Long ago, a kind woodcutter named Yohyo lived in a small village. One winter evening, he found a wounded crane in the snow. He rescued it, nursed it back to health, and set it free.
A few nights later, a beautiful young woman named Otsu appeared at his door, lost in a snowstorm. Yohyo offered her shelter. They fell in love and soon married. Though poor, they were happy.
Before the New Year, Yohyo worried about money for the feast. Otsu offered to weave cloth for him to sell, but made him promise never to look into the room while she worked. The cloth she produced was exquisite and sold for a high price.
Overcome by greed, Yohyo repeatedly asked for more cloth. Otsu grew thinner with each piece but continued weaving out of love. One day, Yohyo's curiosity overwhelmed him. He broke his promise and peeked into the room. He saw a thin crane plucking its own feathers to weave into the cloth—the very crane he had saved.
Otsu emerged, heartbroken. She explained she had come to repay his kindness and stayed for his gentle heart, but his greed had changed him. Now that her secret was revealed, she must leave. Despite Yohyo's desperate pleas, Otsu transformed back into a crane and flew away into the sky, leaving Yohyo alone with his regret.