Picture Window

A Selected and Annotated Bibliography of Illlustrated Japanese Folktales

Compiled by Yukiko Tosa,
LTh; BEd; MLS; Children's Librarian, The Children's Library, Vancouver Public Library.

I have been inspired by Japanese illustrators and designers for years. In the fifties I loved Taro Yashima's remarkable hand separated colour illustrations for Crow Boy and Umbrella. In the sixties I encountered the wonderful work of Chihiro Iwasaki and was enchanted by her watery evocative picture books and illustrated fairy tales. In the seventies I discovered Anno's inventive concept books with tiny hidden details long before 'Waldo.'
After World War II when everything Japanese interested North America, children's picture books from the late forties through the sixties reflected that interest. At that time Japanese arts and crafts inspired interior and graphic design around the world. Children's book writers, illustrators, editors and publishers as well as librarians sought out and worked with Japanese designs and stories. Not surprisingly, given the legacy of Japanese print making, Japanese illustrators such as Taro Yashima and Kazue Mizumura created the most beautiful mechanically separated illustrations ever made. Until the mid eighties illustrators were sometimes asked to do their own separations in order to save the cost of photographically separating the work. The process most often resulted in static work but these two created works of art. I know, because inspired by Yashima I agreed to separate my work, but most of mine were static indeed.
As you will learn from the following annotated bibliography the illustrators I mentioned are only a few of the great Japanese book creators whose work has been published in North America over the past fifty years.
For this issue I knew just who to ask, Yukiko Tosa, a gifted, animated Vancouver children's librarian. She loves children, toys, stories and fun. You can hear joy in her voice, one of those voices one never forgets and always recognizes. Yukiko is a brilliant storyteller, an origami artist and the creator of this extensive selected and annotated bibliography of illustrated Japanese folk tales.
(Kathryn E. Shoemaker, editor, Picture Window)

The following list is a personal selection of favourite illustrated Japanese Folktales currently housed at the Vancouver Public Library.

In the past, most Japanese folklore collections in English had little or no illustrations. However, there are more being published as single tales in the picture book format and newer collections tend to have illustrations.

We begin with a list of Individual Folktales for Children. The titles listed here show an eclectic mix of illustrations and styles.

The second part is a list of Variants of ten beloved folktales. For each tale, there are a number of retellings, each with a different illustrator. There is a wide range of artistic interpretation in both language and graphic style.

The third part is a list of Collected Folktales for Children including a collection by well-known Japanese-American writer, Yoshiko Uchida.

The final section is a list of Recommended Websites, some which have their own distinctive online illustrations with animation and music added.

Most of these titles can be found under the following Subject Headings in the VPL Library's Catalogue:
Fairy Tales – Japan; Folklore – Japan; Tales – Japan

Individual Folktales for Children:

Bryan, Ashley. Sh-ko and His Eight Wicked Brothers. Illustrated by Fumio Yoshimura. New York: Atheneum, 1988.
From an old folktale remembered by the artist Yoshimura in his youth about the wicked brothers and their youngest brother who set off to ask a Princess to decide which of them is the ugliest and how they meet some interesting creatures along their way.

Cocagnac, A. M. The Three Trees of the Samurai. Adapted from a Japanese Noh play. Illustrated by Alain Le Foll. New York, Quist, 1969.
Adapted from a Japanese Noh play, this is a story of a Samurai warrior who is robbed of his lands except for three dwarfed trees and how one stormy night a pilgim alters the lives of all of them.

Compton, Patricia A. The Terrible EEK: A Japanese Tale. Illustrated by Sheila Hamanaka. New York: Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers. 1991.
A father's fear of the terrible leak ultimately saves him from a thief and wolf.

Hamanaka, Sheila. Screen of Frogs: An Old Tale. New York: Orchard Books. 1993.
This story is adapted from "The Strange Folding Screen", a story in Nihon No Minwa edited by Minori Kakiuchi, about a spoiled rich man who discovers a respect for nature aided by a frog who helps him to turn his life around. Illustrator/writer Hamanka is a Japanese American.

Haugaard, Erik Christian and Masako. The Story of Yuriwaka: a Japanese Odyssey. Translated and retold by Erik and Masako Haugaard. Illustrated by Birgitta Saflund. Niwot, CO., USA: Roberts Rinehart Publishers. 1991.
Set in the 16th century, this is the story of Yurikawa, a tale of Odysseus in Japanese.

