The White Rabbit of Inaba | Japanese Folktale Read-Aloud Picture Book for Kids

The White Rabbit of Inaba: a classic Japanese folktale, told as an animated read-aloud picture book for children ages 3 to 6. The pages turn one by one as the story is read, and each word lights up as it is read, so little ones can follow along. A gentle 10-minute story for storytime, quiet time or before bed, with English and Japanese subtitles. #WhiteRabbitOfInaba #JapaneseFolktale #BedtimeStory THE STORY Once upon a time, a little white rabbit on the island of Oki wanted to cross the sea to the land of Inaba. So he asked the sharks of the sea: "Which has more friends, rabbits or sharks? Let's count!" The sharks lined up in a long, long row, and the rabbit hopped across their backs, counting "one, two, three..." Just one more hop to the beach, and then he blurted out the truth... The angry sharks pulled out his fur, and the rabbit was left shivering on the beach. Along came a crowd of gods, brothers who gave him mean advice: "Wash in the sea and dry in the wind!" But the youngest brother, Okuninushi, who came last with a big sack on his back, kindly told him how to really get better. Feeling much better, the rabbit told the truth and said sorry to the sharks, too. Then he gave Okuninushi a wonderful piece of news in thanks. The scary parts are told in gentle words and pictures, and everyone ends up friends. WHAT'S INSIDE Paper-collage animation: pictures in the style of torn Japanese washi paper. The characters talk, blink and walk. Read-along text: the words at the bottom of the screen light up as they are read, in a different color for each speaker. Say it together: when the rabbit counts the sharks, "one, two, three...", children can count along on "Ready, set, go!" Funny moments: the Boss Shark who brags about being "the coolest in the sea," his ticklish little sharks, and the brothers who keep shouting "It's me!" In the old story, the sharks are called "wani", an old Japanese word for sharks. They are drawn as sharks here. A story about telling the truth and saying sorry. CHAPTERS 0:00 Let's begin! 0:07 The white rabbit of Oki 0:33 The shark comes 0:55 Let's have a contest! 1:24 All in a row 1:53 Hop, one! Count with us 2:21 Oops! I said it 2:46 Fluff, fluff, flying away 3:16 So cold! 3:43 The brothers arrive 4:19 Easy-peasy 4:44 Dry and stinging 5:17 A walking sack? 5:50 The rabbit tells the truth 6:16 Clean river water 6:48 Roly-poly, fluffy again 7:30 I'm sorry, sharks 8:05 The rabbit's news 8:31 Princess Yakami's house 8:54 Oh, it's you! 9:19 We were wrong 9:46 Happily ever after SUBTITLES English and Japanese subtitles are available. Turn them on with the CC button. Japanese version:    • 【読み聞かせ】いなばの しろうさぎ(因幡の白兎)｜和紙の貼り絵が動く絵本・日本昔話（...   ABOUT THIS VIDEO The music and sound effects are original, composed and synthesized with code. The story is our own gentle retelling of "The White Hare of Inaba" from the Kojiki, Japan's oldest chronicle (the scary parts are told in soft words and pictures). MORE STORIES This is story 11 in the series. Playlist "Japanese Folktales":    • Moving Picture Books: Japanese Folktales i...   Story 1, "Momotaro, the Peach Boy":    • Momotaro, the Peach Boy | Japanese Folktal...   Story 2, "Issun-boshi, the One-Inch Boy":    • Issun-boshi, the One-Inch Boy | Japanese F...   Story 3, "Kaguya-hime, the Bamboo Princess":    • Kaguya-hime, the Bamboo Princess | Japanes...   Story 4, "Kintaro, the Golden Boy":    • Kintaro, the Golden Boy | Japanese Folktal...   Story 5, "Urashima Taro":    • Urashima Taro | Japanese Folktale Read-Alo...   Story 6, "Little Red Riding Hood":    • Little Red Riding Hood | Classic Fairy Tal...   Story 7, "Hansel and Gretel":    • Hansel and Gretel | Classic Fairy Tale Rea...   Story 8, "Kasa Jizo":    • Kasa Jizo: The Six Jizo and the Straw Hats...   Story 9, "Cinderella":    • Cinderella | Classic Fairy Tale Read-Aloud...   Story 10, "Snow White":    • Snow White | Classic Fairy Tale Read-Aloud...   All 5 Japanese folktales in one video (54 min):    • Japanese Folktales for Kids: 5 Stories in ...