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BROMWELL ELEMENTARY SCHOOL (214) Telephone: Mr. Jonathan Wolfer, Principal |
Japanese Animal TalesThis is a play I wrote for my students in the fall 2006. It was inspired by our studies with Mr. Chad Patterson, my student teacher who had spent several years in Japan. INTRODUCTION Narrator 1: The ancient island of Japan is home to many myths and legends. Many of these old stories tell of the magical qualities of animals... Narrator 2: Their beauty and wisdom, their courage and devotion. Narrator 1: Even the smallest and most insignificant animals may have something important to teach in a Japanese folk tale. THE CRANE WIFE Narrator 2: One of the most famous of the stories is the story of the crane wife. It is the story of a poor sail-maker, Osamu, who rescued a beautiful crane from a storm. Narrator 1: The crane, of course, is one of the most lovely of all birds, with its long curved neck, and its mighty white wings, and its beautiful black shining eyes. Narrator 2: The storm passed. Once the crane was healed, it flew away. But the next day a mysterious woman came to Osamu and married him. Osamu: Who are you? Where have you come from? Yukiko: I cannot answer your questions. But I can weave magic sails for you, and when you sell them, you will become rich. Osamu: Magic sails? Yukiko: You must only promise never to look at me while I work. Osamu: I promise! Narrator 1: It happened just as the woman foretold. From the privacy of her room, she wove magic sails. In the village, the sails were sold for gold. Narrator 2: They were rich and happy. But Osamu could not contain his curiosity. One day he peered into the room where his wife worked... Narrator 1: There was the crane he had saved from the storm! It was weaving its own feathers into the sail! Osamu: Wife? Narrator 2: There was a cry, and a rush of the wind. The crane flew away, and Osamu never saw it again. Narrator 1: Osamu the sail-maker made his own sails once more. He never married. He often spent his time watching the birds from his window, waiting for another storm to come. Narrator 2: This story has taught Japanese children for hundreds of years that they must honor their promises, and keep their word. Narrator 1: It teaches us all that even in the family, we must respect the privacy of others. THE GIFT OF THE TANUKIS Narrator 1: Many animals are helpful in Japanese folk tales, but some are full of tricks. Narrator 2: Long ago, in Namekata in Hitachi, an old priest lived alone in his hut. He spent all his time praying to Buddha. Narrator 1: One winter, there was a knock at his door. Tanuki 1: Let me in, Holy One! Please let me in! I am so very cold! I am chilled to the bone! Tanuki 2: Let me in, too! I will surely freeze to death out here in the snow! Tanuki 3: What about me? What about me? Priest: Why, you are all tanukis! Narrator 2: Tanukis are a bit like dogs and a bit like raccoons. Narrator 1: They are magical creatures, famous for their mischief. Tanuki 1: Yes, I am a tanuki! A cold tanuki! Tanuki 2: What about me? Tanuki 3: What about me? Tanukis: What about me? What about me? What about meeee? Priest: Now, now! I must admit that I am somewhat reluctant to allow you into my home, but I am even more reluctant to have you all perish in the snow. Come in! Tanukis: Thank you, thank you! Narrator 1: Every night that winter, the tanukis came into the priest’s hut for warmth. The tanukis had many tricks to share, and the priest enjoyed these very much. Narrator 2: This went on during every winter for ten years. Then... Tanuki 1: Holy One, every winter for ten years you have shared your home with us, and we want to repay you for your kindness. If you had not taken us in, we surely would have died. Is there anything in the world that you would want? Tanuki 2: Anything at all? Tanuki 3: Please tell me! Tanukis: Tell me! Tell me! Tell meeeee! Priest: Now, now. I am a priest, little ones. There is nothing in the world that I want, nothing at all. Tanuki 1: Something out of the world, then? Tanuki 2: Anything? Tanuki 3: Anything? Tanukis: Anything? Anything? Anything?.... Tell me! Tell me! Tell meeeeeee! Priest: Well... some say that if a priest is given three small riyo, the smallest pieces of gold, he can enter the Paradise of the West. Tanuki 1: That is how we shall repay you, then! Narrator 1: The tanukis did not appear the next night, or the next... Narrator 2: Or the next night, or the next after that. Narrator 1: The tanukis were gone all winter. Priest: I was so foolish to ask the tanukis for three riyo! Perhaps they became lost trying to find the coins. Perhaps they were killed trying to steal them! Oh, I miss their company... Narrator 1: Summer