Florence Sakade 
Folk Tales from Japan 
Fables, Myths and Fairy Tales for Children

‘Filled with now-familiar favorites, along with lesser known yet equally delightful tales, this enduring collection presents stories to enchant and enlighten young readers.’ — School Library Journal


From singing turtles and flying farmers to a weeping dragon and rice bags that replenish themselves, readers of all ages will find engaging characters and moments of magic in these beloved Japanese folk tales.


The stories in this collection include:

• The Magic Mortar –A tale that explains why the sea is salty


• How to Fool a Cat –A funny story about a clever woodworker


• The Rolling Mochi Cakes –Good food, a beautiful song and a lesson on the benefits of sharing with others


• The Dragon’s Tears –A sweet tale about first impressions, kindness and inclusivity

Broken up into 16 folk tales, this book will become a go-to for bedtime and storytime. Kids (and adults!) will have the opportunity to learn more about Japanese culture in a fun, accessible way.

关于作者

Florence Sakade (1917-1999) is widely recognized as a pioneer of English language publishing in Japan. She was an experienced editor and the author/compiler of such favorites as
A Guide to Reading and Writing Japanese,
Origami: Japanese Paper Folding, and
Japanese Children’s Favorite Stories. Her distinguished career spanned four decades, and she worked until her death in 1999 at the age of 82.

One of the most popular children’s book illustrators of his time,
Yoshio Hayashi (1905-2010) was among the artists who founded the Japan Children’s Painting Association in 1961. He served as director of the Artist Copyright Federation of Japan and the Japan Art Association.