Fūjin is appeared in Japanese art. Above all, there stands a many figure. It is various. Figure of Fūjin is made by various era people. We can see it in shrine and museum. Figure of Fūjin has a grace. This power is pray for rain and talisman.

Japanese mythology has a lot of gods. Almost kind of gods has roots in India. This fact is concerned with Buddhism and Japan. Therefore, There is  another Fūjin.

Fūjin is changing a figure and show himself.

posted by Jun Masuzawa

Oni

Oni (鬼)

Oni is creatures from Japanese folklore, similar to Western demons such as ogres.

Figures of Oni is hideous, gigantic creatures with sharp claws, wild hair, and two long horns growing from their heads. Their skin may be number of colors, but red and blue are particularly common. They wear tiger-skin loincloths. They equipment the iron clubs. It called Kanabo.

The world Oni is something speculated to be derived from on the on`yomi reading of character meaning to hide or conceal as Oni were Originally invisible spirits or gods which caused disasters, disease, and other unpleasant things.

Oni is appear in the Japanese traditional culture and place name. It is the Setsubun festival, Many Japanese story book,Island (In Kagawa prefecture)

Momotaro(桃太郎)

Long, long ago, there lived an old man and his old wife in a village. He went to the mountain to gather woods. She went to the river to wash clothes, when a big peach came floating down the river.

she came home with it on her back.
When she began to cut it, to their surprise, the peach cut apart of itself and a big baby came out of it.They were very surprised but very happy to receive him.Old man called him Momo-Taro.

Momo-Taro grew and grew quickly to be a strong and kind-hearted boy.

One day He hears of astrocious Oni.And he decide that defeat an Oni.He gose forth.On his way, he met a dog and monkey and pheasant.They stands for Momotaro.They solid and gose forth

They reached the island(Orgre's Island) at last. In front of the castle's gate, there was a big orgre standing. Momo-Taro picked up a big stone and threw it at him. The monkey climbed up the gate quickly to open it. The pheasant attacked the orgre's eyes.

Momo-Taro,jumping on the bar quickly and lightly.
He attacked the enemy so quickly that the enemy couldn't catch him.

Orgres fall down by Momotaro’s attack.And Orgres surrendr.

Orgres said "I give up! Igive up! I'll give you my tresure."

Momo-Taro got many treasures in the castle. Gold, silver, textile and so on.
He and the dog pulled the cart full of many treasures while the monkey and the pheasant pushed it. It was a very wonderful day for them.

Oni is appear other folklore. Oni are very famous creatures from japanese folklore

Posted By Jun Masuzawa

Raijin

Raijin(雷神)

Raijin is a god of Japanese mythology. The apotheosis of thunder and lighting.

Raijin is left side in this picture.

His name is derived japanese words rai(thunder) and shin(god). other name is kaminarisama and Raidensama. Both name is change reading.

Figure is look like devil or demon or Japanese Oni. Forexamle, His hairstyle and two caws horns growing from the heads. But his skin color is not red. That is white. He has drums. He beating drums to create thunder.Because old people feared him. Sometimes he create a storm and flood. Therefore people enshrine for Raijin. Some temples are enshrine. Famous temple is Kamowakeikazutizinzya(賀茂別雷神社), Tenmanguu(天満宮). People build a figure in temple.

Sometimes Raijin is appeard in Jaoanese art. Masterpiece is this picture. This picture was written in 17 century. Author is Tawaraya Sōtatsu. He is very famous Author. But his biography has manny mysterious point. It is said he was born in Kyoto in 1643. He was genius inart. Sometimes, He was collaboration anither famous artist. It is Mituhiro Karasumaru.He is man of letters. Tawaraya Sotatu write a illustration of his book. This picture was write during the pinnacle of hs popularity. This picture is impact for Japanese art.Raijin is appeared festival. For example, Neputa

posted by Jun Masuzawa

Yamata-no-Orochi

Yamata-no-orochi translates from the japanese as The Serene Dragon. However, something appears to have been lost in the translation, as it and its Eastern Dragon kin are reputably vicious and consider terrorizing entire towns just good clean fun. However, much to the likely relief of contemporary Japanese, these dragons have held no power since about 700 CE, and have been reduced to weevil eaters.

