Reading Notes: Ozaki, Reading A

 

 (Japan Map; Web Source: Wikimedia)

The story that I read is from Japan. It is called The Man Who Did Not Wish to Die in Ozaki.  Once upon a time there was a man called Sentaro. His name was millionaire. He was not poor. He had some money overall which he did not make. He was by no means a millionaire though. He received this money from his father. He had a fear that many people have which is death. He had heard of a tale. In this tale, there was a man who had everything in life money-wise. He did not want to die like Sentaro. Thus, he tried not to die and wanted to reach this water that could grant the man eternal life. However, the man that he sent to get the water did not return. Sentaro is convinced that there is this eternal life, so he tries to find it. However, he must be a hermit in order to find the hermits who know where that is. This is very difficult for Sentaro. Although he was not a millionaire, he had money. He was used to the nice things in life, so this was a difficult task for him to take on. He wanted to live forever, but when he came to this island, many people sought to die. They believed in Paradise beyond the world. They tried to die and have poisons, but they were unable to die. Their health kept getting better. There was a shop where you could get goods that turned people's hair gray and bring disorders to the stomach. He wanted to leave later and almost died. He then began to live a more industrious and hardworking life than before. If I altered this story, I would make it from the perspective of someone living on the island. I think this could be more interesting.

Bibliography: Japanese Fairy Tales by Yei Theodora Ozaki on Blogspot