Daiso, the 100 yen shop, have these groovy little frog figurines. I bought a bunch of them for a lark, thought it might be fun to retell the stories which each of them represent. First up – Urashima Taro. (That’s what the original was called. The ‘gero’ above is what a Japanese frog says instead of ‘ribbit’.)

Once upon a time, in a small hut on a hillside overlooking a natural harbour that afforded protection for the fishing boats of the village in which the hut was situated, lived a friendly fisherman by the name of Urashima Gero.

He was a hardworking frog, well-known for being cheerful and well-liked in consequence by everyone in the village. One day, after an unsuccessful morning fishing off the pier, he decided to take a walk along the beach to clear his head with some fresh sea air.

He spied some children playing in the distance. Urashima Gero noticed that they were very absorbed in their activity, and, curiosity piqued, wandered over to find out what game they’d devised that was so fascinating to them.

He was very disappointed to find, however, that it wasn’t a game they were playing. The children were instead busying themselves bullying a sea turtle they had captured, prodding it with sticks and refusing to let it return to the ocean.

“Here there! Stop that!” Urashima Gero shouted as he approached. The children, who knew him to be a kind and even-tempered frog, were shocked to see the anger on his face, and scampered off up the dunes back to the village, leaving the turtle behind.

“I’m terribly sorry about that, turtle,” apologized Urashima Gero, lifting the creature gently and dusting off its shell with his other hand. “Let’s get you back where you belong.”

He carried the turtle down to the lapping waves at the edge of the beach, and set it into the surf. The turtle swam quickly away before dipping under the waves and disappearing forever

The next day, Urashima Gero was at his usual fishing spot and having even less luck than the day before (although it was hard to believe such a decrease possible). He sighed and gazed off into the distance. “At least the weather is good,” he thought to himself, and then he saw something moving through the water. Too fast to be anything other than an animal … but what was it?

It was too big to be the kind of fish normally seen in these waters, but too small to be a whale or even a shark. He stood up and shielded his eyes against the sun to try and get a better look, but, even when he squinted, he couldn’t make out what was approaching.

Soon enough though, he found out – another turtle!

This turtle, however, was as big as a boulder and ploughing straight through the water towards him. It was a little disconcerting. Surely this wasn’t how turtles behaved?

He could hear the foam and wash of the water splitting across the turtle’s back as it got closer and closer until suddenly, it leaped out of the water and landed – plonk – right beside him.

He stumbled back, nearly losing his footing but just managed to keep his balance by steadying himself with his fishing pole.

For a moment, the two looked at one another. Urashima Gero wasn’t quite sure what to make of this experience, nor what to do next. Then the turtle spoke!

“I believe you’re the chap who saved a turtle yesterday,” stated the giant terrapin, with just the hint of a question in its tone. “You have my gratitude.”

“G-g-g-gratitude?” was all that Urashima Gero could utter through lips tightly locked together in a mixture of fear and stunned surprise.

The turtle didn’t seem to notice any change in the emotional state of his conversational partner and continued, “Yes. That was my daughter, you see… oh but I’m sorry, where are my manners? I’m getting frightfully ahead of myself.”

The turtle leaned back, so that it was almost vertical, its shell tipped in a manner that Urashima Gero couldn’t believe would result in anything other than a nasty fall, but, mere moments after he’d had this thought, the shell started to glisten and glow and he found himself shielding his eyes as the shell of the turtle beamed out ever more intense rays of light until the fisherman had to close his eyes altogether. Then there was a faint noise like the cracking of an egg, and a rush of air.

Urashima Gero opened his eyes again and found himself face to face with the Emepror of the Sea himself, Ryujin!

He fell to his knees and Ryujin started laughing. “Now, now, no need for that. I’ve come to offer you a taste of my hospitality in return for your selfless good deed yesterday.” He put his arm around Urashima Gero and then, from out of nowhere, a bubble encircled them both. It lifted the pair effortlessly into the air, and carried them some way out to sea.

