Yei Theodora Ozaki 
Japanese Fairy Tales 

Digi Cat Publishing presents to you this special edition of ‘Japanese Fairy Tales’ by Yei Theodora Ozaki. Digi Cat Publishing considers every written word to be a legacy of humankind. Every Digi Cat book has been carefully reproduced for republishing in a new modern format. The books are available in print, as well as ebooks. Digi Cat hopes you will treat this work with the acknowledgment and passion it deserves as a classic of world literature.

Circa l’autore

Yei Theodora Ozaki (1871-1932) was a gifted translator of Japanese fairy tales into English. Born to a Japanese father and a British mother, Ozaki was raised in Japan and sent to Europe for further education, thus becoming fluent in both Japanese and English. This bicultural heritage, combined with her literary skills, uniquely positioned Ozaki to bridge the cultural divide between Japan and the Western world through her work. ‘Japanese Fairy Tales’, a seminal collection translated by Ozaki, served as a conduit for Western audiences to explore the rich tapestry of Japanese folklore and mythology. Her adaptations often sought to balance the preservation of traditional Japanese storytelling with the accessibility needed for an English-speaking audience. Ozaki’s retellings, while sometimes critiqued for their Westernized approach, remain celebrated for their role in popularizing the genre outside Japan. Through her work, Ozaki not only educated readers on Japanese culture but also contributed to the broadening of the global literary landscape. Her literary style is characterized by an engaging narrative voice, which has ensured that her translations continue to enchant readers and are cherished as classics in the folk literature canon.