"Urashima Taro — The Man Who Touched Time"
🌊 Urashima Taro — The Man Who Touched Time
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1. The Kind Fisherman and the Turtle
In a quiet village by the sea, lived a young fisherman named Urashima Taro. His skin was sun-kissed, and his eyes sparkled like the ocean waves he loved so much. Every day, Taro went out to fish, but his heart was even bigger than his catch.
One morning, as the sun painted the sky in soft pinks and gold, Taro heard children shouting by the shore. Curious, he walked closer and saw them teasing a small sea turtle, poking its shell with sticks.
“Hey! Stop it!” Taro shouted, rushing over. The children scattered like startled birds.
Gently, he picked up the trembling turtle. Its shell was smooth and shiny, like mother-of-pearl. Taro smiled warmly and whispered, “Go back to the ocean, little friend.”
He carried it to the sparkling water and watched as it slipped beneath the waves, disappearing into the blue.
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2. The Magical Ride
The next day, Taro was casting his nets when suddenly, the water rippled. From the depths, the very same turtle emerged—but now, it was enormous, with eyes full of gratitude.
“Urashima Taro, thank you for saving my child,” the turtle said in a deep, gentle voice. “Come with me, and I will show you wonders beneath the sea.”
Without hesitation, Taro climbed onto the turtle’s broad back. They plunged beneath the waves, deeper and deeper.
All around him, colorful fish swam like dancers, and glowing coral lit the way. The ocean was a kingdom of light and magic.
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3. The Palace of the Dragon God
Before long, they arrived at the Ryūgū-jō, the Dragon Palace. It gleamed like a pearl, built from coral and seashells, with pillars twisting like seaweed.
At the entrance, the Sea Princess, Otohime, appeared. Her hair flowed like water, and her kimono shimmered like the surface of a calm sea.
“Welcome, Urashima Taro,” she said with a voice as soft as the ocean breeze. “You are our honored guest. Stay with us and forget your worries.”
Days passed like moments. Taro feasted on sea grapes and kelp cakes, danced with dolphins, and rested on beds of soft sea foam.
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4. The Return to the Shore
But one day, Taro’s heart ached for home.
“I must see my village again,” he told the princess.
She nodded and handed him a small, ornate box tied with a bright red string—the tamatebako.
“Do not open this box,” she warned. “It holds a great secret.”
With a final smile, Taro climbed onto the turtle’s back and returned to the shore.
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5. The Passage of Time
But everything had changed.
The village was unfamiliar. The houses looked strange, and the people did not recognize him.
Taro asked about his family, but all he heard was silence.
An old villager finally told him, “Urashima Taro disappeared more than 300 years ago.”
Taro’s heart broke. The years he spent under the sea were centuries on land.
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6. The Tamatebako’s Secret
In despair, Taro opened the tamatebako.
A cloud of shimmering smoke burst forth, swirling around him.
His hair turned white as snow. His body grew frail. He became an old man in an instant.
From the sea came a whisper, “I warned you…”