The Grateful Crane — A Secret She Could Never Tell
NIHONYX
[{'start': '5.010', 'end': '12.677', 'text': '[Music]'}, {'start': '12.677', 'end': '19.558', 'text': 'Once upon a time, in a quiet, distant land...'}, {'start': '21.436', 'end': '28.567', 'text': 'What if your simple kindness… saved a life?'}, {'start': '28.567', 'end': '36.923', 'text': 'And what if that life returned to you—\nin a form no one could have foreseen?'}, {'start': '36.923', 'end': '42.437', 'text': 'This is a tale of love… bound by a promise, born from gratitude.'}, {'start': '42.437', 'end': '49.060', 'text': 'A single encounter—capable of changing a life forever.'}, {'start': '49.060', 'end': '60.470', 'text': 'Today, we invite you into one of Japan’s most haunting folktales:\nThe Grateful Crane.'}, {'start': '63.101', 'end': '69.885', 'text': 'Long ago, in the shadowed folds of the mountains, a young man lived alone.'}, {'start': '69.885', 'end': '77.060', 'text': 'He had lost his parents early, and survived in a humble cottage—\ngathering wood, tilling the soil…'}, {'start': '77.060', 'end': '80.460', 'text': 'He made a simple living, just enough to survive.'}, {'start': '80.460', 'end': '85.970', 'text': 'The winters were harsh—\nsnow fell deep and silently.'}, {'start': '85.970', 'end': '93.826', 'text': 'Yet each day, he walked into the mountains\nto gather firewood and carry it home on his back.'}, {'start': '93.826', 'end': '103.784', 'text': 'His life was never rich, but he never asked for more.\nHe lived with quiet dignity—troubling no one, harming nothing.'}, {'start': '105.103', 'end': '108.000', 'text': 'Then one evening, in the heart of a bitter winter—'}, {'start': '108.000', 'end': '117.759', 'text': 'While gathering wood as always,\nhe heard a faint cry from deep within the forest.'}, {'start': '118.320', 'end': '126.739', 'text': 'Carefully, he followed the sound… and there it was.\nA white crane, caught in a hunter’s trap, crouched in pain.'}, {'start': '126.739', 'end': '132.000', 'text': 'Its feathers were ruffled, and rope was tangled around its leg.'}, {'start': '132.000', 'end': '139.840', 'text': '“Poor thing…” he whispered to himself,\nas he gently approached and freed the crane from the trap.'}, {'start': '139.840', 'end': '146.840', 'text': '“There now… try not to get caught again.”'}, {'start': '146.840', 'end': '158.711', 'text': 'The crane let out a single, piercing cry—\nas if in thanks—\nand soared straight into the sky, vanishing into the winter light.'}, {'start': '162.780', 'end': '170.520', 'text': 'A few days later…\na heavy snowstorm fell over the village.'}, {'start': '172.311', 'end': '177.165', 'text': 'The young man sealed his door tight\nand sat close to the fire—'}, {'start': '177.165', 'end': '181.819', 'text': 'spending the night in quiet solitude.'}, {'start': '181.819', 'end': '189.430', 'text': 'Then suddenly—\na knock echoed through the cold.'}, {'start': '189.430', 'end': '196.842', 'text': '“Who could it be… on a night like this?”'}, {'start': '196.842', 'end': '199.938', 'text': 'When he slid the door open, he saw...'}, {'start': '199.938', 'end': '204.040', 'text': 'There stood a young woman—someone he had never seen before.'}, {'start': '204.040', 'end': '208.891', 'text': 'She had lost her way while traveling… and was looking for shelter.'}, {'start': '208.891', 'end': '214.550', 'text': 'Her kimono was soaked in snow,\nher face pale,\nher body trembling with cold.'}, {'start': '216.202', 'end': '222.516', 'text': 'The young man, surprised,\ngently welcomed her into his home.'}, {'start': '222.516', 'end': '228.700', 'text': 'He seated her near the hearth\nto warm her frozen limbs,\nand shared his miso soup and rice.'}, {'start': '230.551', 'end': '237.077', 'text': 'That night, the snow showed no signs of stopping—\nnor the next day… nor the one after.'