Long, long ago there was a a fisherman. One evening this fisherman went fishing. And oh, did he catch them! Big fish, little fish, fat fish, thin fish-- he caught three baskets full of all sorts of fish. The fisherman was overjoyed. At that rate he could catch five baskets full the next evening. He made a large number of pine torches, then slept soundly till the next night.
At nightfall he checked the tide, then loaded the torches on his back and went to the beach. But what do you suppose happened? The sky, which had been clear and full of twinkling stars, was covered with black clouds, and the rain was pouring down. The wind was blowing hard as well. The fisherman hung his head in thought.
"It must be that the sea god is angry because I caught too many fish last night," he thought. And so he took the pine torches off his back and threw every last one into the sea, calling out, "Oh God of the Sea, I give you these torches. Please forgive me today."
Then he bowed toward the sea, and had just started back home when he heard someone behind him say, "Wait! Wait!"
He turned around and saw a man standing at the water's edge. The man said, "I am a messenger from the Dragon Palace. Thank you for all the torches just now. The God of the Sea is very pleased, and instructed me to conduct you to the Dragon Palace. Won't you please come with me?"
The fisherman looked perturbed and said "But I've heard that the Dragon Palace is far away at the bottom of the sea."
"What do you mean, 'far away?' Come stand at the water's edge, close your eyes and let three waves wash over your feet. You'll be at the Dragon Palace as soon as that."
That sounded unlikely to fisherman, but still, he decided to give it a try, so he did as the man said. And then, can you believe it? He was at the Dragon Palace.
"Thank you for your gift just now. The Dragon Palace is hard-pressed for fuel, and you have helped us immensely." These words were spoken in the main hall of the Dragon Palace castle by the Dragon King, the god of the sea, who was attended by a large number of retainers lined up in front of him. Then many elegant foods were placed before the fisherman. there was also sake to drink.
"Please feel no restraint, and have all you want." These words were spoken by what appeared to be the princess of the Dragon Palace. This was a beautiful woman who sat beside the Dragon King. At that moment, faint music began to sound somewhere, and rays of light resembling a rainbow could be seen outside the window in a grove of coral. Sea bream and bonito and flounder and octopi swam at their leisure above the coral grove.
"I am most grateful. Pardon me if I endulge myself," the fisherman said, and he drank and ate. It was indescribably pleasant, and he felt happier than he had ever been.
But he knew he couldn't stay forever, and so he stood up and said "I appreciate your generosity. Now I must bid you farewell."
"What would you like for a souvenir?" the Dragon King asked.
"I'm mad about horses-- I really like them."
"Good enough. I'll give you a Dragon Palace horse. The new year will soon be here. On the first morning of the new year, go to the water's edge before sunrise, and wait there."
"In that case..." the fisherman said, bidding farewell to the Dragon King, and returned home.
On the morning of the first day of the year, the fisherman went to wait at the seashore while it was still dark. Then the sky lightened in the east, and the first rays of sunlight in the new year shone over the sea. The waves divided right before the fisherman, and a fine horse pranced out. The horse happily walked over and shook its tale, and the two stood face to face. The fisherman patted its head, and said, "I'm glad you've come. I'm glad you've come. You really are a Dragon Palace horse."
His admiration showed in his words. It really was an excellent horse, and no one could look at it without praising it.
It became the best-known horse on Kikaishima. Many other horses were born as its children and grandchildren, and they served the people of the island for many years.