Folktales from Japan Season 1 Episode 37 E 37

Folktales from Japan season 1 episode 37, titled "E 37," is another enchanting tale of the ancient Japanese folklore. The show has been an admirable effort to keep traditional folk stories alive and relevant, retelling the classic fables with modern animation techniques.

The episode begins with a story of a poor fisherman, who lives in a small village by the sea with his wife and children. One day, while he is fishing far away from the coast, he catches a giant fish, which he has never seen in his life before. As he begins to reel in the fish, he realizes that it's too large to fit in his small boat, and he doesn't have enough strength to pull it out of the water entirely. Nevertheless, he persists and tries to drag the fish to the shore. But after a while, he notices that the fish is getting heavier, and he can no longer move it. To the fisherman's amazement, the fish speaks to him and requests to be released, promising to grant him a wish in return. Initially, the fisherman is too stunned to respond, but then he asks for a modest request that could help improve his family's economic situation. The fish grants his wish and disappears, but little does the fisherman know that his wish will have severe consequences.

The second story of the episode tells of a group of Samurai who are on a quest to find a woman who can perform an ancient Japanese dance known as the Kabuki. After an exhaustive search, they finally come across a blind and beautiful girl named O-Shizu. They train her in the dance, and she becomes an instant hit, with people flocking to see her performances. Soon, a young Samurai named Genzaburo falls in love with O-Shizu, and the two start spending a lot of time together, despite the strict social rules against such relationships. However, their happiness is short-lived, as the wicked daughter of the magistrate frames O-Shizu for a theft she didn't commit and tries to have her executed. Genzaburo, with the help of his master, fights to prove O-Shizu's innocence and clear her name.

The third and final story of the episode tells of a Farmer's daughter named Matsu who saves a man from drowning in a river. The man, who is a wandering scholar, is so taken by Matsu's beauty that he decides to return to her village and ask for her hand in marriage. But when he arrives, he finds out that Matsu is already engaged to a wealthy merchant from a neighboring village. Heartbroken, he decides to leave, but not before cursing the village, warning that it will be destroyed unless the people found the strength to look beyond material wealth and recognize the real value of love. The villagers, realizing their mistake, plead with the scholar to stay and make amends, but it's too late. Matsu, touched by the scholar's love for her, breaks off the engagement and decides to be with him, even if it means a life of poverty.

Overall, Folktales from Japan season 1 episode 37, or "E 37," is an excellent representation of Japanese folk tales, which carry relevant themes and moral values even today. The episode boasts masterful storytelling, beautiful animation, and lovable characters that leave a lasting impact on the viewer. Whether it's a tale of love and devotion or a story of perseverance and redemption, Folktales from Japan is a show that will delight audiences of all ages and cultures.