Favorite Japanese Folktales?

Question

Japan has so many different kinds of folktales (fun, scary, strange, romantic, etc), I'm just curious to know what specific story you like the best and why?

Answer 1

I like Momotaro, the story of the childless couple who come upon a little boy who popped out of a peach.

I think I like it because my mom used to read it to me in Japanese when I was little, also because the story is so bizarre. Where did that idea come from?

Answer 2

My favorite is "Saru Kani Gassen" or in english, "The Battle of the Monkey and the Crab".

I love that story because the mean monkey gets his butt kicked at the end. I know just by reading or hearing about a crab and a monkey it's a bit comical and enjoyable but if you replace that with actual human beings, you end up with a mafia movie-esque revenge story. Pretty cool if you ask me.

Here's the sing song version.
http://www.nis.atr.jp/~ray/stories/sarukani.html

Here's a summary of the story. Bad grammer though.
http://www.sarudama.com/japanese_folklore/monkeyandcrab.shtml

Answer 3

Urashima Taro and his visit to the bottom of the sea.

But I generally like the more ghostly or bloody ones like:

Raiko and the Tsugummi(?) spider

I've always liked the tale of Yuki-Onna: the snow woman who personifies the deadly winter but still has a tender heart.

Hoichi the Earless is another favorite. He was a blind biwa player who believed he was playing his songs of the old Gempei War to a gathered group of nobles but it turned out to be otherwise.

Answer 4

am i able to do one from each and each and every of my fav animes? complete Moon wo Sagashite eternal Snow-route L version Ouran severe college Host club Bokura no Love form Mermaid Melody Legend of Mermaid