Folktales from Japan - Season 6

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Sameuratarou Became a Rock / Koukichi Flies Through the Sky

1 - Sameuratarou Became a Rock / Koukichi Flies Through the Sky

Air Date: April 2, 2017

A whale turns into a rock. A man wants to learn to fly, but runs into resistance from the Japanese government. Source: crunchyroll

The Bamboo Shoot Child / The Demon Kite of Ikinoshim

2 - The Bamboo Shoot Child / The Demon Kite of Ikinoshim

Air Date: April 9, 2017

A child appears from inside a stalk of bamboo. A village makes a kite with the face of an oni. Source: crunchyroll

The Catfish God / Inou Tadataka

3 - The Catfish God / Inou Tadataka

Air Date: April 16, 2017

A wife unwittingly offends a powerful catfish god. Inou Tadataka becomes the first man to make a map of Japan. Source: crunchyroll

Kappa Stone / The Moss Ball of Akan Lake

4 - Kappa Stone / The Moss Ball of Akan Lake

Air Date: April 23, 2017

A boy throws a rock at a baby kappa, and its father puts a powerful curse on him. The lake moss of the Ainu come to be refered as the heart of the forest. Source: crunchyroll

The Hunter and the Oni / The Three Shrine Festival of Asakusa

5 - The Hunter and the Oni / The Three Shrine Festival of Asakusa

Air Date: April 30, 2017

A hunter outwits a giant ogre called an oni. Two sons find a statue of one of the buddhas while trying to catch fish for their sick mother. Source: crunchyroll

Anju and Zushiou / Kicchomu-san the Sharp

6 - Anju and Zushiou / Kicchomu-san the Sharp

Air Date: May 7, 2017

A brother and sister escape from enslavement. Stories are told of Kicchomu, who is famous for his cleverness. Source: crunchyroll

Granny Orin and the Bottle Rock / The Madara Demon God and Kannon-sama

7 - Granny Orin and the Bottle Rock / The Madara Demon God and Kannon-sama

Air Date: May 14, 2017

An old woman sacrifices herself to bring prosperity to a starving village. A demon god repairs a destroyed temple. Source: crunchyroll

The Akoya Pine / The Spicy Lotus Root of Higo

8 - The Akoya Pine / The Spicy Lotus Root of Higo

Air Date: May 21, 2017

A girl falls in love with the spirit of a pine tree. A frail lord is tempted into eating more by the power of mustard and lotus root. Source: crunchyroll

Chikaraishi Plays Sumo / The Great Buddha of Nara

9 - Chikaraishi Plays Sumo / The Great Buddha of Nara

Air Date: May 28, 2017

A man named Chikaraishi battles Kappa for sumo supremacy. The great buddha of Nara is built over a period of decades. Source: crunchyroll

The Golden Ladle / The Chaguchagu Pony

10 - The Golden Ladle / The Chaguchagu Pony

Air Date: June 4, 2017

An ogre possesses a golden ladle. A young boy's beloved horse is brutally treated by a rich man. Source: crunchyroll

The Wolf Rich Man / Shouki-san and the Demon Roof Tile

11 - The Wolf Rich Man / Shouki-san and the Demon Roof Tile

Air Date: June 11, 2017

A man gains the ability to see others for the animals they really are. A demon roof tile brings misfortune. Source: crunchyroll

Doukan / Priest Enkuu

12 - Doukan / Priest Enkuu

Air Date: June 18, 2017

A peasant hears about Japanese poetry and decides to try some for himself. A monk whittles 100,000 statues of buddha. Source: crunchyroll

The Beefy Biceps Given by a Ghost / The Yummy Miso That`s a Hacchou Away

13 - The Beefy Biceps Given by a Ghost / The Yummy Miso That`s a Hacchou Away

Air Date: June 25, 2017

A ghost makes a man strong. Good miso is found only a short distance away. Source: crunchyroll

The Giant Barley Straw Snake / Uesugi Youzan Makes It Work

14 - The Giant Barley Straw Snake / Uesugi Youzan Makes It Work

Air Date: July 2, 2017

A snake made of straw comes to life. Uesugi Youzan makes things happen. Source: crunchyroll

The Tofu Priest Statue / Hiraga Gennai

15 - The Tofu Priest Statue / Hiraga Gennai

Air Date: July 9, 2017

A greedy man wants to cheat customers out of tofu. A lowly merchant grows to great riches. Source: crunchyroll

Houko-san / Wabicha and Senno Rikyuu

16 - Houko-san / Wabicha and Senno Rikyuu

Air Date: July 16, 2017

A girl sacrifices herself to save her master's daughter. Sen Rikyuu creates a new style of tea. Source: crunchyroll

Tanuki Fields / The Orange Boat of Bunzaemon

17 - Tanuki Fields / The Orange Boat of Bunzaemon

Air Date: July 23, 2017

Tanuki plow a field for a kind man. Bunzaemon becomes rich selling oranges. Source: crunchyroll

