Momotaro-The Peach Boy

Long ago in the mountains of Japan, an old woman went to the river to wash clothes. Floating down the rushing stream came the largest, most beautiful peach she had ever seen. She brought it home to share with her husband.

But when the old man tried to cut the peach, it split open on its own — and inside sat a perfectly healthy baby boy, laughing and reaching up his arms.

The couple, who had always longed for a child, named him Momotaro — Peach Boy — and raised him with great love. Momotaro grew up strong, kind, and brave.

One day, word reached the village that demons called Oni had invaded Onigashima Island and were stealing from the people. Momotaro could not stand by.

"I will go and stop the Oni," he told his elderly parents. They wept but understood. His mother packed him millet dumplings — the finest in Japan — and he set off.

Along the road, Momotaro met a spotted dog who sniffed at his bag. "What are those wonderful dumplings?" asked the dog. "The finest in Japan," said Momotaro. "Help me fight the Oni and I will share them with you." The dog agreed.

Next came a clever monkey, then a proud pheasant — both drawn by the smell of the dumplings, both won over by Momotaro's honest offer. Together, the four friends marched to the shore and sailed to Onigashima.

The pheasant flew over the walls to distract the Oni, the monkey climbed in to open the gate, and the dog bit at their ankles while Momotaro fought the Oni chief. They struggled hard, but Momotaro's courage and his friends' loyalty were stronger than any demon.

The Oni chief fell to his knees. "Spare me," he begged. "We will return everything we have stolen."

Momotaro accepted the surrender, and the four friends returned home with treasure enough to keep the village happy for many years.