Episode 2: Grandma Ume's 'New Japanese Folktales'! 'The Promise Across the Sea: The Wave of Repentance'

"Once upon a time..."

In a seaside village, there lived a fisherman. His name was Yokichi.

Yokichi was a skilled fisherman, but he was a man who never grew greedy, catching only what he needed while being grateful for the sea's bounty.

However, there was another well-known fisherman in the village. His name was Katsujiro.

Katsujiro was a boisterous man and the best fisherman in the village. But he held the belief that, "The more of the sea's bounty, the better. You should catch everything you can and sell it all."

Because Katsujiro was strong and had a silver tongue, the other fishermen in the village gradually began to follow him. Even when Yokichi said, "Taking too much is not good," no one would listen.

Meeting the Dragon God

It happened one year.

One day when Yokichi went out fishing, a storm suddenly raged, and his boat was about to capsize. When he finally managed to reach a rocky area offshore, a large dragon was huddled there.

The dragon was covered in wounds, tangled in a net, and looked to be in pain.

"H-hey, are you alright...?"

Approaching cautiously, Yokichi untangled the dragon's net, washed its wounds with seawater, and shared some of the fish from his boat.

The dragon stared at Yokichi for a while, but eventually, it sank quietly into the sea.

That night.

The sea in front of Yokichi's house began to glow with a pale blue light. Surprised, he went outside and heard a voice from nowhere.

"Yokichi, I am grateful for your kindness. As a reward, I shall grant you one wish."

After thinking for a while, Yokichi said this:

"Could you ensure that the sea's bounty never runs out, so that everyone in the village doesn't suffer?"

Then, the voice said quietly:

"Very well. However, you must make one promise. Never be greedy for the sea's bounty. Catch only what you need. If you break this promise, the sea will grow angry and take everything away."

Yokichi nodded deeply.

The Village That Broke Its Promise

For several years after the promise to the Dragon God, the village enjoyed continuous bountiful catches. No matter how rough the weather became, they caught plenty of fish, and the villagers lived in peace.

However, Katsujiro alone was different.

'Look at that! I told you, the sea is all about who takes the most! If we can catch this much, we should make even bigger nets and sell even more, and the village will become even wealthier!'

Katsujiro said this to incite the villagers. Even when Yokichi told them, 'Do not forget the promise,' no one would listen.

One year, the village finally set a massive stationary net in the sea. They caught a huge amount of fish, and the villagers were overjoyed.

But that night.

Rumble...!

The shadow of the Dragon God appeared across the sea.

'...You have broken your promise.'

The voice seemed to resonate from the bottom of the sea.

'Those who break their promises shall not be granted the blessings of the sea.'

As he said this, the Dragon God stirred up the rough seas, and a great wave attacked the village. Boats were overturned, nets were torn, and the fishermen trembled in fear.

And the next morning—the sea was deathly silent.

However, there was not a single fish to be found.
The Dragon God's Condition and Katsujiro's Stubbornness

The villagers panicked. No matter how many boats they sent out or how many nets they cast, they could not catch a single fish.

Then, the voice was heard once again.

'When you respect the sea and regain a heart of gratitude once more... the sea shall grant its blessings again.'

'To do that, all the villagers must perform a hundred-fold pilgrimage to the Dragon God Shrine.'

The villagers nodded tremblingly, but Katsujiro was different.

"Ridiculous! The fish not being caught is just due to the ocean currents! I won't rely on such things!"

Saying that, Katsujiro refused to go to the shrine.
Yokichi's Prayer and Miracle

A few days later.

Katsujiro's beloved daughter, O-Chiyo, suddenly fell gravely ill. Even after giving her medicine and doing everything possible, her fever would not go down, and the village doctor could only shake his head.

"...Please, save her..."

Finally, Katsujiro pleaded through his tears.

Seeing this, Yokichi secretly headed to the sea and prayed single-mindedly to the Dragon God for a whole day.

"Please, won't you save this child at least..."

The next morning, miraculously, O-Chiyo's fever faded away.

Katsujiro learned that Yokichi had been praying by the seaside the whole time, and for the first time, he fell to his knees.

"...Yokichi, I am sorry..."

And finally, Katsujiro led the villagers to begin the hundred-fold pilgrimage to the Dragon God Shrine.
Repentance and the Sea's Bounty

With every step he took on the stone stairs, Katsujiro apologized from the bottom of his heart.

"Dragon God... I am sorry...!"

The villagers also prayed in unison.

Then, on the way back after finishing their prayers, they happened to look at the sea—

The glittering fish had returned to the sea.

Grandma Ume's Closing Narrative

Grandma Ume said, as if gazing out at the sea.

"Riku, are you listening? Nature doesn't belong to people. If you don't take proper care of the sea and the mountains, they'll turn their backs on you."

"But you know, nature is kind. If people realize their mistakes and apologize from the heart, it will respond to them again."

"Riku, do you understand? Humans make mistakes sometimes, but if you apologize honestly and change your ways, a path will open up for you."

Riku thought for a moment and gave a small nod.

"...If I make a mistake, I'll make sure to say I'm sorry."

Grandma Ume smiled.

"Alright then, that's all for today. See you tomorrow."

(End)