Japanese Short Stories

Denden the snail is always late because he’s slow, and his friends laugh. When he misses the cake at a picnic, a ladybug helps the others understand. The next picnic is held right by Denden’s house, and the friends learn to wait for one another.

On Children’s Day (May 5), carp streamers fly in Haruto’s yard. The smallest blue carp is scared of the strong wind, but Father Carp reminds him that carp are brave fish said to swim up waterfalls and become dragons. The little carp swallows the wind and swims proudly across the sky.

After thousands of years of lighting the night, the tired Moon wishes for a night off. The stars offer to cover the sky and shine so brightly that children see the constellations like never before. Now the Moon rests once a month — the new moon.

Soma wants to give his grandfather a birthday present but has no allowance. He makes a handmade book of old photos and family memories and learns Grandpa’s favorite song on the recorder. His grandfather calls it the best gift of his life.

A hardworking old man’s rice ball rolls into a hole, and he hears a song from inside. He rolls another and tumbles in himself, discovering a land of mice who thank him for the tasty rice balls with a feast and a gift box full of gold coins. A classic Japanese folktale.