For the most part, the Japanese people are knownand respected for their skills as makers of automobiles, cameras, and other electronics. They are also known for their martial arts like Karate and to some extent, their art and cultural expressions such as block prints, flower arrangements and the tea ceremony. And their beautiful garden design.
What most people don't realize, however, is that the Japanese people are great storytellers. There are over 300 folk tales and legends still quite popular in Japan today, as well as famous supernatural stories. Ghost stories are especially popular among school children where contests are often held for ghost story telling (gakkÅ kaidan). A number of Japanese horror movies in fact have been adapted to, or were the inspirations for Hollywood productions.
There is a wealth of Japanese epic classical works, most of which, sadly, have never been translated into English. Likewise, modern Japanese literature is limited only to those who can read Japanese. Other forms of stories and storytelling abound beside novels and legends: there are stories in poetry and picture books, and of recent times, in movies, comic books and animation. But even here, language is often a barrier in sharing in the enjoyment of such a treasure of the imagination.
In this web site, we will explore some of the most well-known Japanese tales in various forms, and get to know some of the world's greatest story tellers. This website, however, is merely an introduction to this fascinating aspect of the Japanese culture; we hope our invitation will lead you to a greater exploration on your own.
Thank you for coming with us on this journey.
