Hukumusume fairy tale collection > Foreign language (English) > Short stories of Edo

Asking for the Impossible

(Short stories of Edo)

Translation　ちいさな翻訳屋さん

Make Origami ( ORIGAMI CLUB) Oni (Devils)

Japanese　←→　Japanese ＆ English　←→　English

　A woman way less than flattering had a hard time with her husband’s affair and dropped dead.

　When devils in the hell took the dead woman to the Great King Yama, she said,

“I have a favor to ask, the Great King Yama.

　Please turn me into a ghost and let me go back to the earth.

　Unless I get back at my nasty husband, I can’t die!”

　The Great King Yama listened to her and said,

“But traditionally, only beautiful ladies can become a ghost.

　I know how you feel but you can’t be a ghost with your ugly face.”

“Oh, no…”

　The devils felt sorry for this disappointed woman and whispered to her,

“Hey, maybe you should ask the Great King Yama to turn you into a monster, not a ghost.”

　The Great King Yama heard it and said,

“Right. If it’s ok with you, I can turn you into a monster.”

“Are you sure?

　I don’t mind being a monster or whatever.

　I mean, I’m willing to be a monster with a very spooky face.

　That will be scarier to my husband.”

“All right. You can count on me.

　I’ll turn you into a monster with a very spooky face.

　Let’s begin. Go!”

 Soon after the Great King Yama called out, the woman returned to her home.

　She thought, “Ok, let’s get back at him… but I wonder how I look.”

　As she wanted to see herself, she looked at her face in her hand mirror.

“…!!”

　She was surprised to see herself with her face as it was before.

The end

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