In a quiet Japanese village nestled in the hills, an old woman was washing clothes in the river when she saw a giant peach floating downstream. She hauled it to shore and called for her husband. As they cut it open, a baby boy popped out.
The couple, who had no children, were overjoyed. They named him Momotaro, or “Peach Boy.” He grew up strong, kind, and curious. When demons (oni) from a distant island began raiding villages, Momotaro volunteered to stop them.
With rice cakes from his mother, he set off. Along the way, he befriended a dog, a monkey, and a pheasant, who joined him in exchange for food. Together, they sailed to the island, where Momotaro and his friends outwitted and defeated the demons, recovering stolen treasures.
He returned home a hero but remained humble, giving the loot to the villagers and continuing to serve his parents.
Moral: Bravery and kindness can overcome even the fiercest enemy.
