batch.motif.japanese-fairy-tales-ozaki-gutenberg-l728-l854
---
record_id: batch.motif.japanese-fairy-tales-ozaki-gutenberg-l728-l854
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/japanese/project-gutenberg/japanese-fairy-tales-ozaki.md
passage_locator:
label: JAPANESE FAIRY TALES / MY LORD BAG OF RICE / THE TONGUE-CUT SPARROW / THE
STORY OF URASHIMA TARO, THE FISHER LAD; lines 728-854
start: '728'
end: '854'
translation: Japanese Fairy Tales
notes: Generated from OpenAI Batch run motif-extraction-2026-04-28-high-priority;
human review required.
canonical_text:
quote: ''
summary: The passage closes the Tongue-Cut Sparrow tale with the old woman repenting
and the elderly couple living happily on the treasure received from the sparrow.
It then begins the story of Urashima Taro, a kind and skillful fisherman from
Mizu-no-ye. Urashima rescues a tortoise being tormented by children by buying
it from them, speaks gently to it, returns it to the sea, and the next morning
hears his name called while alone in his boat; the same tortoise appears beside
the boat and answers him.
language: English
quote_policy: summarized
literal_observations:
- id: obs:1
text: The old woman repents of her unkind ways and becomes good, and she and her
husband spend their last days happily using the treasure received from the tongue-cut
sparrow.
category: sequence
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: obs:2
text: Urashima Taro lives in the fishing village of Mizu-no-ye in Tango and is described
as an unusually skillful fisherman.
category: attribute
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- id: obs:3
text: Urashima is known for a kind heart and for never hurting living things or
joining children in teasing animals.
category: attribute
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- id: obs:4
text: A group of children torment a tortoise by pulling it, beating it with a stick,
and hammering its shell with a stone.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- id: obs:5
text: Urashima asks the boys to stop, then offers money in exchange for the tortoise.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
- id: obs:6
text: The boys accept the money, give the tortoise to Urashima, and leave.
category: sequence
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
- id: obs:7
text: Urashima strokes the tortoise, speaks to it, mentions the tortoise's reputed
ten-thousand-year life, and returns it to the sea.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:7
- id: obs:8
text: The next morning Urashima goes out alone in his boat and drifts far from the
other fishing boats over blue water.
category: setting
evidence_refs:
- ev:8
- id: obs:9
text: Urashima hears his name called over the sea and sees the rescued tortoise
beside his boat.
category: sequence
evidence_refs:
- ev:9
- id: obs:10
text: Urashima asks whether the tortoise called his name, and the tortoise nods
and begins to speak.
category: speech
evidence_refs:
- ev:10
figures:
- id: fig:1
name_or_label: old woman
description: An old woman who repents of cross, unkind ways and becomes good.
role_refs:
- role:1
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: fig:2
name_or_label: old man / husband
description: The old woman's husband, who lives happily with her in their last days
using the sparrow's treasure.
role_refs:
- role:2
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: fig:3
name_or_label: tongue-cut sparrow
description: The pet from whom the old man had received treasure before the passage's
closing sentence.
role_refs:
- role:3
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: fig:4
name_or_label: Urashima Taro
description: A young fisherman of Mizu-no-ye in Tango, skillful at fishing and known
for kindness to living things.
role_refs:
- role:4
- role:5
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- ev:3
- ev:5
- ev:7
- id: fig:5
name_or_label: children / boys
description: A group of children who torment a tortoise, then give it to Urashima
in exchange for money.
role_refs:
- role:6
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- ev:6
- id: fig:6
name_or_label: tortoise
description: A tortoise tormented by children, bought and released by Urashima,
later appearing beside his boat and speaking.
role_refs:
- role:7
- role:8
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- ev:7
- ev:9
- ev:10
roles:
- id: role:1
label: repentant wrongdoer
assigned_to:
- fig:1
basis: She repents of unkind behavior and becomes good.
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: role:2
label: spouse sharing restored welfare
assigned_to:
- fig:2
basis: He lives happily with the old woman in their last days, free from want or
care.
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: role:3
label: animal benefactor remembered by gift
assigned_to:
- fig:3
basis: The treasure sustaining the old couple is identified as having been received
from the tongue-cut sparrow.
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: role:4
label: kind fisherman
assigned_to:
- fig:4
basis: Urashima is explicitly described as a skillful fisherman known for kindness
and reluctance to harm creatures.
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- ev:3
- id: role:5
label: rescuer of an animal
assigned_to:
- fig:4
basis: He buys the tormented tortoise from the boys and returns it to the sea.
