This is a bilingual (English and Japanese) story about the struggles and triumph of a young fisherman in old Japan. Inspired by the ancient Japanese feat of "Nankin Tamasudare" in which bamboo sticks are manipulated into figures, and the art of the great Japanese master Hokusai, the story was written in America, translated in Japan and illustrated in Hungary Richard Hatch, the author, is a professional magician and co-founder of the Hatch Academy of Magic and Music. He includes his telling of this tale, illustrated with the mysterious tamasudare mat, in many performances, often accompanied...

This is an annotated edition of the popular bilingual (English and Japanese) story about the struggles and triumph of a young fisherman in old Japan. This edition includes more than a dozen photographs by noted photographer Levi Sim, showing author and magician Richard Hatch performing the ancient Japanese feat of "Nankin Tamasudare" in which bamboo sticks are manipulated into figures, which inspired the creation of this story. The artwork was inspired by the art of the great Japanese master Hokusai. Richard Hatch, the author, is a professional magician and co-founder of the Hatch Academy of...