# Momotaro, the Peach Boy _Unknown author_ · 24 min read · ages 6-10 An old woman lifts a giant peach from the river, and the boy who steps out of it sets off with a dog, a monkey and a pheasant to fight the devils who rob his country. Momotaro takes their castle, the devil chief kneels and breaks off his own horns, and the dog and the pheasant carry the treasure home to the old couple. --- Long, long ago there lived an old man and an old woman. They were peasants, and they had to work hard to earn their daily rice. The old man used to cut grass for the farmers round about, and while he was gone his wife kept the house and worked their own little rice field. One day the old man went up to the hills as usual to cut grass, and the old woman took a bundle of clothes down to the river to wash. It was nearly summer, and the whole country was fresh and green as the two of them walked out to their work. The grass on the river bank was like emerald velvet, and the pussy willows along the water were putting out their soft grey catkins. For some reason neither of them could have explained, they both felt very happy that morning. At last the old woman found a good spot on the bank and set her basket down. She began to wash, taking the clothes out one by one and rubbing them on the stones. The water was as clear as glass, and she could see the little fish darting to and fro and the pebbles on the bottom. While she was busy, a great peach came bobbing down the stream. The old woman looked up from her work and stared. She was sixty years old, and in all her life she had never seen a peach so big. “How delicious that peach must be,” she said to herself. “I must certainly have it and take it home to my old man.” She stretched out her arm, but the peach was well beyond her reach. She looked about for a stick, and there was not one in sight; and if she went off to find one, the peach would be carried away. She stood still a moment, wondering what to do, and then an old charm came back to her. She began to clap her hands, keeping time with the rolling of the peach, and while she clapped she sang: Distant water is bitter, the near water is sweet. Pass by the distant water and come into the sweet. Strange to say, no sooner had she begun the song than the peach came nearer and nearer to the bank where she stood, until it stopped right in front of her and she lifted it out with both hands. The old woman was delighted. She was too happy to go on with her work, so she put the clothes back into her bamboo basket, and with the basket on her back and the peach in her arms she hurried home. It seemed a very long time to her before her husband returned. The old man came back at last as the sun was setting, with such a big bundle of grass on his back that she could hardly see him under it. He looked very tired, and he was using his scythe for a walking stick. As soon as she saw him the old woman called out: “Old man! I have been waiting and waiting for you to come home today!” “What is the matter? Why are you so impatient?” asked the old man, wondering at her unusual eagerness. “Has anything happened while I have been away?” “Oh, no,” answered the old woman. “Nothing has happened. Only I have found a nice present for you!” “That is good,” said the old man. He washed his feet in a basin and stepped up onto the veranda. The old woman ran into the little room and brought the great peach out of the cupboard. It felt heavier than before. She held it up to him. “Just look at this! Did you ever see such a large peach in all your life?” When the old man looked at it he was greatly astonished. “This is indeed the largest peach I have ever seen! Wherever did you buy it?” “I did not buy it,” answered the old woman. “I found it in the river where I was washing.” And she told him how it had happened. “I am very glad you found it. Let us eat it now, for I am hungry,” said the old man. He brought out the kitchen knife and laid the peach on a board, and he was just about to cut into it when, wonderful to tell, it split in two of itself and a clear voice said: “Wait a bit, old man!” And out stepped a beautiful little child. The old man and his wife were so astonished that they sat down on the floor where they were. Then the child spoke again. “Do not be afraid. I am no demon and no fairy, and I will tell you the truth. Heaven has had compassion on you. Night and day you have grieved that you had no child, and your cry has been heard. I am sent to you to be the son of your old age.” When they heard this the old man and his wife were filled with happiness. They had wept night and day for sorrow at having no child to help them in their lonely old age, and now that their prayer was answered they hardly knew what to do with themselves. First the old man took the child up in his arms, and then the old woman did the same; and they named him Momotaro, which means Son of a Peach. The years passed quickly by, and the child grew until he was fifteen. He was taller and far stronger than any other boy of his age, he had a handsome face and a heart full of courage, and he was wise for his years. The old couple looked at him with great pleasure, for he was exactly what they thought a hero ought to be. One day Momotaro came to his foster-father and spoke to him solemnly. “Father, by a strange chance you and I became father and