Yamata-no-orochi's distinguishing characteristics were eight heads and eight tails, though 'yamata' can mean 'many' as well, so it is possible the dragon possessed more. In accord with the number of its appendages, it is said to have been large enough to stretch over eight (or more) valleys and hills.

If Yamata-no-orochi's size was not a dead giveaway to the casual observer, red eyes and a  covering of shrubbery in place of fur might have sealed the ID. Yamato-no-orochi, not unlike some contemporary villains and cinematographers, had a taste for virgin flesh, and considered an unconsummated lass a tasty snack.

Legends are unanimous in crediting Yamata-no-orochi's demise to one Susanoo (Susanowo, Susano, Susano-o), who killed him by empolying one of a variety of possible subterfuges, most of which involve intoxicating the dragon. In some versions of the tale, Susanoo was unable to cut off the last of Yamata-no-orochi's eight tails, and in determining the reason for his failure, discovered the magic sword Kusanagi no Tsurugi ("The Grass-Cutting Sword"), now considered a National Treasure of Japan.

picture

posted by Hiromi Tomikuda

Ubasuteyama

     Have you ever heard that Japan has a practice which they had to throw their elderly relatives away in mountain?  What a stern practice!  The mountain was called Ubasuteyama (姨捨山 grandmother throwing mountain).  They were carried by their son to mountain which is a desolate place and left there to die, either by dehydration, starvation, or exposure.  In a Buddhist allegory, during the journey that a son carries his mother up a mountain on his back, she stretches out her arms, catching the twigs and scattering them, so that her son will be able to find the way home.  There is a mountain called Ubasuteyama (or Kamurikiyama) and a station named Obasute in Chikuma, Nagano, Japan.

     Ubasuteyama has left itself on Japanese folklore too, and i would like to introduce one of them.  Here is the anecdote.

   

     

    Long, long ago a selfish lord ruled a country, who disliked the old. One day he ordered his men to set up message boards all over the country. It said as follows;
the old who are over sixty must be thrown away in mountains. Otherwise all the family will be killed.'
Everybody couldn't help following his order for fear all the family be killed.

     By the way, there lived a young man who had an old mother in the country.
"My son. I am sixty years old*. I must be thrown away in the mountain."
"My Mother. I can't do such a cruel thing."
"The next-door old woman and the in-front-of old man have been already thrown away in the mountain. So don't worry."

     At last the young man unwillingly carried his old mother on his back and climbed up the mountain. But he failed to leave her there and returned home secretly at night with his mother on his back. He hid his mother in a dirty barn behind his house.

     Several days later, the lord ordered his villagers to make a rope out of ash.
"My Mother. The lord ordered us to make a rope out of ash. We tried it but impossible. If somebody can't do it, we will have to pay more tribute to him."
"My son. It's a piece of cake. I'll teach you."
The young man made a ring of straw rope, put it into salt water, dried it and burned it as he was told to do. The young man carefully brought it to the lord.
"You are a skillful man. It's wonderful. So I'll give you more difficult question. This is a stick. You must tell me which end of this is the root and which end is the bough in a few days."
He took it back to his house. The young man was at a loss with the stick and asked his old mother for advice.
"It's a very piece of cake. You have only to bring a basin full of water."
The young man prepared the basin and put it into the water.
"Look. One end is in water, which is the root. The other is up water, the bough."
The young was in front of the lord to tell him the answer.
"You are a clever man. So I'll give you a most difficult question. You must make a drum which give sound without being beaten by a man."
He came home pale with a drum and went to his mother for help.
"It's a most piece of cake. You have only to get a few bees in the mountain."
The mother loosened the leather of the drum a little, put the bees into it and fastened it again. The drum began to give sound of itself. The young man handed the sound drum to the lord.
"You are a wonderful man. Did you solve three difficult questions by yourself?"
"My lord. To tell the truth, it's not I but my old mother that solved them. You ordered us to throw away the old, but I couldn't do such a cruel thing. I hid her in my barn. The old know more things than the young, though they work less hard."
The lord said to him after a long thought.
"You are right. I was wrong. I decide to stop throwing away the old any more."
 

