By Jaslene Matharoo

Kintaro’s mother was left alone after his father died before he was born. After she had him, he was named Kintaro, or “Golden Boy”. He had incredible strength and could chop down trees at a very young age. As a result of growing up all alone, he made friends with the animals around him, and tried to talk to the animals. Soon they had a master/servant relationship. Once he held a wrestling match with all the animals. He let the animals wrestle with each other while he watched on and at the end, he would give a prize to the winner. He gave pieces of his food to the animals once they won, and when it was time to go home, Kintaro lifted a tree to make a bridge across a river. The woodcutters in the forest saw this and were curious as to who’s child it was that could lift an entire tree. The woodcutters followed Kintaro home and asked him if they could join the wrestling match. One of the woodcutters challenged Kintaro to arm wrestle, and Kintaro accepted. Both tried very hard to win, but the woodcutter called it a draw. The woodcutter complimented Kintaro on his strength and asked his mother why she did not take him to the city to become a warrior. The mother said that she did not know anyone in the city, and that Kintaro was also a wild child, since he grew up in the mountains. It was then that the woodcutter revealed himself as a top Japan general, and as a vassal for Lord Minamoto-no-Raiko. He offered to take Kintaro to the city, and train him there. The mother gleefully accepted, estatic that her dreams of seeing her son become a general fulfilled. When Kintaro left, the animals wished him goodbye, and thanked him for his time with them. Kintaro left to start his training as a top warrior.

https://www.kcpinternational.com/2012/09/kintaro/

https://moderntokyotimes.com/folklore-and-art-of-japan-kintaro-the-mysterious-and-powerful-golden-boy/

https://www.japantimes.co.jp/culture/2000/03/18/arts/japanese-legends-sweetest-hero/

https://artsandculture.google.com/story/kintaro-the-legendary-folk-hero-keio-university/xAWBpJ-5kIfCLw?hl=en

https://etc.usf.edu/lit2go/72/japanese-fairy-tales/3080/the-adventures-of-kintaro-the-golden-boy/