The master of a household known by the name Kichibee in Yamaguchi Village once went into a mountain called Nekkodachi. When he cut down some bamboo grass, bundled it together, and tried to lift it onto his shoulders, he suddenly noticed the wind blowing across the field of bamboo grass. Looking up, he saw from within the forest deep in the back a young woman walking toward him, carrying an infant on her back, treading lightly across the expanse of bamboo grass. She was of striking beauty, with long black hair flowing down. The cord fastening the child to her back was made of wisteria vines, and the garments she wore were striped kimono of this world, yet near the hem they were badly torn and patched together with leaves of many different trees. Her feet did not appear to touch the ground. Calmly she approached and passed right in front of the man, continuing on to somewhere beyond. Terrified at the sight, the man fell ill, remained long bedridden, and only recently passed away.

bamboo grass ......（名）笹

striking (beauty) ......（形）目立つ、際立った、印象的な

flowing down (hair) ...... 流れるように垂れる

cord fastening ......（名）縛りつける紐、結び縄

wisteria vines ......（名）藤のつる

hem ......（名）裾

patched together (with leaves) ......（動）つぎはぎにする、寄せ集める

tread lightly ...... 静かに歩く、軽やかに歩く

bedridden ......（形）病床にある、寝たきりの

○Kichibee in Yamaguchi, Tsuchibuchi village is successive popular name and the host’s name also Kichibee.