Written by Natsuko Hama
Illustrated by Youhei Yokoyama
A long time ago, there was a fisherman named Urashimataro who fished by the sea every day.
However, one day he could not catch any fish.
“Why can’t I catch any fish?” As he uttered those words, he felt a tug on his fishing line.
“Huh?”
Using all his strength, he pulled a big turtle out of the sea.
Urashimataro decided to let it go.“Dear Mr.Turtle. Please go back to the sea and live a happy life.”
The next day, he could not catch any fish.
Suddenly, there was a voice saying “Urashima-san, Urashima-san.” It was that big turtle.
“I am a messenger from the princess of the Dragon Palace. I will take you there. Please, climb on my shell."
As Urashimataro rode on the turtle's back, it dove deeper and deeper into the sea.
Finally, they could see the shining Dragon Palace twinkling ahead.
There were many dancing fish.
“Look, the sea bream and flatfish are all happy to welcome you.”
The turtle then took Urashimataro into the Dragon Palace.
Urashimataro was welcomed by a princess, the prettiest princess he had ever seen.
“Sir Urashimataro. Thank you very much for helping the turtle. Please make yourself at home.”
Urashimataro spent many happy days with the princess.
Soon three years passed.
6One day, Urashimataro suddenly remembered his mother.
He suddenly wished to return home.
The princess brought him a beautiful box.
“This is a treasure box.” “A treasure box?”
“Yes. Please do not open this box if you want to return here.”
Riding on the turtle’s back, Urashimataro returned home and was shocked.
His house was gone.
Just then, an old woman passed him by.
“Where is the house of Urashimataro?” Urashimataro asked her.
The old woman thought for a moment, and said
“I heard a story about Urashimataro, who never returned from the sea. But, it was three hundred years ago.”
“What? Three hundred years ago?”
Urashimataro was so astonished that he did not know what to do.
“Well, here is the box, that's right. I have the box.”
Urashimataro gently opened the treasure box.
As he did so, a cloud of white smoke poured out of the box.
Urashimataro became an old man with his hair and eyebrows all in white.
おくづけ
「うらしまたろう」英語
文:浜 なつ子
絵:よこやま ようへい
翻訳:武部好子
朗読:ステファニー佐久間
音楽:秋山裕和
企画:にほんごの会くれよん
制作:多言語絵本の会RAINBOW
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