岩屋の娘

Iwaya's daughter

Iwaya's daughter
ある村の若者が、町へ行く途中で大槌川の橋の上で、一人の婆さまから呼び止められました

A young man in a village was stopped by a woman on the bridge of the Otsuchi River on the way to the town.

A young man in a village was stopped by a woman on the bridge of the Otsuchi River on the way to the town.
婆さまが「病気の娘の為に町で薬を買ってきてほしい」というので、若者は言われた通りにしてあげました

The young woman said, I want you to buy medicine in the town for my sick daughter.

The young woman said, I want you to buy medicine in the town for my sick daughter.
薬を受け取った婆さまは「是非、家に寄って下さい」というので、若者はちょっと興味がわいて婆さまの後をついて行くことにしました

The old woman who received the medicine said, Please drop in home, so the young man was a little interested and decided to follow the old woman.

The old woman who received the medicine said, Please drop in home, so the young man was a little interested and decided to follow the old woman.
すると、神社の境内にある大きな岩の中が婆さまの家で、そこには美しい娘が布団で寝ていました

Then, the large rock on the grounds of the shrine was a grandmother's house, and a beautiful girl was sleeping on a futon.

Then, the large rock on the grounds of the shrine was a grandmother's house, and a beautiful girl was sleeping on a futon.
娘は起き上がって薬のお礼を言い、若者をいろいろともてなしてくれました

My daughter got up and thanked for the medicine, and gave me a lot of young people.

My daughter got up and thanked for the medicine, and gave me a lot of young people.
やがて若者は、娘の美しさに惹かれ、毎晩娘の岩屋へ通うようになりました

Eventually, the young man was attracted to her daughter's beauty and began to go to her daughter, Iwaya, every night.

Eventually, the young man was attracted to her daughter's beauty and began to go to her daughter, Iwaya, every night.
ある日、若者がいつものように岩屋へ行くと、娘は泣いていました

One day, when a young man went to Iwaya as usual, she was crying

One day, when a young man went to Iwaya as usual, she was crying
婆さまは「実は私たちはキツネです、もう二度と来てはいけません」と打ち明けました

The grandmother confessed, We're actually foxes, don't come again.

The grandmother confessed, We're actually foxes, don't come again.
若者は衝撃の事実に茫然として、岩屋を出ました

Young people left Iwaya, stunned by the shock facts

Young people left Iwaya, stunned by the shock facts
しばらくの間、ぼんやり歩いていた若者はハッと足を止め、娘がキツネであろうと離れることはできない、と考え直し、もと来た道を一目散にかけて岩屋に戻りました
しかし不思議なことに、あったはずの岩屋の入り口が見当たらず、ただ大きな岩があるだけでした
それっきり若者は娘と会う事はなく、神社の近くでキツネを見る事もありませんでした