Hodges, Margaret. The Wave. Adapted from Lafcadio Hearn's Gleanings in Buddha Fields. Illustrated by Blair Lent. Boston. Houghton Mifflin Co. 1964.
There seems no way to save four hundred villagers from imminent and unsuspecting death; then the wise old man high on the mountain knows what he must do.

Horio, Seishi. The Monkey and the Crab = Saru Kani. Illustrated by Tsutomu Murakami. Union City, CA: Heian International. 1985.
One of the publisher's stories in their series of Japanese folk tales, this tale tells a humourous story about the monkey and the crab who learn a lesson about sharing and explains how hairs grow from the end of the crab's pincer.

Jameson, Cynthia. One for the Price of Two. Illustrated by Anita Lobel. New York. Parents' Magazine Press. 1972.
This sweet story is about an old man who brags so much about his new heifer that the clogmaker and his apprentice decide to teach him a lesson.

Kajikawa, Kimiko. Yoshi's Feast. Illustrated by Yumi Heo. New York: DK Ink. 2000.
This is adapted from a story, "Smells and Jingles," in William Elliot Griffis's Japanese Fairy World: Stories from the Wonder-lore of Japan published by J.H. Barhyte (1880) in which Yoshi tries to capture the delicious smell of the Sabu, the eel broiler's eels.

Matsui, Tadashi. Oniroku and the Carpenter. Illustrated by Suekichi Akaba. Trans. by Masako Matsuno. Englewood Cliffs, NJ: Prentice-Hall 1963.
This is an older folktale reminiscent of "Rumpelstiltskin" about a carpenter and a terrible ogre who lives in the river.

Matsutani, Miyoko. Gengoroh and the Thunder God. Illustrated by Yasuo Segawa. Translated by Alvin Tresselt. New York: Parents' Magazine Press. 1970.
A translation of "Ten ni nobotta Gengoro" an amusing tale of a fun-loving Gengoroh who finds a magic drum that gets him into trouble and lands him in Lake Biwa where there is a large fish called the Gengoroh carp.

McCarthy, Ralph F. Click-Clack Mountain. Illustrated by Kokkan Odake. Tokyo & New York: Kodansha International. 1994.
A thieving badger meets a dreadful fate in the hands of a revenging rabbit in this book from Kodansha's series of classics for children.

McCarthy, Ralph F. Grandfather Cherry Blossom. Illustrated by Eiho Hirezaki. Tokyo & New York: Kodansha International. 1993.
Fifth in the series of classics for children by Kodansha. A kind old woodcutter and his greedy neighbor are appropriately rewarded according to their deeds.

McCoy, Karen Kawamoto. A Tale of Two Tengu: A Japanese Folktale. Illustrated by Koen Fossey. Morton Grove, IL: Whitman. 1993.
This is a humorous tale of two tengus, or goblins, with long, lovely noses who must decide which nose is the more beautiful.

Merrill, Jean. The Girl Who Loved Caterpillars. Illustrated by Floyd Cooper. New York: Philomel Books. 1992.
This is an adaptation of an anonymous 12th century scroll tale in the "Tsusumi Chunagon Monogatari" about a free-spirited girl who loved caterpillars. The soft oil wash paintings bring a surrealistic addition to the story.

Morimoto, Junko. The Mouse's Marriage. New York: Viking Kestrel. 1985.
This is a universal tale of a mouse couple who search for the mightiest and best husband for their daughter.

Mosel, Arlene. The Funny Little Woman. Illustrated by Blair Lent. New York: Dutton. 1972.
Based on the tale "The old woman and her dumpling" by Lafcadio Hearn about an old woman who is captured by wicked creatures while chasing a dumpling and when she escapes, she becomes the richest woman in Japan. Humorously retold and great for oral storytelling.

Namioka, Lensey. The Loyal Cat. Illustrated by Aki Sogabe. San Diego: Browndeer Press. 1995.
This is the tale of a loyal cat that uses his special power to help his friend, a poor and humble priest.

Paterson, Katherine. The Tale of the Mandarin Ducks. Illustrated by Leo and Diane Dillon. New York: Lodestar Books. 1990.
A pair of mandarin ducks separated by a cruel lord rewards a compassionate couple who risk their lives to reunite them. The beautiful watercolor and pastel paintings are reminiscent of 18th century Japanese woodcuts.

Samuel, Yoshiko. Twelve Years, Twelve Animals. Illustrated by Margo Locke. Nashville: Abingdon Press. 1972.
This is the tale of how each year of the Japanese calendar got its name and why Cat and Mouse are enemies today.

