The Liar

In the city of Osaka, there lived a liar. He always lied, and everyone knew it. That's why no one believed him.

One day, he went for a walk in the mountains. When he returned, he told his neighbor:
"What a snake I just saw! Enormous, as thick as a barrel, and as long as this street."

The neighbor just shrugged her shoulders:
"You know very well that snakes aren't as long as this street."
"No, the snake really was very long. Well, maybe not as long as the street, but as long as an alley."

"Since when are there snakes as long as an alley?"
"Well, maybe not as long as an alley, but as long as this pine tree."
"As long as this pine tree? Impossible!"
"Wait, this time I'll tell you the truth. The snake was as long as the bridge over our river."

"That can't be either."
"Alright, now I'll tell you the real truth. The snake was as long as a barrel."

"Ah, I see! The snake was as thick as a barrel and as long as a barrel? So, it wasn't a snake at all—it was a barrel."

More fairy tales

• The Vow of Silence
• The Enchanted Cup
• Pancakes for the Demon
• The Mouse's Suitors
• The Witch of Mount Tōfukuyama