Momotaro

Quick Answer

Why This Story Works for Bedtime

It’s an adventure with a strong ‘safe return’ ending. The teamwork theme feels reassuring at bedtime: you don’t face big problems alone, and kindness (sharing kibi dango) helps build trusted allies.

Story Synopsis

An elderly couple living quietly near the river discovers a giant peach floating toward them. They carry it home, and when they cut it open, a baby boy appears—healthy, smiling, and as if sent to be their child. They name him Momotaro, “Peach Boy,” and raise him with warmth and steady work. As Momotaro grows, he becomes unusually strong and kindhearted. One day he hears frightening news: ogres (oni) from an island across the sea have been raiding villages, stealing treasure, and leaving people afraid. Momotaro decides to stop them—not to prove himself, but to protect his community. Before he leaves, his grandmother makes him kibi dango (millet dumplings) for the journey. Along the road Momotaro meets three animals: a dog, a monkey, and a pheasant. Each asks for a dumpling, and Momotaro shares his food with a generous heart. In return, the animals pledge loyalty and become his team—each bringing a different strength: courage, cleverness, and swift flight. Together they cross the sea to the ogres’ island. The adventure turns into a true teamwork mission: they face gates, guards, and fearsome ogres, but they keep moving with coordination and courage. At last the ogres are defeated and persuaded to surrender. Momotaro and his friends return home with the stolen treasure and, more importantly, with peace restored. Momotaro is a folktale about bravery that doesn’t stand alone—kindness, sharing, and loyal friendship make the hero stronger than muscles ever could.

Story Excerpt

Long, long ago in Japan, there lived an old man and an old woman. They were simple peasants, and they worked hard every day just to earn their rice. The old man went out to the hills to cut grass for the farmers, and the old woman kept the house and tended their little rice field. One bright morning, when the country looked fresh and green, the old man set off with his scythe, and the old woman went to the river with a basket of clothes to wash. The river ran clear as crystal. Small fish flickered through the water, and smooth pebbles shone at the bottom. The old woman found a good spot on the bank and began to wash. She rubbed the cloth on the stones, rinsed it, and laid it neatly aside. Then, as she worked, something large came bobbing down the stream. It was a peach — so big that, though she was sixty years old, she had never seen anything like it. “ How delicious that peach must be, ” she said to herself. “ I must take it home for my old man. ” She reached for it, but it drifted just out of reach. There was no stick nearby, and she was afraid that if she ran to find one, the peach would float away. So she stopped, thought for a moment, and remembered an old charm - verse. She clapped her hands to keep time with the peach’s gentle rolling and sang : “ Distant water is bitter, The near water is sweet ; Pass by the distant water And come into the sweet. ” Strangely enough, as she sang, the peach began to glide closer and closer, until it rested right in front of her. She lifted it with both hands — it was heavy and cool — and her heart felt as bright as the morning. She could hardly finish her washing. She packed the clothes back into her bamboo basket, placed the basket on her back, and hurried home with the great peach in her arms. All day she waited for her husband. At last, near sunset, he came…

In One Glance