The Japanese folktale of Kintaro, the strong boy of Mount Ashigara who grows up among animals, defeats an oni, and becomes a samurai.

Long, long ago, deep in Mount Ashigara, there lived a boy named Kintaro. Since he lived in the mountains, his friends were the animals of the forest: rabbits, quails, deer, foxes, and bears. From the time he was small, Kintaro was very strong. He loved playing sumo and even wrestled with bears as if they were his playmates.

Kintaro — page 1

"When I grow up, I will go to the capital and become a great samurai." With that dream in his heart, Kintaro trained every day. To learn how to ride, he climbed onto a bear's back and practiced as though he were mounted on a horse.