Urashima

Urashima is a Japanese folktale about a fisherman named Urashima Tarō. The story tells of his encounter with a turtle that he rescues from children. As a reward, the turtle takes him to the Dragon Palace, a magical underwater kingdom ruled by the sea goddess Otohime. There, Urashima enjoys himself for what seems like a few days, feasting and being entertained. When he decides to return home, Otohime gives him a jeweled box and warns him never to open it. Upon his return to his village, Urashima finds that 300 years have passed. His home is gone, and no one recognizes him. In his despair, he opens the box, which releases a cloud of smoke, aging him instantly and turning him into an old man. The tale is often interpreted as a cautionary story about the passage of time and the consequences of breaking promises. Variations of the story exist in different regions of Japan and have been adapted into various forms of media, including literature, theatre, and animation. The folktale serves as a poignant reminder of the ephemeral nature of time and the deep connection between human experience and the natural world.