A Japanese Folktale

Use this story for Narrative Play! Check out our store for Story Sparks Tales of Valuable Virtues for the storytellers’ summary and children’s activity pages.

Retold by The Legendary Connection

TLC#00081

Once upon a time in Japan, there were two frogs. One lived in a ditch near the seaside town of Osaka, and the other lived by a clear stream that ran through the city of Kyoto. These two frogs had never met and didn’t even know the other existed. But one spring morning, both frogs had the same idea—they wanted to see more of the world! The frog from Kyoto decided to visit Osaka, and the frog from Osaka wanted to visit Kyoto.

Early that morning, both frogs set off on their journeys. They both hopped along the same road, one starting from Kyoto and the other from Osaka. As they traveled, the frogs realized the journey was harder than they had expected. There was a tall mountain in between the two towns that they would need to climb.

It took a long time and many hops, but eventually, both frogs made it to the top of the mountain. And what a surprise! When they reached the top, they found each other. They stared in amazement at each other but soon they started talking about their adventures.

The frog from Osaka said, "I’m going to visit Kyoto!"

And the frog from Kyoto replied, "And I’m on my way to Osaka!"

They laughed and decided to rest before continuing their journeys. They stretched out in a cool, damp spot, happy to take a break.

After a while, the frog from Osaka said, "If only we were bigger! Then we could see both towns from up here and decide if it's worth the trip."

The Kyoto frog thought for a moment. "That’s easy! We can stand on our hind legs and hold on to each other. Then, we can each look at the town we want to visit!"

Excited by the idea, both frogs stood up tall, balancing on their hind legs. The Osaka frog put his front paws on the shoulders of the Kyoto frog, and the Kyoto frog did the same. They held on tightly, ready to get a glimpse of their destinations.

But there was a problem. Frogs’ eyes are on the backs of their heads! So, even though their noses pointed toward the towns they wanted to visit, their eyes were actually looking at the places they had come from!

The frog from Osaka, thinking he was looking at Kyoto, said, "Kyoto looks just like Osaka! I guess it’s not worth traveling all that way. I’ll just go home."

At the same time, the Kyoto frog, thinking he was looking at Osaka, said, "If Osaka is just a copy of Kyoto, there’s no point in going there! I’ll head back."

With that, they let go of each other, tumbled down onto the grass, and said their goodbyes. Each frog hopped back home, happy they hadn’t bothered with the long journey.

And for the rest of their lives, both frogs believed that Osaka and Kyoto, two very different places, looked exactly the same.

Original Source: ---. “The Violet Fairy Book.” Https://Www.gutenberg.org/Files/641/641-h/641-H.htm, 27 Jan. 2021, www.gutenberg.org/cache/epub/641/pg641-images.html#link2H_4_0013. Accessed 12 Feb. 2024.