San Souci, Robert D. The Samurai's Daughter: A Japanese Legend. Illustrated by Stephen T. Johnson. New York: Dial Books for Young Readers. 1992.
This is an adaptation of "A story of Oki Islands", a tale of a brave daughter of an exiled samurai warrior and the journey she undertakes to be reunited with him.

San Souci, Robert D. The Silver Charm: A Folktale from Japan. Illustrated by Yoriko Ito. New York: Doubleday Books for Young Readers. 2002.
This is based on an Ainu folktale in which a pet puppy and fox retrieve their young master's good luck charm that was stolen from an ogre.

Say, Allen. Once Under the Cherry Blossom Tree: An Old Japanese Tale. New York: Harper & Row. 1974.
This is a retelling of one of the most popular and ancient short Japanese pillow tales called 'makura' which is also part of the 'rakugo', the famous joke tales of Japan. In this story, a miserly landlord swallows a cherry pit and a cherry tree begins to grow on top of his head.

Schroeder, Alan. Lily and the Wooden Bowl. Illustrated by Yoriko Ito. New York: Doubleday Book for Young Readers. 1994.
This tale is a retelling of the young girl who wears a wooden bowl over her face to hide her beauty and how she eventually finds love, riches, and happiness.

Takeichi, Yasoo. The Mighty Prince. Illustrated by Yoshimasa Seijima. New York: Crown Publishers. 1971.
This is a retelling of the story of how a young child shows an angry young prince the way to peace and happiness accompanied by Sejima's black and white brush paintings first published in 1913.

Snyder, Dianne. The Boy of the Three-Year Nap. Illustrated by Allen Say. Boston: Houghton Mifflin. 1988.
This story told by itinerant storytellers in Japan relates the experiences of a poor Japanese woman who tries to maneuver events to change her lazy son's habits.

Stamm, Claus. The Very Special Badgers: A Tale of Magic from Japan. Illustrated by Kazue Mizumura. New York: Viking Press. 1960.
Retold from an old Japanese lore of magic, two rival tribes of tanuki or badgers live on neighboring islands and one of them challenges another to a cheat-and-change contest. The humorous black and white brush artwork compliments this story.

Takeda, Eiko. The Stare of the Cat. Illustrated Kozo Shimizu. London: Macdonald. 1983.
Translation of 'Happou Niramineko' and about a stray cat that comes into the life of an elderly couple. Based on the Miko, a cat talisman used in Japan by the silkworm industry.

Tejima, Keizaburo. Ho-Limlim: A Rabbit Tale from Japan. Translated by Cathy Hirano. New York: Philomel Books. 1990.
Translation of 'Isopo Kamuy'. This Ainu tale was written by Hisakazu Fujimura as told to him by Yae Shitaku, an Ainu descendent. The bold, multi-colored woodcuts evoke the primitive, rugged forestland of northern Japan.

Tompert, Ann. Bamboo Hats and a Rice Cake: A Tale Adapted from Japanese Folklore. Illustrated by Demi. New York: Crown. 1993.
This tale involves a poor old man who seeks good fortune for the New Year by trading his wife's kimono for rice cakes. Along the way he comes across some Jizo statues that eventually bring him the luck he has been seeking. Demi has incorporated Japanese calligraphy into the text.

Uchida, Yoshiko. The Magic Purse. Illustrated by Keiko Narahashi. New York: Margaret K. McElderry Books. Toronto: Maxwell Macmillan Canada. New York: Maxwell Macmillan International. 1993.
A poor farmer discovers that the magic purse he is given after saving a young woman is always filling up with money and has magical powers to help him face the dangers and demons along his journey.

Uchida, Yoshiko. The Two Foolish Cats: Suggested by a Japanese Folktale. Illustrated by Margot Zemach. New York: M.K. McElderry Books. 1987.
Translation of 'Saru no nigirimeshi saiban' in which two foolish cats go to the old monkey on the mountain to settle an argument.

Waite, Michael P. Jojofu. Illustrated by Yoriko Ito. New York: Lothrop, Lee & Shepard Books. 1996.
Beautifully illustrated by Ito, this story is based on a Japanese foltale taken from the ancient 'Ima Mukashi' scrolls about the faithful dog that saves her master time and time again.

Wells, Ruth. The Farmer and the Poor God: A Folktale from Japan. Illustrated by Yoshi Miyake. New York: Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers. 1996.
This is a tale of a poor family who decide to move away since they feel they are cursed by the poor god living in their attic and how their fortunes are changes when the poor God decides to do something about their move.