}, {'start': '237.077', 'end': '243.675', 'text': 'The storm only grew stronger… deeper.'}, {'start': '246.230', 'end': '249.963', 'text': 'In return for his kindness,\nthe woman cleaned the home…'}, {'start': '249.963', 'end': '255.432', 'text': 'she split firewood,\nand helped prepare the meals.'}, {'start': '255.432', 'end': '259.956', 'text': 'In that quiet house, once so still…'}, {'start': '259.956', 'end': '263.338', 'text': '…it felt as if a single flower had begun to bloom.'}, {'start': '263.338', 'end': '266.357', 'text': 'The young man found himself thinking…'}, {'start': '266.357', 'end': '271.488', 'text': 'If only… she could stay here,\njust like this… forever.'}, {'start': '275.846', 'end': '280.710', 'text': 'Then one morning, the snow ceased.\nSunlight broke through the clouds…'}, {'start': '280.710', 'end': '284.745', 'text': '…and slowly, the sky began to clear.'}, {'start': '284.745', 'end': '289.546', 'text': 'That was when the woman softly spoke…'}, {'start': '289.546', 'end': '297.428', 'text': '“If it’s not too much to ask…\nmay I stay here… and live with you?”'}, {'start': '298.368', 'end': '302.365', 'text': 'The young man hesitated… then answered.'}, {'start': '302.365', 'end': '307.270', 'text': '“My life is humble…\nI can’t offer you comfort or wealth.”'}, {'start': '308.403', 'end': '312.721', 'text': 'But the woman looked into his eyes and said—'}, {'start': '312.721', 'end': '319.976', 'text': '“That doesn’t matter.\nI only wish to be by your side…”'}, {'start': '321.397', 'end': '327.259', 'text': 'The young man nodded… quietly… deeply.'}, {'start': '327.259', 'end': '333.387', 'text': 'And so, the two began living together—\na quiet life that slowly became a marriage.'}, {'start': '333.387', 'end': '340.041', 'text': 'There was no grand celebration.\nBut at night, around the hearth…'}, {'start': '340.041', 'end': '349.842', 'text': '…gentle laughter returned,\nand warm, modest days began to flow, softly and still.'}, {'start': '359.746', 'end': '366.682', 'text': 'One day, the young man murmured quietly by the hearth…'}, {'start': '366.682', 'end': '372.848', 'text': '“I wish I could give her something better for the New Year…”'}, {'start': '374.567', 'end': '380.629', 'text': 'The next morning, his wife spoke with a serious expression.'}, {'start': '381.654', 'end': '387.667', 'text': '“I have a request…\nCould you build a small weaving room out back?'}, {'start': '387.667', 'end': '390.776', 'text': 'There’s something… I can do.”'}, {'start': '391.573', 'end': '393.733', 'text': 'The young man was surprised.'}, {'start': '393.733', 'end': '399.326', 'text': 'He had never once seen her weave.'}, {'start': '399.862', 'end': '404.080', 'text': 'But there was a quiet resolve in her eyes.'}, {'start': '404.080', 'end': '407.575', 'text': 'And then, she added softly…'}, {'start': '407.575', 'end': '411.666', 'text': '“There is just one thing I must ask of you...'}, {'start': '411.666', 'end': '417.742', 'text': 'While I’m weaving—please, never look inside the room.”'}, {'start': '417.742', 'end': '422.088', 'text': 'The young man hesitated, then nodded quietly.'}, {'start': '425.340', 'end': '433.160', 'text': 'He cleared out the spare room, set up a loom,\nand prepared a simple weaving space for her.'}, {'start': '433.958', 'end': '440.000', 'text': 'From that day on, his wife shut herself inside\nand began to weave.'}, {'start': '440.000', 'end': '449.214', 'text': 'From behind the door came a soft, steady rhythm—\n*ton-ton, ka-tan...*\nA quiet heartbeat of cloth taking shape.'}, {'start': '449.214', 'end': '456.118', 'text': 'Morning passed, then evening…\nBut she never stepped out.