Japanese Tales / Momotaro, or the Story of the Son of a Peach

In the distant past, resided an elderly man and woman, both of whom were peasants and labored tirelessly to procure their sustenance. The aged man used to go and harvest grass for neighboring farmers, leaving his spouse, the elderly woman, to attend to household chores and toil in their modest rice paddies.

On a particular day, the elderly man proceeded to the verdant hills, as was his custom, to harvest grass while his companion, the elderly woman, traversed to the nearby river with a bundle of garments to cleanse them.

The season was almost summer, and the pastoral landscape was a sight to behold in its lush, verdant splendor as the elderly duo made their way to their respective duties. The verdure on the banks of the waterway resembled a lush emerald fabric, and the soft tassels of the pussy willows swayed gently along the river's edge.

The gentle breezes wafted through the air, causing ripples to form on the placid surface of the water, and in their passage, they caressed the cheeks of the elderly pair. For some inexplicable reason, the couple felt an intense joy that morning.

The elderly woman eventually discovered a picturesque spot alongside the riverbank and gently set down her basket. Thereafter, she diligently commenced her task of laundering the clothing, selecting each garment from the basket, washing it in the crystal-clear waters of the river, and rubbing it against the smooth stones that lay along the riverbank. She observed the tiny fish as they darted back and forth beneath the surface, and the pebbles at the riverbed were visible due to the clarity of the water.

While engrossed in her laundry duties, a mammoth peach came hurtling down the stream and caught the attention of the elderly woman. The woman, who had already spent six decades on this earth, had never before laid eyes on such an enormous peach.

"How delectable that peach must be!" she mused to herself. "I absolutely must acquire it and take it home to my elderly husband."

She outstretched her arm in an attempt to grasp the peach, but it was far beyond her reach. Scanning her surroundings for a stick, she soon realized that there was none to be found. She contemplated searching for a stick, but that would inevitably result in the loss of the giant peach.

Taking a brief pause to ponder her next course of action, she recollected an ancient incantation. Commencing a rhythmic clapping of her hands in sync with the rolling peach downstream, she sang the following melody:

"Distant waters, bitter be

The nearer ones, so sweet to see

Bygone the distant waters, free

Come hither, and indulge in the sweet."

Oddly enough, the moment she commenced to chant the charming refrain, the fruit gradually drew closer and closer to the bank where the elderly woman was positioned, until ultimately it ceased its movement altogether, settling itself directly before her so that she could retrieve it effortlessly. Ecstatic and overjoyed, the old woman could scarcely contain herself, and she became too elated and distracted to continue with her laundering duties. Hence, she collected her garments, replacing them within her woven bamboo basket, and with the basket positioned securely on her back and the peach clasped firmly in her hand, she hastened homewards with great haste.

The passing time felt interminable to her until her husband's return. As the sun began to dip below the horizon, the old man appeared, almost obscured by the enormous bundle of grass he carried on his back. The bundle was so large that he leaned heavily on his scythe, using it as a walking stick, looking incredibly fatigued.

As soon as the old woman set her eyes on him, she let out a cry:

"Dearest husband, I have been eagerly anticipating your arrival for a considerable amount of time today!"

"Tell me, what ails thee? Why art thou so restless?" inquired the elderly man, marveling at his spouse's uncharacteristic impatience. "Hath any mishap befallen us during my absence?"

"Oh, no!" replied the elderly woman, "nothing has occurred. However, I have chanced upon a delightful gift for you!"

"That is well," responded the old man, as he proceeded to cleanse his feet in a basin of water before making his way up to the veranda.

The elderly woman hurried into the small room and retrieved the large peach from the cupboard. It felt even weightier than before, and she held it up to her husband as she spoke:

"Behold this marvel! Have you ever beheld such a colossal peach in all your days?"