Kintarō - Japanese

Hello. The crisp mountain air always smells like pine needles and damp earth, which is my favorite scent. My name is Kintarō, and I grew up on a big, green mountain where the trees tickled the clouds. People have told stories about me for a very long time, and they call my story the myth of Kintarō, the Golden Boy. It all began long ago, in the wild forests of Mount Ashigara in Japan. When I was born, my cheeks were as red as ripe apples, and I had a strength that surprised everyone. I wasn't like other babies. My mother, a kind but powerful mountain spirit named Yama-uba, raised me in the heart of nature. The only thing I wore was a simple red bib with the Japanese character for 'gold' stitched on it, and my only toy was a giant axe my mother gave me.

I didn't have other children to play with, but I was never lonely because my best friends were the animals of the forest. I would have friendly sumo wrestling matches with a big, gentle bear, and sometimes I would race a swift deer just for fun. I’d chat with a clever monkey and share sweet berries with a soft rabbit. I was so strong that I could lift the bear onto my back or push over small trees with one hand. One day, my friends and I came to a wide river we couldn't cross. The water was rushing too fast. I looked around, found the biggest tree by the riverbank, wrapped my strong arms around its trunk, and with a mighty HEAVE, I pushed it right over. It fell across the water and made a perfect bridge for all my animal friends to cross safely. I was always happy to help my friends.

One afternoon, a famous samurai warrior named Minamoto no Yorimitsu was passing through the forest with his men. He stopped when he saw an incredible sight: me, a young boy, wrestling with a bear and winning. The samurai was amazed by my courage and power. He knew I was special. Yorimitsu came to talk to my mother and me. He asked if I would come with him to the capital city to train as a samurai, where my strength could be used to protect people. I felt a flutter of excitement for a new adventure, but I was also sad to leave my home. I gave all my animal friends a big hug and promised my mother I would be brave and honorable. Then I took my axe and followed the great samurai toward a new life.

In the city, I was given a new name, Sakata no Kintoki. I trained very hard every single day and grew up to become one of the most famous and loyal samurai in all of Japan. Everyone knew me for my incredible strength and my good heart. The story of the boy from the mountain became a legend told to children for hundreds of years. Today, my story reminds everyone that true strength is about being brave, kind, and a good friend to all living things. In Japan, on Children's Day, May 5th, families still display dolls of me to wish for their children to grow up as strong and courageous as the Golden Boy from the mountains. My story continues to inspire kids everywhere to be strong in body and in heart.