Traditional | Japan
The Farmer and the Badger
A kind farmer and his wife save an injured badger, but it betrays them, so a helpful rabbit teaches it a lesson.
Once upon a time, there lived a kind farmer and his loving wife. They were known throughout the village for their warm hearts and generosity. One day, they found a badger lying injured in their field. Feeling pity for the creature, they brought it home and took care of it until it got better.
After a few days, the badger was fit and healthy again. But instead of being grateful, the badger was mean and sneaky. One day, when the farmer was out working in his field, the badger attacked the farmer's wife and ate all the food.
When the farmer came home and discovered what had happened, he was very upset. He chased the badger away, and from then on, the badger became the farmer's enemy.
The farmer had a good friend, a kind rabbit. When the rabbit heard about what the badger had done, it decided to help the farmer.
The rabbit challenged the badger to a race in a boat. The badger agreed, not knowing that the rabbit had given him a boat made of mud. As they raced, the badger's boat started to dissolve in the water. Unable to swim, the badger was in trouble. He called out for help, and the rabbit told him that this was the consequence of his bad actions.
