Shadowing Practice: 桃太郎 -ももたろう（日本語版）アニメ日本の昔ばなし／日本語学習／PEACH BOY - MOMOTARO (JAPANESE) - Learn English Speaking with YouTube

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Once upon a time there lived an old man and an old woman.
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Once upon a time there lived an old man and an old woman.
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Each day the old man went into the mountains to gather firewood.
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And the old woman went to the river every day to wash the clothes.
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One day, when the old woman was doing her washing at the river as usual a peach came floating down the river.
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Oh, my. What a yummy looking peach this is, mm chomp, chomp.
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Mm, this is delicious. I must get some of these to my husband.
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Hey, yummy peaches come here. Bitter peaches go away.
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After she said this, a giant peach came floating down the river.
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Oh my goodness, What an enormous peach!
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the delighted old woman picked up the peach and carried it back to her house.
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i'm finally home.
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I was waiting for you. Just hurry up and come inside.
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what's the matter, old woman?
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Today when I was at the river and I was doing the washing an enormous giant peach floated downstream.
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So I brought it home for you to eat.
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Well, well, thanks very much.
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as the two began to cut the peach...
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...a baby boy appeared.
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What in the world is this?
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What a cute, little baby this is.
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So the old man and the old woman decided to take care of the boy born from a peach.
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and named him "Peach Boy" When Peach Boy ate one bowl of rice he grew much bigger.
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He ate two bowls of rice and grew twice as big.
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and with three bowls of rice he grew three times as big.
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Soon he was a great big boy.
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And Peach Boy grew to be... ...strong, and smart... ...with a very kind heart.
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The old man and the old woman loved Peach Boy dearly and took excellent care of him.
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one day, when Peach Boy was splitting firewood...
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...a kite came soaring overhead.
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Peach Boy, born from a peach: Go over the mountains.
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through the valley and across the sea to Demon Island and conquer the demons.
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Old man, old woman, now that I am big I'm going to Damon Island.
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What?! You must not do such a danger thing.
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I want to conquer the evil demons who steal our food and ruin our fields and rice paddies!
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No! No! No! You might be big, but you're still only a child.
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I give up. You may go to Demon Island, just be sure you come home safe.
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i will. I will. I promise.
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So the old man and the old woman gave Peach Boy a new coat and pants.
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a sturdy pair of steel sandals and a fabulous sword.
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Then the old woman made Japan's best millet dumplings, and gave him some of those, too.
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Eat one of these and you will have the strength of a hundred men.
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Thank you, so much, old woman.
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Old man, old woman. I'll be back.
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Peach Boy set off to conquer the demons on Demon Island.
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When he reached the outskirts of the village...
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...a dog came up to him.
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Peach Boy, Peach Boy, where are you going with such a fabulous sword?
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To Demon Island to conquer the demons.
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What's in the bag at your waist?
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The best millet dumplings in all of Japan. Eating one gives you the strength of ahundred men!
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Ok, give me one and I'll join you.
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Ok, great. Let's conquer the demons together.
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so the dog ate the millet dumping, and joined him on his way.
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When Peach Boy and the dog went deep in the mountains...
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...a monkey approached them.
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peach Boy, Peach Boy, where do you happen to be going with such marvelous sandals?
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To Demon Island to conquer the demons.
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Tell me, What's in the bag at your waist?
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The best millet dumplings in Japan. Eating one gives you the strength of a hundred men!
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Give me one and I'll join you.
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Ok. Great. Let's conquer the demons together.
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So the monkey ate the millet dumpling, and joined them on their way.
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When Peach Boy, the dog and the monkey were going through the valley...
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...a pheasant flew up to them, Peach Boy, Peach Boy, where are you going with such a fantastic flag? I'm very curious won't you tell me?
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To Demon Island to conquer the demons.
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What's in the bag at your waist?
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The best millet dumplings in Japan. Eating one gives you the strength of a hundred men!
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Give me one and I will join you.
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Ok. Great. Let's conquer the demons together.
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So the pheasant ate the millet dumpling, and joined them on their way.
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Peach Boy and his group went over many mountains, through the valley...
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...and set sail for Damon Island.
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I see it! Damons Island!
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Finally, Peach Boy and his group arrived.
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At the entrance to the island, there was a tall, wide gate.
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First the pheasant flow ever it to see what was inside.
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The demons are taking a nap right now. It's all quiet.
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Next the monkey climbed over the gate...
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...to open the lock from inside.
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Then the dog pushed open the heavy gate.
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On guard! Peach Boy, the strongest boy in Japan, is here to conquer you evil demons!
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The started demons woke up and attacked.
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Peach Boy defeated one demon after another.
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The demons were no match for the dog, the monkey and the pheasant, who'd been fortified by the millet dumplings.
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Back in the fortress, the Demon General was having a feast.
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It's terrible. It's terrible, Peach Boy and his gang are attacking us.
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Peach Boy? Who's that?
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i am Peach Boy, I'was born from peach and I am here to conquer you!
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Ha, ha, ha! You think you can defeat me?!
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The Demon General brandished a great steel rod.
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But Peach Boy drew his sword...
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What in the world?
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Spare my life! Please!!!
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Do you swear to stop making people suffer?
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I swear I'll never do it again.
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Do you promise?
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Yes. I promise.
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Very well then. So I'll spare your life.
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The grateful demon gave all his treasure to Peach Boy.
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Peach Boy and his friends sailed back over the sea, through the valley and over the mountains...
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...back to their home.
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The old man and the old woman were delighted and welcomed Peach Boy home.
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He shared the demon's treasure with all the villagers.
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and bought wonderful treats for the dog, the monkey and the pheasant.
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From that day forward, the demons never bothered anyone again.
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And they all lived happily ever after.
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About This Lesson