came, and then the next winter. Narrator 2: And there was a knock on the door of the priest’s hut. Priest: Tanukis! You’re back! Where did you go? What happened to you three? Where have you been for so long? Tanuki 1: Holy One, please don’t be mad at us. We went to steal your gold, but then we knew you wouldn’t want gold that was stolen. Tanuki 2: So we waited by the gold mines of Sado and gathered up the tiniest bits of gold that the miners tossed aside. Tanuki 3: Finally we had enough for your three coins. Priest: Oh, Little Ones, I was wrong to ask for gold! Tanuki 1 & 2: Wrong? What do you mean? Tanuki 3: Priests are never wrong! Priest: But I was. When you left, I realized that I didn’t really want gold. You had already given me the gift I wanted. Tanuki 1: What gift? Tanuki 2: We don’t understand! Priest: You have come back, and now once again I have the gift of your friendship. That is all I really wanted. Tanuki 3: You priests sure have a funny way of thinking about things. Priest: Let us take these three gold pieces to the children in the village, and then you can show me more of your tricks! Narrator 1: This tale helps us remember that friendship is the greatest gift of them all. Narrator 2: And that our greatest friends are not always who we think they are. THE BEE AND THE DREAM Narrator 1: All animals are worthy of respect. Even a tiny insect can bring wisdom or good fortune in Japanese folk tales. Narrator 2: There is an old saying, “When you see a bee fly from someone’s nose, good fortune will be yours.” Here is how that happened once... Shin: I am Shin, a poor wood-gatherer. Yes, that’s me! Yuki: And I am Yuki, his wife. Tasuke: Come, Shin, let us go up the mountain to gather our cedar branches. Shin: That’s my friend Tasuke. Every day we go up the mountain to collect firewood, and every night we sell our wood in the marketplace. Yuki: Well, get started then! Go on with you! Tasuke: Ha! Yes, let’s not be late! Shin: Yes, yes, I am coming! Yes, yes... Narrator 1: The two worked all morning and then rested. Narrator 2: And while they rested Shin heard a very strange thing... Tasuke: Snorkkkt, gnah-snorkt! Ghork, ghork... Snorkkkt! Narrator 1: It was Tasuke snoring. Narrator 2: And then Shin saw a very, very strange thing... Narrator 1: A bee flew out of Tasuke’s nose! Shin: Aaah! Tasuke! Wake up! A bee just flew out of your nose! Tasuke: You must be joking! Ha! I felt nothing different. I did have a strange dream, though... I dreamt that there is a lost treasure buried in the garden of the richest man in Naniwa. It is right underneath a small pine tree. Shin: Surely, you are meant to go to Naniwa and find this treasure! Tasuke: Ha! That is nonsense! Shin: It is not! You should believe in your dreams! Yes, yes, you should! Tasuke: Shin, if you believe in dreams so much, you can have mine. It is my gift to you. Ha! Shin: No, no, no... but here, take this riyo. I will pay for your dream. It is all I have, but when I come back with the treasure I will pay you more. Yes, I will, yes. Tasuke: Ha! What foolishness! Narrator 1: Shin told his wife what had happened... Yuki: What? You bought a dream? You are so foolish! Why did I ever marry you? Hhhmph! Narrator 2: And then Shin went to visit Taro, the richest man in Naniwa, and told him of the dream... Taro: Ha ha ha ha ha! You foolish peasants will believe anything! Pshaw! Go to my kitchen and have some tea before you make your way home again. Ha ha ha ha! Narrator 1: But Taro was more interested in the dream than he revealed. Taro: Hist! Servants! Make haste! Over here! Now, dig under this little pine tree! Hurry! Servant 1: Yes, my lord! Servant 2: We’re digging as fast as we can! Servant 3: What is this? Servant 4: There is a jar buried here, master! Taro: That must be it! Quick! Quick! Lift it out, open it! Servants: Aaaaaaaah! It is full of bees! Ow, ow! Taro: Aaaaah! Ow, ow! You foolish servants! Ow! Narrator 2: Shin made his way home, preparing to apologize for his foolishness. Shin: I am such a disgrace, yes... yes... I hope Yuki will forgive me for my stupidity, yes... yes... Yuki: Husband! I’ve been waiting and waiting for you! Something has happened! Shin: Oh, no! Now what? I am so foolish, surely misfortune follows me wherever I go! Yuki: An hour ago, a swarm of bees flew into our house! The noise was like thunder. I thought the walls would fall down. I ran outside and hid behind a tree. Shin: Oh, my! Yuki: When it was finally quiet, I crept back inside... and look what I found! Gold! GOLD! Shin: Yes, yes... Yes! Tasuke: Ha! What is happening now? Shin: Here, my friend, this is yours - half the treasure! Tasuke: Shin, from now on I will tell you every dream I ever have! Um, do I have any