son. Your goodness to me has been higher than the mountain grass that it is 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, so in the end there will be nothing owing on either side. Indeed, I am rather surprised that you should thank me in this way.” And the old man looked quite put out. “I hope you will be patient with me,” said Momotaro. “Before I begin to pay back your goodness I have a request to make, and I hope you will grant it above everything else.” “I will let you do whatever you wish, for you are quite unlike all other boys.” “Then let me go away at once!” “What do you say? Do you wish to leave your old father and mother and go away from your old home?” “I will surely come back again, if you let me go now!” “Where are you going?” “You must think it strange that I want to go away,” said Momotaro, “because I have not told you my reason yet. Far from here, away to the northeast of Japan, there is an island in the sea, and that island is the stronghold of a band of devils. I have often heard how they come over to this land, kill the people, rob them and carry off everything they can find. They are not only wicked; they are disloyal to our Emperor and disobey his laws. They are cannibals as well, for they kill and eat the poor people who are unlucky enough to fall into their hands. These devils are hateful creatures. I must go and conquer them and bring back all the plunder they have taken from this land. That is why I want to go away for a while.” The old man was much surprised to hear all this from a boy of fifteen, but he thought it best to let him go. The boy was strong and fearless, and he was no common child either, for he had been sent to them as a gift from Heaven; the devils, surely, would have no power to harm him. “Everything you say is very interesting, Momotaro,” said the old man. “I will not stand in the way of your determination. Go to the island as soon as ever you like, destroy the demons and bring peace to this land.” “Thank you for all your kindness,” said Momotaro, and he began to get ready that very day. The old man and the old woman set to work at once, pounding rice in the kitchen mortar to make cakes for Momotaro to take with him. At last the cakes were made and he was ready to start. Parting is always sad, and so it was now. The eyes of the two old people filled with tears and their voices trembled. “Go with all care and speed. We shall expect you back victorious!” Momotaro was sorry to leave his old parents, though he knew he would come back as soon as he could, for he thought how lonely they would be. But he said goodbye quite bravely. “I am going now. Take good care of yourselves while I am away. Goodbye!” And he stepped quickly out of the house. In silence the eyes of Momotaro and his parents met in farewell. Momotaro hurried on his way until midday. Then he grew hungry, so he opened his bag, took out one of the rice cakes and sat down under a tree by the road to eat it. While he was eating, a dog almost as big as a colt came running out of the high grass. He made straight for Momotaro, and showing his teeth he said fiercely: “You are a rude man, to pass my field without asking permission first. If you leave me all the cakes in your bag you may go. If you do not, I will bite you to death!” Momotaro only laughed scornfully. “What is 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 to the northeast of Japan. If you try to stop me on the road I will cut you in two from the head down!” The dog changed his manner at once. His tail dropped between his legs, and he came near and bowed so low that his forehead touched the ground. “What do I hear? The name of Momotaro? Are you indeed Momotaro? I have often heard of your great strength. I did not know who you were, and I have behaved very stupidly. Will you pardon my rudeness? Are you truly on your way to invade the Island of Devils? If you will take a rough fellow like me with you as one of your followers, I shall be very grateful.” “I think I can take you with me, if you wish to go,” said Momotaro. “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 all Japan,” said Momotaro. “I cannot spare a whole one. You shall have half.” “Thank you very much,” said the dog, and caught the piece that was thrown to him. Then Momotaro got up and the dog followed him. For a long time they walked over the hills and through the valleys. As they went along, an animal came down out of a tree a little way ahead and ran to meet them. “Good morning, Momotaro! You are welcome in this part of the country. Will you allow me to go with you?” The dog answered jealously: “Momotaro has a dog with him already. What use is a monkey like you in a battle? We are on our way to fight the devils! Be off with you!” And the dog and the monkey fell to quarrelling and biting, for those two animals have always hated each other. “Now, don’t quarrel!” said Momotaro, putting himself between them. “Wait a moment, dog.” “It is not at all dignified for you to have a creature like that following you!” said the dog. “And what do you know about it?” asked Momotaro. And pushing the dog aside, he spoke to the monkey. “Who are you?” “I am a monkey who lives in these hills,” replied the monkey. “I heard of your expedition to the Island of Devils, and I have come to go with you. Nothing would please me more than to follow you.” “Do