ABSTRACT
Most Japanese houses were thatched with straw or reeds in former days, and their roof could easily catch fire from the sparks flying from a burning house. In some places in Japan the girl is taught to stick her broken needles on a sago-palm, which is traditionally said to be fond of iron. The Mitama-no-ishi, which one finds at Dogo, is said to be the identical stone on which Prince Ohnamuchi stood upon his recovery. The Dogo hot-spring has its origin in the legend. Japan is rich in stories of mermaids or, as people call them, Ningyo, The oldest record of the human-fish in Japan dates as far back as the 27th year of the reign of the Empress Suiko. In former days the sail of the treasure-ship bore the Chinese character for “baku”, which according to tradition lives upon dreams.
