Japanese Fairy Tales
Japanese Fairy Tales is a collection of Japanese fairy tales and fables compiled and adapted to Western culture by Yei Theodora Ozaki. Originally published in 1903, it consists of a total of twenty-two tales.
The book gathers some of the main fables and legends of Japan, transmitted orally between generations. Among them, some stand out such as The Goblin of Adachigahara, The Mirror of Matsayuma, or The Ogre of Rashamon.
Both for fans of Japanese culture and for lovers of legends, Japanese Fairy Tales offers a pleasant reading because it is adapted to Western audiences without losing its original charm.
It is, therefore, a good starting point for an introduction to Japanese culture and a better understanding of the values of that society.
"Long, long ago there lived, in Japan a brave warrior known to all as Tawara Toda, or "My Lord Bag of Rice." His true name was Fujiwara Hidesato, and there is a very interesting story of how he came to change his name."
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Public domain (US)·No sign-up·DRM-free·Real text, not scans
Copyright note. Japanese Fairy Tales by Yei Theodora Ozaki is believed to be in the public domain in the United States only. It may still be copyrighted in other countries. If you are not in the United States, please check your local laws to ensure this eBook is in the public domain in your country before downloading Japanese Fairy Tales in PDF or EPUB.
- Pages
- 187
- Reading time
- 5 hours 55 minutes
- Pace
- Intermediate
- First published
- 1903
- Language
- English
- Downloads
- 6,289
123 years later, still timely
Why Read Japanese Fairy Tales in 2026?
Crane wives, peach boys, moon princesses—Ozaki’s retellings are clear, musical, and close to the hearth. The moral world feels luminous rather than preachy.
Today's connection
Read across cultures with respect: these tales carry values—duty, kindness, wit—that travel beautifully to shared family time.
Folklore sparkle
Kitsune, kami, courage.
Family read
Stories that gather everyone.
Cultural bridge
Learn by delight.
Share this book
About the author
Yei Theodora Ozaki
Graceful retellings of Japanese tales that travel across languages with care.
If this one stays with you…
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The Marvelous Land of OzL. Frank Baum
From Japanese Fairy Tales
But, alas! in this world nothing lasts forever. Even the moon is not always perfect in shape, but loses its roundness with time, and flowers bloom and then fade.
The red bream, the flounder, the sole, the cuttlefish, and all the chief vassals of the Dragon King of the Sea now came out with courtly bows to welcome the stranger.
There is an old proverb that 'As the sword is the soul of a samurai, so is the mirror the soul of a woman,' and according to popular tradition, a woman's mirror is an index to her own heart—if she keeps it bright and clear, so is her heart pure and good.
Union amongst ourselves is better than any earthly gain. When we are not at peace amongst ourselves it is no easy thing to subdue an enemy.
Her patience and goodness were rewarded at last.