Tales of Ancient Japan

«Tales of Ancient Japan» – the key to the cultural code of the Land of the Rising Sun. This collection of tales by Sadzunami Sandzina has been read by generations of Japanese. Now the echoes of this book can be found in the animated films of Hayao Miyazaki, in anime, and in the works of Haruki Murakami, Kobo Abe, and other writers. Sadzunami captured in the recorded tales the very essence of Japan – its history, mythology, everyday life, and beliefs. There is the legendary-historical tale of the hero Momotaro, who was born from a large peach and at a young age defeated a whole swarm of evil demons. There is a religious-ethical tale about the cunning and cruel Tanuki, who was avenged by the Rabbit for the death of his elderly neighbor. There is also a mythical tale about a descendant of heavenly gods, who descended to the ocean floor in the Dragon's realm in search of a lost fishing hook. The collection of tales is preceded by an article by the oriental scholar Vasily Mendrin about the culture and development of Japan. The tales themselves are illustrated by the Japanese artist Kobayashi Eitaku.