"A long, long time ago, in the villages of Akayu in the plains of Okitama, droughts persisted, fields were parched, and crops withered."

"A long, long time ago, there lived a princess who was talented at playing the koto."

"A long, long time ago, there lived an elderly father and mother with their beautiful daughter."

"A long, long time ago, there lived a villager named Magozaburō in a town called Kurokawa."