These tales and legends have been collected from many sources. Some of them have been selected from the Ko-ji-ki, or Record of Ancient Matters, which contains the mythology of Japan. Many are told from memory, being relics of childish days, originally heard from the lips of a school-fellow or a nurse. Certain of them, again, form favourite subjects for representation upon the Japanese stage. A number of the stories now gathered together have been translated into English long ere this, and have appeared in this country in one form or another; others are probably new to an English public.Review :If you are seeking authenticity then "The Moon Maiden and Other Japanese Fairy Tales" is probably not the book for you. There are many other books that present the legends as they are, such as the scholarly Myths and Legends of Japan or the sociological Tales of Old Japan. However, if you just want to drift away to fantasyland or have a child interested in Japan but not interested in studying about Japan, then this is the perfect book.