you really wish to go to the Island of Devils and fight at my side?” “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. But the dog and the monkey did not get on well together. They were forever snapping at each other as they went along, and forever wanting to fight. It made Momotaro very cross, and at last he sent the dog on ahead with a flag, put the monkey behind with a sword, and walked between them himself with a war fan made of iron. By and by they came to a large field, and there a bird flew down and settled just in front of the little party. It was the most beautiful bird Momotaro had ever seen: on its body it wore five different robes of feathers, and its head was covered with a scarlet cap. The dog ran at the bird at once and tried to seize and kill it. But the bird struck out with its spurs and flew at the dog’s tail, and it went hard with both of them. Momotaro looked on and could not help admiring the bird: it showed such spirit in the fight that it would certainly make a good fighter. He went up to the two combatants, held the dog back and said to the bird: “You rascal! You are hindering my journey. Surrender at once and I will take you with me. If you do not, I will set this dog on you to bite your head off!” Then the bird surrendered at once and begged to be taken into Momotaro’s company. “I have no excuse to offer for quarrelling with the dog, your servant, but I did not see you. I am a miserable bird called a pheasant. It is very generous of you to pardon my rudeness and to take me with you. Please allow me to follow behind the dog and the monkey.” “I congratulate you on surrendering so soon,” said Momotaro, smiling. “Come and join us in our raid on the devils.” “Are you going to take this bird with you as well?” asked the dog, interrupting. “Why do you ask such an unnecessary question? Did you not hear what I said? I am taking the bird with me because I wish to!” “Humph,” said the dog. Then Momotaro stood before the three of them and gave this order: “Now all of you must listen to me. Harmony is the first thing an army needs. There is a wise saying that an advantage on earth is better than an advantage in Heaven, and that union among ourselves is better than either. When we are not at peace among ourselves it is no easy thing to subdue an enemy. From now on, you three, the dog, the monkey and the pheasant, must be friends of one mind. The first one to begin a quarrel will be discharged on the spot!” All three promised not to quarrel. The pheasant was made a member of Momotaro’s company, and received half a cake. Momotaro’s influence was so great that the three became good friends and hurried on with him at their head. Hurrying on day after day, they came out at last on the shore of the North-Eastern Sea. There was nothing to be seen as far as the horizon, not a sign of any island, and nothing broke the stillness but the rolling of the waves. The dog, the monkey and the pheasant had come very bravely all the way over the hills and through the long valleys, but they had never seen the sea before, and for the first time since they set out they were bewildered and gazed at one another without a word. How were they to cross the water and reach the Island of Devils? Momotaro soon saw that the sight of the sea had daunted them, and to try them he spoke loudly and roughly. “Why do you hang back? Are you afraid of the sea? Oh, what cowards you are! It is impossible to take such weak creatures to fight the demons. It will be far better for me to go alone. I discharge the three of you here and now!” The animals were taken aback at this sharp reproof. They clung to Momotaro’s sleeve and begged him not to send them away. “Please, Momotaro!” said the dog. “We have come so far already!” said the monkey. “It would be cruel to leave us here!” said the pheasant. “We are not at all afraid of the sea,” said the monkey again. “Please do take us with you,” said the pheasant. “Take us with you, please,” said the dog. They had gained a little courage by now, so Momotaro said: “Well then, I will take you with me. But be careful!” Momotaro got hold of a small ship, and they all went on board. The wind and the weather were fair, and the ship went like an arrow over the sea. None of the three had ever been on the water before, and at first the waves and the rolling of the vessel frightened them; but little by little they grew used to it and were quite happy again. Every day they paced the deck, watching eagerly for the demons’ island. When they grew tired of that, they told one another stories of the exploits they were proud of, and played games together. Momotaro found plenty to amuse him in listening to them and watching their antics, and so he forgot how long the way was and how tired he was of having nothing to do. He was longing to be at work against the monsters who had done so much harm in his country. The wind blew in their favour and they met no storms, so the ship made a quick voyage; and one bright morning the sight of land rewarded the four watchers at the bow. Momotaro knew at once that what they saw was the devils’ stronghold. On the top of the steep shore, looking out to sea, stood a large castle. Now that his undertaking was close at hand he sat deep in thought, his head leaning on his hands, wondering how to begin the attack. His three followers watched