Myths, legends and folktales

[Binsento]

I just read a japanese folktale and it was really interesting stuff.
Deaths, ghosts, samurai, sakura, it had it all and gives a different angle to look at the japanese culture.
Who can tell me a few "must-read" stories?

[mandolin]

Well, I haven't read it for myself yet, because I'm hoping for my first readthrough to be in printed Japanese, which I'm not ready for... BUT...

Momotarou is a very common myth/faerie tale. I guess it's more for children, so maybe not what you're looking for.

[skrhgh3b]

yeah, momotarou and urashima taro are probably the most famous japanese folktales. you should probably start there.

[sa]

for kids "昔話 (mukashi banashi)"
鶴の恩返し(tsuru no ongaeshi) : fantasy
猿蟹合戦(saru kani gassen) : slapstick?
浦島太郎(urashima tarou) : fantasy,Sci-Fi(time travel)
わらしべ長者(warashibe chouja) : Bildungsroman,comedy

for adult "古典文学 (koten bungaku)"
古事記(kojiki) :　Emperor chronicle,fantasy
竹取物語(taketori monogatari) : Sci-Fi(encounter with space alien),fantasy
源氏物語(genji monogatari) : Love romances ,Bildungsroman

...and
Reference keyword：Folklore researcher
柳田国男(yanagida kunio)
小泉八雲(koizumi yakumo ,Patrick Lafcadio Hearn)

[Binsento]

Nice last sa ! Thank you very much, i'll check some out immediately.
Thanks also for the rest, is momotaro the Peachbuy, because i've already heard of it, but never actually read it.

[mandolin]

Yep, momotarou is the Peachboy.

[kempokatt]

So you want to read some stories?

go here....

http://www.his.atr.jp/~ray/stories/

[Binsento]

Wow, thanks kempkatt !
Excellent site for practising hiragana !
Funny how 90% starts with: "Once there lived an old man and an old woman who had no children."

[roosh]

what's about momotarou?..juz get to know slightly about it from the crayon sin chan manga that i've read years ago...==
[it's weird to say so.]

===15minutes later
i think i'd better visit those provided sites first...^^"