Introduction: At the begriming of the book, there are two paragraphs that mention the author grew up in Japan and then studied Japanese folklore and has published other volumes of folklore. In the introduction, Juliet Piggott mentions a dozen or so books of Japanese fairy tales that she consulted. However, she states that these are her retelling of stories she remembers from her childhood.

Organization: The thirteen tales are listed in a table of contents in no discernable order. The pen and ink drawings by Harry Toothill add little to the stories. Although the do appear to be based on some knowledge of Japan, they show curious or strange sights.

The stories themselves: As these stories were written less than forty years ago, they may be more readable than the tales written down at the turn of the last century. I think that the author has filled these stories out and a teller might want to edit them. I think that these stories are for ages about 7 to 11 year olds.

Source Notes: There are no source notes. In some places I notice that background information is wound into the tale. For example this description of Japan's geography, "In the whole land, in the four main islands of Japan and in the mass of little islands, there was no one stronger or braver than Kintaro." (p.73) Yet in other places notes would be helpful or interesting. For example in The Wedding of the Mice, the black mouse is called O Kuro San. That is a polite way of saying Mr. Black. That bit of information is lost to non-Japanese speakers. (p.190)

This would not be the first book I would read if I was looking for great Japanese fairy tales. I think this would be a source to compare versions with or possibly find a new tale not told in other books of Japanese fairy tales.

1. The White Hare of Oki
2. The Dragon with the Sword in Its Tail
3. The Fight Between the Crab and the Monkey
4. How Prince Yamamoto Used the Dragon Sword
5. The Fisherboy and the Turtle
6. Kintaro
7. The Crane Who Said Thank You
8. The Men with the Lumps on Their Faces
9. The Straw Cape
10. The Burning Mountain
11. The Old Man of the Cherry Blossom
12. The Bamboo Princess
13. The Wedding of the Mice