The lord gave the order all over the country that the young take good care of the old.

    

    

     *Sixty years old : it is not old enough for nowadays, but they have short life span around that time.

    

  This story tells you "the old are cleverer than the young" as you can see the title (Choose No.98).  Also, Ubasuteyama sometimes appears as a metaphor for contemporary Japan's treatment of the elderly, who are noted for their above-average suicide rates.  But I don't want you to misunderstand that Japan has parricidal practice.  It is NOT social system of Japan.  Even though personal crime has been committed.

Posted by Nana Chiyoda.

Sleeping Man

     I would like to introduce a story about "San-nen Netarou (３年寝太郎)", meaning Sleeping Man for 3 years.

Here is the story.

    

Long, long ago there lived a queer young man who was always sleeping day and night every day in a village. He never awoke to get up even if he was spoken ill of by the villagers or made fun of by the children.
     When he was a small child, he was an ordinary boy. But one day he suddenly began to sleep in his bed all days. When he woke up and got up from his bed, it was the time he went to the toilet because he couldn't stand it. After that he went to his bed and fell asleep again. He was called "A Three-year-sleeping man" by villagers.
     By the way this village was troubled with a long spell of dry weather. They prayed and prayed in vain to God for rain. At last they thought God got very angry because "the sleeping man" never worked and was only sleeping.
     The villagers came to punish him. Then he opened his eyes, got up on his bed, stretched himself, whispered something and left his house.
     He climbed up the mountain step by step to the top of it. Whispering something, he began to push a huge rock. The villagers were much surprised and thought; "It is impossible to move such a huge rock."
He pushed and pushed the rock. It never moved. He pushed and pushed and pushed with all his might.
The huge rock began to sway a little until it rolled down the valley. It moved the enormous rocks. They moved the gigantic rocks. They stopped the stream of the river. The river changed the stream to the fields in the village.
     They all jumped for joy. Their rice fields had enough water for rice plants. "The young man" was always thinking of a drought and the solution for it. He went to bed and fell into sleep again.

    

    

     Another similar story is passed on in the Asa area of Yamaguchi Pref as a legend with a statue of Netarou. You can watch the story with the animations. The difference in the story after his long sleep, Netarou brought back Japanese sandals which included gold dust from his trip to Sadoga-shima. There was a goldmine in the island and he exchanged his new sandals for workers' old sandals. Then he used the gold dust as resources to build a dam. In the Asa area, they have a dam and many products which named Netarou.

Netarou statue ↓

To tell children the importance of water, rice, and having hope and courage to live, there is an animation movie which is recognized by Japanese ministry of education, culture, sports, science and technology.

     This story tells no one is same, no one was born for nothing, and no one is free of defect.  Sadly, human beings always try to justify themselves by criticize others.  In this story, people had hated Netarou and thought "the drought is because of Netarou" but in a moment that he solved the problem, they started call him a hero in the village...  Human beings are calculating.

    

Posted by Nana Chiyoda.

Taketori Monogatari (The Tale of the Bamboo Cutter)

background

Taketori Monogatari (The Tale of the Bamboo Cutter) was probably written late in the ninth or early in the tenth century. Mention at the end of the tale that smoke still rose from Mount Fuji, a sign it was an active volcano, is an important clue to the date of composition, for we know that by 905 A.D. the mountain had ceased to emit smoke. Regardless of exactly when the tale was first set down on paper, it is the oldest surviving Japanese work of fiction.

narrative

One day, while walking in the bamboo forest, an old, childless bamboo cutter called Taketori-no Okina (竹取翁, "the Old Man who Harvests Bamboo"), comes across a mysterious, shining stalk of bamboo. Cutting it open, he finds inside it a baby the size of his thumb. Rejoicing to find such a beautiful girl, he takes her home, and he and his wife raise her as their own child, naming her Kaguya-hime (かぐや姫, Princess Kaguya, "radiant night princess"). Thereafter, Taketori-no Okina found that whenever he cut down a stalk of bamboo, inside he found a small nugget of gold. Soon he is rich, and Kaguya-hime grew from a small baby into a woman of usual size and extraordinary beauty. At first, Taketori-no Okina tries to sequester her from outsiders, but over time the news of her beauty spreads.