\nShe neither ate… nor drank…'}, {'start': '456.118', 'end': '461.036', 'text': 'She simply kept weaving, endlessly, in silence.'}, {'start': '461.036', 'end': '463.520', 'text': 'And on the morning of the third day…'}, {'start': '463.520', 'end': '470.236', 'text': 'At last, the door creaked open, and his wife quietly stepped out.'}, {'start': '470.236', 'end': '473.616', 'text': 'In her hands was a single bolt of cloth…'}, {'start': '473.616', 'end': '476.850', 'text': 'Smooth as silk, soft as feathers—'}, {'start': '476.850', 'end': '482.347', 'text': 'white as snow, as if winter itself had been woven into it.'}, {'start': '482.347', 'end': '486.120', 'text': '“Please take this to town… and sell it,” she said softly.'}, {'start': '487.145', 'end': '493.802', 'text': 'The young man took the cloth, descended the mountain,\nand for the first time, stepped into a bustling town.'}, {'start': '493.802', 'end': '499.238', 'text': 'When he unfurled the fabric, the townspeople were stunned.'}, {'start': '499.238', 'end': '503.183', 'text': '“What beauty…”  \n“I’ve never seen anything like it!”'}, {'start': '503.183', 'end': '508.823', 'text': 'In no time, buyers rushed in—  \nand the young man received more money than he had ever seen.'}, {'start': '508.823', 'end': '512.617', 'text': 'He returned home and told his wife what had happened.'}, {'start': '512.617', 'end': '515.231', 'text': 'They bought a few modest luxuries…'}, {'start': '515.231', 'end': '522.580', 'text': 'and sat together around a warm meal,  \nwelcoming the New Year in quiet joy.'}, {'start': '522.580', 'end': '525.572', 'text': 'The young man thought to himself,'}, {'start': '525.572', 'end': '537.040', 'text': '“If only this happiness…  \ncould last forever.”'}, {'start': '552.754', 'end': '558.408', 'text': 'Even after the New Year, their life remained peaceful.'}, {'start': '558.408', 'end': '562.649', 'text': 'Though spring had yet to come, the mountain air had softened—'}, {'start': '562.649', 'end': '568.436', 'text': 'and far off, the sound of melting snow  \nbegan to whisper through the hills.'}, {'start': '569.722', 'end': '572.696', 'text': 'One day, the wife spoke softly.'}, {'start': '572.696', 'end': '580.472', 'text': '“I’d like to weave one more cloth…  \nYour joy made me happy, too…”'}, {'start': '580.472', 'end': '587.383', 'text': '“But the promise still stands.  \nPlease—do not look inside the room.”'}, {'start': '589.720', 'end': '594.160', 'text': 'And so, the weaving began again.'}, {'start': '594.160', 'end': '602.200', 'text': 'But this time, the sounds came less often—  \nweaker than before, and full of pauses…'}, {'start': '604.836', 'end': '612.185', 'text': 'On the fourth morning, she emerged holding another cloth—  \nmore delicate, more breathtaking than the last.'}, {'start': '612.185', 'end': '617.440', 'text': 'But her face… showed the wear of deep exhaustion.'}, {'start': '617.440', 'end': '624.314', 'text': 'Dark shadows under her eyes, and her cheeks had grown thin.'}, {'start': '624.314', 'end': '628.806', 'text': '“Please… take this one to town as well.”'}, {'start': '630.959', 'end': '638.624', 'text': 'When the young man arrived in town, merchants gathered quickly—  \nthe cloth stirred a commotion.'}, {'start': '638.624', 'end': '645.378', 'text': 'One wealthy merchant stepped forward, eyes wide  \nas he held the fabric in his hands.'}, {'start': '646.365', 'end': '654.416', 'text': '“This is fit for a lord…  \nI’ll pay even more. Please—bring another if you can.”'}, {'start': '654.416', 'end': '658.324', 'text': 'Then, with curiosity, the merchant asked:'}, {'start': '658.324', 'end': '664.226', 'text': '“Tell me… how is this cloth made?  \nIs your wife truly the one who weaves it?”'}, {'start': '664.796', 'end': '667.619', 'text': 'The young man answered honestly.'