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
- ev:7
- id: role:6
label: animal tormentors
assigned_to:
- fig:5
basis: The children pull, beat, and strike the tortoise before accepting money for
it.
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- ev:6
- id: role:7
label: rescued animal
assigned_to:
- fig:6
basis: The tortoise is saved by Urashima from the children and put back into the
water.
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- ev:7
- id: role:8
label: speaking animal caller
assigned_to:
- fig:6
basis: The tortoise appears by Urashima's boat, nods when asked whether it called
him, and begins to speak.
evidence_refs:
- ev:9
- ev:10
symbols:
- id: sym:1
label: treasure from sparrow
literal_form: treasure
associated_figures:
- fig:2
- fig:3
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: sym:2
label: tortoise
literal_form: tortoise
associated_figures:
- fig:4
- fig:6
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- ev:7
- ev:9
- ev:10
- id: sym:3
label: sea water
literal_form: sea / blue waters
associated_figures:
- fig:4
- fig:6
taxonomy_refs:
- water
evidence_refs:
- ev:7
- ev:8
- ev:9
- id: sym:4
label: money used to buy the tortoise
literal_form: coins strung on a string
associated_figures:
- fig:4
- fig:5
- fig:6
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
- ev:6
- id: sym:5
label: boat at sea
literal_form: fishing boat
associated_figures:
- fig:4
- fig:6
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:8
- ev:9
scenes:
- id: scene:1
label: Repentance after the sparrow's treasure
summary: The old woman changes her behavior, and the old couple live happily and
carefully use treasure received from the tongue-cut sparrow.
figure_refs:
- fig:1
- fig:2
- fig:3
symbol_refs:
- sym:1
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: scene:2
label: Introduction of Urashima Taro
summary: Urashima is introduced as a young fisherman from Mizu-no-ye, highly skilled
at fishing and known for kindness to living things.
figure_refs:
- fig:4
symbol_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- ev:3
- id: scene:3
label: Children torment the tortoise
summary: On a summer twilight, Urashima encounters children pulling, beating, and
striking a tortoise.
figure_refs:
- fig:4
- fig:5
- fig:6
symbol_refs:
- sym:2
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- id: scene:4
label: Urashima buys and releases the tortoise
summary: Urashima persuades the boys to give him the tortoise in exchange for money,
comforts it, and returns it to the sea.
figure_refs:
- fig:4
- fig:5
- fig:6
symbol_refs:
- sym:2
- sym:3
- sym:4
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
- ev:6
- ev:7
- id: scene:5
label: The tortoise calls Urashima at sea
summary: The next morning Urashima drifts far out in his boat, hears his name called
over the sea, and sees the same tortoise beside the boat beginning to speak.
figure_refs:
- fig:4
- fig:6
symbol_refs:
- sym:2
- sym:3
- sym:5
evidence_refs:
- ev:8
- ev:9
- ev:10
candidate_motifs:
- id: motif:1
label: repentance followed by restored household welfare
taxonomy_refs: []
basis: The old woman repents, becomes good, and the couple live happily and without
want using the sparrow's treasure.
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
confidence: medium
cautions: Only the closing outcome of the preceding tale is included in this passage.
- id: motif:2
label: compassionate rescue of a tormented animal
taxonomy_refs: []
basis: Urashima intervenes when children torment a tortoise, buys it from them,
and releases it.
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- ev:5
- ev:6
- ev:7
confidence: high
cautions: The later reward or consequence is not included in the provided passage
beyond the tortoise's return and speech.
- id: motif:3
label: speaking rescued animal returns to the helper
taxonomy_refs: []
basis: The tortoise rescued the previous day appears beside Urashima's boat, responds
to his question, and begins to speak.
evidence_refs:
- ev:9
- ev:10
confidence: high
cautions: The content of the tortoise's speech is outside the passage.
- id: motif:4
label: exchange to save a living creature
taxonomy_refs:
- sacred_exchange
basis: Urashima gives money to the boys so that the tortoise can be freed and returned
to the sea.
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
- ev:6
- ev:7
confidence: medium
cautions: The available taxonomy term is broader than the literal monetary exchange
shown in the passage.
