There was once a ship that was carrying a crystal ball to the Emperor of Japan. This crystal ball was a gift from a foreign king.
Unfortunately, the ship was caught in a storm and sank to the bottom of the sea.
The emperor was very sad. He had been looking forward to receiving the crystal ball.
He immediately ordered his best divers to find the ship and bring up the crystal ball.
He promised them that he would make whoever found the crystal ball a samurai—a kind of a warrior prince.
Again and again, the divers dived into the dark, deep water, but they could not find the crystal ball.
Then a young woman carrying her small son, Kamatari, arrived. She asked if she could try to find the crystal ball.
The Emperor was surprised by her request, for she was a very slender young woman and did not look very strong.
However, he agreed and promised that if she was successful, he would make her son a samurai.
The woman tied a rope around her waist and dived into the sea.
She swam down to the bottom where a sea dragon lived. There she found the crystal ball. She seized it quickly and began to swim up to the surface.
The angry dragon immediately swam after her and attacked her.
Bravely, with only a small knife to fight with, she fought the huge creature.
At last, she reached the surface safely and handed the Emperor the crystal ball.
He was so pleased that he kept his promise.
And that is how Kamatari became a samurai.