Yamaguchi, Tohr. The Golden Crane: A Japanese Folktale. Illustrated by Marianne Yamaguchi. New York: Holt, Rinehart and Winston. 1963.
This moving and poetic folktale comes from the Niigata area of Japan. It tells a story about an orphaned deaf and dumb boy who rescues an injured golden crane and in the process is rescued by a group of sacred cranes when the Lord Governor decides to claim the crane for himself; illustrations are done with beautiful black and white brushwork.

Yoda, Junichi. The Rolling Rice Ball. Illustrated by Saburo Watanabe. Translated by Alvin Tresselt. New York: Parents' Magazine Press. 1969.
Translation of 'Omusubi Kokorin', a retelling of one of the oldest Japanese folktales about a kind old woodcutter who is taken down a mouse hole and richly rewarded in contrast to his greedy neighbors who end their days in poverty.

Variants of Famous Tales:

THE BOY WHO DREW CATS

Hodges, Margaret. The Boy Who Drew Cats. Illustrated by Aki Sogabe. New York: Holiday House. 2002. Adapted from Lafcadio Hearn's Japanese Fairy Tales. Boni and Liveright: New York. 1918.
A young boy's obsession with drawing cats changes his life. Based on a legend about the Japanese artist Sesshu Toyo.

Johnson, David. The Boy Who Drew Cats. Saxonville, MA: Rabbit Ears Books. Distributed in USA by Picture Book Studio Ltd. 1991.
An artistic boy's obsession with drawing cats leads him to a mysterious experience. Based on a legend about the Japanese artist Sesshu Toyo.

Levine, Arthur A. The Boy Who Drew Cats: A Japanese Folktale. Paintings by Frederic Clement. New York: Dial Books. 1993.
The retelling of the famous story about a young boy whose ability to draw cats helps to defeat the Goblin Rat. Beautifully painted by acclaimed artist Clement with accompanying Japanese calligraphy and a glossary.

THE CRANE WIFE or TSURU NYOBO

Bodkin, Odds. The Crane Wife. Illustrated by Gennadii Spirin. San Diego: Harcourt Brace. 1998.
An adaptation of the traditional Japanese tale about a poor sail maker who gains a beautiful but mysterious wife who is very skilled at weaving magical sails, accompanied by Spirin's intricate and evocative watercolors.

Matsutani, Miyoko. The Crane Maiden. Illustrated by Chihiro Iwasaki. Translated by Alvin Tresselt. New York: Parents' Magazine Press. 1968.
This is another translation of "Tsuru no ongaeshi", illustrated by the late beloved Chihiro Iwasaki.

Morimoto, Junko. The White Crane. Sydney, Australia: Collins. 1983.
This is a retelling of the classic crane tale beautifully illustrated by Morimoto.

Yagawa, Sumiko. The Crane Wife. Illustrated by Suekichi Akaba. Translated by Katherine Paterson. New York: William Morrow. 1981.
Translation of "Tsuru nyobo", the classic Japanese tale. After Yohei, a poor peasant tends a wounded crane, a beautiful young woman begs to become his wife and weaves him exquisite silken fabric on her loom. Akaba's masterful paintings were created on several types of ancient Japanese paper.

INCHLING or ISSUN BOSHI

Brenner, Barbara. Little One Inch. Illustrated by Fred Brenner. New York: Coward, McCann & Geoghegan, Inc. 1977.
This is a new version of "Issun Boshi" with a contemporary twist using two common legendary Japanese folk figures of the 'Kappa' and the 'Tengu' in this retelling.

Hughes, Monica. Little Fingerling: A Japanese Folk Tale. Illustrated by Brenda Clark. Toronto: Kids Can Press. 1989.
This Canadian publication is a retelling of the classic "Issun Boshi", the tale of the little inchling. Clark's research into the Edo period and her exquisite watercolors captures the charm and atmosphere of that time.

Ishii, Momoko. Issun Boshi, The Inchling: An Old Tale of Japan. Translated by Yone Mizuta. Illustrated by Fuku Akino. New York: Walker. 1967.
The retelling of the classic tale — a Japanese version of "Tom Thumb" — about a young man who saves a princess from demons and is granted his wish to be as tall as other men.

McCarthy, Ralph F. The Inch-High Samurai. Illustrated by Shiro Kasamatsu. Tokyo & New York: Kodansha International. 1993.
This is another adaptation of "Issun-boshi" the one inch man who saves princess from demons and appears as the fourth book in the publisher's series of children's classics.