Urashima Gero had just started to wonder what exactly was to be his next surprise, when he discovered the answer. The bubble rose rapidly upwards and then plummeted – whoosh! – straight down into the ocean below, the water fizzing and bubbling and streaming and swirling all about the outside of this strange conveyance.

Down they hurtled, through waving fields of kelp, through shoals of scattering fish, down deeper, far from the reach of sunlight, into murky depths where the only sights that Urashima Gero could make out were hazy shapes, unsettling and unknown, which he hoped were in the distance.

It felt as though they had reached the very bottom of the ocean floor; Urashima Gero could have sworn he heard the scratch and crackle of gravelly rocks and broken shells through the base of the bubble beneath his feet. It turned out, however, that they were merely traversing the escarpment of a vast cliff, at the edge of which a dim light was growing ever brighter.

As this light became more and more intense, they neared the edge of the cliff falling away beneath them, revealing as it did so, a vast plateau dotted with buildings arranged either side of wide boulevards, or tucked away on the edges of smaller streets, all of which radiated outwards from a much, much larger circular area in the centre of what Urashima Gero could only surmise was an underwater city.

“I see you’ve noticed my palace,” Ryujin said, gesturing towards the complex at the heart of this fathoms deep settlement. Urashima nodded, his mind racing with questions and confusion. How was any of this possible? Where were they? What was happening? Was it a dream?

Smaller bubbles rose up from the city to meet their larger counterpart, and the palace grew ever closer. Urashima could make out all manner of sea creatures swimming through the thoroughfares below, and now he could also see armour-plated crabs keeping sentry atop the outer walls of the palace complex. The place was huge!

Spires and towers rose up from behind the walls, with the most elaborate decoration carved upon their surfaces. Some of the roofs seemed to be encrusted thickly with jewels, others were glittering in a way that reminded Urashima Gero of the glint of sunlight upon fish skin. The bubble wove past turrets and domes, before nearing a large courtyard in the middle of the palace, where they began their final descent. Strange weeds lined the edges of the courtyard, waving in the currents as the bubble dropped ever closer to the seabed. Several figures were gathered to receive their returning monarch, one of whom, Urashima Gero noted, was an attractive young lady in rich robes with a crown upon her head.

The bubble broke gently with a faint pop upon touching the seabed. Amphibious as he was, Urashima Gero was a little startled by the rush of water all about him. “Excuse me…” he started to say, then stopped, thinking that nobody would be able to hear him. However, when the young lady in the rich robes giggled, the older woman beside her nodded in his direction and the remaining figures all bowed low, he realized that, somehow, the water here didn’t prevent conversation.

“Welcome to my home, Urashima Gero!” Ryujin exclaimed, moving rapidly to stand between the two ladies of royal appearance. “This is my wife,” he said, gesturing to the older of the two women. “And this young troublemaker, I believe you have already met.”

The Princess smiled and stepped forward, extending her arm as she did so.

“Thank you for yesterday,” she said, with a smile. “I am Otohime.”

“I am Urashima Gero,” replied our hero, taking her hand, and meeting her gaze. “I was more than happy to help.”

They smiled at one another for what felt to Urashima Gero like a lifetime before he felt a hefty clap upon his shoulders.

“We’ll have plenty of time for idle chit-chat later at the feast in your honour,” Ryujin announced. “First, however, I wish to show you my palace.”

Urashima had heard tell of his own country’s ruler and the vast space in which he resided. This underwater compound seemed even grander. He was taken up towers, down in to dungeons, around through the kitchens, workshops, stables and other rooms bustling with life and action which supported the day to day business of keeping the fortress functioning. He was taken through halls of learning and the chambers of science where, it was explained to him, Ryujin’s researchers worked tirelessly to develop new technologies which they hoped would make the lives of the denizens of the deep even better.

