Women in Folklore

A Japanese Folktale: The Mighty Okane

retold by Hatsue Nakawaki

illus. by Takayuki Ino

Once upon a time there was a little girl named Okane who was very strong. At just three, she overcomes the strongest Sumo wrestler in town. Later, she moves her ox and its load out of the way of the oncoming Lord by lifting it up with one hand. Once older, she hones other skills too, in shooting in hunting, helping her to defeat the goblins and ghouls that threaten her village. Okane’s story is part of this series of folklore heroines from around the world.

29 x 24 cm, 32 pages, Full-colour illustrations
First published January 2022