Myth and Folklore Blog

  Photo by  Dennis Buchner  on  Unsplash The Story of the Man Who Did Not Wish to Die :  Japanese Fairy Tales  by Yei Theodora Ozaki, with illustrations by Japanese artists (1905). Santana was nervous, she was departing on her first ever plane trip alone! Her father had recently moved to Hawaii and she was away at college and could not visit him. She had always been afraid of heights and so when she found out her dad was moving away, she knew it was going to be hard for her to see him. He knew she was iffy about coming, he probably thought she would not. It was his 50th birthday this weekend, and she knew she had to be there.  "Sorry if I seem so nervous, I grew up in California and we just drove everywhere. Never a need to fly haha. Just don't think I am freaking out.... I am totally fine." Santana giggled nervously to the man sitting next to her on the flight. He looked over at her and noticed she was talking. Taking out an AirPod he said, "Is this g...

Book Illustration The Goblin of Adachigahara Story source: Japanese Fairy Tales by Yei Theodora Ozaki Characters:  Cannibal Goblin- took the form of an old woman in Mutsu.  Priest- traveler needing a place to stay for the night Many travelers would disappear and never be heard of again. It was rumored that the place was haunted by a cannibal goblin. They whispered of the dreadful stories and did not dare to go near the dreadful spot at night. One day a buddhist pilgrim walked, and no one could warn him about the haunted spot. He was tired and needed a place to rest. He saw a cottage and stumbled over to it. He saw an old woman and called to her for a place to stay. She said she had no room to offer to him, but he insisted he would be fine sleeping on the floor. She was reluctant but said yes and offered him a poor welcome, but had rice.  The woman went out to fetch more firewood, and told the man to not make any noise and not to move at all. She told him to not go into...

Photo Source Story: Japanese Fairy Tales by Yei Theodora Ozaki, with illustrations by Japanese artists (1905). The Story of the Man Who Did Not Wish to Die Characters : Sentaro- His surname meant millionaire, but he was not that rich. He is scared of death. Shin-no-Shiko- He was the most able and powerful rulers in history. He built so many large palaces, the great wall of China and had everything. He then wanted the Elixir-of-Life to live forever. Jofuku- The Elixir-of-Life allowed for whoever drinks it to live forever. Sentaro had heard the story of it from history, and he felt the need to go on a quest. He asked a hunter he met where the elixir of life is held and where the hermits who kept it resided. The man could not help him. Sentaro went to the shrine to pray for 7 days. Jofuku appeared in a cloud and told Sentaro that his desire was selfish and not easy to grant. He believed Sentaro was not ready to live a hermits life since he was used to comfortable living. He answers the ...