Yama-uba

Hello. I am Yama-uba. I live in the big, tall mountains where the trees whisper. My home is a cozy cottage. It is hidden behind a waterfall. Splash. Splash. My hair is long and wild, just like the roots of a big tree. Some people think I look a little scary, but I am the guardian of this forest. I watch over all the animals and the tall, tall trees. I want to tell you my story. It is the myth of Yama-uba, the mountain spirit. It is a very, very old story.

Sometimes, travelers get lost on the twisty paths. When they find my cottage, I invite them in for a warm meal. If a traveler is kind and has a good heart, I give them a special gift. A really special gift. Maybe a bag of yummy rice that never gets empty. Or a branch that grows beautiful flowers. But if they are not kind, I might play a little trick to teach them a lesson. I once raised a very strong boy named Kintarō. We played with the friendly bears and the silly monkeys in the forest. He learned to be strong and kind living in the mountains with me.

My story is as old as the mountains. For a long, long time, parents in Japan have told my story to their children. It reminds everyone to be kind. Be kind to the forest and be kind to strangers you meet. When you see a big, mysterious mountain, you might wonder if I am watching from the trees. My story lives on in pictures and plays. It helps everyone imagine the magic hidden deep in the wild places of the world.