Grateful Crane

The myth

Tsuru no Ongaeshi, "the crane's return of a favor", is a Japanese folktale. A poor man frees a crane caught in a trap. Soon after, a beautiful young woman knocks at his door and comes to live with him, or, in other versions, with an old couple. She weaves a wondrous cloth that sells for a good price, but asks never to be watched while she works. Driven by curiosity, the man peeks and sees a crane plucking its own feathers to weave. Discovered, she reveals who she is and flies away. The tale inspired the famous 1949 play Yūzuru.

Why it has this power

A Common level-3 Light Bird with 900 ATK and 1100 DEF: gratitude protects more than it wounds, so defense is higher. Light is the purity of the gesture; Feather is literal, the feathers in the cloth, and Crown recalls the crane as a noble bird. A modest card, like the tale's silent sacrifice.

Did you know

In Japan the crane symbolizes long life; tradition says it lives a thousand years, and folding a thousand paper cranes is a gesture of hope.

Connections

• In Aiko, Dojo Apprentice's deck
• In Hanae, Wandering Miko's deck
• In Master Suzu of Mount Kurama's deck

Where to get it

• Daily Offering: 0% per pack (Common 64% per card)
• Welcome Pack: 0.97% per pack (Common 70% per card)
• Traveler's Pack: 0.88% per pack · 5.2% in the themed pack (Common 64% per card)
• Bronze Reliquary: 0.86% per pack · 5.1% in the themed pack (Common 62% per card)
• Silver Reliquary: 0.67% per pack · 4% in the themed pack (Common 49% per card)
• Golden Reliquary: 0.46% per pack · 2.7% in the themed pack (Common 33% per card)
• Daily Showcase: Shows up on about 0.69% of days · 150 gold
• Craft with card dust: 40 dust
• Crossing of Myths: Can be offered as a reward during a crossing (the card stays in the crossing deck).

Sources

1. Tsuru no Ongaeshi — Folk Legends, Kids Web Japan — Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan (Web Japan)
2. Myths & Legends of Japan (Project Gutenberg) — F. Hadland Davis