Urashima Taro

In this classic Japanese folktale, the fisherman Urashima Taro is taken to the undersea Dragon Palace as a reward for saving a turtle. He spends what feels like only a few days feasting and enjoying the company of the princess Otohime.

When Urashima Taro returns to the surface, he discovers that centuries have passed in his village and everyone he knew is long dead. Tragically, he opens a magical jeweled box given to him by the princess, which releases a cloud of smoke that ages him instantly.

The story is often compared to the American folktale of Rip Van Winkle, who similarly falls asleep and wakes up decades later having missed his life. However, Urashima Taro specifically features the undersea Dragon Palace and the tragedy of the Tamatebako box.

The Tamatebako is the jeweled box that Princess Otohime gives to Urashima Taro as a parting gift, with strict instructions never to open it. When he finally opens it out of grief upon realizing centuries have passed, the smoke inside rapidly ages him into an old man.