Hello, welcome to Stories Podcast.
I'm your host, Amanda Weldon.
Today's story is called The Mighty Peach Boy, a Japanese folktale adapted for audio by Daniel Hines.
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Long, long ago, there lived an old man and an old woman.
They were peasants and had to work hard to earn their daily rice.
One day the old man went to the hills as usual to cut grass and the old woman took some clothes to the river to wash.
As she was busy washing her clothes, a great peach came bumping down the stream.
She was an old woman, yet in all her life she had never seen such a big peach as this.
It floated down the river like a giant carp on the surface.
How delicious that peach must be, she said to herself.
If I could get it, I could bring it home and me and the old man would have such a dessert.
Strange to say, the peach began to come nearer and nearer to the bank where the old woman was standing till, at last, it stopped just in front of her so that she was able to take it up in her hands.
It was so big she needed both just to hold it.
She packed up the laundry and rushed home to show the old man.
How excited he'd be!
She got home first and waited in the front yard, shaking with excitement.
As soon as the old woman saw him, she called out Oh Jisan, which means old man, I have been waiting for you to come home for such a long time today.
The old woman now ran into the little room and brought out from the cupboard the big peach.
Just look at this!
Did you ever see such a large peach in all your life?
The old man smiled and licked his lips.
That is indeed the largest peach I have ever seen.
Where did you buy it?
I didn't buy it, answered the old woman.
I found it in the river where I was washing.
I am very glad that you have found it.
Let us eat it now.
It's late and I'm hungry, said the old man.
He brought out the kitchen knife and, placing the peach on a board, was about to cut it when, wonderful to tell, the peach started to tremble.
The old couple stepped back confused, as the peach cracked like an egg and a clear voice said Wait a bit, old man.
Who is that?
The peach split open fully and inside was a perfect round little peach boy.
The old man and his wife were both so astonished at what they saw that they fell to the ground.
The child spoke again.
Oh, don't be afraid.
The world has shown compassion for you.
Every day and every night, you have been sad that you have no child.
Your cry has been heard by the heavens, and I am sent to be the son of your old age.
First, the old man took the child up in his arms, and then the old woman did the same.
And they named him Momotaro, or son of a peach.
Because he had come out of a peach.
The years passed quickly by and the child grew to be 15 years of age.
He was taller and far stronger than any other boy of his own age.
He had a handsome face and a heart full of courage.
One day Momotaro came to his father and said solemnly Father, by a strange chance we have become father and son.
Your goodness to me has been higher than the mountain grasses which it was your daily work to cut and deeper than the river where my mother washes the clothes.
I do not know how to thank you enough.
Why, answered the old man, it is a matter of course that a father should bring up his son.
When you are older, it will be your turn to take care of us.
Then let me go away at once.
Where are you going?
Far away from here, to the northeast of Japan, there is an island in the sea.
This island is the stronghold of a band of devils.
The same magic that delivered me to you is compelling me to go there and stop them.
I must go and bring back all the treasure they have robbed this land.
The old man was much surprised at hearing all this from a mere boy of fifteen.
But seeing as he was magic, he thought it best to let the boy go.
All you say is very interesting, Momotaro, said the old man.
I will not hinder you in your determination.
You may go if you wish.
Go to the island, son.
Destroy the demons and bring peace to the land.
Do you think Mother will understand?
Momotaro asked.
Not at first, laughed the old man.
But we will explain.
Come on now.
Mother didn't understand at first, but she believed Momotaro and wished him luck.
She even took the night and made a big bag of travel rice cake so he wouldn't go hungry on his journey.
The next morning, she handed her son the bag and the three of them embraced in a tight hug.
Go with all care and speed, said the old man.
We expect you back safe and sound, said the old woman.
I am going now.
Take good care of yourselves while I am away.
Goodbye.
And he stepped quickly out of the house.
Momotaro now hurried on his way till it was midday.
He began to feel hungry, so he opened his bag and took out one of the rice cakes and sat down under a tree by the side of the road to eat it.
While he was having his lunch, a dog almost as large as a horse came running out from the high grass.
She made straight for Momotaro and, showing her teeth, said in a fierce way You were a rude man to pass my field without asking permission first.
If you leave me all the cakes you have in your bag, you may go.
Otherwise, I will bite you.
Momotaro only laughed.
What is it that you are saying?
Do you know who I am?
I am Momotaro and I am on my way to subdue the devils in their island stronghold in the northeast of Japan.
I have been called by the spirits.
The dog's manner at once changed.
Her tail dropped between her legs and, coming near she bowed so low that her forehead touched the ground.
What do I hear?
Are you indeed Momotaro?
The spirits have spoken of your strength.
Are you indeed on your way to invade the island of devils?
If you would take a big, loud, sometimes overeager dog like me, I'd be happy to help.
I think I can take you with me if you wish to go, said Momotaro with a smile.
Thank you, said the dog.
By the way, I am very, very hungry.
Will you give me one of the cakes you are carrying?
This is the best kind of cake there is in Japan and must last the entire journey, said Momotaro.
I cannot spare you a whole one.
I will give you half of one.
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Then Momotaro got up and the dog followed.
As they were going along, an animal came flipping down from a tree and landed deftly on the road.
It was a little monkey.
He soon came up to Momotaro and said, Good morning, Momotaro.
You are welcome in this part of the country.
Will you allow me to go with you?
Who are you?
I am a monkey living in these hills, replied the monkey.