more bees up there? Or a caterpillar? Anything? Anything? Narrator 1: Dreams are important. Dreams can even be shared. Narrator 2: But no one can take away your own good fortune. THE MELON PRINCESS AND THE TASTY BABY BELLY BUTTONS Narrator 1: Animals are important, because all livings creatures deserve our respect. Japanese legends teach us that practicing this respect is a source of great joy. Narrator 2: Another source of joy is doing good in the world. Here is an old legend about both of these ideas... Narrator 1: Once upon a time, in the Shimane prefecture, there lived an old man and an old woman who longed for a child of their own. Old Woman: Come, Dog! Ah.... if only we had a child! I would teach my child how to cook the best millet dumplings in Japan, the kibi-dango. I used to be a very good cook when I was young, you know! Old Man: Yes, if only we had a child! I could teach my child to protect people who are weak and helpless. I used to be a fine swordsman when I was young, yes indeed! Dog: Grrrrr! Old Woman: But now we are old... There is nothing for me to do but go down to the river to wash our clothes. Sigh! Old Man: And nothing for me to do but work in the fields. Sigh! Dog: Sigh! Narrator 2: One day, as the old woman washed their clothes in the river, she saw a strange sight. A melon came floating along, tsunbara, tsunbara. She fished the melon out of the river and took it to her husband. Old Woman: Husband! Look at this melon I have found in the river! Old Man: How delicious! Let’s eat it immediately. Stand back and I will cut it in two! Dog: Arf! Arf! Uriko: Boro, boro! Old Woman: Wait! Did you hear what I heard? Dog: Whine!... Uriko: Boro, boro! Narrator 1: The old man and the old woman opened the melon carefully with their hands and within they found a baby girl. It was the child they had always longed for! Narrator 2: They named her Uriko-hime, which means “Melon Princess.” Uriko: Waaaah! Old Man: I will teach you how to use a sword! Old Woman: I will teach you how to cook dumplings! Uriko: Waaaah! Old Woman & Old Man: Awwwww! Narrator 1: By the time she was five years old, Uriko had become both a good cook and an accomplished swordswoman. Narrator 2: One day her parents took her to visit the nearby village. Old Man: No matter how good you are with a sword, you must watch out for the oni! They live in a great castle on the terrible island of Onigashima. They are huge giants who steal children... They’re dangerous! Old Woman: As good as my dumplings are, they like eating children better! They love to eat little baby bellybuttons. And they may even eat dogs, too! Dog: Yipe! Uriko: Then I will have no fear! Since I was born in a melon, I have no bellybutton. Old Woman: We must still be careful! (The village comes to life around them. People strolling, merchants selling, children playing... suddenly a woman screams and runs into the scene.) Woman: The oni! The oni are coming! (Everyone screams and tries to run... but it is too late. The oni burst forward, stampeding through the village, knocking people down and grabbing the children) Oni: Tasty Baby Belly Buttons! Tasty Baby Belly Buttons! Zushin, zushin! Tasty Baby Belly Buttons! Zushin, zushin! (They come upon Uriko but then leave her behind, much to her shame. They leave the village, and gradually people begin to recover. They weep, and console each other, and stumble off. There is a moment of silence.) Uriko: Mother, father, I am grateful for the love and care you have given me. But now I feel that I must leave home. Father, I will need your best sword. Mother, I will need a sack of your best dumplings, your kibi-dango. Dog, I will need your company. I must go to the terrible island of Onigashima... Old Woman: Oh no! Uriko: ...and vanquish the oni... Old Man: No, no, no! Uriko: ...and save the poor children who were stolen for their belly buttons. Dog: Awooooo! Old Man and Old Woman: But, but, but, but... Uriko: Waaaah! Old Man and Old Woman: Okay, okay, all right, okay... Narrator 1: So Uriko set out, with her father’s best sword and her mother’s best dumplings, and her dog at her side. Narrator 2: They marched down toward the sea, tontoko, tontoko... until they came to a beautiful, wide meadow. Pheasant: Tkaaaaa! How dare you pass through my meadow without asking permission! Now you will face my sharp claws and my swift beak! Dog: Arf! Arf! We will go where we please! I will bite you into little pieces! Uriko: Stop, stop! We are going to Onigashima to rescue the little babies. We could use a fierce companion such as yourself. If you will join us, we will share our dumplings with you! Pheasant: Ken, ken, ken, ken.... mmm! Kibi-dango! Yes, I will join you! Narrator 1: And so they marched