Japanische Märchen

This volume brings together a hand‑picked selection of Japan’s most beloved folk tales, legends and fables, freshly rendered into German for a younger audience. The stories come straight from the oral tradition and historic print sources, preserving the vivid imagination of the original storytellers while smoothing language that might be too harsh for today’s readers. Helpful notes accompany each tale, offering a glimpse of the cultural background that makes the “land of the rising sun” so enchanting.

Among the tales is the chilling legend of the Juki‑onna, a snow‑bound spirit who appears during a fierce winter storm to test the courage of two woodcutters seeking shelter. The narrative balances eerie atmosphere with gentle moral hints, showing how humility and kindness can soften even the coldest encounters. Together with many other gems, the collection invites listeners to explore a world where nature, mystery and human hearts intertwine in timeless wonder.