Morimoto, Junko. The Inch Boy. New York: Viking Kestrel. 1986.
This is the legendary story of the little boy who faces many dangers as he battles the demon Onis.

Okawa, Etsusei. The Adventures of the One Inch Boy, Issun Boshi. Illustrated by Teruyo Endo. Translated by D. T. Ooka. Union City, CA: Heian International. 1985.
Another version of this famous tale.

MAGIC LISTENING CAP, HAT or EAR

Langston, Laura. The Magic Ear. Illustrated by Victor Bosson. Victoria, B.C.: Orca Book Publishers.1995.
A Canadian publication based on a Japanese folktale about an honest gardener who saves a small fish who is really a princess and receives a magic ear that helps him to understand the language of animals.

Wakana, Kei. The Magic Hat. New York: Scroll Press. 1970.
Translation of "Kiki mimi zukin", a well-known tale about a kindly poor man who saves a fox and is given a magic hat that gives him the ability to understand wildlife and thus save a rich man's daughter.

THE MOON PRINCESS or KAGUYA-HIME

Marton, Jirina. Lady Kaguya's Secret: Adapted from an Ancient Japanese Tale. Toronto: Annick Press. Distributed in Canada by Firefly Books. 1997.
A Canadian publication based on the legend of the "Kaguya-hime", a princess born in a bamboo grove who is really the "lady of the Moon".

McCarthy, Ralph F. The Moon Princess. Illustrated by Kancho Oda. Tokyo: Kodansha International. New York: Distributed in the United States by Kodansha America. 1993.
This is a well-loved tale about a young girl found in a bamboo by a kindly old bamboo cutter who grows up to be a wise and renowned beauty but must return to her real home. Kodansha Children's Classics series #2)

THE PEACH BOY or MOMOTARO

Shute, Linda. Momotaro, the Peach Boy: A Traditional Japanese Tale. New York: Lothrop, Lee & Shepard Books. 1986.
One of the oldest and most loved tales of the little boy born out of a peach who becomes a hero and battles the evil demon Oni.

Sierra, Judy. Tasty Baby Belly Buttons. Illustrated by Melon So. New York: Knopf. Distributed by Random House. 1999.
This is a modern variant of the classic tale of "Momotaro", or The Peach Boy but in this case it features a young girl names Urikohime who is born from a melon, battles the monstrous Oni who steal babies to eat their tasty belly buttons.

THREE STRONG WOMEN

Stamm, Claus. Three Strong Women: A Tall Tale from Japan. Illustrated by Kazue Mizumura. New York: Viking Press. 1962.
This is a retelling of a famous oral folktale handed down for generations about how a young sumo wrestler meets his match in three women, a daughter, mother and grandmother, he meets on his way to a tournament.

Stamm, Claus. Three Strong Women: A Tall Tale from Japan. Illustrated by Jean and Mousien Tseng. New York: Viking. 1990.
A newer version with different illustrators.

THE TONGUE-CUT SPARROW or SHITAKIRI SUZUME

Ishii, Momoko, 1907. The Tongue-cut Sparrow. Illustrated by Suekichi Akaba. Translated by Katherine Paterson. New York: Lodestar Books. 1987.
Using the 1908 retelling of "Shitakiri suzume" in which a kind old man and his greedy wife pay separate visits to the tongue-cut sparrow and receive gifts that they justly deserve.

McCarthy, Ralph F. The Sparrows' Inn. Illustrated by Choko Kamoshita. Tokyo & New York: Kodansha International. Distributed by Kodansha America. 1994.
The classic tale of a kind old man who helps an injured sparrow and is rewarded generously while his greedy wife gets what she deserves. (Also part of the Kodansha Children's Classic Series)

URASHIMA TARO

Goodman, Robert B. and Robert A. Spicer, adapters. Urashima Taro. Illustrated by George Squeaks. Edited by Ruth Tabrah. Norfolk Island, Australia & Honolulu Island. Heritage. 1973.
An adaptation of the classic Japanese tale of Urashima Taro who saves a turtle and finds himself in an underwater kingdom and the tragic consequences of his return to his own country.

Matsutani, Miyoko. The Fisherman Under the Sea. Illustrated by Chihiro Iwasaki. Translated by Alvin Tresselt. New York: Parents' Magazine Press. 1969.
Translation of "Urashima Taro", a young fisherman who saves a turtle and is invited to live in the Dragon Palace of the King of the Sea only to suffer tragic consequences.