}, {'start': '667.619', 'end': '672.000', 'text': '“Yes… but I’ve never actually seen her weave…”'}, {'start': '672.000', 'end': '677.104', 'text': '“She asked me never to enter the room.”  \nThe merchant tilted his head, puzzled.'}, {'start': '677.817', 'end': '682.429', 'text': '“Husband and wife, yet… how strange…”'}, {'start': '682.429', 'end': '688.278', 'text': '“There must be something she’s hiding…”'}, {'start': '694.138', 'end': '701.337', 'text': 'That night, snow had begun to fall—softly at first,  \nthen heavier, brushing through the trees like whispers.'}, {'start': '701.337', 'end': '704.898', 'text': 'The wind stirred the branches,  \nand the hush of winter deepened.'}, {'start': '706.037', 'end': '711.350', 'text': 'By the fire, the young man gently spoke to his wife.'}, {'start': '711.350', 'end': '718.152', 'text': '“Could you… weave another?  \nThe lord himself wishes to buy it… for even more…”'}, {'start': '718.152', 'end': '722.513', 'text': '“With that, we might finally live a better life…”'}, {'start': '724.820', 'end': '728.680', 'text': 'Silence settled between them—  \nquiet, and heavy.'}, {'start': '728.680', 'end': '732.668', 'text': 'At last, his wife whispered softly…'}, {'start': '732.668', 'end': '736.986', 'text': '“Very well… I will weave one more…”'}, {'start': '736.986', 'end': '743.287', 'text': '“But this will be the last.  \nAnd once more… I must ask you—”'}, {'start': '743.287', 'end': '745.480', 'text': '“Never…”'}, {'start': '745.480', 'end': '749.000', 'text': '“never look into the room.”'}, {'start': '750.620', 'end': '755.829', 'text': 'The young man nodded.  \nBut deep inside, something stirred…'}, {'start': '755.829', 'end': '761.218', 'text': 'A quiet seed of doubt had begun to take root.'}, {'start': '764.247', 'end': '772.294', 'text': 'The third weaving began—  \nbut this time, the sounds barely came.'}, {'start': '772.294', 'end': '781.836', 'text': 'The once steady rhythm had faltered,  \nreplaced by silence… and uneasy pauses.'}, {'start': '781.836', 'end': '786.980', 'text': 'Is she all right…?  \nWhat could be happening behind that door?'}, {'start': '786.980', 'end': '790.768', 'text': 'The young man rose quietly to his feet.'}, {'start': '790.768', 'end': '795.088', 'text': 'He stepped softly to the door…  \nand stood before it in silence.'}, {'start': '795.088', 'end': '801.434', 'text': 'Just a peek… just for a moment…  \nSurely, that would do no harm…'}, {'start': '801.434', 'end': '809.709', 'text': 'He placed his hand gently on the door—  \nand opened it just a crack…  \nenough to peer inside.'}, {'start': '809.709', 'end': '812.590', 'text': 'What he saw—'}, {'start': '812.590', 'end': '815.872', 'text': 'was not his wife…'}, {'start': '817.603', 'end': '819.433', 'text': 'It was…'}, {'start': '819.433', 'end': '824.204', 'text': 'a white crane.'}, {'start': '824.204', 'end': '833.213', 'text': 'One by one, it plucked its own feathers—  \nspinning them into thread,  \nweaving them into cloth…'}, {'start': '833.213', 'end': '839.003', 'text': 'Its feathers had grown sparse…  \nits body heavy with exhaustion, etched in silence.'}, {'start': '839.003', 'end': '844.738', 'text': 'And still, the crane said nothing—  \nit simply kept weaving… and weaving.'}, {'start': '846.528', 'end': '854.487', 'text': 'The young man could only stand there…  \nfrozen. Breathless. Wordless.'}, {'start': '854.487', 'end': '864.123', 'text': 'Was this… the same crane I saved that winter?  \nHad she come back—offering her very being, just to repay me?'}, {'start': '864.123', 'end': '869.782', 'text': 'He lowered his head…  \nunable to speak. Unable to lift his gaze.'}, {'start': '871.820', 'end': '877.066', 'text': '“…So… you finally saw.”'