Koganemaru

A tiger rules the mountain through fear. A cunning fox engineers a faithful dog’s death. Raised by kindly cattle, the dead dog’s golden-haired son discovers his origins and sets out to win the strength and allies needed for revenge.

In Koganemaru, Iwaya Sazanami sends an animal hero on a warrior’s journey through snowy villages, open country, and a ruined temple. A proud hunting dog becomes his sworn brother; a mouse offers devoted service; a rabbit healer draws on the magic of the moon. Familiar Japanese folktales and Chinese literary echoes mingle with sharp comedy, desperate encounters, and a final assault on the tiger’s stronghold.

This complete English translation includes Mori Ōgai’s preface, Sazanami’s remarks, both volumes, and all sixteen chapters. Thirty-two notes explain names, wordplay, customs, and allusions. The readable narrative retains the original’s earnest ideas of loyalty and gratitude, including its violence and tragic sacrifice, revealing an early Japanese children’s tale with the ambition and intensity of a martial adventure.