Crane's Gratitude - A Japanese Fairy Tale About Kindness

Brief Description: Crane's Gratitude is a Japanese folk tale that tells the story of a saved bird that returns in the form of a girl to thank a person for their kindness. This story teaches children the importance of helping others and the value of sincere gratitude.

In a village surrounded by snow-covered mountains lived a poor but kind-hearted man. One winter day, when the snow blanketed the ground, he went into the forest to gather firewood to heat his home. Along his way, he heard a faint, plaintive sound. Following the sound, he discovered a crane caught in a hunter's net.

— Poor bird, — said the man. — You are so beautiful, but you are suffering because of people's greed. I will help you.

He carefully freed the crane from the net and released it back into the wild. The bird flapped its wings and, as if bowing, flew into the sky.

That very night, as the wind howled outside the windows, there was a knock at the door. Surprised, the man opened it and saw a girl in simple yet elegant clothing. Her face was beautiful, and her eyes looked warm.

— Excuse me for disturbing you, — she said. — I am freezing and have lost my way in these parts. Could you take me in?

The man welcomed her gladly, warmed her by the fire, and shared his humble dinner with her. The girl was kind and caring, and soon offered to stay in his home and help with the household chores. In gratitude for his hospitality, she said:

— I have a gift. I can weave beautiful fabrics. If you allow me, I will create a cloth that will bring you wealth. But I ask you one thing: never watch me as I work.

The man agreed, and the girl locked herself in a room to begin weaving. Day by day, the sound of the loom could be heard from the room. Finally, she emerged and handed him a cloth of extraordinary beauty. It shimmered like stars and was softer than any silk.

— Sell this at the market, — she said. — You will earn enough money to buy everything you need.

The man followed her advice and received a large sum for the cloth. Now he could live without worry. But the girl continued to weave to help him even more. However, his curiosity grew. He couldn't understand how she created such wonderful fabrics.

One day, he broke his promise. He quietly peeked into the room and saw that the girl had transformed into a crane. She was plucking her own feathers and weaving them into the cloth. Realizing that her secret had been discovered, the girl turned around and looked at him. Sadness filled her eyes.

— I was the crane you saved, — she said. — I came to thank you, but now that you have broken your promise, I can no longer stay.

With these words, she transformed back into a crane, flapped her wings, and flew into the sky. The man stood at the doorway, watching the disappearing bird, and in his heart was gratitude and sorrow.

Moral of the Story:

The tale teaches that good deeds always come back. However, it is important to honor promises and respect others' secrets, otherwise, you may lose something precious.

Questions for Discussion:

• Why did the man decide to help the crane?
• With what gift did the girl repay the man?
• What happened when he broke his promise?