Momotaro - Japanese

Hello. My name is Momotaro, and my story begins in a very strange way—inside a giant, sweet-smelling peach that was bobbing down a river in old Japan. An old woman washing clothes saw the enormous peach and took it home to her husband. Can you imagine their surprise when they cut it open and found me, a baby boy, inside. They had always wished for a child, so they named me Momotaro, which means 'Peach Boy,' and raised me as their own son. I grew up strong and healthy from eating lots of delicious food. Even though I was happy with my new family, I often heard the villagers whispering about fearsome ogres, called Oni, who lived on a faraway island. These big, grumpy Oni would sail to our shores and steal precious treasures. This is the famous story of how I decided to go on a great adventure to stop them.

When I felt I was strong enough, I told my kind parents my plan. 'I am going to Onigashima, Ogre Island, to get the treasure back and stop the Oni for good.' My mother was worried, but she was also proud. She packed me the most delicious millet dumplings in all of Japan, called kibi dango, to give me strength for my journey. As I walked along the path, a friendly dog sniffed the air. 'Those smell wonderful,' he said. 'Could I have one?' I gave him a dumpling, and he was so grateful that he promised to join me. Soon after, we met a clever monkey swinging in the trees. He also asked for a dumpling, and after gobbling it up, he joined our team, too. Finally, a beautiful pheasant with sharp eyes flew down from the sky. He had also smelled the tasty kibi dango. I shared my last dumpling with him, and he happily agreed to help us. Together, my three new friends and I built a sturdy boat and sailed across the big, blue sea. When we arrived at Ogre Island, we saw a huge, scary fortress with tall walls. We had to work as a team to get inside. The pheasant flew high over the walls to spy on the Oni. The monkey used his quick paws to climb the giant gate and unlock it from the inside. And the dog helped me fight off the guards who tried to stop us. We snuck into the fortress, ready to face the chief of the Oni.

The chief of the Oni, a giant with a booming voice, was so surprised to see a boy and his three animal friends standing bravely before him. He roared and stomped, but he saw how well we worked together and knew he could not win against our teamwork. He bowed his big head and promised that the Oni would never bother the villagers again. To show he was sorry, he gave me all the stolen treasures to take back. We sailed home not as a boy and his pets, but as heroes. The villagers cheered when they saw our boat filled with their lost treasures. I returned everything to its rightful owner, and everyone was filled with joy. From that day on, I lived peacefully and happily with my wonderful parents. My story teaches everyone that courage isn't about being the biggest or the strongest. It is about having a kind heart, being generous, and working together with your friends. For many, many years, parents in Japan have told this story to their children to remind them that anyone, no matter how small they start, can do great things with a little help from their friends.