The Pilgrim and the Bath / The Slaying of the Monster of Himeji Castle

18 - The Pilgrim and the Bath / The Slaying of the Monster of Himeji Castle

Air Date: July 30, 2017

A man gets a bathtub stuck to his butt by an angry god. A warrior challenges the ghosts of Himeji castle. Source: crunchyroll

The Power Given by an Ogre / The Okesabushi of Okei

19 - The Power Given by an Ogre / The Okesabushi of Okei

Air Date: August 6, 2017

An oni gives a girl great power. A cat of repays the kindness of its owners. Source: crunchyroll

A Story of Sage Kume / The Moon, the Buddha, and My Soba

20 - A Story of Sage Kume / The Moon, the Buddha, and My Soba

Air Date: August 13, 2017

A man wants to be a Sennin but fails, so he becomes a salesman instead. Kobayashi Issa, the haiku poet, thinks of the sun, the moon, and his soba. Source: crunchyroll

Osengafuchi / The Medicine-Seller of Toyama

21 - Osengafuchi / The Medicine-Seller of Toyama

Air Date: August 20, 2017

A man falls in love with a carp he catches in a lake. A lord learns the ways of herbs. Source: crunchyroll

Daikoku-sama and Denzaburou the Rich Man / The Tanuki Priest and Kenchin Soup

22 - Daikoku-sama and Denzaburou the Rich Man / The Tanuki Priest and Kenchin Soup

Air Date: August 27, 2017

A lazy man becomes rich with the help of a god. A raccoon gathers donations for a temple. Source: crunchyroll

The Dream-Telling Priest Statue / The Iwatsuki Doll

23 - The Dream-Telling Priest Statue / The Iwatsuki Doll

Air Date: September 3, 2017

A priest statue gives warnings in dreams. A master dollmaker makes a doll from unique materials. Source: crunchyroll

Ninja Isuke and the Oosanshouuo / Arita-yaki Shine Like Persimmons

24 - Ninja Isuke and the Oosanshouuo / Arita-yaki Shine Like Persimmons

Air Date: September 10, 2017

A ninja learns secret techniques. New methods for pottery are divised. Source: crunchyroll

The Rice-Spouting Priest Statue / The Dog Goes to Ise

25 - The Rice-Spouting Priest Statue / The Dog Goes to Ise

Air Date: September 17, 2017

A priest statue spits out yummy rice. A dog goes to Ise. Source: crunchyroll

The Sesame Seed Manjuu / The Beginning of Dougo Hot Springs

26 - The Sesame Seed Manjuu / The Beginning of Dougo Hot Springs

Air Date: October 1, 2017

A woman uses sesame seed buns to turn people into cows. The hot springs at dogo are discovered. Source: crunchyroll

Heishirou of Dokkoi Makabe / Standing on Mt. Fuji

27 - Heishirou of Dokkoi Makabe / Standing on Mt. Fuji

Air Date: October 8, 2017

A boy becomes high priest after a lowly upbringing. A girl becomes the first woman to stand on Mt. Fuji. Source: crunchyroll

The Bikki Wife / The Oumi Merchant

28 - The Bikki Wife / The Oumi Merchant

Air Date: October 15, 2017

A man marries a frog wife. A merchant from Edo teaches people a valuable lesson about quality goods. Source: crunchyroll

The Ship Ghosts of Usa / The Tanuki War of Awa

29 - The Ship Ghosts of Usa / The Tanuki War of Awa

Air Date: October 22, 2017

A ship of ghosts tries to drag the living to the bottom of the ocean. Raccoons fight a war in Awa. Source: crunchyroll

The Rain of the Setomono Festival / The Silkworm and the Wife Lord

30 - The Rain of the Setomono Festival / The Silkworm and the Wife Lord

Air Date: October 29, 2017

A hard-working potter learns the secrets of lacquerware. In Shirataki, the wife is the boss. Source: crunchyroll

Eyeball Swapping / The Byakkotai

31 - Eyeball Swapping / The Byakkotai

Air Date: November 5, 2017

A man becomes a doctor after his eyeball falls out. In Aizu, the Byakkotai dies at the end of a war. Source: crunchyroll

The Priest and the Old Tanuki / Otane`s Lake

32 - The Priest and the Old Tanuki / Otane`s Lake

Air Date: November 12, 2017

A priest becomes friends with an old raccoon. A beautiful woman called Otane meets a sad fate. Source: crunchyroll

The Man Who Wanted to Be a Black Kite / The Mountain Princess of Yakushima

33 - The Man Who Wanted to Be a Black Kite / The Mountain Princess of Yakushima

Air Date: November 19, 2017

A man wants to be a black kite. A sinister creature haunts a tree on a island. Source: crunchyroll