This lesson is based on the charming Japanese folktale of Momotaro, or Peach Boy, and is tailored for English learners wishing to enhance their listening and speaking skills. Through the engaging narrative of an old couple and their extraordinary peach, learners will practice pronunciation, improve comprehension, and develop conversational skills. The lesson focuses on key phrases and vocabulary from the story, enabling learners to become more confident in communicating in English.

Key Vocabulary & Phrases

  • Gather firewood: To collect sticks and branches for burning.
  • Enormous peach: A very large peach that captivates attention.
  • Conquer: To defeat or overcome, particularly in a challenge or battle.
  • Strength of a hundred men: A metaphorical expression implying immense strength.
  • Demon Island: A mythical place where evil creatures reside.
  • Millet dumplings: A traditional food made from millet, symbolizing nourishment.

Practice Tips

To maximize your learning from this story, consider using a shadowing app or shadowing site that supports interactive language practice. Start by listening to the transcript at a comfortable speed. As you listen, repeat the sentences aloud, imitating the tone and rhythm of the narrator. This technique, known as shadow speech, allows you to internalize the language patterns and improves your pronunciation.

Since this folktale is rich in visual imagery and emotions, pay attention to the expressions in your voice. When Peach Boy is determined to conquer the demons, try to reflect that determination in your speech. If you find the pace of the dialogue fast, don't be discouraged; utilize the pause-and-repeat method. Stop after a sentence, replay it, and mimic the speaker. Focusing on the emotional context enhances your connection with the material, reinforcing your speaking skills.

Practicing with shadow speak in a natural setting like this story not only helps with vocabulary retention but also allows you to engage in storytelling, a valuable skill in conversational English. Dive into the magic of Momotaro and enjoy your language learning journey!

What is the Shadowing Technique?

Shadowing is a science-backed language learning technique originally developed for professional interpreter training and popularized by polyglot Dr. Alexander Arguelles. The method is simple but powerful: you listen to native English audio and immediately repeat it out loud — like a shadow following the speaker with just a 1–2 second delay. Unlike passive listening or grammar drills, shadowing forces your brain and mouth muscles to simultaneously process and reproduce real speech patterns. Research shows it significantly improves pronunciation accuracy, intonation, rhythm, connected speech, listening comprehension, and speaking fluency — making it one of the most effective methods for IELTS Speaking preparation and real-world English communication.

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