The Two Frogs: Reading and Essay Assignment

The Two Frogs A Japanese Folktale

1. Long ago in Japan, there were two frogs who lived far apart. One frog lived in a pond in the city of Osaka. The other frog lived in a stream near the city of Kyoto. Both frogs were curious and adventurous.

2. One spring day, both frogs had the same idea at the same time. The Osaka frog thought, "I have never seen Kyoto. I wonder what it is like. I shall go and see for myself!" At that very moment, the Kyoto frog was thinking, "I have never seen Osaka. I wonder what it is like. I shall go and see for myself!"

3. So the two frogs set out on their journeys. The road between the two cities was long and difficult. In the middle of the road stood a tall mountain. Both frogs hopped and hopped until they reached the top of the mountain on the very same day.

4. "What a climb!" gasped the Osaka frog, breathing heavily.

5. "I am exhausted!" panted the Kyoto frog.

6. The two frogs looked at each other in surprise. They had not expected to meet anyone at the top of the mountain.

7. "Hello, friend," said the Osaka frog. "I am traveling to Kyoto to see what it is like."

8. "And I," replied the Kyoto frog, "am traveling to Osaka to see what it is like."

9. They sat down to rest and began talking about their journeys. After a while, the Osaka frog said sadly, "We have come so far, but we are still not tall enough to see the cities from here. I am too tired to go any farther today."

10. "I have an idea!" exclaimed the Kyoto frog. "We can help each other. If we stand up on our back legs and hold onto each other, we will be tall enough to see both cities."

11. "What a clever plan!" agreed the Osaka frog.

12. The two frogs stood up on their back legs, held onto each other's shoulders, and looked out toward the cities. But here is something neither frog remembered: when a frog stands on its back legs, its eyes are on the back of its head. So while the Osaka frog thought he was looking toward Kyoto, he was actually looking back at Osaka. And while the Kyoto frog thought he was looking toward Osaka, he was actually looking back at Kyoto!

13. "This is very strange," said the Osaka frog with disappointment. "Kyoto looks exactly like Osaka. There is no reason for me to continue my journey."

14. "How disappointing!" agreed the Kyoto frog. "Osaka looks exactly like Kyoto. I might as well turn around and go home."

15. The two frogs said goodbye to each other. Each frog hopped back down the mountain toward home, satisfied that they had seen enough. Neither frog ever discovered the truth—that Kyoto and Osaka were actually quite different from each other. If the frogs had continued their journeys instead of giving up, they would have discovered many wonderful and surprising things.