Wanting to Be Poor / The Blessings of Uzumi

34 - Wanting to Be Poor / The Blessings of Uzumi

Air Date: November 26, 2017

A man wants to be poor. A lord forbids his people from luxuries. Source: crunchyroll

Yajiemon and the Big Bear / Nikkou Toushougu and Hidari Jingorou

35 - Yajiemon and the Big Bear / Nikkou Toushougu and Hidari Jingorou

Air Date: December 3, 2017

Yajiemon fights a giant bear. A man designs the gate for a temple after badly injuring his left hand. Source: crunchyroll

The God Riding on a Cucumber / Use an Abacus to Make Kaga a Million Koku

36 - The God Riding on a Cucumber / Use an Abacus to Make Kaga a Million Koku

Air Date: December 10, 2017

A god rides on a cucumber. A lord becomes rich using his abacus to keep expenses down. Source: crunchyroll

The Farting Wife / The Chef of Shuri Castle

37 - The Farting Wife / The Chef of Shuri Castle

Air Date: December 17, 2017

A wife farts so hard that she blows down trees. A chef in Okinawa competes for the best dish. Source: crunchyroll

The Mountain Granny`s Mochi / Namahage

38 - The Mountain Granny`s Mochi / Namahage

Air Date: December 24, 2017

A mountain granny brings prosperity in exchange for delicious mochi. Horrible creatures called Namahage strike a town in Akita. Source: crunchyroll

The Invisible Man / The River Otter of Shimanto River

39 - The Invisible Man / The River Otter of Shimanto River

Air Date: December 31, 2017

A man becomes invisible and feels very alone. A river otter is tricked by dastardly shrimp. Source: crunchyroll

Three Grains of Rice, Three Grains of Gold / Jirochou of Shimizu

40 - Three Grains of Rice, Three Grains of Gold / Jirochou of Shimizu

Air Date: January 7, 2018

Three grains of rice become three grains of gold. A man named Jirochou is an inpsiration to everyone. Source: crunchyroll

The Swordsman and the Bale of Straw / The Pack Carriers of Mackerel Highway

41 - The Swordsman and the Bale of Straw / The Pack Carriers of Mackerel Highway

Air Date: January 14, 2018

A samurai breaks a teacup owned by a poor man. Pack runners carry salmon along a mountain path. Source: crunchyroll

Mountain Granny Shrine / Sugawara Michizane and the Legend of the Flying Plum

42 - Mountain Granny Shrine / Sugawara Michizane and the Legend of the Flying Plum

Air Date: January 21, 2018

A mountain grannie repays those who are kind to her. A child prodigy is banished far from the capital. Source: crunchyroll

The Paper Bag Wind / Tanabata-san`s Present

43 - The Paper Bag Wind / Tanabata-san`s Present

Air Date: January 28, 2018

A man bags the wind. An ancient legend about Tanabata is still told to this day. Source: crunchyroll

The Mountain Monk Tanuki / The Doll Stones of Kintai Bridge

44 - The Mountain Monk Tanuki / The Doll Stones of Kintai Bridge

Air Date: February 4, 2018

A raccoon disguises itself as a mountain monk. A woman is sacrificed to make a bridge sturdy. Source: crunchyroll

Yagorou-don and the Men / The Bug-Sending of Tsugaru

45 - Yagorou-don and the Men / The Bug-Sending of Tsugaru

Air Date: February 11, 2018

A giant called Yagorou-dono lived long ago. A god drives away insects from crops. Source: crunchyroll

Ishidoumaru / Konoshiro and Matsue Castle

46 - Ishidoumaru / Konoshiro and Matsue Castle

Air Date: February 18, 2018

A boy called Ishidoumaru searches for his father. A lord battles a monster in his keep. Source: crunchyroll

The Colt That Escaped from a Painting / The Cold Soup Granny

47 - The Colt That Escaped from a Painting / The Cold Soup Granny

Air Date: February 25, 2018

A horse from a painting comes alive. A recipe is made for cold soup. Source: crunchyroll

The Monk Who Went to Hell / Mito Mitsukuni Is Hungry

48 - The Monk Who Went to Hell / Mito Mitsukuni Is Hungry

Air Date: March 4, 2018

A greedy priest is sent to hell. A great man named Mito Mitsukuni is very hungry. Source: crunchyroll

The 16th Day Cherry Tree / Monkey Bridge

49 - The 16th Day Cherry Tree / Monkey Bridge

Air Date: March 11, 2018

A cherry tree blooms on the night of the full moon. A bridge-maker makes a bride over a steep canyon. Source: crunchyroll

The Gongen-sama on the Northern Mountain / Anchin and Kiyohime

50 - The Gongen-sama on the Northern Mountain / Anchin and Kiyohime

Air Date: March 18, 2018

A goddess lives on the northern mountain. Kiyohime becomes a snake and attacks the one she loves. Source: crunchyroll