Folk Legends
Saru Kani Kassen
By fall most of the persimmons had ripened bright red. The monkey noticed this and, climbing the tree, began eating the ripest fruit. Soon the crab came along and, unable to climb the tree, asked the monkey to bring some persimmons down to her. "Sure!" said the monkey, but instead, he grabbed a hard, unripe fruit and threw it down at the crab's head, injuring her. The crab was laid up in bed for many days.