Story #5 Urashima Taro

Urashima Taro was a skillful fisherman, but in his little seaside village, he was most known for his kind heart.  One day as he walking home to his parents, he saw a group of young boys tormenting a turtle.  They didn't try to hurt it, but Urashima could see the poor thing was frightened, flipped over on it's back and unable to escape.  He went to the boys and asked them to stop politely. Sadly, these boys didn't seem interested in being polite in return.  

Not wanting to yell at the boys, he instead offered to buy the turtle from them, and gave them as much money as he had in his pockets.  This wasn't a whole lot, but it sufficed, and the boys ran off toward the town to spend their new money.  Urashima stooped and picked up the turtle and placed it gently back into the water.  "There now, everything will be all right."  

Perhaps it was the fading light that played tricks on his eyes, but as the turtle swam away it seemed to smile, nodding it's head in thanks.

The next day he couldn't seem to catch anything as he fished, so gradually fell asleep in his boat while he waited.  When he opened his eyes, it was twilight and the moon had risen over the gently rippling waters.  Sore from sleeping in one spot for so long, he stretched and yawned...

And he gasped as he saw the most beautiful woman he'd ever seen in the water, next to his boat.  "Your name is Urashima Taro, isn't it?" she said softly, with a calming melodious voice.   Mutely, Urashima nodded, finding he could not remove his eyes from the exquisite lady floating so close to him.  Her robes and her hair drifted attractively around her, wafting with the waves.  She laughed at his wordless wonder, and her eyes sparkled in the moonlight. "Don't be afraid! Unknowing, yesterday when you saved that turtle, you saved me.  I was visiting this land as a turtle for a time; now I must return to my father's palace under the sea.  But I tarried to ask you," she said shyly, "if you would come with me." Finding his voice again, Urashima weakly protested.  "Please, I must show my gratitude!  Come to the Dragon Palace and receive my thanks." So Urashima agreed, and stepping onto the backs of the sea creatures she had brought, they slowly descended together to the bottom of the sea.  His surroundings got darker and more mysterious as they sank, yet Urashima could still make out a giant coral palace, and he was amazed to see little glistening fish darting here and there with speed and grace.  He was even more amazed to find he could breath freely as long as the Princess of the Sea held his hand. Once they entered, Urashima forgot all about his home and his parents who must have been missing him very much at that moment.  Awed by the size and splendor of the Dragon's Palace, he felt sure that it must be larger and more marvelous than the Emperor's palace itself!  They ate incredibly delicious food and the Princess spoke kindly and innocently about her life and all they would do.

The Turtle was actually a beautiful woman...

As days passed the Princess seemed ever more lovely to Urashima's eyes, yet he felt less and less worthy of her.  He had saved her life, but if that was his only qualification to be here, he wondered how long it was 'til he overstayed her father's welcome.  Urashima thought sadly that he could not keep up with her intelligent conversations and her charming elegance and refinement.  But most of all he missed his parents, and he knew they must be anxious over his disappearance.  In Japan the family is of utmost importance, and if he was not there to take care of his parents in their old age, who would?  

So after a week, as Urashima Taro sat in the garden with the Princess, he announced he wanted to go home.  

In dismay, the beautiful Princess begged, "Nay, don’t leave this place, it is better you stay here.  What shall we do today?"

Urashima wouldn’t be sidetracked. He persisted, “You are kind, but I fear I could never be like one the people of the sea.  I was born on land.” 

She looked ready to cry, and her voice wavered as she insisted that he stay.  “What could you do there that you can’t here?” 

Urashima didn’t dare look her in the eyes, but said firmly, “I can see the sun and moon, and the ocean from above the waves.  My parents need me.  No matter what you say I must return home.” 

Saddened but unable to argue, she gave Taro a little box made of mother-of-pearl and coral wrapped with a red silk cord. "Then please keep this as something to remember me by.  Please don't store things in this box, don't even open it!  Only look at it when you want to recall your time here."  And saying this, she prepared the way for him to leave.  

Well, Urashima's remaining doubts or worries evaporated when he finally stepped on firm ground again.  He had forgotten how bright and warm the sun was on his back, and how sweet flowers could smell!  He half-way ran into the village, grinning at the thought of his mother's confused and relieved face as she recognized her son.

But the hut he had shared with them was gone, and a different building stood in it's place.  Astonished, Urashima knocked and a strange woman answered the door.  "I'm sorry... but... I'm looking for Urashima Taro's house?"

"Eh?  I don't believe I know that name.  Unless you mean the poor fisherman who disappeared around these parts about 300 years ago.  My grandfather used to tell ghost-stories about him." The woman was joking, but as she spoke, Urashima's face underwent such a change that she asked him if he was all right.

Urashima nodded and wandered away, as if everything around him was a dream.  Indeed he wished it were.  Yet that woman spoke the truth, he felt the truth of her forthright words.   He sat down miserably on the shore, watching the gliding ocean waves, and mourned, "Why did I leave the Dragon's Palace?  I could have stayed there with her...  Why did I even go there in the first place!  My parents died alone, destitute, and I have failed them completely."

As the sun set on Urashima's grief, the light played on the surface of the dazzling box he held, and suddenly he thought to himself, "The Princess!  Of course!  She seemed so in love with me, and she knew all along what I would find upong going home.  So surely she has provided me a way to return to her side."  

Thinking this, he tugged at the tightly bound, delicate ribbon around the box, hoping to find a turtle inside that would carry him back to his Princess.  But when he opened the box, there was nothing inside but mist.  This cold, slight haze drifted around him and he breathed it, feeling his limbs become weak.  She had carefully preserved all 300 years that had passed inside the box, but it was already too late to close the box and change his fate.  Urashima died thinking of the Princess.