Perhaps most impressive in terms of size and luxury, however, were the halls of the palace in which the business of state was conducted. He was taken through room after room, all interconnected and filled with ministers, bureaucrats & clerical staff – all of whom were seated upon chairs filigreed with strands of gold at tables inlaid with pearl, busily discussing new policy ideas, ways in which to further improve agricultural quotas or theories for otherwise enhancing the lifestyles of all who lived within the confines of this city under the ocean.

Urashima was readily impressed and soon ran out of praise to bestow on all that he saw. It was overwhelming.

When his tour came to an end, the Emperor guided Urashima Gero to the guest chambers. The Emperor left him here in the care of a tailor who took some measurements and returned within an hour to garb Urashima Gero in the finest vestments he had ever seen.

Once dressed, an usher arrived to take him to a part of the palace that had, apparently, been left off the tour: a banquet hall that was, Urashima was certain, larger than his entire village.

He took pride of place at the royal table, right beside the Princess Otohime whom he had saved while she was in turtle form just the day before. The food was exquisite: the freshest and most flavourful fruits of the sea that Urashima could ever recall eating in his whole life. Perhaps better than the food was the company of Otohime. Urashima was utterly charmed by her presence. It didn’t seem to be too much of a leap to assume that she felt similarly; for, the next morning, she sent a page to fetch him to her chambers.

When he arrived, she was lounging on a vast pile of cushions, and she motioned for him to join her. He did so without hesitation – one does not refuse the command of royalty, after all – and sat down carefully. He felt as though he were floating on the softest feathers in all creation. Truly, this palace was a neverending source of joy!

Otohime clasped his hand. “Urashima, I must ask you something. It is very important and it is hard for me to bring myself to speak the words, so I trust you will let me finish my request without interruption.”

Urashima Gero nodded.

“And you must also promise me before I begin my request, that you will give ample consideration to what I ask of you?”

Urashima again nodded, and this time added the words, “Of course, your highness.”

She smiled. “Please, there is no need for such formality in my own chamber.”

She continued, “I am forever grateful to you for my rescue the other day, although if truth be told, I am sure I could have handled those children should I have been in any danger.” Once more, she smiled. “Your behaviour then and since you have arrived here, however, has enchanted me. I would like to get to know you better, and my request is for you to stay here, with us, under the ocean, for a while longer. Would you grant me this request?”

Urashima Gero felt his heart swell with a mixture of pride and anticipation and responded: “Gladly.”

He would spend the next three days exploring the city in the company of the Princess Otohime. There were many wonders to behold and he was made to feel truly welcome. He could not recall a time in his life when he had been so happy and fulfilled.

And yet, the novelty of the underwater world and the delightful company he found himself in were not enough to forever delay the onset of yearnings for home. Come the fourth day, he decided to ask if he could return to his village.

“Just for a visit,” he explained. “As awe-inspiring as your city is and as charming as your company has been, I still miss my village.”

The Princess hesitated before she answered, “Of course.”

“However, I have another request to make of you before you return. As before, you must promise to not interrupt my explanation. This time you must also promise not to ask any questions but to either carry out my instructions or else remain here.”

Urashima Gero was puzzled but nodded assent to these conditions.

There was a flash of light and a jewelled box appeared in front of Otohime. She stooped to pick it up and gave it to Urashima. As he took hold of it, she retained her grasp.

“You must promise me not to open this box, Urashima Gero. No matter what happens.”

“I… “

“Promise me. It is the only way I can guarantee your safety on the surface.” She looked into his eyes with an intensity that startled him.

“I promise, Princess.”

“Very well.” She lowered her head, and gave a wave of her hand. Urashima saw a bubble appear around him and then he was launched upwards, travelling rapidly away from the palace. Below him the Princess was already becoming smaller and smaller, although he could still see her hand waving a slow goodbye.

When he reached the surface, the bubble brought him to a small cove. It seemed familiar, but there was a tunnel that he didn’t recognize leading through the mountain above.

