Otohime

Otohime is a prominent figure in Japanese folklore, most famously appearing in the tale of Urashima Tarō. She is the daughter of the Dragon King Ryūjin, ruler of the undersea palace Ryūgū-jō. In the story, Otohime encounters the fisherman Urashima Tarō, who saves a turtle from being harmed. As a reward, the grateful turtle, which is revealed to be a servant of Otohime, takes Urashima Tarō to the Dragon Palace.

At Ryūgū-jō, Otohime welcomes Urashima Tarō and entertains him lavishly for what he believes are only a few days. She offers him a magical jewel box, known as the tamatebako, which she instructs him never to open. When Urashima Tarō eventually wishes to return to his village, Otohime sorrowfully bids him farewell, providing him with the tamatebako.

Upon his return, Urashima Tarō discovers that centuries have passed in the human world due to the magical time distortion at Ryūgū-jō. In his despair, he opens the tamatebako, releasing a cloud of white smoke that ages him instantly, turning him into an old man. Otohime's role in the story is that of a benevolent but ultimately tragic figure, representing the allure and deceptive nature of otherworldly realms and the irreversible consequences of tampering with time. Her character embodies beauty, hospitality, and a certain melancholy associated with the transient nature of happiness and existence.