© The Japan Society (2020), illustrated by Laura Richardson

How to Read Kamishibai

Kamishibai stories are read from the back of illustrated cards. However, you can also tell
the story from memory or even improvise a little to add to the story.
Move the front card to the back after you finish one part of the story. The text now
showing will be the story for the card that is at the front.
The text for the title image (card 1) goes on the back of the last card, so when showing
the title image to the audience, you can read the corresponding text without turningthe card around.
When you finish the story for card 1, move it to the back of the pack. The story for card
2 which is on the back of card 1 will now be at the back for you to read. Once you havetold that part of the story, you move this card to the back and again the story for thecard 3 will now be at the back for you. You continue this for each part of the story until
the end.
Remember, the text on the back of a card does not correspond to the illustration on
its front!

The Japan Society | Education Resources | www.japansociety.org.uk | education@japansociety.org.uk

The Moon Rabbit - Card 1

The Moon Rabbit - Card 2

The Moon Rabbit - Card 3

The Moon Rabbit - Card 4

The Moon Rabbit - Card 5

The Moon Rabbit - Card 6

The Moon Rabbit - Card 7

The Moon Rabbit - Card 8

The Moon Rabbit - Card 9

The Moon Rabbit - Card 10

The Moon Rabbit - Card 11

The Moon Rabbit - Card 12

Story text for Card 1
Goes on back of Card 12

The Story of the Moon Rabbit

Introduction

In Japan there is a popular myth that a rabbit lives on the moon andthis story explains how it came to be there.
The Japanese title of the story is Tsuki no Usagi which means “TheMoon Rabbit” (tsuki means moon and usagi means rabbit).

The Japan Society | Education Resources | www.japansociety.org.uk | education@japansociety.org.uk

Story text for Card 2
Goes on back of Card 1

The Story of the Moon Rabbit

1.
A long long time ago, there were three friends ‒a monkey, a fox, and a rabbit.
They would often spend time playing together on the side of a mountain.

The Japan Society | Education Resources | www.japansociety.org.uk | education@japansociety.org.uk

Story text for Card 3
Goes on back of Card 2

The Story of the Moon Rabbit

2.
One day, they came across an old man who had fallen down,
and was lying on the grass.
“Oh no, old man, are you ok?” said the fox.
“Iʼm so hungry and tired that I canʼt move” replied the old man in a whisper.

The Japan Society | Education Resources | www.japansociety.org.uk | education@japansociety.org.uk

Story text for Card 4
Goes on back of Card 3

The Story of the Moon Rabbit

3.
“Donʼt worry, we will go and find you some food so you can be strong
and healthy again” said the three friends.
So, the fox, monkey and rabbit ran off to find food for theold man.

The Japan Society | Education Resources | www.japansociety.org.uk | education@japansociety.org.uk

Story text for Card 5
Goes on back of Card 4

The Story of the Moon Rabbit

4.
The monkey, who was good at climbing trees,
easily swung up a tree and he picked lots of fruit.

The Japan Society | Education Resources | www.japansociety.org.uk | education@japansociety.org.uk

Story text for Card 6
Goes on back of Card 5

The Story of the Moon Rabbit

5.
The fox was good at hunting and ran off to the river
where he caught lots of fish.

The Japan Society | Education Resources | www.japansociety.org.uk | education@japansociety.org.uk

Story text for Card 7
Goes on back of Card 6

The Story of the Moon Rabbit

6.
But, the rabbit could neither climb nor hunt.
He didnʼt know what to do so he ran here
and there around the woods.

The Japan Society | Education Resources | www.japansociety.org.uk | education@japansociety.org.uk

Story text for Card 8
Goes on back of Card 7

The Story of the Moon Rabbit

7.
They all returned to see the old man.
The monkey had collected lots of fruit and the fox had collected lots of fish,
but the rabbit had not been able to find anything!

The Japan Society | Education Resources | www.japansociety.org.uk | education@japansociety.org.uk

Story text for Card 9
Goes on back of Card 8

The Story of the Moon Rabbit

8.
So the rabbit asked the monkey to collect lots of firewood.
And he asked the fox to build a big fire.

The Japan Society | Education Resources | www.japansociety.org.uk | education@japansociety.org.uk

Story text for Card 10
Goes on back of Card 9

The Story of the Moon Rabbit

9.
When the fire was burning brightly, the rabbit said to the old man:
ʻIʼm sorry, I could not find anything for you. So, instead,
you can put me on the fire, cook, and eat me.”The Japan Society | Education Resources | www.japansociety.org.uk | education@japansociety.org.uk

Story text for Card 11
Goes on back of Card 10

The Story of the Moon Rabbit

10.
At that moment, the old man suddenly got up and said,“No, no rabbit, you must not do that! But, you are so kind that
I wish to give you a reward.”

The Japan Society | Education Resources | www.japansociety.org.uk | education@japansociety.org.uk

Story text for Card 12
Goes on back of Card 11

The Story of the Moon Rabbit

11.
And with that, the old man magically transformed.
In fact, he was the Old Man of the Moon, and he took the rabbit
to live with him there.
And to this day you can still see the rabbit on the moon.

The Japan Society | Education Resources | www.japansociety.org.uk | education@japansociety.org.uk