}, {'start': '877.066', 'end': '881.060', 'text': 'And in that moment—  \nthe crane transformed again.'}, {'start': '881.060', 'end': '887.196', 'text': 'The woman stood before him…  \nher eyes soft, and filled with sorrow.'}, {'start': '887.196', 'end': '892.750', 'text': '“I was the crane…  \nyou once saved from the hunter’s trap.”'}, {'start': '892.750', 'end': '902.398', 'text': '“To repay your kindness…  \nI took this form, and came to be near you.”'}, {'start': '902.398', 'end': '906.867', 'text': '“The days we shared… were happiness to me.”'}, {'start': '906.867', 'end': '914.572', 'text': '“Every meal, every moment by the fire,  \neven the smallest words between us… were treasures.”'}, {'start': '914.572', 'end': '918.151', 'text': '“But now…”'}, {'start': '918.151', 'end': '925.304', 'text': '“Now that you’ve broken the promise…  \nI can no longer stay.”'}, {'start': '928.579', 'end': '937.200', 'text': '“Please… don’t go!  \nYou don’t have to weave anymore—just stay here with me!”'}, {'start': '937.519', 'end': '943.399', 'text': 'But to his plea, she gently shook her head…'}, {'start': '944.540', 'end': '952.568', 'text': '“Even if I still love you…  \nI no longer belong to this world.”'}, {'start': '952.568', 'end': '959.376', 'text': 'With those words,  \nshe quietly opened the door…'}, {'start': '961.157', 'end': '966.759', 'text': 'Outside, the snow was falling—  \ncold and silent as ever.'}, {'start': '966.759', 'end': '970.297', 'text': 'The young man ran after her, shouting—'}, {'start': '970.297', 'end': '975.940', 'text': '“Please—don’t go!”'}, {'start': '975.940', 'end': '978.875', 'text': 'But when he reached the doorway…'}, {'start': '978.875', 'end': '983.860', 'text': 'She was no longer there.'}, {'start': '983.860', 'end': '991.636', 'text': 'A white crane rose into the sky,  \nits wings cutting through the falling snow.'}, {'start': '991.636', 'end': '1001.224', 'text': 'Higher… and higher…  \nuntil it vanished beyond the clouds.'}, {'start': '1002.648', 'end': '1010.282', 'text': 'All that remained  \nwas a single white feather at his feet…'}, {'start': '1010.282', 'end': '1015.237', 'text': 'He picked it up softly,  \nand held it close to his heart.'}, {'start': '1015.237', 'end': '1019.025', 'text': 'And there he stood,  \nalone in the snow...'}, {'start': '1019.025', 'end': '1026.399', 'text': 'Still, and silent—  \nas the snow fell all around him.'}, {'start': '1031.540', 'end': '1034.631', 'text': '[Music]'}, {'start': '1034.631', 'end': '1042.806', 'text': 'This is a story of gratitude,  \nof promises, love... and farewell.'}, {'start': '1042.806', 'end': '1047.789', 'text': 'Sometimes, we break promises—without meaning to.'}, {'start': '1047.789', 'end': '1054.691', 'text': 'And in doing so,  \nwe may lose something we can never get back...'}, {'start': '1054.719', 'end': '1059.790', 'text': 'But even if we part,  \nthe feelings we once shared'}, {'start': '1059.790', 'end': '1064.751', 'text': 'will live on, quietly—  \ndeep within the heart.'}, {'start': '1064.751', 'end': '1070.127', 'text': 'What the white crane taught us  \nwas the quiet strength found in kindness—'}, {'start': '1070.127', 'end': '1077.460', 'text': 'And that true love  \nis offering something of yourself for someone else.'}, {'start': '1077.460', 'end': '1081.605', 'text': 'On a snowy night, look up at the sky.'}, {'start': '1081.605', 'end': '1088.906', 'text': 'Somewhere,  \nthat white crane may still be soaring… in silence.'}, {'start': '1091.098', 'end': '1095.885', 'text': 'If this story lit a small light in your heart—'}, {'start': '1095.885', 'end': '1099.901', 'text': 'We’d be grateful if you’d subscribe and share it.'}, {'start': '1099.901', 'end': '1106.517', 'text': 'Until then…  \nwe’ll see you again in the next story.'}]