In ancient Japan, a boy’s refusal to share his dream propels him into an adventure with ogres, magical tools, and two loving daughters, revealing the power of dreams and destiny.
Japanese Title
Yume awase / 夢合わせ
Translation
The Dream Contest
Location
Akita Prefecture / 秋田県
Contents
The Story of 【 The Dream Contest 】
Long ago, a wealthy man held a “dream contest” on the second day of the New Year. He gathered many servants to share their dreams.
“I dreamt this,” many said. However, the youngest boy remained silent. Annoyed, the wealthy man threatened, “If you don’t tell your dream, I’ll send you adrift in the river.” Still, the boy stayed mute. He had a dream but chose not to share it. The angered man placed the boy in a wooden box with rice and millet, sealed it, and let it float down the river.
The box floated out to sea and washed ashore where red and blue ogres found it. They took it to their leader. When they opened it, the boy emerged.
“Why are you here?” they asked.
“I was set adrift for not revealing my dream,” he replied.
“Tell me the dream!” the ogre leader demanded. The boy refused. “Then we’ll eat you!” threatened the ogre, but the boy remained steadfast. “I’ll show you treasures if you tell,” said the ogre, revealing three magical sticks. One could transport someone a thousand miles if chanted with “thousand miles.” The second allowed the user to understand the language of animals, and the third could resurrect the dead.
“Let me touch them to believe,” said the boy. As soon as he grasped them, he chanted “thousand miles” thrice and flew to Edo.
Near Edo, crows cawed loudly. Using the second stick, he heard, “The daughter of the wealthy Asahi is dying. Hurry!” At Asahi’s house, funeral preparations were underway. The boy revived the dead daughter with the third stick. She fell in love with him.
Then, the daughter of another wealthy man, Nigori, died. At their plea, he revived her too, and she also fell for him. Both families wanted him as a son-in-law. After much thought, he decided to split his time between the two. He spent the first half of the month with Asahi and the latter with Nigori, meeting both daughters at a bridge in between, living happily ever after.
The boy’s dream, which he told no one, was walking across a bridge, flanked by two women.
Notes of 【 The Dream Contest 】
Cultural Background
Ogres (Oni)
In Japanese folklore, ogres or ‘Oni’ are creatures that can be both menacing and protective. They are popular characters in traditional stories, often testing the protagonist’s courage or integrity.
Double Marriage
The tale reflects older cultural norms where polygamy, especially among wealthy or noble families, was practiced, although it became less common in later periods.
Dream Sharing on New Year
Sharing dreams on New Year’s is a unique tradition, as the first dream of the year (hatsuyume) is believed to foretell the dreamer’s luck for the coming year.
Glossary
TERM
Edo
The former name of Tokyo, Edo was the historical capital of Japan during the Edo period (1603-1868).
TERM
Asahi & Nigori
Although they sound like real names, they are symbolic in this context. “Asahi” means “morning sun,” and “Nigori” can be interpreted as “sunset” or “cloudy,” showing the contrast between the two households.
TERM
Magical Sticks
These sticks are unique magical tools. Their individual powers of transportation, understanding animals, and resurrection are symbolic of the dream’s profound impact on the boy’s journey.
TERM
Hatsuyume
The first dream of the New Year, believed to predict the dreamer’s fortune for the upcoming year. Common themes include Mount Fuji, hawks, and eggplants.
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