and waited for their orders. At last he called the pheasant to him. “It is a great advantage to have you with us,” said Momotaro to the bird, “for you have good wings. Fly to the castle at once and draw the demons into a fight. We will follow you.” The pheasant obeyed at once. He flew off, beating the air gladly with his wings, and took up his 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 take your stronghold from you. If you wish to save your lives, surrender at once, and in token of your submission break off the horns that grow on your foreheads. If you will not surrender, but make up your minds to fight, then we, the pheasant, the dog and the monkey, will kill every one of you by biting and tearing you to death!” The horned demons looked up, and seeing nothing but a pheasant they laughed. “A wild pheasant, indeed! It is ridiculous to hear such words from a shabby little thing like you. Wait until you get a blow from one of our iron bars!” Very angry indeed were the devils. They shook their horns and their shocks of red hair, and rushed to pull on their tiger-skin trousers to make themselves look more terrible. Then they brought out their great iron bars and ran at the pheasant where he perched above their heads, to knock him down. He flew aside from every blow and went for the head of first one demon and then another, wheeling round and round them and beating the air with his wings so fiercely and so ceaselessly that the devils began to wonder whether they had one bird to fight or a great many. In the meantime Momotaro had brought his ship in to land. As they came near he had seen that the shore was like a precipice, and that the castle was strongly fortified, with high walls and great iron gates. Momotaro landed, and hoping to find some way in he walked up the path towards the top, with the monkey and the dog behind him. They soon came upon two beautiful young women washing clothes in a stream. The clothes were stained with blood, and as the two of them washed, the tears were falling fast down their cheeks. Momotaro stopped and spoke to them. “Who are you, and why are you weeping?” “We are captives of the Demon King,” they said. “We were carried away from our homes to this island, and though we are the daughters of daimyo, of great lords, we must serve him here. One day he will kill us and eat us, and there is nobody to help us!” And they held up the blood-stained clothes. At that horrible thought their tears burst out afresh. “I will rescue you,” said Momotaro. “Do not weep any more. Only show me how I may get into the castle.” Then the two ladies led the way and showed him a little back door in the lowest part of the castle wall, so small that he could hardly crawl through. The pheasant, who had been fighting hard all this time, saw Momotaro and his little band rush in at the back. Momotaro’s onslaught was so furious that the devils could not stand against him. Until then their enemy had been a single bird; now there were four enemies inside the walls, and the four fought like a hundred. Some of the devils fell from the parapet and were dashed to pieces on the rocks below. Others fell into the sea and were drowned. Many were beaten to death by the three animals. At last the chief of the devils was the only one left. He made up his mind to surrender, for he knew his enemy was stronger than any mortal man. He came up humbly to Momotaro and threw down his iron bar, and kneeling 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 will spare my life!” Momotaro laughed. “It is not like you, big devil, to beg for mercy, is it? I cannot spare your wicked life, however much you beg, for you have killed and tortured a great many people and robbed our country for years.” Then Momotaro tied the devil chief up and gave him into the monkey’s charge. When that was done he went into every room of the castle, set the prisoners free and gathered up all the treasure he found. The dog and the pheasant carried the plunder home, and so Momotaro came back to his own house in triumph, bringing the devil chief as a captive. The two poor young women, the daughters of daimyo, and the others the wicked demon had carried off to be his slaves, were all taken safely home and delivered to their parents. The whole country made a hero of Momotaro on his return, and rejoiced that the land was free at last of the robber devils who had been the terror of it for so long. The old couple’s joy was greater than it had ever been, and the treasure Momotaro brought home let them live in peace and plenty to the end of their days. --- - Read online: https://talerie.com/en/tales/momotaro-original - Subject (Wikidata): https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q877820 - Source: Japanese Fairy Tales, transl. Yei Theodora Ozaki (Archibald Constable, 1908), «Momotaro, or the Story of the Son of a Peach» (Project Gutenberg #4018) (https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/4018) - Public-domain basis: Talerie contemporary retelling (CC0 2026), based on: Japanese Fairy Tales, transl. Yei Theodora Ozaki (Archibald Constable, 1908), «Momotaro, or the Story of the Son of a Peach» (Project Gutenberg #4018) — EU anonymous-work rule (+70 passed); translator Yei Theodora Ozaki died 1932 (+70 passed) - License: CC0-1.0 (https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/)