My mom’s hobby is collection of picture books, so I really know a lot of interesting storybooks of Japan. Good storybooks are impressive even for adults. I’ll show you my favorite one, “Naita Akaoni.” It means that “Red demon cried.” It is very popular book in Japan;)
....... Naita Akaoni.......Once upon a time, one red demon and blue demon lived in a mountain. Red demon was very kind, and he wanted to make friends with humans. However, people who lived near the mountain were afraid of him because they didn’t know or didn’t try to know that he was actually a kind demon. People run away from him and said, “Run, run! Cruel demon came to eat us!” when red demon approached them. He was always sorry that he was a demon.
He set up a sign in front of his house, and it said, “I am a kind and polite demon! Please come in and take a break with me! Don’t hesitate! I always prepare tea and sweets for you!” However, people said, “Demon will eat us if we go into his house! You know, he is a cruel demon.” Nobody came there, and red demon was very sad.
His friend, blue demon was also kind, and he was always sorry to see red demon. Blue demon said to red demon, “Hey, buddy! Don’t be sad! I think that you can make friends with humans someday.”
“Thanks, Blue demon. But I can’t because they run away from me!”
“Do you want human friends in any way?”
“Yeah! Yeah! Have you seen them play? They looked so fun. I wanted to join them…”
“……I have a good idea for you!”
“Really!? Tell me!”
Blue demon whispered his idea to red demon.
Red demon heard that, and he said,“Wow!! It is a good idea! Thank you so much, my best friend!”
“No problem! You are my friend, huh?”
Next day, they went to village that people lived, and they saw children play with a Japanese ball from bushes. Blue demon said,“Are you ready, buddy?”
Red demon nodded. Suddenly, blue demon burst from bushes, and shouted to children, “I’m from the mountain to eat you!!”
Children screamed, and tried to run away from him, but he caught one girl. She cried,“Somebody helps me!!!!!”
Blue demon said, “Nobody helps you. I’m going to eat you!”
At the moment, red demon appeared in front of blue demon, and said, “Release her!”
Blue demon said, “I don’t! Why do you disturb me? Do you also wanna eat her? She’s mine!”
“No! I want to help her!! If you don’t release her, I’ll fight you!”
Then, Red demon pounced at blue demon, and pretended to hit and kick him.
Blue demon cried, “Ouch! Ouch! Don’t! Okey! I’ll release her, so don’t hit me any more!”
“All right! I’ll forgive you. Go away!”
Red demon said that, and blue demon run away hurriedly. Children gathered around red demon and thanked him very much. The girl who were helped by red demon said, “You are so kind! Thank you so much! I didn’t know that there was so kind demon. You are my lifesaver! Could you come to my house and have dinner with my family?”
“Sure! Can I, can I go…?”
“Of course! Why not?”
Now, red demon was so happy, and he made friends with humans. He thanked Blue demon so much. The night, people held a party for him, and he enjoyed it very much.
After the party, it was completely dark and midnight. Red demon hurried blue demon’s house and wanted to thank him, but nobody answered although he knocked blue demon’s door. He wandered and opened the door. Soon, she found that there was a paper on a table, and it was a letter from Blue demon.
It said, “I’m really really glad that you made human friends. I have to go away from this mountain because people will become to hate you if they know that I’m still here, and I’m your friend. I’m okay, don’t worr.............. I’ll be your best friend forever...Good bye.”
Red demon read this letter, and started to cry. He cried and cried. He stopped crying, remembered blue demon and started to cry again and again.
My mom went to the zoo, and took this penguin picture!!!
This zoo is the biggest in Japan and there are many rare animals such as sea bears, seals, capybara, tigers, panthers, and pongo etc. 
