These are classic Japanese fairy tales, retold in a lively rhyming style with accompanying classic illustrations to appeal to both children and adults. The charming stories revolve around the timeless themes of love, bravery, and faithfulness. Urashima and the Kingdom Beneath the Sea is the story of a young fisherman who discovers a magical kingdom and of what happens when he finally returns to earth. The Inch-high Samurai, a Japanese cross between Tom Thumb and The Beauty and the Beast, is the story of a tiny but brave warrior who vanquishes monsters and wins the love of a beautiful woman.

Equipped with a needle and a rice bowl, Issun Bãoshi, an inch-tall boy, leaves home for the city and finds work as the companion to a nobleman's daughter, whom he uses his wits to save from a gigantic ogre.

When a young man only one inch high saves a princess from demons, his one greatest wish is granted.

An epic graphic novel retelling of the Japanese folktale about the one-inch Samurai, Issunboshi. In a feudal Japan where creatures of myth and folklore are real, a demon sets out to reforge an ancient weapon to take over the world. The only person who can stop him is a six-inch-tall would-be samurai, who also happens to be the final and most important piece of the weapon. ISSUNBOSHI: A Graphic Novel is a lush retelling of the classic Japanese folktale reminding us that one is not born a hero –– you must discover the courage to become one.

Read--in Japanese--about a tiny, yet brave samurai who ends up saving a princess and seeing his wish come true. The second story is the famous moon-princess Kaguya, who was found in a bamboo stalk. Kaguya-hime is one of the oldest Japanese tales and perhaps the world’s first science fiction story. Yes, you can read real Japanese—even if you are just starting out in Japanese. Perfect for beginning and upper beginning students of Japanese who have mastered hiragana and know basic Japanese grammar and sentence structure. This affordable Japanese reader contains two complete stories of very famous Japanese traditional tales. PLUS! Get FREE Sound Files of the stories read by a native Japanese speaker. Listen while reading. Each story has a slow and normal speed recording. The link is found on the last page. • All Japanese have furigana • Two full traditional Japanese stories: Inch-high Samurai and Princess Kaguya • Every sentence is broken down word-for-word and with explanation of the grammar. • The full story in Japanese only (without the running gloss) is also provided so you can practice reading without interruption. • Finally, we have included a simple and mostly literal English translation for you to check your understanding (Don’t cheat! Work through the Japanese first!). • Download the FREE sound files to listen while you study. • Download FREE Anki flashcard decks to learn all the vocabulary found in the stories While beginners to Japanese can get a lot from this, hiragana knowledge and understanding of basic Japanese grammar and sentence structure is required. Finally, we invite the reader to contact us with questions or requests for future Japanese readers. You will find our personal email addresses in the book. To your Japanese!

Tiny but capable and adventurous young Issun Boshi goes to Japan's capital city of Kyoto, where he proves himself a valuable servant to kind Lord Sanjo and his daughter, Princess Sanjo.