(Voice actor) Mr.Chris Koprowski

This story takes place before the Tamagawa river had any bridges. They did not used to build bridges across large rivers, because rivers were natural fortifications protecting towns from enemies. In time of war, the enemy would need boats to come across the river. Not only would it take time for them to arrange the boats but also a boat crossing a river was a good target for guns and arrows. Rivers helped slow down the enemy. That is why there were no bridges on large rivers. It worked for wars, but was very inconvenient for common travelers. The way travelers crossed a river was by a boatman from a pier. There also were watermen who carried passengers on their shoulders across the river. That was how travelers used to cross rivers. Boatmen were necessary for travelers so it used to be a fairly well paid job. However, Sankichi, the boatman of this story was poor because he was very compassionate. When there were sick or injured, he left his job to go help them instead. The passengers would go to other boatmen, leaving Sankichi with no earnings for those days. He also carried passengers with no money for free. So he ended up with little earnings and was always poor. One night, something strange happened while he was on his boat. A sphere of light started circling around Sankichi’s boat. Sankichi had no idea what was glowing. When Sankichi sailed out the next night, the glowing sphere circled around his boat again. As Sankichi stared at the glowing sphere, a women appeared holding the sphere like a lantern and carrying a fish at her side. “I am a personification (other animals taking forms of human) of a carp living in Tamagawa river. My carp husband is suffering from a stomach ache. I know you are a kind man from what I’ve seen from under the river. Please help my husband,” begged the woman. Sankichi was surprised but couldn’t leave a person in need. He checked the carp and found the pain was caused by a hook it swallowed. So he stuck his hand inside the carp and removed the hook. And the carp’s pain went away. Then, the carp couple performed a miracle on Sankichi. What will happen to Sankichi?