2016

This is the story of the Japanese folktale “Urashima Taro”.

Once upon the time, the man called Taro helped a sea turtle which was bullied by the children in his neighborhood at the sea shore.

Then the turtle asked Taro to visit the palace in the deep sea.

Taro agreed and went with the sea turtle.

At the palace there was a very beautiful princess, her name is Otohime.

Taro was entertained with delicious foods he had never seen before and wonderful dances of fish.

He had a great time.

One day Taro realized that he had to go home, and this made princess Otohime very sad.

Princess Otohime gave Taro a box as a souvenir, saying “Never open this box.”

When he got back to the sea shore, he broke the promise with princess Otohime and opened the box.

White smoke coming out from the box, Taro instantly became old man with a white hair.

Now I have two questions from this story.

Why did princess Otohime give Taro a box?

What does it mean that Taro became white hair old man?

Let’s solve these mysteries!

Let’s start with princess Otohime.

Taro was the first ever man she fell in love with.

She didn’t want to leave Taro because he was like husband to her.

But he decides to go home despite her feeling.

So princess Otohime gives Taro a box with her wish that he comes back here again in the palace without opening the box.

Although Taro had too much curiosity, he could not resist not to open the box.

Here is my guess!

Becoming white hair old man means he lost his function as a man.

Taro could not go back to the palace no matter how strongly princess Otohime wished.

Poor princess Otohime!

She must be so upset, shedding her tears.

OK! I go to the palace instead of Taro.

Now I ride on the turtle, and head to the palace where princess Otohime waits.

Last December, I became 77 years old.

77 years old man but I never give up!

“Taro” Yamanaka is on his way with “The challenge for the No.1 in the world!”

Happy ever after!