STORYTELLING WITH ANTO

Why Dog and Cat are Enemies There once was a couple that owned a ring that brought luck to its owners by making sure they always had enough fortune to live on, however, the couple did not know this. Unknowing of its properties, they sold the ring and quickly became poor to the point of hunger. They had a dog and a cat that also grew hungry, so they met to try and help their owners in any way. The dog figured out that they needed to get the ring back, but this was already locked in a wooden chest, so he told the cat to catch a mouse and make it gnaw a hole in the chest to reach for the ring. The cat did as told, and when she had the mouse together they went to find the ring, only to find a broad river in the way. Since the cat could not swim, the dog carried her on his back and waited for her to return. The mouse so gnawed the box, and as soon as he had given her the ring, she began her journey back to the river where the dog once again helped her across. On their way back, the dog h...

Urashima The story of Urashima tells of his quest past the sea for seven long days without rest. He did not return to Suminoye nor to his home but after a fruitless quest, he pulled a great tortoise from the sea. Tortoises are a holy symbol of long life so he returned it to the water. Urashima slept and started dreaming when a vision of a fair maiden came, the daughter of the dragon. She whispered to him that for having speared the tortoise's life he could join her in her castle underneath the sea, and take princess Otohime as his wife, where they would be ever young and free, never to die. But after being in the palace with his wife, he began to long for his home and family, so he decided to go see his parents and then return. His wife then entrusted him with a talismanic casket to take with him but instructed him not to open it. Urashima sailed to his home, Suminoye, but when he reached it there were no huts and no people, thus realizing that he had stayed in the palace for hu...

Izanagi and Izanami In the beginning, everything was chaos and from the void emerged a cloud from which sprouted a bud than then grew and blossomed towards the heavens. From the wonder-flower bloomed the Sun. At the same time, from heaven came downward a night-blooming flower that became the moon. Out of these blossoms sprang many gods, the last of who were Izanagi (all-powerful-God-of-the-Air) and Izanami (fair-Goddess-of-the-Clouds), and from them came all life.  Izanagi and Izanami stood in the Floating Bridge of Heaven when Izanagi said that there must be a kingdom beneath them and that they should visit it. He threw his spear into the ocean and when he drew it, from the drops of liquid the island of Onogora was born. He stirred once ore creating a mountain attached to the Floating Bridge. Izanagi and Izanami both descended and skirted the Pilla of Earth in opposite directions; when they met, Izanami spoke first which was a great offense due to her being a woman, so they...