SYNOPSIS

There are several versions of this story, as it is a folk tale and was handed down by word-of-mouth, but this is the variation I will be using.

A long time ago there lived an old man and an old woman, without any children. One day, the old man goes out to chop wood, and the woman to wash clothes in the river. Suddenly she sees a giant peach floating down the stream towards her. She takes it home to share with the old man.
Back at the house, the couple are about to slice open the peach, when they hear a baby crying. The peach splits open and Momotaro (Peach Boy) jumps out.
Years pass, Momotaro grows up big and strong. One day the village is attacked by monsters. They steal food, money and a young child. Momotaro knows he must go to Oni Island (Monster Island) and fight the monsters. The old man and woman give him a bag of rice balls for the journey.
On his way Momotaro meets a dog, a monkey and a bird. In exchange for a rice ball, they agree to accompany Momotaro on hir journey.
They reach Oni Island. The animals help Momotaro get inside the gates, and they fight the monsters. The monsters lose the battle, and to stop Momotaro killing them, they give him all their treasure, as well as the food and child Momotaro came for.
Momotaro and the animals return home, where the villagers celebrate and the village chief offers his daughter's hand in marriage.