Eventually, five princes come to Taketori-no Okina's residence to ask for Kaguya-hime's hand in marriage. The princes eventually persuade Taketori-no Okina to tell a reluctant Kaguya-hime to choose one from among them. To this end, Kaguya-hime concocts impossible tasks for the princes to accomplish. She will agree to marry the prince who manages to bring her a specified item.

That night, Taketori-no Okina tells the five princes what each of them must bring. The first is told to bring her the holy basin of the Buddha. The second is told to retrieve a legendary azalea made of silver and gold. The third is told to seek the legendary robe of the fire-rat of China. The fourth must retrieve a colored jewel from a dragon's neck. The final prince is told to find the seashell treasure of the swallows.

Realising that it was an impossible task, the first prince returns with an expensive bowl, but noticing that the bowl does not glow with holy light, Kaguya-hime sees through his deception. Two other princes likewise attempt to deceive her with fakes but also fail. The fourth gives up after encountering a storm, while the final prince loses his life in his attempt to retrieve the object.

After this, the Emperor of Japan, Mikado, comes to see the strangely beautiful Kaguya-hime and upon falling in love asks her to marry him. Although he is not subjected to the impossible trials that thwarted the princes, Kaguya-hime rejects his request for marriage as well, telling him that she is not of this country and thus cannot go to the palace with him. She stays in contact with the Emperor, but continues to rebuff his requests.

That summer, whenever Kaguya-hime sees the full moon, her eyes fill with tears. Though her adoptive parents worry greatly and question her, she is unable to tell them what is wrong. Her behavior becomes increasingly erratic until she reveals that she is not of this world and must return to her people on the moon. In some versions of this tale, it is said that she was sent to the earth as a temporary punishment for some crime, while others say it is because she was sent to earth for safety during a celestial war.

As the day of her return approaches, the Emperor sets many guards around her house to protect her from the moon people, but when an embassy of "Heavenly Beings" arrives at the door of the Bamboo Harvester's house, the many guards are blinded by a strange light. Kaguya-hime announces that though she loves her many friends on earth, she must return with the moon people to her true home. She writes sad notes of apology to her parents and to the Emperor, then gives her parents her own robe as a memento. She then takes a small taste of the elixir of life, attaches it to her letter to the Emperor, and gives it to a guard officer. As she hands it to him, the feather robe is placed on her shoulders, and all of her sadness and compassion for the people of the Earth are forgotten. The heavenly entourage takes Kaguya-hime back to Tsuki-no Miyako (the capital of the moon) against her will, leaving her earthly foster parents in tears.

The parents become very sad and are soon put to bed sick. The guard officer returns to the Emperor with the items Kaguya-hime had given him as her last mortal act, and reports what had happened. The Emperor reads her letter and is overcome with sadness. He asks his servants, "Which mountain is the closest place to heaven?", to which one replies that the Great Mountain of Suruga Province is the closest place to heaven. The Emperor orders his men to take the letter to the summit of the mountain and burn it, with the hope that his message would reach the now distant princess. The men are also commanded to burn the pot of elixir of immortality since the Emperor does not desire to live forever without being able to see her. The legend has it that the word became the name of the mountain, Mount Fuji. It is also said that the kanji for the mountain, 富士山 (literally "Mountain Abounding with Warriors") is derived from the Emperor's army ascending the slopes of the mountain to carry out his order. It is said that the smoke from the burning still rises to this day. (In the past, Mount Fuji was much more volcanically active than today.)

posted by Yusuke Chihara