along the path, tontoko, tontoko... Narrator 2: Then they came to a dark forest. Monkey: Raaaaaa! How dare you cross through my forest without asking permission! I will have to teach you a lesson! Pheasant: Tkaaaaa! You can try, but you will fail! Dog: Arf, arf! I am mightier than either of you! Uriko: Stop, stop! We are going to Onigashima to rescue the little babies. We could use a fierce companion such as yourself. If you will join us, we will share our dumplings with you! Monkey: Kya, kya, kya, kya... mmm! Kibi-dango! Yes, I will join you! Uriko: Good! Then I am a general, and you are my three soldiers! Narrator 1: And so they marched along, tontoko, tontoko... Narrator 2: But the three animals often fell to quarreling. Dog, Pheasant, Monkey: Arf! Tkaa! Raaa! Uriko: Now look here, you three! How can we be an army if we cannot get along? Please put aside your differences! If we are not united, we will not defeat the oni or save the babies... Dog, Pheasant, Monkey: Mmmmm... Uriko: And I will not share any more dumplings with you! Dog, Pheasant, Monkey: Oh! We are sorry! You are right! We are so ashamed! Narrator 1: They learned to get along just in time. Narrator 2: For soon they found themselves by the sea. Uriko: What do we do now? Dog: I have sniffed out a small boat we can use... Monkey: I can hear the oni chanting, far across the waves... Oni: Tasty Baby Belly Buttons! Tasty Baby Belly Buttons! Zushin, zushin! Tasty Baby Belly Buttons! Zushin, zushin! Pheasant: I can fly high above the water, to guide the way! Narrator 1 and 2: And so they set off across the waves. Pheasant: I can see a gigantic iron castle, high on a cliff! Monkey: And I can hear the oni... Oni: Tasty Baby Belly Buttons! Tasty Baby Belly Buttons! Zushin, zushin! Tasty Baby Belly Buttons! Zushin, zushin! Dog: And I can hear the babies... Babies: Waaaah! Uriko: Oh! We must hurry, and find a place to land our boat, before it is too late! Narrator 1: The oni were indeed preparing for their great oni feast. Narrator 2: The red oni danced, and then the green oni danced. Narrator 1: Then the little babies were brought out, all tied together. Oni: Tasty Baby Belly Buttons! Tasty Baby Belly Buttons! Zushin, zushin! Tasty Baby Belly Buttons! Zushin, zushin! Babies: Waaah! Oni: GROWL! Babies: Waaah. Oni: Tasty Baby Belly Buttons! Tasty Baby Belly Buttons! Zushin, zushin.... Uriko: I command you to give the babies to us! Oni: Whaaaa? Babies: Whaaaa? Uriko: Run for your lives, or surrender immediately! The babies are mine! Chief Oni: Who dares speak to us in such an insulting way? Show yourself! Uriko: I dare! I am the great general Uriko-hime, and this is my army. Dog, Pheasant, Monkey: Arf! Tkaa! Raaa! Uriko: We are taking the babies back to their parents, and if you try to stop us, you’ll be sorry! Chief Oni: Who is it? Who is talking so rudely? Oh! There you are! Big words for someone so small! Oni: Ha ha ha! Chief Oni: Come up here! I will crush you like an ant! Uriko: Fine! Now then... Dog, Pheasant, Monkey: Grrrrrr... Chief Oni: Uh, oh! Oni! Save me! Oni: (agressively) Zushin. zushin, zushin! Uriko: Attack, my soldiers! Narrator 1: The dog raced around and nipped at the oni’s toes, and when they tried to bash her with their mighty clubs, they hit their own feet instead! Narrator 2: The monkey punched the oni’s great bellies, and when they tried to knock her down, they hit each other instead! Narrator 1: The pheasant flew into their faces and struck at their eyes, but when they tried to club her, they knocked each other out! Narrator 2: Uriko was a tremendous fighter, too, of course. She set the babies free and then came up against the chief oni. Uriko: We have won! Animals, babies: Hurrah! Oni: (mournfully) Zushin, zushin... Uriko: If you promise never to bother us again, you may remain on your island – and I will also give you these millet dumplings. Oni: Mmmmmm! Chief Oni: They’re even better than baby belly buttons! Narrator 1: Uriko and her soldiers took the babies back to their parents. Babies: Wee! Ha ha! Villagers: Our babies! Babies: Waaaah! Villagers: Awwww! Narrator 2: Uriko and her soldiers returned to the home of Uriko’s parents and lived happily there. Dog, Monkey, Pheasant: Mmm! Kibi-dango! Narrator 1: The oni never bothered anyone ever again. But sometimes the oni could still be heard, far across the waves... Oni: Tasty Baby Belly Buttons! Zushin, zushin! Uriko: Ahem! Oni: Sorrrry... Narrator 2: And so that is the story of Uriko-hime, her three soldiers... Narrator 1: And the green oni, and the red oni... All: And the Tasty Baby Belly Buttons! Back to Mr. R's Portfolio or back to A-6: Mr. Replogle's Fourth Grade Classroom |
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