Publisher's Synopsis
Long, long ago there lived, in Japan a brave warrior known to all as Tawara Toda, or "MyLord Bag of Rice." His true name was Fujiwara Hidesato, and there is a very interestingstory of how he came to change his name. One day he sallied forth in search of adventures, for he had the nature of a warrior andcould not bear to be idle. So he buckled on his two swords, took his huge bow, muchtaller than himself, in his hand, and slinging his quiver on his back started out. He had notgone far when he came to the bridge of Seta-no-Karashi spanning one end of thebeautiful Lake Biwa. No sooner had he set foot on the bridge than he saw lying rightacross his path a huge serpent-dragon. Its body was so big that it looked like the trunk ofa large pine tree and it took up the whole width of the bridge. One of its huge claws restedon the parapet of one side of the bridge, while its tail lay right against the other. Themonster seemed to be asleep, and as it breathed, fire and smoke came out of its nostrils. At first Hidesato could not help feeling alarmed at the sight of this horrible reptile lyingin his path, for he must either turn back or walk right over its body. He was a brave man, however, and putting aside all fear went forward dauntlessly. Crunch, crunch! he steppednow on the dragon's body, now between its coils, and without even one glance backwardhe went on his way
