Once upon a Time in Ghostly Japan (Bilingual Books)

by Sayumi Kawauchi and Ralph F. McCarthy

Based on the same animated series of old Japanese folk tales as "Once Upon a Time in Japan", this book contains eight of Japan's ghostly stories, with universal lessons imparted in each. This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 4770023472
• ISBN13: 9784770023476
• Release Date: June 1998
• Publisher: Kodansha International Ltd
• Weight: 0.35 lbs.

Customer Reviews

Good Japanese practice and some classic tales

Not quite as ghostly as one would hope, "Once Upon a Time in Ghostly Japan" presents bilingual versions of tradition Japanese folk tales that would more properly be categorized as fairy tales than ghost stories. All of the stories are illustrated with funny, cartoonish illustrations, with nothing scary going on at all. The book collects; "The Gratitude of the Crane" "The Snow Woman" "The Sparrow's Tounge" "The Tanuki Band of Shojoji" "Earless Ho-ichi" "Banbuku Teakettle" "Baby Grandma" "Leave Them and Go" The stories are presented with the English and Japanese side by side, at about Jr. High reading level. As such, the collection is great practice in reading authentic Japanese, where you can check your understanding instantly on the next page. The kanji is furigana, with hiragana readings above the Chinese characters. There are far more interesting and complete collections of Japanese folk tales available, such as Royall Tyler's "Japanese Tales," but having the chance to read them in Japanese is a treat. One can get bored of text books, and Kodansha's bilingual series, especially "Once Upon a Time in Ghostly Japan," can provide a welcome and interesting change.