Here are stories from the legendary past of Japan: stories about the birth of the country, stories of the gods and of the Heike, the noble race of warriors. Here too are folktales of woodcutters and fishermen who enter strange, enchanted worlds: of fairy children who bring joy to their human parents, and wicked giants and beautiful princesses. In some of the stories there are touches of mischief and humour, and in all of them there lies a deep sense of the magic, the ceremony, and the wonder of life.