A Wise Decision

Long ago, there lived a matchmaker in the capital. Day after day, he searched for suitable grooms and brides.

One day, he arranged a match between a fifteen-year-old girl and a thirty-five-year-old man, concealing the man's true age. However, the bride's parents soon heard that the groom was much older.

"We will never give our daughter away: there is a twenty-year age difference between the groom and the bride," they said.

What could the matchmaker do? He decided to complain to the judge. The judge summoned both parties and asked the girl's parents:

"You gave your word, so why are you refusing now?"
"The matchmaker deceived us: the groom is twenty years older than the bride, so we do not agree. We would have given her away if he were only twice her age."

"Let it be as you wish. Give him your daughter in five years. The groom must wait that time. By then, he will be forty, and she will be twenty, so the groom will be exactly twice as old as the bride."

Thus ruled the judge, and both parties left with apologies. Truly a wise decision!

More fairy tales

• Crane Feathers
• The Coffin with Jewels
• The Battle of the Monkey and the Crab
• True Economy
• Issun-boshi