WISE OLD WOMAN

East, Helen. Taro and His Grandmother: A Japanese Folktale. Illustrated by Kwan Shan Mei. Retold from an original by Chia Hern Chek. London: Macdonald. 1986. (Folktales from the Orient series).
This is a retelling of a wonderful tale about the wisdom of the elders in which a grandmother helps her grandson solve three riddles to save the village from the enemy. The sweet illustrations add a touch of humour and delight to the text.

Uchida, Yoshiko. The Wise Old Woman. Illustrated by Martin Springett. New York: M.K. McElderry Books. Toronto: Maxwell Macmillan Canada. New York: Maxwell Macmillan International. 1994.
This is a retelling of the intergenerational story about an old woman who demonstrates the value of her age when she solves a warlord's three riddles and saves her village from destruction.

Collected Tales For Children:

Kirollos, Samira. The Wind Children and Other Tales from Japan. Illustrated by Yukki Yaura. London: A. Deutsch. 1989.
This is a collection of eight unusual stories with black and white drawings and includes an excellent bibliography on Japanese folklore.

Marmur, Mildred. Japanese Fairy Tales. Illustrated by Benvenuti. New York: Golden Press. 1960.
This collection of nine famous folktales includes beautiful oriental-style illustrations.

Martin, Rafe. Mysterious Tales of Japan. Illustrated by Tatsuro Kiuchi. New York: Putnam. 1996.
A collection of ten familiar folktales that have a mysterious element to it such as the Green Willow; the Crane Maiden and more.

Nishimoto, Keisuke. Japanese Fairy Tales. Illustrated by Yoko Imoto. Translated by Dianne Ooka. Torrance, CA: Heian. 1998, 1999
A collection in two volumes of well-known Japanese tales each with five or six tales included in each and sweetly illustrated by Imoto. There is also a Note to Parents on how to capture a child's imagination through stories from Professor Nishimoto of Showa Woman's College.

Pratt, Davis. Magic Animals of Japan. Illustrated by Elsa Kula. Berkeley, CA: Parnassus Press 1967.
The author has selected and retold twelve tales of well-known animals and the artist has enhanced the stories using striking woodcuts.

Quayle, Eric. The Shining Princess and Other Japanese Legends. Illustrated by Michael Foreman. London: Andersen Press. Australia: Hutchinson. 1989.
This is a collection of ten famous folktales.

Sakade, Florence. Kintaro's Adventures and Other Japanese Children's Stories. Illustrated by Yoshio Hayashi. Rutland, VT: C.E. Tuttle. 1958
This collection includes six well-loved tales including the traditional story of "Kintaro, the King of the Forest".

Uchida, Yoshiko. The Dancing Kettle, and Other Japanese Folk Tales. Illustrated by Richard C. Jones. New York: Harcourt, Brace. 1949.
This is one of the first collections of fourteen familiar tales translated and adapted by the well-known Japanese American author Uchida with black and white drawings by Jones. A Glossary and Pronunciation guide is included. These are excellent for oral storytelling.

Watkins, Yoko Kawashima. Tales From the Bamboo Grove. Illustrated by Jean and Mou Sien Tseng. New York: Bradbury Press. Toronto: Maxwell Macmillan Canada. New York: Maxwell Macmillan International. 1992.
This is a personal collection of six folktales culled from the author's childhood memories.

Recommended Websites:

Folk Legends of Japan:
http://web-japan.org/kidsweb/folk/index.html
From the Kids Web Japan and the Japan Information Network. There is currently a collection of 18 classic stories you can read online with background music and animated movement.

Folktales from Japan:
http://www.pitt.edu/~dash/japan.html
Here is a list of eight folktales selected and edited by Professor D.L. Ashliman who conducts folklore research in Southern Utah. There is also a link to "Japanese Legends about Supernatural Sweethearts", a collection of seven stories.

Google Web Directory Japanese Folklore Sites:
http://directory.google.com/Top/Society/Folklore/Literature/Tales/Fairy_Tales/World_Tales/Japanese/
A great collection of websites to explore from the Google search engine's page.

Japanese Folk Tales:
http://japan.lisd./resources/jumppages/folktales.html
From Japan Online Project, there are more links to websites and lesson plans for teachers from K-12 on Japanese topics including Fairy Tales and Tall Tales.

 

Volume 10, Issue 2 The Looking Glass 2 April, 2006

Site design and content, except where noted, © The Looking Glass 2007.
"A Selected and Annotated Bibliography of Illlustrated Japanese Folktales"
© Yukiko Tosa, 2006.
Send general correspondence regarding The Looking Glass c/o The Editor.