“Perhaps it was obscured by a tree that has since fallen in a storm while I was away,” Urashima Gero told himself.

He didn’t feel terribly reassured.

He made his way around the coast to the pier where he usually fished and became even more confused. In place of the wooden structure he’d spent many a day upon, a large rocky promontory extended far, far out into the sea.

“Perhaps the Princess has made a mistake and sent me to the wrong place,” he thought.

The route back to the village was much the same as he remembered it, so it was possible, he decided, that this was just a very similar settlement further down the same coast.

There was still a sense of unease as he neared the village which became a surge of unsteadiness when he came through the bamboo grove on what had been the outskirts of his home.

His village was not there. Or rather, something was there but it was utterly different to the place he remembered. The straw huts were gone, replaced with small cottages, built from stone. The dirt paths were now cobblestone streets. The people he saw were wearing strange clothes.

He made his way into the centre of the village, where the main square had once been and, it seemed, still was; only now it was much larger, and occupied by a market with bustling stalls.

“Excuse me,” he asked a passer-by. “Where am I?”

The individual stopped and looked Urashima Gero up and down before answering with the name of his village.

“But… I don’t understand….”

His conversation partner had hurried off. Urashima Gero felt the uneasiness within him grow ever greater and he sought out a bench to sit down, to try and gather his thoughts.

He hadn’t been seated long before some children kicked a ball in his direction, and which bounced off his leg to become trapped under the bench. One of the children was elected to fetch it back, and couldn’t resist the temptation to talk to the stranger.

“What’s with the clothes, mister?”

“Huh? Oh. They were a gift … from a Princess.”

The child inclined her head slightly and gave him a look which implied that she didn’t believe him. She continued with her questions.

“Where you from then?”

“Well, I’m from… or I thought I was from… here…” replied Urashima Gero, his voice trailing away.

“What’s your name then?” The child’s expression had grown ever more suspicious.

“Urashima Gero,” he replied with a faint sigh.

“No way! You’re having me on!” The child ran back to her friends and Urashima sat alone once more. Not for long.

Momentarily, the child came back, bringing her friends. Urashima Gero found himself surrounded by tiny questioning faces.

He answered every inquiry thrown his way as best he could, and the children did likewise in return.

He pieced together some things that he could not quite believe, which was exactly how the children felt about the information he had given them.

He’d been under the ocean for four days, but up here on the surface it was now two hundred and thirty seven years later. His name was quite well-known in the village, particularly by children: when they were naughty, their parents would warn them that their behaviour might bring the Emperor of the Sea in a bubble to take them away – like Urashima Gero.

Soon enough the children tired of his company: with their curiosity sated, their attention waned. Off they went, back to their game.

Urashima Gero was alone.

He sat, his thoughts a turmoil of confusion and befuddlement. He didn’t belong here any more. He should return to the sea. But he didn’t belong there either. He wasn’t a sea creature! Then again, the life under the waves, in the grand palace… that was something worthwhile. Still though, he would miss his simple days fishing off the pier. But the pier was gone. Everything was gone. Or changed. What could he do?

As these thoughts turned over and over in his mind, he spun the jeweled box the Princess had given him over and over in his hands, barely even noticing what he was doing…

.. until it slipped from his grip, turned in the air and landed on the ground beneath his feet with a thump that startled him out of his contemplation just long enough to notice that the box had landed on one of the topmost corners, jarring the lid open before the hinges started to bend, causing the box to become ever more open at what felt like an agonizingly slow pace. He remembered the Princess’ warning, for only a heartbeat, before a rush of air came hurtling out of the container and he heard the Princess speak one last time.

“I warned you, Urashima Gero! This box holds your true age!”

He looked down to see his skin stretch rapidly over weakening bones, to see his finery dissolve into dust before his own body followed suit, and then all that remained of Urashima Gero, save for the legend attached to his name, was carried off in the breeze.