The Bear-Sending of Otoshibe

Tales from the Otoshibe Area

In a time when the Wajin had not yet arrived in Otoshibe, and the Ainu lived in peace with the land to themselves, a young man called Tarusan lived in Monashibe. Tarusan went out one day, near to the Wajin lands, and even long after nightfall, had not returned. When his friends set off to search for him the next morning, Tarusan’s robes and belongings were scattered by the riverside. They traced his footprints to the upper reaches of the river, where they discovered Tarusan, with half of his body transformed into a bear, climbing up a cliff. His friends shouted out his name, but as they watched, his entire body turned into a bear, and he disappeared into the bushes.