From the spirits.
I heard of your expedition to the Island of Devils and I have come to go with you.
Do you really wish to go to the Island of Devils and fight with me?
Oh, yes, sir, replied the monkey.
I admire your courage, said Momotaro.
Here is a piece of one of my fine rice cakes.
Come along.
So the monkey joined Momotaro and the dog.
By and by, they came to a large field.
Here, a bird flew down and alighted on the ground just in front of the little party.
Give me some of that delicious-smelling rice cake, please, the bird said, spreading her feathers.
Don't you know, called the dog, this is Momotaro, and we are on our way to stop the devils.
And I am a miserable bird called a pheasant, said the pheasant.
Forgive me and let me join you.
I, too, have heard the spirits whisper of Momotaro, the mighty peach boy, and I'd help you fight.
Happy to have you, said Momotaro, smiling.
Come and join us in our raid of the devils.
The pheasant was now made a member of Momotaro's party and received half a cake which she gobbled greedily.
At first the three animals were nervous around each other, but Momotaro was a good boy and kept them all happy and joking.
Soon, they were fast friends and followed Momotaro as their leader in all things.
Hurrying on day after day, they at last came out upon the shore of the northeastern sea.
Momotaro now got a small ship, and they all got on board.
The wind and weather were fair and the ship went like an arrow over the sea, heading towards the island of devils and whatever fight might be waiting.
After a day of smooth sailing, Momotaro knew they had reached the devil's stronghold.
On the top of a precipitous shoreside cliff looking out to the sea was a large castle.
At last he called to the pheasant.
We can't all get up there fast, but you can fly, he said.
Go up there and try to lure the devils out of their castle.
The pheasant at once obeyed.
She flew off from the ship, beating the air gladly with her wings.
The bird soon reached the island and took up her position on the roof in the middle of the castle, calling out loudly
All you devils, listen to me.
The great Japanese general Momotaro has come to fight you and to take your stronghold from you.
If you wish to save your lives, surrender at once.
If you do not surrender at once, but make up your mind to fight, we the pheasant, the dog and the monkey will cast you out of Japan for good.
The horned demons looking up and only seeing a little lady pheasant laughed and said A wild pheasant indeed.
Wait until you get a blow from one of our iron clubs.
Very angry indeed were the devils.
They then brought out great iron clubs and ran to where the pheasant perched over their heads and tried to knock her down.
The pheasant flew to one side to escape the blow and then attacked the head of first one and then another demon.
In the meantime, Momotaro had brought his ship to land.
While the devils were distracted by the bird, the monkey scaled the cliffside with a rope.
He scampered up in no time, tied the rope to a boulder, and gave it two sharp tugs.
Momotaro then scaled the rope, and then, all working together, they got the dog hauled up as well.
Come back here, bird, called the devils.
But the pheasant had seen her friends coming and flew higher out of reach.
Now you're in trouble.
She laughed as the monkey giant dog and Momotaro burst into the castle gates.
At the devils, Momotaro said, and together they charged.
Their onslaught was so furious that the devils could not stand against them.
At first, their foe had been a single bird.
But now that Momotaro and the dog and the monkey had arrived, the devils were bewildered, for the four enemies fought like a hundred because they were blessed by the heavens.
The bird dove and swooped and was never touched, not so much as a feather.
The monkey swung and leapt and stole clubs and kicked with two big floppy feet.
The dog, colossal as she was, picked up the devils in her mouth and shook them like rope toys.
And Momotaro was the strongest of all, catching devil clubs in his bare hands and throwing them, laughing off the cliff and into the sea.
One by one, the devils were defeated and burst into sulfurous, smoky clouds, until finally their leader, the chief of all devils in Japan, was the only one remaining.
That devil came up humbly to Momotaro and threw down his iron club and, kneeling down at the victor's feet, he broke off the horns on his head in token of submission, for they were the sign of his strength and power.
I am afraid of you, he said meekly.
I cannot stand against you.
I will give you all the treasure hidden in this castle if you let me continue my work.
Momotaro laughed.
It is not like you, big devil, to beg for mercy, is it?
I cannot spare your wicked life because your work is making people miserable and no amount of money would.
Let me ignore that.
You're to be sent back to the emperor as proof the island is safe at last.
Then Momotaro tied the devil chief up and gave him into the monkey's charge.
You wouldn't think the monkey would be a good keeper, but he watched the devil like he was a pile of bananas.
Momotaro then went into all the rooms of the castle and gathered together all the treasure he found.
Packing it all into his boat, Momotaro and his friends turned to return home.
The monkey watched the devil while the pheasant scouted ahead.
Dog carried home the treasure on her big back, and Momotaro led them all.
Together, they walked to the emperor and delivered the final devil, broken and locked up.
The emperor threw the devil in a dungeon, spread the treasure to the people and gave Momotaro all the honors available to him.
After that, the whole country of Japan made a hero of Momotaro on his triumphant return and rejoiced that the country was now free from the robber devils who had been a terror of the land for a long time.
But no one was happier than the old couple.
When Momotaro came home carrying a sizable chunk of treasure the emperor had given him as a reward, his mother and father burst into tears.
They all hugged in the dirt of the front yard and together they lived in peace and plenty for all of their days.
The End.
Today's story, The Mighty Peach Boy, was a Japanese folktale adapted for audio by Daniel Hines.
It was edited and produced for you by Ellie Hines and performed for you by me, Amanda Weldon.
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