- id: motif:5
label: departure alone over water before supernatural encounter
taxonomy_refs:
- departure
basis: Urashima goes out in his boat, leaves other fishing boats behind, drifts
far over the blue waters, and then hears a non-human voice.
evidence_refs:
- ev:8
- ev:9
confidence: medium
cautions: The passage begins the encounter but does not yet show the destination
or full journey.
comparison_claims:
- id: claim:1
claim: The rescue of the tortoise followed by the animal's return and speech fits
the broad folktale pattern of a grateful or responsive animal helper.
claim_level: same_function
target: animal helper / grateful animal rescue pattern
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- ev:7
- ev:9
- ev:10
counter_evidence_refs: []
confidence: medium
limitations: The passage only reaches the tortoise's initial response and does not
include any later aid or reward.
evidence:
- id: ev:1
type: summary
locator: lines 728-733
quote_or_summary: The old woman repents of her cross, unkind ways; the couple live
happily and carefully spend the treasure the old man received from the tongue-cut
sparrow.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/japanese/project-gutenberg/japanese-fairy-tales-ozaki.md
rights_note: Public domain source; short summary.
- id: ev:2
type: summary
locator: lines 737-745
quote_or_summary: Urashima Taro is introduced as a young fisherman in Mizu-no-ye,
Tango, and as the most skillful fisher in the countryside.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/japanese/project-gutenberg/japanese-fairy-tales-ozaki.md
rights_note: Public domain source; short summary.
- id: ev:3
type: summary
locator: lines 747-753
quote_or_summary: Urashima is known for his kind heart, has never hurt anything,
and as a boy refused to join in teasing animals.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/japanese/project-gutenberg/japanese-fairy-tales-ozaki.md
rights_note: Public domain source; short summary.
- id: ev:4
type: summary
locator: lines 755-763
quote_or_summary: At summer twilight Urashima finds children tormenting a tortoise
by pulling it, beating it with a stick, and hammering its shell with a stone.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/japanese/project-gutenberg/japanese-fairy-tales-ozaki.md
rights_note: Public domain source; short summary.
- id: ev:5
type: summary
locator: lines 765-793
quote_or_summary: Urashima feels sorry for the tortoise, asks the boys to stop,
then offers them money so he can buy the tortoise from them.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/japanese/project-gutenberg/japanese-fairy-tales-ozaki.md
rights_note: Public domain source; short summary.
- id: ev:6
type: summary
locator: lines 795-804
quote_or_summary: The boys are persuaded by Urashima's gentle words, give him the
tortoise in exchange for money, and run away.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/japanese/project-gutenberg/japanese-fairy-tales-ozaki.md
rights_note: Public domain source; short summary.
- id: ev:7
type: summary
locator: lines 806-820
quote_or_summary: Urashima strokes the tortoise, says tortoises are said to live
ten thousand years, warns it not to be caught again, and puts it into the sea.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/japanese/project-gutenberg/japanese-fairy-tales-ozaki.md
rights_note: Public domain source; short summary.
- id: ev:8
type: summary
locator: lines 822-833
quote_or_summary: The next morning Urashima goes out in his boat, passes the other
fishing boats, drifts far over the blue waters, and thinks about wishing for thousands
of years of life.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/japanese/project-gutenberg/japanese-fairy-tales-ozaki.md
rights_note: Public domain source; short summary.
- id: ev:9
type: summary
locator: lines 835-848
quote_or_summary: Urashima hears his own name called over the sea, sees no other
boat, and then notices that the very tortoise he rescued has come beside his boat.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/japanese/project-gutenberg/japanese-fairy-tales-ozaki.md
rights_note: Public domain source; short summary.
- id: ev:10
type: summary
locator: lines 850-854
quote_or_summary: Urashima asks the tortoise whether it called his name; the tortoise
nods several times and speaks.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/japanese/project-gutenberg/japanese-fairy-tales-ozaki.md
rights_note: Public domain source; short summary.
confidence:
extraction: high
motif_candidates: medium
comparison_claims: medium
notes: The literal sequence is clear. Motif and comparison labels are cautious because
the passage cuts off just as the tortoise begins to speak.
reviewer_status:
status: needs_review
reviewer: ''
reviewed_at: ''
notes: Machine-generated draft from OpenAI Batch; not human-reviewed.
extracted_by: openai_batch:gpt-5.5
extracted_at: '2026-04-28'
notes: |-
Only the provided passage and metadata were used. Taxonomy references were limited to the supplied available taxonomy list.
batch_run_id=motif-extraction-2026-04-28-high-priority
custom_id=motif_extract:japanese-fairy-tales-ozaki-gutenberg__l728-l854
passage_sha256=feed0ca6ae6dbe2a02ac7053a3fa4fe4940088de114691e85942d85af1d0e987