Oto-hime (right) gives the tamatebako to Urashima Tarō (Matsuki Heikichi, 1899)

Oto-hime or Otohime (Japanese:乙姫), in the Japanese folktale of Urashima Tarō, is the princess of the undersea palace Ryūgū-jō.

Second daughter

Urashima and Otohime cross a bridge in the kingdom under the sea. Japanese painting, late 16th or early 17th century

Oto-hime (Princess Oto)'s name consists of the character also read otsu meaning "No. 2". Thus Oto-hime must have been the 'second daughter' or 'younger princess' of the Dragon King (Ryū-ō), as explained by folklorist Yoshio Miyao[ja] in his bilingual edition of the In Urashima fairytale. Miyao whimsically wonders whatever became of Kō-hime, the elder daughter never mentioned.

Explanatory notes

Bibliography

  • Miyao, Yoshio [in Japanese], ed. (2009). "Urashima". [Japanese Fairy Tale Series] (in English and Japanese). Vol.2. Translated by Chamberlain, Basil Hall. Kobayashi Eitaku (illustr.). Sairyūsha. pp.25ff, 301ff. ISBN9784779113710.