Japanese Folk Tales

Ever heard of this folk tale? The Japanese believe in it, and this is how the story goes...


Creeping slowly, I watched the boar step out from behind its hiding spot. It was hesitant, as if scared to be alone. I made my way toward the brown, horned creature with caution. If I made one sound, it would charge me. I waited for an opening...then struck with experience and strength.

I heaved the wild boar's carcass over my shoulder, and with a smile planted on my face, I confidently walked down the rough mountain side toward my home.

"Hoderi! I'm home!" I yelled, dumping the carcass where I usually did and walked around the house until I found my brother god outside roasting the many fishes he had caught.

I remained quiet as I sat beside my brother. Heavens knows how he gets if I interrupt him.

"Did you catch anything today Ho-ori?" He asked me, his eyes glued to the fishes.

"Yes. I caught a full grown boar. We are going to get a lot of meat from that one." I smiled, hoping that Hoderi would be proud. He was the opposite.

"You know, I am the oldest of this family...Don't you think I should have the greatest gift, your bow?" Hoderi asked, his voice laced with jealously.

I thought for a moment, then reached beside me to grab my bow.

"Here." I handed him it, hoping it would simply please him. It did. His eyes filled with delight and he snatched the bow from my hands.

Hoderi didn't say anything, only handed me his hook but I walked back into the house and hoped this wouldn't turn into a disaster.

The next day:

"Don't lose the hook Ho-ori!" My brother yelled after me as I walked toward the boat he uses to sail out to the vast and blue sea.

Ignoring him, I walked slightly faster, hoping this day would end sooner than later. The day seemed to drag, as if it wanted me to feel frustrated and angry. After making a decision to try one more time, I threw out the rod with an furious force. Suddenly, I felt the hook catch something and I began to tug. Slowly, the rod came up...without its hook.

"Hoderi is going to kill me!" I whispered feverishly as I made my way back to my family's home.

"I want my hook back! Your bow was useless to me! I missed the target every time!" Hoderi yelled, stomping into the house.

"You what?" Hoderi screeched at me as I rushed to tell him what happened.

"It was an accident! Honestly!" Mumbling, I looked at the floor, not brave enough to look at my fuming brother god.

"Oh the heavens are going to make you pay for this!" He said, and I could hear his heavy footsteps as he made his way into my room. He returned moments later with my favourite sword and making sure I was watching, gave me it, waiting for me to smash my precious sword to many pieces.

I was appalled at having to do so but being the obedient younger brother, I hastily made 500 hooks from my ruined sword.

"That's not good enough! I will kill you if you don't find that hook!" Hoderi hollered furiously.

"I-I will go look for it!" I suggested, simply wanting to get away from him before he lashed out his anger.

Hoderi looked up at me, glaring. I took that as I better find it and dashed out the door.

Sighing, I walked along the beach, trying to figure out how I was going to find the hook. I don't even remember where I was out in the sea!

Faintly, I heard someone clear their throat and I turned in the direction of the raspy sound.

"Hello there Ho-ori. You look stressed, frustrated even...Is something wrong?" The old man asked curiously. I didn't recognize the man, but I knew better than to be rude by lying and I had already looked at the man so I couldn't ignore him either.

"Hello," I said back, "I lost my brothers magic hook when I was out fishing..I don't even recall where I was when I lost it."

"I may just be an old man, but I bet you Watatsumi, the sea god, could help you find the hook." The pleasant man said with a wink.

"I think I will do just that!" I said with a smile. I felt like banging my hand against my forehead, the answer was quite simple.

"Good luck Ho-ori!" The little man yelled after me as I broke out into a run toward the sea.

"Thanks!" I called over my shoulder and I ran even faster.

(Under The Sea)

I stood at the foot of the step of stairs that lead up toward the entry of the under water palace. It never fails to shock me how gods can breathe underwater. I allowed myself to look around at all the beautiful fish and plants. It was breathe-taking. I chuckled at my joke but stopped when I heard a voice.

"Ho-ori? Is that you?" A voice asked politely.

I whisked my head up, looking at the person who apparently knows who I am.

"Hello...A-Are you Toyotama-hime?" I asked. I was so struck by the woman's beauty that I stuttered on my words and stumbled when I walked up the steps toward her.

She smiled and it reminded me of white pearls. Her black hair was flowing behind her and I had to remind myself that it wasn't the wind.

"Yes. What brings you here?" Toyotama-Hime ( also known as Otohime) answered, clutching her robe.

"I-I...I don't remember." I said, and wrinkles appeared across my forehead, indicating that I was trying to think of why I had come.

"Oh, well why don't you stay a while and meet my father? He will be so pleased to see you." Otohime suggested, obviously hoping I would say yes. And so I said exactly that.

(Three years later)

"Watatsumi?" I asked, approaching my father-in-law. I had married Otohime shortly after I had met her because, well I was completely smitten with her.

"Yes Ho-ori?" He asked me, looking at me with growing interest.

"The other night I remembered why I came down to this palace." I hesitated then continued. "I had lost my brother Hoderi's hook. He threatened to kill me if I didn't find it."

Watatsumi patted my shoulder and then lead me toward a tiny box. He opened it carefully and took out two jewels. I immediately acknowledged that those rocks were the tide rising and tide lowering jewels.

"I'm going to send all the fishes I can to find your brothers hook. And if you have no objections, I am also going to curse the hook so that whoever the user is, they have very bad luck." Watatsumi said with a mischievously look in his eyes. I nodded my head vigorously, which resulted in my shiny black hair to fall into my eyes.

"Sounds great to me." I agreed.

I paced the palace hallways as I waited for the fish to find the magic hook. Fortunately, I didn't have to wait long. The fish soon came with the hook and I kissed Otohime on the cheek gingerly.

"I'll be back soon." I promised her and she kissed me back, telling me to be careful.

(Back at the Brothers family house.)

"Hoderi!" I yelled as I stepped into the house. Nothing seemed to have changed much.

"Ho-ori?" My brother asked, and stepped into my view. His eyes grew angry and he walked toward me and I back away until I found that I was now on the shore of the beach.

"Give me back my hook!" He screamed and tackled me.

I commanded the tide raising jewel to work and I found my brother was now off me, drowning.

"Pl-please, save me!" I heard Hoderi gurgle.

I immediately lowered the tides, not able to kill my brother. I watched as the waves placed him down with a solid thud. Hoderi started to cough, thanking me hoarsely for saving his life.

"I promise that from now on, I and my descendants will forever serve you and your family.” Hoderi vowed, and I tossed him his hook.

"I'm going to keep you to your word." I said and made my way back to the under water palace to my wife and family.

The end.

　
A little tidbit: Hoderi's descendants kept their ancestor Hoderi's vow. It's said that they are the Hayato who guard the palace to this day.