One Japanese old story is 'Momotaro'. It is about a boy named Momotaro who was born from a large peach. He decided to go on an adventure to defeat the demons on the island of Onigashima. He was joined by a dog, a monkey and a pheasant. Together they fought bravely against the demons and finally returned home victorious, often seen as a story about courage and teamwork.
The story of Urashima Taro is also very famous. Urashima Taro was a kind fisherman. One day he saved a turtle. In return, the turtle took him to the underwater Dragon Palace. He had a wonderful time there but when he left and returned to his village, he found that many years had passed and everything had changed. It is a story that reflects on the passage of time.
One famous old Japanese love story is 'The Tale of Genji'. It was written by Murasaki Shikibu in the 11th century. It mainly focuses on the life and loves of Prince Genji. Genji had many romantic relationships with different women, from his first love with Fujitsubo to his later affairs. The story also gives a detailed view of the Heian period's court life, including the elaborate ceremonies, clothing, and social hierarchies. It is considered a masterpiece of Japanese literature and provides a deep understanding of love and relationships in the context of Japanese culture at that time.
I'm not sure which specific 'the old sailor Japanese story' you mean. There could be many Japanese stories involving old sailors. Some might be about their adventures at sea, like facing storms or encountering mysterious sea creatures.
There is also the story of 'The Crane Wife'. A poor man once saved a crane. Later, a beautiful woman came to his house and became his wife. She would weave beautiful cloth to sell, but she had a condition that he must not watch her while she weaved. One day, out of curiosity, he peeked and saw that she had turned back into a crane, plucking her own feathers to weave. She then left him as he had broken the promise.
There was this old man in the WW2 Japanese internment camps. He was a respected member of his community before. Once in the camp, he was constantly worried about his children's future. He tried to keep their spirits up by telling them stories of their family's history. He saw the barbed wire fences and guards as a constant reminder of the unjust situation. Despite all the hardships, he never lost his dignity. He would wake up early every day, clean his small living space, and face the day with a quiet determination. His story is a testament to the strength of the human spirit under oppression.
One of the 'old old stories' might be the story of Noah's Ark. God told Noah to build an ark because he was going to send a great flood to cleanse the earth. Noah built the ark and took two of every kind of animal on board. After the flood, the ark landed on Mount Ararat and Noah and the animals repopulated the earth. It's a story full of religious significance and also a lesson about obedience and survival.
The 'old old story' could refer to many classic tales. For example, the story of Cinderella. A young girl was mistreated by her stepmother and stepsisters but with the help of her fairy godmother, she went to the ball, met the prince, and in the end, they lived happily ever after. It's a story full of hope and the idea that kindness and perseverance will be rewarded.
One famous Japanese love story is 'The Tale of Genji'. It was written by Murasaki Shikibu in the 11th century. It follows the life and loves of Genji, a handsome and charming courtier. His relationships with various women, from passionate affairs to more tender and complex emotional bonds, are explored. It gives a great insight into the courtly love and social structures of Heian - period Japan.
One famous Japanese ghost story is about Okiku. Okiku was a maid who worked in a samurai's house. Her master had a set of ten precious plates. One day, one plate went missing. The master was furious and accused Okiku of stealing it. She swore she didn't. In retaliation, the cruel master threw her down a well. After that, every night, people could hear her counting the plates from the well, 'One, two, three... nine...'. Her ghost was said to be seeking justice for her wrongful death.
In a small town in Japan, there was a love story between a boy who loved painting and a girl who played the shamisen. They met by chance in a cherry blossom garden. The boy was inspired by the girl's beauty among the blossoms and started to paint her. As time passed, they fell in love. But the boy's family wanted him to go to the big city to pursue his art career. In the end, he chose to stay with the girl, because their love was more important than anything else.
There is a story about Okiku's well. Okiku was a maid who worked in a samurai's house. She was falsely accused of breaking one of the ten valuable plates. In anger, the master tortured her and threw her into a well. Ever since, people claim to hear her counting the plates from the well at night, going up to nine and then a long, eerie silence follows.