Urashimataro – a Fisherman with an Edge

Utagawa Kuniyoshi, Fukushima-juku (one of the 69 stations of the Kiso-kaidō, Urashimataro
Fisherman Urashimataro by Utagawa Kuniyoshi, from Stations of the Kiso-Kaido collection

Urashimatarō (浦島 太郎) is a Japanese fairy tale that can be dated back to the 8th century. Since then, theatre, literary works, and all sorts of Japanese arts have been celebrating the fable that has today over 50 different versions.
The main storyline is about a young fisherman who rescues a turtle from the hands of bully children. The grateful sea creature takes Urashimatarō to the underwater world, where he meets Princess Otohime at the Dragon Palace (Ryūgū-jō). The young fisherman is mesmerised by the beauties of the seaworld and is dined and wined for 3 years.

Urashima Taro encounters children on the beach who are toying with a turtle―Jinjō shōgaku kokugo tokuhon, the 3rd edition of Kokutei tokuhon, 1928
Urashima Taro encounters children on the beach who are toying with a turtle―Jinjō shōgaku kokugo tokuhon, the 3rd edition of Kokutei tokuhon, 1928
ukiyo-e woodblock print Utagawa Kuniteru URASHIMA TARO AND THE DRAGON PRINCESS Period- 1848-55

Ukiyo-e woodblock print by Utagawa Kuniteru. URASHIMA TARO AND THE DRAGON PRINCESS. Period- 1848-55

To add some spice to the plot, Urashimatarō and the princess enter a love relationship, but the fisherman feels homesick and decides to return to his family on land. The princess is saddened, but let him go, giving him a jeweled box (tamatebako), but forbids him to open it if he ever wishes to return to her.

Urashima taro opening the tamatebako

Upon reaching the shore, Urashimatarō finds out things have changed beyond recognition. His house, his parents, and all the people he knew are gone. He is told by the villagers that a fisherman named Urashimatarō vanished into the sea a long time ago. Struck by grief and absent-minded, he opens the box that releases a smoke, turning him into an old man. 300 years had passed on land even though he had only spent three years in the seaworld. 

Urashima saves the turtle.―From an Otogizōshi picture scroll in the Bodleian Library collection, late 16th or early 17th century
Urashima saves the turtle from the bully children. Otogizōshi picture scroll of the Bodleian Library collection. Late 16th or early 17th-century.
Urashimataro and Otohime watching the deers in the autumn garden of the Dragon Palace.
Urashima and Otohime watching the deers in the Autumn Garden of the Dragon Palace. According to the legend, the palace was surrounded by a garden that had four sides, each corresponding to a different season.
Urashimataro Dragon Palace
Urashima visits the Dragon Palace. Woodblock print by Katsu Shunro ga. Late 18th century.
Urashima taro winter garden
Urashima and Otohime admiring the Winter Garden of the Dragon Palace.
Urashima and Otohime cross a bridge in the kingdom under the sea. Japanese painting, late 16th or early 17th century
Urashima and Otohime cross a bridge in the kingdom under the sea. Japanese painting, late 16th or early 17th century.
Tamatebako

A "Tamatebako" (玉手箱) (jeweled hand box) is handed by Otohime to Urashimatarō before his departure. Some versions say he dies soon after opening the box, others, he was transformed into a crane, yet none says he was able to return to his princess. This story was evoked many times, as an analogy to the Edo Era (1600 – 1868). Japan had been unified by Tokugawa Ieyasu but from 1639 to 1868 closes its frontiers, self-isolating completely from the rest of the world. During this period, the nation enjoyed peace and prosperity, but remained oblivious to the developments of the outside world. The expression "like Urashimatarō" is still used today when someone finds themselves in a similar situation as the young fisherman.

Joseph_Jefferson_as_Ripvanwinkle_by_Napoleon_SArony_(1821-1896)

Joseph Jefferson (American actor February 20, 1829 – April 23, 1905) as Rip Van Winkle (1896). The short story "Rip Van Winkle" by American author Washington Irving is often said to be the Western version of Urashimatarō.

Katase-Enoshima Station in Fujisawa, Kanagawa Prefecture, was designed to evoke the feeling of Ryūgū-jō, the Dragon Palace.

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