Okay, listen closely, this isn't a "once upon a time" kind of tale, but a story from way back, in a land called Japan, where the mountains kissed the clouds and the sea shimmered with secrets.

There lived two brothers, princes they were! The older one was named Hoderi, but everyone called him Umisachihiko, which means "Luck of the Sea." He was a whiz with a fishing rod and could catch fish when no one else could. His younger brother was Hoori, but people knew him as Yamasachihiko, meaning "Luck of the Mountains." He was a super hunter, quick with his bow and arrow.

One bright day, Yamasachihiko, the mountain hunter, said to his sea-fishing brother, "Hey, Umisachihiko! Your fishing trips always sound so exciting. How about we swap our lucky tools for a day? You try my bow in the mountains, and I'll try your amazing fishhook by the sea!"

Umisachihiko thought about it. "Hmm, my fishhook is very special, little brother. It practically catches fish all by itself! But alright, just for one day. Be super careful with it!"

So, Yamasachihiko trotted off to the beach with the special fishhook, and Umisachihiko headed for the hills with the bow and arrow.
But oh dear, oh dear! Yamasachihiko sat by the ocean, dangled the line, and... nothing. Not a nibble, not a bite. And then, splash! The super special fishhook slipped right off the line and vanished into the deep, blue water!

Yamasachihiko was horrified. When Umisachihiko returned from the mountains (he hadn't had much luck hunting either), he was furious about his lost hook. "I want MY hook back!" he roared. "Not a new one, not a hundred new ones, but THAT exact hook!" He was really, really cross.

Poor Yamasachihiko felt awful. He even broke his own sword to make five hundred new fishhooks, and then a thousand, but Umisachihiko just shook his head. "Nope, only my original hook will do!"

Sad and worried, Yamasachihiko wandered by the seashore. Suddenly, a kind old man with a twinkly smile appeared. "What's wrong, young prince?" he asked.
Yamasachihiko told him the whole sorry story.
The old man nodded. "Ah, I see. I can help! I'll build you a little boat, a special one that doesn't leak, and it will take you to the palace of Watatsumi, the great Dragon God of the Sea. He'll know what to do!"

So, Yamasachihiko hopped into the little basket-like boat, and it bobbed and weaved its way down, down, down to the bottom of the ocean. There, he found a magnificent palace made of coral and pearls. By a well near the palace gate, he saw the most beautiful princess, Toyotama-hime, the Sea God's daughter.

They started talking, and soon they liked each other very much. Yamasachihiko told her why he had come, and she introduced him to her father, the Sea God Watatsumi. The Sea God welcomed Yamasachihiko, and before long, Yamasachihiko and Toyotama-hime got married! They were so happy living in the underwater kingdom that three whole years zipped by like a speedy dolphin.

One day, Yamasachihiko let out a big sigh. Toyotama-hime asked, "My dear, what troubles you?"
And then he remembered! The lost fishhook! His angry brother!
Toyotama-hime and her father, the Sea God, decided to help. Watatsumi called all the fish in the sea together. "Has anyone seen a shiny fishhook?" he boomed.
After a bit of searching, a little red sea bream swam forward, looking rather glum. And there it was, stuck in its throat! The Sea God carefully removed the hook.

It was time for Yamasachihiko to return to the land. Before he left, Watatsumi gave him two magical jewels. "This one," he said, holding up a sparkling gem, "is the tide-flowing jewel. It can make the waters rise. And this one," showing another, "is the tide-ebbing jewel. It can make the waters fall."

Yamasachihiko thanked them all, said a tearful goodbye to Toyotama-hime (who promised to visit), and journeyed back to the surface.
He found Umisachihiko and gave him back the precious fishhook. But his older brother was still grumpy and unkind.
So, Yamasachihiko remembered the jewels. He held up the tide-flowing jewel. WHOOSH! The sea waters rose and rushed towards Umisachihiko's fields.
"Help! I'm going to be flooded!" cried Umisachihiko, as the water lapped at his chin.
Then, Yamasachihiko held up the tide-ebbing jewel. SWOOSH! The waters rushed back out to sea.
After this happened a couple of times, Umisachihiko finally understood. He bowed low and promised, "Little brother, I was wrong. From now on, I and all my children, and their children's children, will serve you and your family."

Sometime later, Toyotama-hime came from the sea to the land, because she was going to have their baby. She asked Yamasachihiko to build a little hut for her on the beach, thatched with cormorant feathers. "And please," she said, "you must promise not to look inside while I am having the baby."
Yamasachihiko promised. But as he waited outside, he heard strange noises. He got so curious, he just couldn't help himself. He peeked through a tiny crack in the wall.
Inside, he didn't see his beautiful wife. Instead, he saw a giant, scaly sea creature – a wani, like a crocodile or sea dragon – which was Toyotama-hime's true form!
Toyotama-hime was so ashamed and heartbroken that he had broken his promise and seen her like that. After their baby boy was born, she said sadly, "I cannot stay here now. You saw me when you shouldn't have." And with a heavy heart, she returned to her father's palace beneath the waves.
She was too sad to come back, but she loved her baby. So, she sent her younger sister, Tamayori-hime, to care for the little boy.
And that baby boy grew up to be strong and wise, and his children, and their children after them, became the ancestors of the great Emperors of Japan. And that's how the luck of the mountains and the luck of the sea played their part in a very big story.

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