English Original
Once upon a time, near a great river between two high mountains, an old peasant and his wife lived in a cottage surrounded by a dense forest. The peasant was friends with a hare, a bond observed with envy by a wicked Tanuki (raccoon dog). The Tanuki repeatedly stole or ruined food left for the hare.
Finally, the peasant captured the Tanuki, tied it up, and hung it from a beam. He then went to gather firewood, leaving his wife alone. The cunning Tanuki pleaded with the woman, pretending to be in pain and promising to help pound rice if freed. Fooled by his lies, she untied him. Instantly, the Tanuki seized her, killed her, and ground her body in the mortar. He then cooked her flesh in a pot.
When the peasant returned, the Tanuki, using magic, disguised himself as the wife and served the gruesome meal. After the peasant ate, the Tanuki revealed his true form and the horrifying truth before fleeing into the forest.
Heartbroken and vengeful, the peasant was comforted by his friend the hare. The hare devised a plan. He visited the Tanuki with a hatchet, tricked him into carrying a heavy bundle of wood, and then set it on fire. When the Tanuki was badly burned, the hare offered a "healing" ointment laced with pepper, causing even greater pain.
Knowing the Tanuki would seek revenge, the peasant and hare built two boats: one sturdy wooden boat and a larger one made of clay. They invited the recovering Tanuki to go fishing. Greedy for more fish, the Tanuki chose the large clay boat. Once in deep water, the hare struck the clay boat with his oar, shattering it. The Tanuki fell into the river and drowned.
The peasant was finally avenged. He took the loyal hare into his home, and they lived together in peace on the mountain.
中文翻译
很久以前，在一条大河旁、两座高山之间，住着一位老农夫和他的妻子，他们的茅屋四周环绕着茂密的森林。农夫与一只野兔是朋友，这段友谊被一只邪恶的貉（狸）嫉妒地看在眼里。貉屡次偷走或毁掉留给野兔的食物。
最终，农夫抓住了貉，把它捆起来倒挂在房梁上，然后出门去拾柴火，留下妻子一人。狡猾的貉向农夫的妻子哀求，假装痛苦，承诺如果被释放就帮她舂米。妻子被它的谎言所骗，解开了绳索。貉瞬间抓住她，杀害了她，并将她的尸体放在臼中捣碎，随后用锅烹煮了她的肉。
农夫回来后，貉使用魔法伪装成他的妻子，端上了那可怕的餐食。农夫吃完后，貉现出原形，揭示了恐怖的真相，随后逃进了森林。
悲痛欲绝、一心复仇的农夫得到了朋友野兔的安慰。野兔设计了一个计划。他带着一把斧头去拜访貉，骗它背上一大捆沉重的木柴，然后点燃了木柴。当貉被严重烧伤时，野兔献上了一种掺了胡椒的"疗伤"药膏，造成了更大的痛苦。
知道貉会报复，农夫和野兔造了两条船：一条坚固的木船和一条更大的泥船。他们邀请正在养伤的貉一起去捕鱼。贪心想捕更多鱼的貉选择了大泥船。一到深水区，野兔就用桨猛击泥船，将其击碎。貉掉进河里淹死了。
农夫的大仇终于得报。他将忠诚的野兔接回家中，从此他们在山上和平安宁地生活在一起。