FUKUINKAN SHOTEN PUBLISHERS,INC.

Fukuinkan Shoten Publishers have been introducing traditional folktales from various regions of Japan through picture books to many children readers. Simple stories based on everyday life with sometimes exquisite pictures or other times dynamic ones, convey courage and wisdom towards life. Japanese folklore stories can be considered the origin of the picture story books we have today and we hope you enjoy the variety we can offer.

MOMOTARO THE PEACH BOY
- An Old Japanese Folk Tale
by Tadashi Matsui
illustrated by Suekichi Akaba

One of the most familiar traditional children's stories in Japan. Born from a peach, Momotaro became a fine boy of unrivaled strength,....see more

ISSUNBOSHI, THE INCHLING
- An Old Japanese Folk Tale
retold by Momoko Ishii
illustrated by Fuku Akino

One of the most appealing of classical Japanese fairy tales is charmingly retold here and illustrated in picture-scroll style. The brave and gallant,....see more

THE CRANE WIFE
- A Japanese Folk Tale
retold by Sumiko Yagawa
illustrated by Suekichi Akaba

"The Crane Wife" is an old Japanese folk tale about a beautiful woman's sacrifice for her husband. The woman is, in reality, a crane that plucks out ....see more

THE TONGUE-CUT SPARROW
- A Japanese Folk Tale
retold by Momoko Ishii
illustrated by Suekichi Akaba

An old Japanese folk tale of a man and his beloved sparrow. When his wife cuts out the bird's tongue in anger, the sparrow flies away into the mountains and ....see more

	HACHIRO By Ryusuke Saito Illustrated by Jiro Takidaira The giant Hachiro often pondered the ill fortune that had made him as big as a small mountain. One day, however, seeing peasants weep as great waves poured....see more
Black and white paper cuttings give more dynamism to story.

THE FROGS AND THE CAT - A Story Inspired by "Heike Monogatari" by Kazunari Hino illustrated by Takao Saito The young frogs of Genji Pond gathered under an old cedar while an elder told them an ancient tale. It all started with a strange attack one summer night. One frog received ....see more
You can see the fusion of classic motif and modern style of illustration.


THREE BROTHERS AND MOUNTAIN PEARS - An Old Japanese Tale retold by Tadashi Hirano illustrated by Daihachi Ohta Because their mother was sick and craved mountain pears, three brothers set out, one at a time to get them for her. The first two were rude to an old woman....see more		THE MOUSE PARADISE retold by Teiji Seta illustrated by Iri Maruki One day a hungry mouse ate a poor old man's meager meal, but the mouse repaid his host in a most wonderful way... ....see more


TARO AND THE BAMBOO SHOOT by Masako Matsuno illustrated by Yasuo Segawa Once upon a time, in a village deep in the mountains, lived a boy named Taro. When he started to dig up a bamboo shoot, it began to grow and grow miraculously taking him up into the sky but....see more		THE THREE CHARMS retold by Kenichi Mizusawa illustrated by Toshio Kajiyama A young lad goes to the mountains to cut flowers. An ogress makes three attempts to catch him, but each time, the lad throws a paper charm....see more


A MAN WITH AN ENORMOUS STOMACH retold by Kazunari Hino illustrated by Takao Saito Toto-san asked a bonze what should be done about this stomachache. A bonze advised him to swallow a frog. He got well soon! But he felt bad because a frog walked around in....see more		CARROT, RADISH, BURDOK A Japanese Old Tale retold by Ayuko Uegaki illustrated by Ayuko Uegaki May,2008 Do you know why carrots are red? Do you know whether burdocks like bathing? As is often ....see more


A GOOD OLD MAN AND A BAD OLD MAN -AN OLD JAPANESE FOLKTALE retold by Teruko Kobayashi illustrated by Suekichi Akaba How could a typical Japanese tale be so impressive? A good old man, who saved a dog from drowning ....see more		OWL'S DYE SHOP An Old Japanese Folktale by Taeko Okuyama illustrated by Taeko Okuyama Mar,2008 Once upon a time, there was an owl's dye shop, and it was the owl that gave all the colors to various birds.... Thus tells a Japanese folk tale. Now retold and given new "colors" by sensitive ....see more