The Silver Charm: A Folktale from JapanLong ago, in the days when there were still ogres in the world, a little boy named Satsu went out to play with his best friends, a puppy and a fox cub. But Satsu wandered too near the edge of the forest, where a horrible ogre snatched him up. The ogre wanted to eat him for supper, but Satsu traded his silver charm for his life. Without his charm, however, he grew ill and weak. Now the puppy and the fox cub must save their friend and master. With the help of a little mouse and a little magic, they trick the ogre and return the lucky silver charm. Everyone-including the animals-celebrates with an enormous feast. |
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Common terms and phrases
Ainu culture beautiful became began berries beside bowing bowl boy and girl boy's brought burn burst chase clapped cloth cool cord Crane creature cried cub and puppy dance dinner eaten edge elm bark fast feast fever filled folding FOLKTALE followed forest forgot fox and puppy fox cub gave gently girl's kimono good-luck charm grew guarded hand head held hidden Hokkaido hungry hurried invited island JAPAN Kamui yukara knees live Long ago Lord lost magic word master merciful misfortune monster mother mouse mouth neck nibbled ogre ogre's hut ogre's robe pets pretended pretty Quickly rice ROBERT ROBERT D sail sake SAN SOUCI Satsu Satsu's father Satsu's parents saw the silver silver charm silver ship sleeve snapped soon stamped his feet stick Suddenly Surely sword tell Thank tiny told turned village vines visited warned watch waves wife woods YORIKO ITO